Onion-Braised Beef Brisket
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Prepare a memorable dinner with this incredibly simple, make-ahead beef brisket recipe. It’s a foolproof crowd-pleaser, complete with a French onion soup-like gravy.
This celebrated beef brisket recipe comes from the late Nach Waxman, owner of the beloved New York City cookbook shop Kitchen Arts & Letters. First published in The Silver Palette New Basics Cookbook in 1989, it is apparently the world’s most Googled brisket recipe. The recipe is surprisingly simple. Unlike all other briskets I’ve made, there’s no wine, stock, or bottled sauces added. Instead, the brisket is cooked on top of a massive heap of onions, which slowly caramelize and release their natural juices, making a rich French onion soup-like braising liquid and gravy.
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“This brisket is AMAZING! It turns out perfect each time. Cutting it, then rearranging the slices back in the pan works great! Such beautiful flavor, delicious gravy, and juicy tender meat. Highly recommended!”
I have made some modifications to the recipe over the years, though the original can still be found here. This dish is ideal for preparing ahead of time, as the flavors deepen when served the following day. For me, it’s a Jewish holiday staple, alongside classics like matzo ball soup, challah, latkes and more. For those observing Passover, the flour in this recipe can easily be substituted with matzo meal to keep it compliant with Passover dietary guidelines.
What You’ll Need To Make Onion-Braised Beef Brisket
Butchers typically sell two types of brisket: flat cut and point cut. These two pieces together make up a full brisket, a large slab of muscle from the cow’s chest. The point cut has more marbling, while the flat cut (also called first cut or center cut) is lean but topped with a thick fat cap. This recipe calls for a first-cut/flat-cut brisket. Don’t let your butcher trim all the fat off! A small fat cap bastes the meat, adding flavor and keeping it from getting dry and tough.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Begin by seasoning the meat with lots of kosher salt and pepper.
Dust both sides with flour.
Heat the oil in a heavy flameproof roasting pan or ovenproof enameled cast iron pot until shimmering, then sear the brisket on both sides until brown and crusty in spots.
Transfer the meat to a platter, then add the onions to the pan.
Cook, stirring and scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan, until softened and golden brown, about 15 minutes.
Place the brisket back in the pan on top of the onions and spread the tomato paste on top. Scatter the carrots and garlic around the edges.
Cover the pan tightly with aluminum foil or a lid, and bake for 1-1/2 hours.
Remove the pan from the oven and transfer the brisket to a cutting board. Using an electric or sharp knife, slice the beef into 1/8 to 1/4-inch thick slices against the grain. It’s much easier to cut at this point than it is at the end.
Place the slices back in the pan on an angle, so that the top edge of each slice is showing. Baste the meat with the pan juices.
Cook for a few more hours, until the meat is tender.
You can serve it right away, but it’s better to refrigerate it overnight and reheat it the next day. It also freezes well.
“This is a 5-star, easily repeatable main dish that is now my go-to special occasion meal for larger groups. Do yourself a favor and make it ahead of time as suggested; enjoy that the cooking is already DONE the day of your dinner, and impress yourself with how truly flavorful and delicious this meal is.”
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Onion-Braised Beef Brisket
Prepare a memorable dinner with this incredibly simple, make-ahead beef brisket recipe. It’s a foolproof crowd-pleaser, complete with a French onion soup-like gravy.
Ingredients
- 1 5 to 6 pound first-cut (or flat-cut) beef brisket, trimmed so a thin layer of fat remains in some spots (do not over trim!)
- 1½ tablespoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (okay to substitute matzo cake meal for Passover)
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 8 medium yellow onions, peeled and sliced ½-inch thick
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 3 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
- 6 carrots, peeled and sliced into large chunks on a diagonal
- Handful fresh chopped parsley, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Set an oven rack in the middle position and preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Season the brisket on both sides with the salt and pepper. Lightly dust the brisket with the flour, then shake and turn to coat evenly. Heat the oil over medium-high heat in a heavy flameproof roasting pan or ovenproof enameled cast-iron pot just large enough to hold the brisket and carrots snugly. Add the brisket to the pan and sear on both sides until crusty brown areas appear on the surface, 5 to 7 minutes per side.
- Transfer the brisket to a platter, then add the onions to the pan and stir constantly with a wooden spoon, scraping up any browned bits stuck to the bottom of the pan. Cook until the onions are softened and golden brown, about 15 minutes. (If browned bits stick to the bottom of the pan and start to burn, add a few tablespoons of water and scrape with a wooden spoon to release them.)
- Turn off the heat and place the brisket, fatty side up, and any accumulated juices on top of the onions. Spread the tomato paste evenly over the brisket, then scatter the garlic and carrots around the edges of the pan. Cover the pan very tightly with aluminum foil (preferably heavy-duty or two layers) or a lid, then transfer to the oven and cook for 1½ hours.
- Transfer the brisket to a cutting board and, using an electric or very sharp knife, slice the meat across the grain into approximately ⅛ to ¼-inch-thick slices. Return the slices to the pan, overlapping them at an angle so that you can see a bit of the top edge of each slice. The end result should resemble the original unsliced brisket leaning slightly backward. Cover the pan tightly and return to the oven.
- Lower the heat to 325°F and cook the brisket until it is fork-tender, 1¾ to 2½ hours, or longer if necessary. The brisket is ready to serve with its juices, but it is even better the second day. (Note: If the sauce seems greasy, transfer the meat and vegetables to a platter and cover with foil to keep warm. Pour the sauce into a bowl and let sit until the fat rises to the top. Using a small ladle, spoon out the fat. Pour the skimmed gravy back over the meat.)
- Note: Nutritional information was calculated for a 5-pound brisket.
- Make-Ahead/Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The brisket can be made up to 3 days ahead of time and refrigerated. Reheat the brisket in a 300°F oven until hot, about 45 minutes. The brisket also freezes well for up to 2 months; defrost in the refrigerator 2 days ahead of time.
Pair with
Nutrition Information
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- Per serving (10 servings)
- Calories: 726
- Fat: 55 g
- Saturated fat: 21 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Sugar: 6 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 42 g
- Sodium: 844 mg
- Cholesterol: 213 mg
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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Hi Jenn- I’ve made this brisket so many times I can’t keep count! My husband and I love it. As with all recipes, I’ve made it my own- I add tons of carrots as we are obsessed with it, and I use several spoonfuls of ready-minced garlic as we love garlic. Instead of tomato paste, I top the meat with whatever bbq sauce I have in the fridge to give it a little kick. This is one of my all-time go to recipes that we never get tired of eating. (in fact, many of your recipes are in this category). Thanks!
Hi Jenn,
My mother always added red wine. If I added a cup or 2 would that ruin your recipe?
Thanks,
Edie
Hi Edythe, Yes, I think you could get away with adding red wine. You could also use it for the deglazing step. Hope you enjoy!
I have not tried this brisket recipe but it sounds fantastic. My question is: could this same method be used to make beef short ribs or a pot roast? PS: Love your recipes and cookbook! You cook they way I do.
Hi Betty, so glad you like the recipes! I actually have a braised short rib recipe that has a similar prep. You can check it out here. And I haven’t tried it, but suspect this would work with a pot roast as well.
Can you leave the flour out? I have guests who are gluten free?
Hi Hilary, I wouldn’t omit the flour, but you can replace it with gluten-free flour or cornstarch. Hope your guests enjoy!
Do you think Coconut flour would work?
Hi Bonnie, Yes, I think that should be fine. Enjoy!
GREAT recipe! I have made it several times. I follow directions exactly- well, almost. I throw the garlic in with the onions for the last 5 minutes or so. I also suggest as Jenn does to serve on the second day. I put the sliced meat and carrots in a casserole dish and the sauce/onions in a separate taller one. Easier to let the fat rise from the sauce/onions to the top and scoop off the next day before reheating. HIGHLY recommended! I used to smother my brisket in BBQ sauce, catsup, broth, etc. Never again! Note: make sure you have a big enough pan/cast iron pot to handle slab. Gets pretty heavy so may need an extra pair of hands in the kitchen to get in and out of oven. I cook mine on 325 convection and lower to 275 after slicing. Timing just depends on how big the meat is. Lots of onions to chop so I throw them in the freezer for an hour. Helps reduce the tears!!!
I’ve made many briskets through the decades but never sliced them during the cooking process as you suggest in both of your site’s brisket recipes. Is that really necessary? Can you explain the reason for it? Not doubting you, just very curious why that’s the case. Thanks!
Hi Andi, I find it’s easier to slice it at that point as it’s a bit firmer. Also, slicing it 1/2 way through cooking time helps the inside of the brisket absorb more of that flavorful braising liquid. Hope that clarifies!
Can this brisket be kept in the crockpot to keep warm for a potluck
Sure Dolores, that should be fine. Enjoy!
This is the most AMAZING brisket recipe I’ve ever tried! It’s so luscious and delicious! A real winner! Thank you so much! I’ll be using it for years to come! I’ve made it 3x in the past month and it’s currently in the oven now 🤤
Jenn- I have a whole brisket that is frozen. Can I make this using the whole thing (I guess the tip and the flat)?
Hi Kelly, I haven’t made a whole brisket but as long as you have a pan that’s big enough, it should work. It will likely take longer in the oven, but I’m not sure by how much so I’d cook it until it’s fork tender. Hope that helps!
This is the absolute best meat recipe I’ve encountered! I’ve made it now several times and it’s always delectable. We like it best without the carrots. I’ve always felt like a meat amateur and now my gourmet cook friends are asking for this recipe! Thanks so much, Jenn!
Made this exactly as written and allowed to sit in frig overnight…..it was amazing!! Served with your fluffy jasmine rice recipe and French green beans. It was the perfect Sunday meal. Love every recipe I have tried and have both books. Jenn, you are my “go to” when I want the meal to be perfect. Thanks for sharing your love of cooking with our families.
💗