4-Ingredient Slow Cooker Brisket with Onions

by Dorothy Reinhold on September 26, 2021


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4-Ingredient Slow Cooker Brisket with Onions: Meltingly tender beef brisket braises easily in the slow cooker, marrying onions and garlic for simple, sublime comfort food. Whether for Hanukkah, another holiday or just any night when you want a comforting dinner, it’s hard to beat brisket.

Cooked low and slow, brisket will reward you with deep, beefy deliciousness, a meltingly tender meal that defines dinner.

Haul out the slow cooker to make it easy, and you’ll only need a couple of ingredients beyond the beef itself. No need to cover up perfection with a lot of fripperies.

Cooked beef brisket atop a pile of cooked onions sits on a white platter on a wooden table, with carving utensils alongside is easiest, simplest, meltingly tender, for comfort food dinners | ShockinglyDelicious.comIt’s beef’s beef. You want it.

What to serve with 4-Ingredient Slow Cooker Brisket?

Mix and match to make a colorful plate, and choose your favorites!

Vegetables: cooked carrots, sliced fresh tomatoes, roasted red peppers
Green vegetables: Salad, steamed or roasted broccoli, green beans, green peas, asparagus 
Carbs: Baked potato or sweet potato, mashed potatoes, Crispy Smashers, polenta, cooked rice or quinoa, roasted squash

4-Ingredient Slow Cooker Brisket with Onions

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 6 hours

Total Time: 6 hours, 20 minutes

Yield: Serves 4

4-Ingredient Slow Cooker Brisket with Onions

Meltingly tender beef brisket braises easily in the slow cooker, marrying onions and garlic for simple, sublime comfort food.

Ingredients

  • 1 large red onion, thinly sliced
  • 3 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 1 first cut of beef brisket (2 pounds), trimmed of excess fat
  • 2 cups low-sodium beef broth
  • Garnish: 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley leaves or chives, for serving

Directions

  1. In a 5- or 6-quart slow cooker, toss onion and garlic. Place brisket fat side up, in slow cooker. Pour broth over meat; it won't cover the meat. Put lid on and cook on high for about 6 hours, until brisket is fork-tender. Remove meat from cooker to a cutting board, and thinly slice against the grain.
  2. Strain onions from juice and arrange onions on a serving platter. Pour juice into a saucepot or skillet, and boil until reduced by half, about 5 minutes. (It goes faster if you have a wider surface area like a skillet.) Pour juice into a gravy boat or gravy pourer, and serve at the table.
  3. Arrange meat on top of onion bed, sprinkle with parsley or chives, for pretty, and serve. Allow diners to add their own sauce to their own plate, as they wish.
  4. Serves 4.

Notes

Note about the brisket: A whole brisket is made up of a first cut and a second cut. The first cut, also called "flat cut," is leaner. Trimming the layer of fat on the brisket down to 1/4 inch is sufficient to keep the meat moist and tender as it cooks.

Recipe source: Dorothy Reinhold | Shockingly Delicious

https://www.shockinglydelicious.com/4-ingredient-slow-cooker-brisket-with-onions/

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4-Intredient Slow Cooker Brisket on a pile of cooked onions with parsley and chives on top, on a white serving platterShockinglyDelicious.comLooking for another brisket recipe?

3 slices of brisket topped with red sauce, on a white plate, along with small potatoes and sliced carrots on ShockinglyDelicious.comBest Brisket for Passover or any day

Shredded Beef Brisket stuffed between a sliced slim bun on a small plateShredded Beef Brisket in the Crock-Pot

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This post was originally published on Shockingly Delicious Dec. 3, 2015, was updated and republished Nov. 28, 2018, and is further updated and republished today. 


{ 32 comments… read them below or add one }

Cathy @ Lemon Tree Dwelling December 21, 2017 at 7:38 am

I can NOT believe this is just 4 ingredients!!!

Reply

Des December 14, 2017 at 11:18 am

Mouthwatering! Nothing beats a good slow cooked brisket.

Reply

Allyson Zea December 14, 2017 at 11:11 am

wow this looks so easy and delicious!

Reply

Amanda December 13, 2017 at 7:19 pm

Always looking for new ways to have brisket!

Reply

Jen December 13, 2017 at 4:42 pm

I love the idea of using the slow cooker! Easy peasy!! My husband is going to be so excited!

Reply

Krista @ Joyful Healthy Eats December 6, 2015 at 1:35 pm

Every time I use my slow cooker I wonder why I don’t use it more often! Like on brisket, this sounds amazing!

Reply

Dorothy Reinhold December 7, 2015 at 8:20 am

Krista,
I agree. I should just keep it out on the counter, where it is in sight and top of mind.

Reply

Carrie @Frugal Foodie Mama December 5, 2015 at 1:24 pm

I love how simple the ingredients list is for this! And bonus points for being a slow cooker brisket. I LOVE my slow cooker. 🙂

Reply

Dorothy Reinhold December 5, 2015 at 3:49 pm

Carrie,
The slow cooker saves the day!

Reply

Jessica @ Sprinkle Some Sugar December 5, 2015 at 8:32 am

Love how easy this recipe is and you can just throw it in the slow cooker! Looks delicious!

Reply

Erin @ Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts December 5, 2015 at 7:47 am

I love brisket and in the slow cooker it must get super tender!

Reply

Dorothy Reinhold December 5, 2015 at 3:49 pm

Erin,
It does! Perfect method for that cut of beef.

Reply

Renee - Kudos Kitchen December 5, 2015 at 6:49 am

What beats a tender hunk of meat sitting on top of a pile of sweet, slow cooked onions? Absolutely nothing! Looks amazing!

Reply

Dorothy Reinhold December 6, 2015 at 2:21 am

Renee,
Well, when you put it that way… 🙂

Reply

Heather | All Roads Lead to the Kitchen December 4, 2015 at 1:19 pm

First of all, fripperies is an awesome word…my new favorite. Second – YUM. I love brisket, and this simple way of preparing it must really show it off!

Reply

Dorothy Reinhold December 4, 2015 at 1:25 pm

Heather,
Fripperies is a VERY useful word! It applies to so many instances.

Reply

tanya December 4, 2015 at 11:44 am

It doesn’t get any easier than 4 ingredients and the slow cooker!

Reply

Dorothy Reinhold December 4, 2015 at 1:28 pm

Tanya,
Many times, the simplest recipes produce the best results, eh?

Reply

Paula - bell'alimento December 4, 2015 at 6:02 am

Seriously, just 4 ingredients? That looks amazing.

Reply

Dorothy Reinhold December 4, 2015 at 1:27 pm

Paula,
Yep, “sisly,” as my kids say. 🙂

Reply

Amy Stafford December 4, 2015 at 5:14 am

Briskit is such a classic and everyone should know how to make it. Your recipe is perfect for everyone.

Reply

Dorothy Reinhold December 4, 2015 at 1:27 pm

Amy,
Thank you…that’s exactly how I felt. It is so easy, nothing should stand in the way of someone making a very successful brisket.

Reply

Tonia from TheGunnySack December 3, 2015 at 9:14 pm

This is fantastic! I am going to have to try it for my family!

Reply

Sharon @ What The Fork Food Blog December 3, 2015 at 6:15 pm

My husband would love this dish 🙂

Reply

Dorothy Reinhold December 4, 2015 at 1:58 am

Sharon,
Then you know what must be done!

Reply

Maryanne @ the little epicurean December 3, 2015 at 2:55 pm

My family loves brisket. This would be the perfect weeknight meal! Thanks for sharing 🙂

Reply

Dorothy Reinhold December 3, 2015 at 5:33 pm

Maryanne,
It is hard to beat brisket for a comfort meal.

Reply

Ginny McMeans December 3, 2015 at 8:21 am

What a simple recipe for a weeknight. Love the pile on onions underneath!

Reply

Dorothy Reinhold December 3, 2015 at 5:34 pm

Ginny,
Onions, for the win!

Reply

Kacey @ The Cookie Writer December 3, 2015 at 6:50 am

You know, I do not think I have ever made brisket before! It looks really easy, and those onions! They pair perfectly with the beef!

Reply

Dorothy Reinhold December 3, 2015 at 5:34 pm

Kacey,
Get on that, girl. It is beyond easy.

Reply

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