Slow Cooker Red Wine Beef Brisket


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This Slow Cooker Red Wine Beef Brisket is slow-cooked to perfection. The brisket turns out amazingly tender and has tasty carrots and a red wine tomato gravy.

cooked brisket in the slow cooker with carrots and onions.

Want beef brisket but don’t have a smoker? This easy red wine brisket is one of my favorite crockpot recipes. It cooks up with carrots and a rich, savory sauce, and it’s fancy enough for a holiday meal. Slice it for serving, or cook a little longer to shred it—then pair it with your favorite sides.

What is beef brisket?

  • Brisket is a cut of meat from the breast or lower chest of beef or veal. Brisket is often on barbecue restaurant menus and can be on the expensive side.
  • Note that the brisket used in this recipe is not corned beef (like you’d eat on St. Patrick’s day), it should look like a regular roast that has not been brined.
  • Brisket usually has a fat cap on it, which keeps it moist during cooking.
  • I used the flat cut of brisket, but the point cut works fine in this recipe too.
browned brisket alone in a black oval slow cooker.

How to make brisket in the slow cooker

  1. Start by adding oil to a hot pan on the stove-top.
  2. Brown the brisket on all sides and add to the slow cooker.
  3. Add on the vegetables and spices. Pour over the liquids and wine and cook up until tender.
brisket in the slow cooker with raw red onion and carrots on top.

Tips & Variations

Fat Side Up: Add the beef brisket to the slow cooker fat side up. This will allow the juices to run down the meat and keep it moist.

Other Vegetables: The two vegetables I recommend adding to make a complete meal, are baby potatoes and mushrooms.

Skip Searing: Forget dirtying a pan and skip searing. The roast will still turn out great.

brisket in the slow cooker with mashed potatoes, carrots, and bread on the side.

Can I use something other than red wine?

There are plenty of alternatives to red wine if you can’t have it or don’t like it. Try one of these options instead.

  • Broth: Beef broth or chicken will work well.
  • Can of French onion soup; no need to add water.
  • Beer; use a pilsner for great flavor.
  • Barbecue sauce; a half cup will give this recipe a fun change.
Bowl of mashed potatoes with sliced brisket and carrots and sauce.

What to serve with red wine brisket?

Starchy Sides: We love mashed potatoes (try my sour cream and onion mashed potatoes). Some like polenta or rice pilaf with crockpot beef brisket. Make it pasta night and serve over cooked egg noodles.

Other Sides: We love a green salad or green beans and bacon with this. Add dinner rolls or beer bread for a complete meal.

finished cooking brisket in the slow cooker with mashed potatoes and carrots on the side.

Slow Cooker Red Wine Beef Brisket Recipe

4.60 from 15 votes
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 5 hours
Total Time: 5 hours 25 minutes
Servings: 5
My Slow Cooker Brisket recipe turns out like a dream! Made in a red wine tomato sauce with tender carrots.
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How to Video

Ingredients 
 

  • 3 lbs. beef brisket, (should be labeled beef brisket, not corned beef)
  • 2 Tbsp. cooking oil
  • 3 carrots, peeled and cut into 2-3 pieces
  • 1 red onion, sliced
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 tsp. pepper
  • 1 tsp. dried thyme leaves
  • 1/2 tsp. dried rosemary leaves
  • 2 tsp. minced garlic
  • 8 oz. can tomato sauce
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 cup red wine, I use 14-hands red blend

Instructions 

  • On the stove-top, place a skillet over medium-high heat, when the pan is hot, add enough cooking oil to coat the bottom of the pan. Brown the Brisket on both sides. Add the brisket to the slow cooker.
  • Add the onions and carrots around and on top of the roast.
  • Sprinkle over the salt, pepper, thyme, rosemary, and minced garlic. Pour over the Worcestershire sauce.
  • Pour over the beef broth, wine and tomato sauce over the brisket.
  • Cover and cook on HIGH for 5 hours. Add one more hour if you want the meat to shred, not slice.
  • When the cooking time is done, remove the brisket onto a cutting board. Let it rest for 10 minutes, then slice against the grain for the most tender slices (or shred, if desired).
  • Before adding the meat back to the slow cooker, degrease the sauce by laying paper towels on top, then quickly lifting them off. Discard the paper towels, then return the meat to the sauce.
  • Serve the beef, onions, carrots, and sauce with desired sides.

Nutrition

Calories: 560kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 58g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 169mg | Sodium: 1071mg | Potassium: 1316mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 6326IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 56mg | Iron: 6mg

Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.

Made this recipe? Leave a comment below!

Storing and Leftover Ideas

Storing: Place any leftovers away within 2 hours of cooking. Refrigerate for up to 4 days or freeze for up to three months.

Leftover Ideas: Transform the leftover meat into Mexican meals like tacos, burritos, or quesadillas. Or make a small pot of vegetable beef soup.

More Slow Cooker Beef Recipes

Slow Cooker Pot Roast, Amish Pot Roast, and Horseradish Pot Roast are classic crockpot dinners—simple ingredients, big comfort, and tender beef with plenty of gravy.

Mississippi Pot Roast and Georgia Pot Roast switch up the flavor with a tangy, savory twist that’s great over mashed potatoes or noodles. Try my Beef Manhattan for a twist on pot roast dinner.

If you want something different, Slow Cooker BBQ Brisket and Slow Cooker London Broil cook up sliceable beef that works for sandwiches, sliders, or an easy weeknight dinner.

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76 Comments

  1. John says:

    5 stars
    Fabulous meal. The flavors of the slow cooker red wine beef brisket were spectacular and the meal was enjoyed very much. It is a very easy meal to prepare and leaving it for the slow cooker to work it’s magic. I served the brisket over your sour cream and mashed potatoes. Everything was full flavor and every bite enjoyed!! I’m looking forward to trying more of your recipes I’m glad I found you. Thank you!!