Chopped Beef Brisket Sandwich
Crock Pot Brisket Sandwich Recipe (Texas BBQ Beef): We are CRAZY over this Slow Cooker Chopped Brisket Recipe. Itโs tender, smoky, and spicy-sweet.
Crock Pot Brisket?
I realize the words Crock Pot + Brisket may seem shocking, especially if you live in Texas.
After all, all Texans know the only way to make a good brisket is to dry rub it, and smoke it overnight in a pit trailerโฆ Right?
The problem is, most people donโt own pit trailers, in-ground smoking pits, or even electric smokers at home.
Yet Iโm here to tell you, you can make a killer brisket for Texas-style brisket sandwiches without a smoker. You can even do it in a slow cooker, in your tiny city apartment.
You just need to know a few tricks!
โSpicy Chopโ Brisket Sandwiches
When I was a little girl, my dad would often take me with him when he ran to the grocery store for my mom.
There was a little run-down IGA market we would visit, a couple of blocks from our neighborhood. Outside the IGA, right by the front door, stood a rickety wooden shack selling smoked Texas barbecue. You could smell it a block away from the parking lot.
Itโs a little-known fact that some of the best barbecue in the world is found in Oklahoma, where I grew up. After all, itโs a state wedged directly in between Texas dry-rub country and Kansas City sticky-sweet territory.
Bring these two styles of barbecue together, and you have a thing of beauty!
But I digressโฆ Those Saturday morning shopping trips with dad are where I learned to love โSpicy Chopโ.
For barbecue novices, chopped beef brisket swimming in spicy barbecue sauce is often called Spicy Chop, at least in the Oklahoma/Texas region of the United States.
Texas Chopped BBQ Beef is ultra-tender and finely chopped into small pieces. You never shred it; it must be chopped!
Spicy Chopped Beef can be served on a bbq platter with southern sides, but is most often served on sandwich rolls with dill pickles.
Itโs like nothing youโve ever tasted.
Hot, smoky, sticky, slightly sweet, fatty in a good way, dripping with sauce, melt-in-your-mouth, too-wet-for-the-bun-so-you-better-eat-fast awesomeness.
If youโve never had a Texas-style Chopped Beef Brisket Sandwichโฆ Itโs time.
Slow Cooker Brisket Recipe Tips
The keys to making an amazing Texas brisket in the slow cooker, are to:
- Rub it down with spices (a dry rub) with a strong smoky essence.
- Slow cook the brisket for a long long timeโฆ Until itโs shreddable.
For the spice blend, I like to use smoked paprika, because it has a fabulous smoky-sweet flavor.
However, if you canโt find smoked paprika, you can use a combination of sweet paprika and liquid smoke.
As for the long time, this is a true โall dayโ crockpot recipe. You really canโt over-cook it. The longer it cooks, the more tender it becomes.
Crock Pot Brisket Recipe Ingredients
These Texas-Style Crock Pot Brisket Sandwiches are a bucket-list must-make meal. They are perfect for Super Bowl parties, weekend game nights, or any sort of casual get-together!
Hereโs what youโll needโฆ
- Beef Brisket โ If you get a piece with a large slab of fat on it, you can trim off some of the fat, but donโt remove it all!
- Brown Sugar
- Smoked Paprika โ Or use sweet paprika + liquid smoke
- Salt
- Ground Cumin
- Cayenne Pepper
- Garlic Powder
- Onion Powder
- Black Pepper
- Spicy BBQ Sauce โ Look for a brand made in Texas!
- Sandwich Rolls โ Hamburger buns, brioche buns, or onion rolls are good choices.
- Dill pickles
How To Make Crock Pot Brisket Sandwiches
- Dry Rub the Brisket. In a small bowl, mix the brown sugar and all spices together. Rub the dry rub over the entire surface of the brisket.
- Slow Cook All Day. Set out a large crockpot. Place the brisket in the slow cooker and set on high for 6-7 hours, or on low for 11-13 hours.
- Chop Chop! Once the brisket is fork-tender, place it on a cutting board and slice it into thin strips. Then chop the brisket into fine pieces.
- Get Saucy. Move the chopped beef brisket back into the slow cooker. Add the spicy bbq sauce to the slow cooker, stir and cover.
- Simmer a Little Longer. Slow cook the spicy chop until ready to serve. When youโre ready to eat, scoop the chopped beef onto buns, and top with dill pickles.
Get the Full (Printable) Crock Pot Chopped Brisket Sandwich Recipe Below. Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
How should I serve crock pot brisket?
You can serve your slow cooker beef brisket on toasted buns topped for a simple yet delicious brisket sandwich. Or, use the beef on top of salads, nachos, or add it to your favorite soups!
Can You Freeze Chopped Brisket?
Absolutely! Placed in an airtight container it can freeze for up to 6 months. Once the meat in the slow cooker fully cools off, then store in a gallon-sized freezer bag with the juices in the slow cooker to help keep the meat moist when reheating it. Just be sure to allow the beef to thaw at room temperature before reheating, so the pieces donโt turn to mush as you are warming it.
What About Make-Ahead And Meal Prep?
Chopped BBQ Beef Brisket is a great make-ahead meal! Actually, as with most saucy dishes, the flavor improves over time.
It will keep in the refrigerator for 7-10 days, and just needs to be rewarmed on the stovetop, in the microwave, or back in the crockpot.
Is Slow Cooker Brisket Gluten-Free And/Or Dairy-Free?
Yes! As long as the BBQ Sauce you buy is gluten-free and/or dairy-free the Spicy Chop is as well.
However, you must also buy gluten-free and/or dairy-free sandwich rolls, if making Chopped Beef Sandwiches.
Can You Make Chopped Beef Brisket In The Oven?
Yes! This savory slow cooker brisket can be made in a variety of ways, including in the oven. We actually have a separate recipe for that: Texas Oven Brisket Recipe
Love This Texas Chopped Beef? Try More Texas Inspired Recipes
- The Ultimate Texas Sheet Cake
- Texas King Ranch Chicken Casserole
- Spicy Texas Pete Vinaigrette
- Cowboy Caviar
- Spicy Cowboy Bacon Burgers
Chopped Beef Brisket Sandwich Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 4-4.5 pounds beef brisket
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons smoked paprika (or sweet paprika + 2 tsp liquid smoke)
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 18 ounces spicy bbq sauce (Texas-style)
- 8 sandwich rolls (I used brioche buns.)
- 1 cup sliced dill pickles
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix the brown sugar, paprika, salt, and all spices together. Rub the spice blend over the entire surface of the brisket.
- Set out a large 6-8 quart slow cooker. Place the brisket in the slow cooker, cover, and set on high for 6-7 hours, or on low for 11-13 hours.
- Once the brisket is fork-tender (shreddable) place it on a cutting board and slice it into thin strips, against the grain. Then chop the brisket strips into fine pieces.
- Move the chopped beef brisket back into the slow cooker. Add the spicy bbq sauce to the slow cooker, and stir the chopped beef, juices, and bbq sauce together.
- Cover and slow cook until ready to serve. *Give it at least 30 minutes, but the longer the beef cooks in the sauce the better.
- When ready to serve, scoop the chopped beef onto the buns and top with pickles.
This has nothing to do with beef brisket. When my husband and I purchased a big green egg when they first came out. I grew up with Southern Pulled Pork so thatโs what we made first-I made my Southern side of the familyโs rub and sauce and did the smoking. It turned out great. Throughout the years he loved smoked beef brisket (me not so much). When he made this I made many side dishes and own buns. After my husband died ( not that he should have) I was hungry for pulled pork. So thought mmmm low and slow-why not do that in the oven). So rubbed the pork butt with my rub put it in my grandmotherโs granite roaster at 11p at 250 degrees. When I woke up the smell was wonderful. I took the roaster out, temp of meat was not where it should be. Put it back in oven for several more hours. Called my neighbors for pulled pork dinner. It was delightful! My husband would have loved your recipe for sure. Decided to leave this reply to show one can make a big hunk of meat taste like on the smoker for hours in the oven! I have always said itโs how itโs prepared before going on smoker and the homemade sauce to put on it before serving that makes it so good-especially when all the accolades are given to my husband!!!
Loves it !!!! So easy and taste like it came from a real bbq place I have a smoker and couldnโt get it to come out this good thanks for sharing
Like I promised, I made your recipe, Sommer. It turned out fabulous. I never dreamed I could do brisket in a crockpot. I also purchased the spicy BBQ sauce through the Amazon link in the recipe. Very, very good. The whole family loved it.
You win! Dezi