Crockpot Beef Brisket in Balsamic Blackberry Sauce

July 8, 2013 by Tanya Schroeder · 40 Comments · Last updated: December 15, 2021

Keep yourself and your kitchen cool while you cook dinner in your crockpot!

Hearty beef brisket is covered in a simple spice rub and then smothered in a flavorful balsamic sauce infused with fresh blackberries!

You’re going to love this crock pot brisket and blackberry sauce. The plump blackberries and their tangy balsamic vinegar glaze make for one incredible topping over the brisket. The entire dish takes only a few minutes of prep and what awaits you a few hours later is a meal that almost tastes gourmet.

What is Brisket?

Brisket is a cut of cow meat that is incredibly tough. It comes from the breast of the cow and while it starts out as one of the least tender parts when properly cooked it becomes incredibly tender and flavorful. To cook your brisket you want to do it nice and slow, which is why our crockpot brisket recipe here is such a great idea. After spending all day in a slow cooker we get a very flavorful cut of meat that practically falls apart. Perfect for any occasion and perfect for a great meal with little prep work.

Ingredients

Beef brisket
Paprika
Red pepper
Oregano
Thyme
Cumin
Salt
Pepper
Balsamic vinegar
Ketchup
Brown sugar
Minced garlic
Worcestershire sauce
Honey
Blackberries

For the exact amounts needed, please see the recipe card below.

How to Make Crockpot Beef Brisket in Balsamic Blackberry Sauce

In a small bowl, combine the paprika, cumin, red pepper, oregano, thyme, salt, and pepper until blended.
Rub your dry spices all over the brisket.
Place your brisket into the crockpot.
In another bowl combine the sauce ingredients.
Pour the blackberry sauce over the brisket.
Cook on high for 1 hour and then reduce the temp to low and cook for another 6-7 hours or until the brisket is fork tender.

Recipe Tips

Fork tender means to cook until the food item is soft enough that you can easily pierce it with a fork. For example, a baked potato is ready when you can easily insert the fork prongs without resistance. that’s what you’re looking for to determine if your brisket is ready. If you can easily price it with your fork or cut the meat using the side of the fork, it’s soft enough to serve.
If you love this sauce enough that you’d like to try it with different cuts of meat some popular ideas include chicken, pork, and lamb. This sauce would go nicely with different cuts of chicken, pork chops, pork tenderloin, or even lamb chops.
The brisket will get softer as you cook it. It’s one of those meats that starts tough but eventually cooks to the point where you can shred it with two forks. If after a few hours your brisket is still tough, there’s a good chance that it is because you haven’t finished cooking it. Let it cook longer or increase the temperature for the final few hours.

FAQs

Can you overcook brisket in slow cooker?

Yes, like any meat you can overcook it if the mat is left unattended or cooking for too long. while you can cook brisket to the point of being able to shred it with forks, you may not wish to cook it that long. Once the meat is soft enough to shred it doesn’t take long for it to cook beyond that point and become an unappetizing-looking pile of mush.

Should brisket be submerged in slow cooker?

You do not need to have the meat fully submerged and covered in sauce but there should be a good amount of sauce to meat ratio. In this recipe, we use a 3-3.5 pound brisket which works perfectly for the amount of sauce we have. If you use a larger cut of brisket, please increase the sauce ratio accordingly.

Do you cook brisket fat side up or down in a slow cooker?

Brisket should be placed into the crockpot with the fat side up. this way as the meat cooks, the fat will melt and drip down over the meat to help tenderize it and add juicy goodness so it doesn’t feel dried out.

Looking for more brisket recipes? Check out my Chipotle Brisket Chili, Brisket Poutine Recipe, or even my Sweet and Savory Braised Brisket for some delicious ideas.