This tender, slow cooked beef brisket is served with a savory cranberry glaze, making it the perfect main dish for your holiday dinner.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
If you’re looking for something a little different to serve for your holiday dinner this year, I highly recommend this Slow Cooker Cranberry Brisket.
The sauce combines canned whole berry cranberry sauce with other savory ingredients that transform an ordinary beef brisket into something special enough to serve for Christmas dinner.
As much as my family loves ham, my husband and boys would prefer a nice beef brisket any day of the week, so I serve this often during the holiday season.
It’s easy enough for every day cooking, but nice enough as the main course for your holiday meal.
I really love how simple it is–preparing a holiday feast can be so much work–and the fact that it’s a slow cooker recipe means I have enough room left in the oven for all my other side dishes.
The slow cooker also ensures the meat comes out juicy and tender. No need to worry about your main dish coming out dry and bland with this recipe.
Of course, the cranberry glaze is what makes this brisket perfect for even the most elegant of holiday meals. It adds beautiful color and the savory but slightly tangy flavor of the cranberries is the perfect accompaniment to the savory brisket.
If you’ve traditionally associated beef brisket with barbecue, like I have, this version will be a pleasant surprise.
It’s especially good served alongside some horseradish infused mashed potatoes and a side of roasted green beans.
Whether you serve it for Christmas dinner or just a regular week night meal, this brisket recipe is a must try this holiday season!
Be sure to save this recipe to your favorite Pinterest board for later.
Ingredients
- Beef brisket
- Cranberry sauce
- Ginger ale
- Dried cranberries
- Onion soup mix
- Cornstarch
- Salt and pepper
Slow Cooker Cranberry Brisket
Ingredients
- 1 3-4 lb. beef brisket
- 2 14 oz. cans whole berry cranberry sauce
- 1 12 oz. can ginger ale
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1 envelope onion soup mix
- 1 tablespoons cornstarch
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Place brisket in a lightly greased slow cooker. In a medium bowl, whisk together 1 can of cranberry sauce, ginger ail, dried cranberries, onion soup mix, corn starch and salt and pepper, to taste.
- Pour sauce over brisket. Cover and cook on low for about 8 hours, or until brisket is tender.
- Remove brisket to a platter. Cover and let stand for 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile in a medium bowl, whisk together remaining can of cranberry sauce with desired amount of juices from slow cooker to create a glaze. Slice brisket and serve with cranberry glaze.
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Nutrition
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22 comments
Swoozie
This was delicious and a huge hit for Christmas dinner! I did have to make it in the Instant Pot due to time constraints. Followed the ingredients exactly but put it in the Instant Pot on high pressure for 75 minutes. Will definitely make this again!!
melissa m foster
Can you let this marinate overnight before cooking? Just wondering if that would add flavor.
Deborah
My husband loves brisket, came across your exciting dish, I am going to try this for him Christmas this year 2021, it sounds wonderful. Have a safe and enjoyable holiday.
Janelle
I just got my brisket in the crock pot at 6am, here’s to hoping this is good! I braised mine first in oil on the stove, has anyone done that yet? Also added sprigs of rosemary to the pot so I’ll let you know…
Janelle
It turned out great! I would definitely make this again!
Brooke
Can you use corned beef brisket?
Carmen Reyes
Hello Brooke, reading through comments on this recipe, and I also was wondering the same thing about corned beef brisket. Did you make it with corned beef brisket, how did it turn out for you?
Danelle
I haven’t ever tried that, but it would probably work.
Emily
Brisket is very expensive here right now. Any other cuts you recommend?
Christina
Can I substitute flour for cornstarch? Cornstarch & I do not get along. LOL
Thanks.
Kim
Help! Of corse it’s Christmas Morning and I realized my husband grabbed French Onion soup instead of Onion Soup. Will this work or should i send him back out to the store?
Jessica
Did it work? Lol I did the same thing!
Kelsey
Can you make this recipe in an instant pot?
Danelle
I’m sure it could. I don’t use an Instant pot, so I couldn’t tell you how to convert the recipe though.
Lynn
Have you made this in the oven ? I’m making 20 lbs of brisket so will need to do this in the oven. If so, can you provide details?
Pat Ray
I’ve decided to make this for christmas. The Butcher asked me if I wanted the
brisket trimmed or untrimmed. What would you suggest?
Danelle
I prefer trimmed, but it’s really a personal preference.
Alex
Super excited to try this! I do have a question, on the recipe or calls for 1/2 of cranberries but in the steps it doesn’t call for them to be used? Are they not needed after all and it’s just the can of cranberry sauce that’s used?
Danelle
Oops! That was a typo. They go into the sauce mixture that goes in the slow cooker. I updated the recipe. Thanks!
Dara
my family loved it over buttered egg noodles or buttered fettuccini
Maxine Moates
What to serve with the cranberry brisket? I just need some suggestions. Thanks
maxinemoates @gmail.com
Danelle
In the post I recommend horseradish mashed potatoes and green beans. But any kind of potato (roasted, baked, etc.) and vegetable would go well, I think.