15+ Delicious Leftover Brisket Recipes (2024)

Ever wondered what to do with leftover brisket? Don't let that succulent meat go to waste and instead refrigerate or freeze it to use up in one of these delicious brisket recipes. PS. We have provided a basic Instant Pot brisket recipe and other cooking methods below!

15+ Delicious Leftover Brisket Recipes (1)

For us Instant Pot users, brisket is a cut that is cooked beautifully in the pressure cooker. We often make a big batch and sometimes are faced with a few leftovers. While having the same brisket meal might not excite you the day after, creating something completely new might just be the ticket.
Before we begin, here is a recap of a few ways you can make brisket in the first place.

FIVE WAYS TO COOK BRISKET

INSTANT POT: Pre-heat the 6 qt IP using Sauté setting. When the Instant Pot is hot, add the oil. Place the brisket in the IP. After the meat sears on one side, flip it over and repeat. Remove the brisket then sauté the onions and add any remaining ingredients, make sure you add at least 1 cup of liquid. Return the meat to the IP, submerging it in liquid. Lock the lid and set to cook on high pressure for 1 hour and 15 minutes with a natural release (takes about another 30 minutes).

Remove brisket and save the juices to make a sauce. Slice brisket against the grain or shred with two forks. Pour sauce over brisket. You can use this as a template and add your own rub seasoning and sauce.

Check out these Instant Pot brisket recipes from:

SLOW COOKER:Rub your spice mixture all over the top of the brisket.Pour 1 cup water into the bottom of slow cooker then place the spice-covered brisket over water. Pour the liquid smoke and Worcestershire sauce over top of the brisket. Cover with lid and cook on Low heat for 12 hours.Remove brisket to a large platter to shred. Then return the brisket back to theslow cooker and pour your choice of barbecue sauce all over the top and stir. Cover with lid and cook another 30 minutes then serve. Full recipe fromLife In The Lofthouse.

OVEN:Preheat oven to 300°, create your seasoning and rub on brisket then place the brisket, fat cap up in roasting pan with aluminum foil covering loosely. Bake for about 1 hour and 15 minutes per pound, until the brisket reaches about 180°. (etc. 4.5 lb brisket takes approximately 5 ½ hours.)Open up the foil and place it back in the oven for another 45 minutes to an hour. Full recipe from Will Cook For Smiles.

BBQ: Grilling and Smoking brisket is the most popular method. First, create your seasoning mixture and rub it on the brisket. To get s smokey flavor without a smoker, pour wood chips in a foil pan and add enough water to cover the chips. Cover with foil and cut slits in the foil to allow smoke to escape.Light your grill. Turn the burners on one-half of the grill off. Keep the burners on the other half set to LOW heat. Place the brisket directly on the lit side of the grill, fatty side up, and grill for about 5 minutes. Turn the brisket over and grill for 5 minutes more. Next, place the brisket into a clean foil pan and move it to the unlit side of the grill. Place the covered foil pan with the wood chips in it on the lit side of the grill and close the grill. Allow the brisket to cook for approximately 3 hours. You want your grill temperature to remain at about 300 degrees. Full recipe from Foodtastic Mom.

STOVETOP: Sear the brisket at high heat on all sides in a very large pan to lock in the flavor, moisture, and color. Then saute veggies and seasoning with the brisket followed by adding broth to simmer at a braising temperature of 185°. Reduce until the brisket falls apart. Check out this Youtube video of how to makeStovetop Brisket With Beer & Tomato Sauce: Cooking With Beer

15+ LEFTOVER BRISKET RECIPES

So, you've cooked up a bunch of delicious brisket? If your family hasn't devoured the whole lot, get inspired with our collection of leftover brisket ideas below.

INSTANT POT BRUNSWICK STEW

This stew is a Southern dish made with beans, vegetables, and meat cooked in a tomato base. The stew is usually finished with barbecue sauce and has a touch of cayenne pepper or chili to give it a rich flavor and sweetness. It’s a great recipe for using up leftover meat and vegetables, as well as some ingredients in your pantry. Recipe from Instant Pot Eats.

Brisket Baked Beans

15+ Delicious Leftover Brisket Recipes (3)

Baked beans are inextricably woven into the fabric of American barbecue and they’re about to get a lot better. With brisket. Lots of brisket. This is a great place to use up all those burnt ends and brisket trimmings. Sweet, salty, smoky, and, above all, meaty, these are everything you hunger for in baked beans—and more. Recipe from Barbecue Bible.

Also, try this recipe:

Brisket Grilled Cheese

15+ Delicious Leftover Brisket Recipes (4)

A buttery, crispy grilled cheese sandwich with gooey melted cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese and pieces of tender slow-cooked brisket, this is a delicious, drool-worthy sandwich. It’s a stick-to-your-ribs kind of lunch. Recipe from Spicy Southern Kitchen.

Also, try this recipe:

Brisket Loaded Fries

15+ Delicious Leftover Brisket Recipes (5)

A favorite go-to meal or game-day snack.These brisket-loaded fries are piled high and are perfect for feeding a hungry crowd.Recipe from Cowboy's Life Blog.

Also, try this recipe:

VIETNAMESE INSTANT POT BEEF BRISKET TACOS

This meat is tender and slightly spicy, bursting with umami flavor. Shredded slaw, jalapeños, cilantro, and zingy lime make for the perfect crunchy toppings, bringing together that awesome Vietnamese street food vibe right to your dinner table. This scrumptious Vietnamese-inspired Instant Pot beef tacos recipe comes from Laurel Randolph’s cookbook, The Instant Pot No-Pressure Cookbook. Get the recipe fromInstant Pot Eats.

Leftover Smoked Brisket Taquitos

15+ Delicious Leftover Brisket Recipes (7)

Making the brisket taquitos is pretty simple, but the most work goes into the prep. Prepping all the ingredients is important because when you are in the thick of making everything, you don’t want to need something and it hasn’t been chopped or heated! Recipe from System Of A Brown.

Also, try this recipe:

TAMALE (LEFTOVER BRISKET) PIE

15+ Delicious Leftover Brisket Recipes (8)

Ever heard of a tamale pie or a cornbread pie? A cornbread crust is cooked on top of tamale fillings creating a pie.Comfort food using leftover brisket is a huge bonus that is balanced with the fresh sweet cornbread.Recipe from Smella Que.

Texas Brisket Queso

15+ Delicious Leftover Brisket Recipes (9)

The queso is a real, authentic, Tex Mex queso made with American cheese, so it’s Velveeta free. It is so easy to whip up a batch of real queso on your own with yourleftover brisket after a barbecue. Recipe from Urban Cowgirl Life.

BBQ Brisket Nachos

15+ Delicious Leftover Brisket Recipes (10)

Crunchy tortilla chips covered with shredded beef brisket and cheese plus all kinds of toppings. These nachos are totally customizable so that the whole family will enjoy them. Recipe from Spicy Southern Kitchen.

BEEF EMPANADAS (WITH LEFTOVER BRISKET)

15+ Delicious Leftover Brisket Recipes (11)

Tender smoked beef brisket, mixed with some savory vegetables, herbs, and just a hint of spice, sandwiched in puff pastry, and baked into the most flavorful Beef Empanadas! Recipe from Vindulge.

Leftover Brisket Pasta

15+ Delicious Leftover Brisket Recipes (12)

Sometimes tossing together what is seemingly random ingredients turns into one of the best-loved pasta recipes you will ever have. You just need some mushrooms, kale, onion, lemon, some Parmesan, and brisket.Recipe from Nosh With Tash.

Also, try this recipe:

LEFTOVER BBQ BRISKET PIZZA

15+ Delicious Leftover Brisket Recipes (13)

Kick your pizza night up a notch with BBQ sauce, gooey jack cheese, some fresh veggies, and leftover BRISKET. Recipe from Our Tasty Adventure.

Leftover Brisket Fried Rice

15+ Delicious Leftover Brisket Recipes (14)

Avoid brisket burnout with this fried rice recipe. Veggies and spicy green hot sauce adds some freshness and bring the smoky, meaty brisket back to life. Recipe from With The Woodruffs.

Smoked Brisket Shepherd’s Pie with Jalapeno Cheddar Mashed Potatoes

15+ Delicious Leftover Brisket Recipes (15)

Take the best part of your BBQ get-together and continue to enjoy it a little longer with this shepherd's pie with a twist. Recipe from Country Cleaver.

CHOPPED SALAD WITH BRISKET LEFTOVERS

15+ Delicious Leftover Brisket Recipes (16)

This is a great appetizer or side to repurpose your leftovers. You can make this salad with any veg, but it is best to use a hearty leaf like kale or Romaine that can be chopped up with another crunchy veg before being topped with meat. Recipe from Jamie Geller.

Also, try this recipe:

Leftover Brisket Breakfast Skillet

15+ Delicious Leftover Brisket Recipes (17)

You can have brisket for BREAKFAST, lunch, and dinner. Do you have plans to go camping? Bring your leftover brisket with you and have a gourmet meal over a fire with this breakfast skillet.Brisket goes perfect with potatoes and a runny sunny-side-up egg. Recipe from Over The Fire Cooking.

Also, try this recipe:

SAVE Instant Pot Brisket Recipes TO PINTEREST

15+ Delicious Leftover Brisket Recipes (18)

15+ Delicious Leftover Brisket Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What can I do with leftover tough brisket? ›

If your leftover brisket seems a bit dry, never fear. It can still be revived and no one will be the wiser. To moisten the meat, give it a marinade in some warm beef broth, and make sure to add broth when reheating. Another option is to use the meat in dishes where it can soak up a rich sauce.

How long is leftover brisket good for? ›

Cooked brisket without liquid or gravy will last longer in the fridge (up to four days) but less time in the freezer (up to two months). If the brisket is stored in the gravy, it may be refrigerated up to two days and frozen up to three months.

What can I use overcooked brisket for? ›

13 Best Leftover Beef Brisket Recipes
  • Smoked Brisket Chili.
  • Chopped Beef Sandwich.
  • Texas Twinkies.
  • Brisket Grilled Cheese.
  • Leftover Brisket Bolognese.
  • Grilled Brisket Breakfast Burrito.
  • Breakfast Brisket Hash.
  • Four Ingredient Breakfast Quesadillas.

Can you tenderize brisket after it has been cooked? ›

Slice the brisket into 1/4-inch-thick slices and put the slices into a roasting pan. Cover the sliced meat with the defatted cooking liquid and reheat slowly. All the fat is gone and the meat is tender and juicy.

Does brisket get more tender the longer you cook it? ›

The temperature of the meat begins to rise again -- which you want because brisket gets more tender the longer you cook it.

Can you eat 2 week old brisket? ›

USDA recommends using cooked beef within 3 to 4 days, kept refrigerated (40°F or less). Refrigeration slows but does not stop bacterial growth. USDA recommends using cooked leftovers within 3 to 4 days.

Can I freeze brisket after cooking? ›

Brisket retains more moisture and reheats with better results if well-wrapped in plastic and left in large chunks instead of slices before freezing. Stewed beef dishes such as chili freeze best in heavy zipper-top bags.

How do you moisten a dry brisket? ›

After two or four hours of cooking, you can lightly spray your brisket with water, hot sauce, apple cider vinegar, or apple juice. You can do this every 30 minutes or every hour, based on preference.

What is the best liquid to keep brisket moist? ›

Plain Water

Sometimes the simple way is a good way to go too. If you want to give your brisket some extra moisture without messing with the flavor, just use plain water. It will get the job done and allow you to focus on imparting your desired flavor into the meat through a brisket injection and exterior rub.

How do you keep brisket moist when reheating? ›

Cover the brisket with slices of butter. This fat is your friend to provide much needed moisture when reheating. Reheat until the internal temperature is over 140. This will take 90 - 120 minutes depending on the size of your brisket.

How do you make brisket more flavorful? ›

The day before you plan to cook the brisket, apply a generous amount of brisket rub on all sides of meat and refrigerate overnight. The rub will not only enhance the flavor of the meat, but tenderize it as well. Similar to rubs, the meat should soak overnight in the marinade for maximum flavor absorption.

How to make already cooked brisket? ›

Here's how to do it:
  1. Preheat your oven to 325°F.
  2. Place your brisket in a pan or dish.
  3. Pour beef broth over the brisket. ...
  4. Cover the brisket tightly with aluminum foil, creating a double layer.
  5. Place the brisket in the oven and reheat for about 45 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Apr 12, 2023

What not to do with brisket? ›

12 Brisket Mistakes Everyone Should Avoid
  1. Cooking at the Wrong Temperature. ...
  2. Using the Wrong Rub. ...
  3. Not Allowing (More Than) Enough Time to Smoke. ...
  4. Not Letting Brisket Rest Long Enough. ...
  5. Making Too Many Changes Between Cooks. ...
  6. Only Looking at Time and Temperature Before Wrapping. ...
  7. Spraying the Fat. ...
  8. Over or Under Smoking the Meat.

Can you overcook slow cooked brisket? ›

Can you overcook brisket in a slow cooker? Cooking the brisket for too long can result in a lackluster texture and flavor. Make sure to check on the brisket starting at seven hours to see how it's progressing. Cooking it longer (such as 10 hours) will not necessarily result in better meat.

Why did my brisket turn out tough? ›

If your brisket is coming out tough, there are a few possible reasons: it could be a bad cut, you're cooking the brisket at a too high a temperature for too long, you're not resting the brisket for long enough, and more. Coming from a BBQ-loving family, I learned to make brisket as a kid. I've got brisket in my blood.

Why is my brisket tough and dry? ›

It's more likely that a dry brisket is overcooked, rather than under, but the dryness can also be the result of improper seasoning or particularly low fat marbling. Not to mention, brisket usually is cooked to like, 180ºF, so overcooking it takes quite a bit of effort/negligence.

Can you cook a brisket twice? ›

Purchase a whole fresh beef brisket (not corned) or 2 center-cut pieces. Oven-braise the brisket up to 2 days ahead; chill meat and pan juices separately. To serve, slice meat and reheat in sauce.

Can you put brisket back on smoker? ›

Reheating the brisket

This is where the magic happens. Unwrap the flat of the brisket and place ¼ cup of butter on top of the brisket. Wrap the brisket flat in butcher paper with the butter and place it back onto your smoker at 250 degrees. For the point, cube up the point and place it in an aluminum foil tray.

References

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