Slow Cooker Brisket and Gravy

This slow cooker brisket and gravy recipe will impress any guest. This is an easy brisket recipe where the gravy cooks directly in the crockpot along with the meat. Simple yet flavorful, this delicious brisket will be a hit at your next family or holiday dinner. Instructions for cooking this beef brisket & gravy recipe in the Instant Pot are also included. 

Ingredients For Crockpot Brisket and Gravy

• Beef Brisket
• Beef Broth
• Arrow Root Starch or Corn Starch
• Seasonings: salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder

How To Make Brisket and Gravy In The Slow Cooker

Slow Cooker

Optional step – Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season brisket generously salt & pepper to taste. Add brisket to the heated pan & cook 2-3  minutes on each side or until browned.

1. If you skip the browning step, season brisket generously with salt & pepper. 
2. Add the beef broth, starch, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to the slow cooker. Whisk until the starch is well blended & there are no clumps. 
3. Add the brisket.  
4. Cook on HIGH for 4 to 5 hours or LOW 8 to 10.
5. Remove brisket from the slow cooker to let rest. Either cut against the grain or shred the meat.
6. Add brisket back into the slow cooker until ready to serve.

Instant Pot

1. Season brisket generously with salt & pepper to taste.
2. Turn the on the pressure cooker to saute. Once hot, add oil and the brisket and sear a few minutes on both sides until browned. Remove brisket and set aside. Turn off the Instant Pot.
3. Add the beef broth, starch, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to the slow cooker. Whisk until the starch is well blended & there are no clumps.
4. Add brisket back into the Instant Pot.
5. Select manual setting. Adjust to high pressure & and set time for 60 minutes. Naturally for about 10 minutes, then quick release for remaining pressure.
6. Remove brisket from the Instant Pot and let rest. Either cut against the grain or shred the meat.
7. Add brisket back into the Instant Pot until ready to serve.

FAQs & Tips

What Is Brisket?

Brisket is a popular cut of beef for braising or slow cooking for a reason. Beef brisket is a cut of meat from the breast of a cow. It’s a tough cut of meat to cook with but the great thing about the slow cooker or pressure cooker (Instant Pot) is that even the toughest cuts will be cooked to melt-in-your-mouth tender. I purchased my 3.8 pound brisket at Costco with the fat already trimmed. Please note that depending on the size & shape of brisket, you may have to cut it into pieces to get it to fit into the appliance.

What is the arrow root starch/corn starch for?

The starch serves as a thickening agent for the gravy.

Can you use flour as a thickening agent?

Unfortunately, I have not made this recipe using flour. Having not tried it, I do not recommend using flour.  

Is this healthy?

Depends on who you ask. Written as-is, this crockpot brisket and gravy recipe is low-carb, paleo and Whole30 compatible. Unlike other versions, there is no canned cream of soup and high-sodium packets of gravy.

What is the gravy is full of clumps when it’s done cooking?

If your gravy is clumpy when it’s done cooking, simply give the gravy a good stir. The clumps will disappear. 

Can you make this ahead of time?

This slow cooker brisket recipe can not only be made the day ahead of time and reheated, some might argue that it’s actually better that way. After it cools completely, you can put the entire slow cooker base right in the refrigerator. The next day, you will be able to easily remove the fat that has hardened. This is also a good time to slice against the grain if you’re going to do so because the meat is easier to cut cold. To reheat, add the brisket back into the slow cooker and reheat on the warm setting. 

Do you slice or shred the meat?

Brisket is a cut of beef that is traditionally served by slicing against the grain. It can also be shredded too. If I plan on eating brisket the day I cook it, the meat is usually so tender that it falls apart I take it out the slow cooker. When that happens, I just shred it down. When I make the brisket a day ahead & cool it overnight in the frig, I usually slice the brisket against the grain. The meat is cold & firm which makes it’s easy to cut. Same taste regardless of how you serve it.

How do you serve brisket and gravy?

Brisket & gravy is great served over mashed potatoes, rice, or pasta.

How do you store leftovers?

Store leftover crockpot brisket and gravy in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. 

What size slow cooker did you use?

I use a  6-quart slow cooker or Instant Pot for this recipe.

Brisket Recipes

• Horseradish Passover Brisket 

• BBQ Brisket

• Holiday Brisket

• Brisket Chili

Slow Cooker Brisket and Gravy

Pin Recipe

Print Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 3 reviews

This slow cooker brisket and gravy recipe will impress any guest. This is an easy brisket recipe where the gravy cooks directly in the crockpot along with the meat. Simple yet flavorful, this delicious brisket will be a hit at your next family or holiday dinner. Instructions for cooking this beef brisket & gravy recipe in the Instant Pot are also included.

• Author: Shannon Epstein
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 4 hours
• Total Time: 4 hours 10 minutes
• Yield: serves 4

Ingredients

Units USM Scale 1x2x3x

• 3 pounds brisket, fat trimmed (seasoned with salt & pepper)
• 2 1/2 cups beef broth
• 1/4 cup arrow root or corn starch
• 2 teaspoons onion powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt (or more)
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1 tablespoon oil (for searing)
• salt & pepper to taste

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Slow Cooker

Optional step – Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season brisket generously salt & pepper to taste. Add brisket to the heated pan & cook 2-3  minutes on each side or until browned.

1. If you skip the browning step, season brisket generously with salt & pepper.
2. Add the beef broth, starch, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to the slow cooker. Whisk until the starch is well blended & there are no clumps.
3. Add the brisket.
4. Cook on HIGH for 4 to 5 hours or LOW 8 to 10.
5. Remove brisket from the slow cooker to let rest. Either cut against the grain or shred the meat.
6. Add brisket back into the slow cooker until ready to serve.

Instant Pot

1. Season brisket generously with salt & pepper to taste.
2. Turn the on the pressure cooker to saute. Once hot, add oil and the brisket and sear a few minutes on both sides until browned. Remove brisket and set aside. Turn off the Instant Pot.
3. Add the beef broth, starch, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to the slow cooker. Whisk until the starch is well blended & there are no clumps.
4. Add brisket back into the Instant Pot.
5. Select manual setting. Adjust to high pressure & and set time for 60 minutes. Naturally for about 10 minutes, then quick release for remaining pressure.
6. Remove brisket from the Instant Pot and let rest. Either cut against the grain or shred the meat.
7. Add brisket back into the Instant Pot until ready to serve.

Nutrition

• Serving Size:
• Calories: 335
• Sugar: 1.9 g
• Sodium: 736.5 mg
• Fat: 12.3 g
• Saturated Fat: 4.6 g
• Carbohydrates: 6.4 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 50.8 g
• Cholesterol: 125.7 mg

This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive money if you make a purchase using one of the links. For more about my disclosure policy see here: https://fitslowcookerqueen.com/about/disclosure-policy/.