Description
Looking for a crowd-pleasing dinner that practically cooks itself? This Slow Cooker Cranberry Glazed Brisket delivers bold, cozy flavors with minimal effort. It’s a festive dish with fork-tender brisket, slow-cooked in a sweet-tart cranberry glaze that perfectly balances richness and brightness. Ideal for easy dinner ideas, holiday meals, or comforting food ideas for a weekend gathering. This easy recipe is both impressive and foolproof, making it a go-to for anyone looking to simplify dinner without compromising flavor.
Ingredients
3 to 4 pounds beef brisket, trimmed of excess fat
1 tablespoon olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
14 oz can whole berry cranberry sauce
1/2 cup beef broth
1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
2 sprigs fresh rosemary or 1 teaspoon dried
4 to 5 sprigs fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon dried
Optional garnish: extra cranberries, rosemary sprigs, or chopped parsley
Instructions
1. Season the brisket with salt and pepper.
2. Heat olive oil in a skillet and sear the brisket on all sides until browned.
3. In a bowl, whisk together cranberry sauce, broth, balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, and onion powder.
4. Place the brisket in the slow cooker and pour the glaze over the meat.
5. Add rosemary and thyme sprigs to the slow cooker.
6. Cover and cook on LOW for 8–10 hours or HIGH for 4–5 hours until the meat is fork-tender.
7. Optional: Transfer cooking liquid to a saucepan and simmer to reduce and thicken.
8. Let the brisket rest for 10–15 minutes before slicing against the grain.
9. Garnish with herbs or cranberries and serve warm.
Notes
Let the brisket rest before slicing to retain its juices.
Searing the meat adds extra depth and should not be skipped if possible.
Whole berry cranberry sauce provides better texture and flavor than jellied varieties.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 of recipe
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 16g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 21g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 36g
- Cholesterol: 105mg