Chopped Beef Brisket Sandwich
by Sommer Collier — last updated on May 17, 2025 
We are CRAZY over Slow Cooker Chopped Brisket! It’s a simple crock pot recipe that makes the most tender, smoky, and spicy-sweet Texas BBQ beef brisket sandwiches with barely any effort.
Crock Pot Brisket? You Betcha!
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 trailer… Right? The problem is, most people don’t own pit trailers, in-ground smoking pits, or even electric smokers at home. But I’m here to tell you, you can make killer 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!
Sommer’s Recipe Notes
It’s a little-known fact that some of the best barbecue in the world is found in Oklahoma, where I grew up. After all, it’s 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!
Why You’ll Love Crock Pot Chopped Brisket
- Incredible Flavor – This recipe makes beef that is 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!
- Practically Foolproof – This is a true “all day” crockpot recipe. You really can’t over-cook it… The longer it cooks, the more tender it becomes!
- Perfect to Make Ahead – Chopped BBQ Beef Brisket is a great make-ahead meal! Actually, as with most saucy dishes, the flavor improves over time.
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! So if you’ve never had a Texas-style Chopped Beef Brisket Sandwich… It’s time.
Ingredients and Tips
- Beef Brisket – If you get a piece with a large slab of fat on it, you can trim off some of the fat, but don’t remove it all!
- Dry Rub – We’re using a classic southern BBQ blend of brown sugar, smoked paprika, salt, ground cumin, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper.
- Spicy BBQ Sauce – For a true “spicy chopped” Texas BBQ beef brisket sandwich recipe you’ve got to use a spicy Texas-style sauce!
- To Serve – Soft sandwich rolls, like brioche buns, and pickle slices.
Recipe Variations
- Less Spicy – Feel free to omit the cayenne pepper from the dry rub blend.
- BBQ Sauce – Really, you can use whatever sauce you like! This recipe works just as well with smoky mesquite, sticky-sweet, hickory bourbon, or other barbecue sauce you prefer.
How to Make Crock Pot Chopped Brisket for Sandwiches
The two best tips to make an amazing Texas brisket in the crock pot, are to:
- Rub it down with spices (a dry rub) with a strong smoky essence.
- Slow cook the brisket for a long long time… Until it’s shreddable.
Find the full Crock Pot Chopped Brisket Sandwich recipe with detailed instructions, storage tips, and a video tutorial in the printable form at the bottom of the post.
Storage Notes
- Storing Leftovers – Store cooled Texas BBQ beef in an airtight container and keep in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
- Freezing – Place the beef in an airtight container it can freeze for up to 6 months. Thaw at room temperature before reheating, so the pieces don’t turn to mush as you are warming it.
- Reheating – Warm the leftovers in the slow cooker or microwave.
Serving Suggestions
Spicy Chopped Beef can be served on a bbq platter with classic southern sides like spicy mustard, crackers and cheese.
But this crock pot brisket recipe is most often used to make barbecue sandwiches. When you’re ready to eat, scoop the chopped beef onto toasted buns, and top the chopped brisket sandwich with dill pickles or sweeter bread and butter pickles.
Or, use the beef on top of salads, nachos, or even add it to your favorite soups!
Frequently Asked Questions
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. Unlike some other southern BBQ recipes, you never shred this beef – it must be chopped!
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
Like most beef, it’s best to slice the brisket against the grain. This tenderizes the meat while also keeping in the juices.
A 4-4.5 pound brisket yields roughly 8 sandwiches, each loaded with .5 lb of beef. This is approximately 1 cup of meat.
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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.
Notes
- Storing Leftovers – Store cooled Texas BBQ beef in an airtight container and keep in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
- Freezing – Place the beef in an airtight container it can freeze for up to 6 months. Thaw at room temperature before reheating, so the pieces don’t turn to mush as you are warming it.
- Reheating – Warm the leftovers in the slow cooker or microwave.
Hi Sommer,
I am getting the brisket today. Making tomorrow. Here is my question.
I read your post on this brisket. I gotta ask. Since you are from Oklahoma
and I am from Oklahoma, what are the greatest BBQ places that you alluded
to in this piece? You did not mention and I understand why, but as someone who is always searching for the best BBQ, I’d like to know what you remember as being really good here. Thank you a ton. I will rate this recipe tomorrow
after I have cooked it.
You are sooo right about the notion that ……….can good BBQ come from a slow cooker?
Based on what you said, I am going to try this tomorrow. Dezi
Quick question….. no liquid in the crock pot?? Broth, beer, something?? If not, do we spray down slow cooker insert with nonstick spray?
Thanks so much ~ can’t wait to try. Although my husband and son will probably devour it all and my daughter and I will be left with the pickles!!
Hi Kristen,
The brisket will quickly start releasing juices, so there’s no need for extra liquid or greasing. Promise! :)
It was amazing! I did the high for 6.5 hours and it shredded beautifully. I also threw about 1.5 cups diced onion in instead of the onion powder for the full cooking time and they were a great addition. I will definitely make it again!
Love this recipe. Outstanding. We all loved it
So good. Honestly don’t change a thing! I live in Texas and we eat chopped beef sandwiches often…this is a winner recipe!
This recipe turned out to be amazing. And the chef is correct, you cannot overcook it. We cooked ours for almost 24 hours and received rave reviews from my family. Like a Thanksgiving dinner, the leftovers or even better!
I picked up a large brisket from Costco and cut it in half. I’ll be using this recipe again on the other half in the future.
There are all kinds of metrics to measure how good a recipe is… My metric? I gained 2 pounds… Enough said.
This was wonderful! I followed recipe as written except used Sweet Baby Rays Sweet and Spicy BBQ Sauce and used a 2.5 lb brisket following the 5 serving measurements. I cooked it on low for 12 hours which was perfect. I also served it on kaiser rolls with coleslaw on mine. My 12 year old grandson absolutely loved it and said the recipe was a keeper! Will definitely be making again. Thanks
This was the perfect way to cook brisket as an alternative to a smoker! Loved it!
I love any good slow cooker meals, and this one is a must try!
This looks amazing!!
My boys devoured this! We will make this again for sure. I love how simple it is to make.
delicious!