This Beef Brisket Sandwich recipe is droolworthy! Beef brisket is cooked until tender and juicy in an Instant Pot and piled on brioche rolls. The sandwiches are drizzled with an easy homemade sweet and tangy barbecue sauce and topped with crunchy cole slaw and pickles. The beef brisket tastes even better the next day so this is the perfect make ahead meal.
Recipe review
A quick look at this recipe
- Recipe Name: Beef Brisket Sandwiches
- Ready In: 15 minutes prep, 1 hour 30 minutes cook time
- Serves: 12
- Calories: 445 per serving
- Main Ingredients: Beef brisket, onions, beef stock, shredded cabbage and carrot slaw, buns
- Difficulty: Easy
We are a home that loves to be full of friends and family. And when I think of enjoying my time with guests, I want to spend less time in the kitchen. But serving delicious meals like these hands-off baby back ribs baked in the oven is high on my priority list.
I was inspired to share this easy make ahead bbq brisket sandwich after recently serving them to my family. The dinner table was unusually quiet. Everyone was devouring the deliciousness of the barbecue beef sandwiches.
Of course I served them with oven baked fries. They're so crispy without the need to fry in oil. And my corn and bacon salad rounded out the meal.
With the warm summer months loaded with all the fun barbecues, picnics, and dinners, I knew I just had to share this recipe with you.
My brisket sandwich recipe is loaded with all the favorites of barbecue. Tender beef brisket, sweet, tangy and slightly spicy bbq sauce, a crunchy cole slaw and pickle chips are piled high on soft brioche buns.
This is an out-of-this-world sandwich! Be sure to have some napkins on hand for this deliciously messy brisket sandwich with cole slaw.
An Instant Pot speeds up the cooking of the beef brisket. It's one of my favorite ways to cook tougher cuts of meat like beef brisket, chuck roast, and pork shoulder. My Cuban Pulled Pork Sandwiches are another tasty Instant Pot recipe.
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Ingredients for beef brisket sandwiches
- Beef brisket
- Montreal steak seasoning
- Yellow onion
- Reduced sodium beef stock
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Apple cider vinegar
- Sugar
- Kosher salt and black pepper
- Shredded cabbage and carrot mix
- Homemade bbq sauce
- Pickle chips
- Brioche buns
Substitutions
- Montreal steak seasoning: Substitute your favorite steak rub - either store bought or homemade.
- Yellow onion: White or red onions can also be used in the recipe.
- Reduced sodium beef stock: Regular beef stock is also an option
- Extra virgin olive oil: You can use avocado oil too.
- Shredded cabbage and carrot mix: Using a shredded bag of cabbage and carrots is convenient. But you can shred it yourself too.
- Homemade barbecue sauce: If you have a favorite brand of bbq sauce, by all means, use it!
- Pickle chips: Try dill, sweet or bread and butter pickles.
- Brioche buns: Any sandwich sized bun can be used for the brisket sandwiches. Try white, whole wheat or kaiser rolls.
How do you make brisket sandwiches?
- Season the brisket ~ My go to all purpose spice blend is Montreal Steak Seasoning. I use it on everything. Generously season both sides of the beef brisket.
- Cook the brisket in an Instant Pot ~ Add sliced onion, the seasoned brisket, and reduced sodium beef broth to an Instant Pot. Cook on High Pressure for 75 minutes then a Natural Release of 15 minutes.
- Shred the brisket ~ Using 2 forks, shred the brisket. Place it in a bowl and add some of the cooking liquid.
- Make the cole slaw ~ Whisk the vinaigrette ingredients. Add the shredded cabbage and carrots and toss to coat.
- Assemble the brisket sandwiches ~ Fill buns with shredded beef brisket, a squeeze of homemade bbq sauce, cole slaw, and pickle chips.
Cooking tips
- Trim the fat ~ With a sharp knife, trim fat off the beef brisket. You want to leave about ¼ inch of fat on the beef.
- Save the cooking liquid ~ After the beef brisket cooks, there is a rich and delicious liquid in the Instant Pot. Pour some over the shredded beef for extra flavor. Save the remaining liquid and add a little when reheating the beef.
- Pass the sauce ~ I like to let each person add as much or as little of the barbecue sauce to their sandwich. These plastic squeeze bottles are perfect for drizzling just the right amount of sauce on the brisket.
Can you make brisket in advance?
Definitely! The beef brisket will taste even better the next day. Cook the brisket as directed in the recipe. Shred the beef and cool completely. Store in an airtight container (I like these glass storage containers) for up to 4 days in the refrigerator. You can also freeze the brisket for up to 3 months.
What to serve with bbq brisket sandwiches?
BBQ beef brisket sandwiches are a fabulous make ahead meal that feeds a crowd. But what are some delicious side dishes to go along with this classic barbecue sandwich? Here are some of my all time favorites.
One more thing
Did you try this recipe?
Let me know by leaving a comment and a star rating below. Share it on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook.
Thanks ~ Amy
Recipe
Beef Brisket Sandwich
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 ½ to 4 pounds flat beef brisket trimmed of fat
- Montreal steak seasoning
- 1 medium onion sliced
- 1 14.5 ounce can reduced sodium beef broth
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 1 14 ounce bag shredded cabbage and carrot cole slaw mix
- 3 cups store bought or homemade bbq sauce
- bread and butter pickle chips
- 12 brioche buns
Instructions
- Season the brisket: Generously season brisket with Montreal Steak Seasoning.3 ½ to 4 pounds flat beef brisket, Montreal steak seasoning
- Pressure cook the brisket: Add sliced onions, seasoned brisket and beef broth to an Instant Pot. Seal the lid on the pot. Pressure cook on High for 75 minutes then Natural Release for 15 minutes. Remove the lid.1 medium onion, 1 14.5 ounce can reduced sodium beef broth
- Shred the brisket: Place the beef brisket on a large cutting board. Using 2 forks, shred the brisket and discard any fat. Place the brisket in a large bowl and add about 1 cup of the cooking liquid from the Instant Pot.
- Make the cole slaw: In a large bowl, whisk the extra virgin olive oil, apple cider vinegar, sugar, kosher salt, and pepper. Add the cole slaw mix and toss to combine with the vinaigrette. Set aside.2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 2 teaspoons granulated sugar, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper, 1 14 ounce bag shredded cabbage and carrot cole slaw mix
- Assemble the brisket sandwiches: For each brisket sandwich, place a generous amount shredded brisket on the bottom bun. Top with bbq sauce, cole slaw and a few pickles. Add the top bun and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Trim the fat ~ With a sharp knife, trim fat off the beef brisket. You want to leave about ¼ inch of fat on the beef.
- Save the cooking liquid ~ After the beef brisket cooks, there is a rich and delicious liquid in the Instant Pot. Pour some over the shredded beef for extra flavor. Save the remaining liquid and add a little when reheating the beef.
- Pass the sauce ~ I like to let each person add as much or as little of the barbecue sauce to their sandwich. These plastic squeeze bottles are perfect for drizzling just the right amount of sauce on the brisket.
Nutrition
Allyssa says
Very tasty and super flavorful! Loved the seasonings and how it turned out! Loved this!
Amy Casey says
Thanks Allyssa!
Kate says
This brisket is super easy to make and I love that you can make it ahead of time. It really does taste better the next day!
Amy Casey says
Don't you just love make ahead recipes? It makes meal time so easy.
Dani says
This was my first time using a pressure cooker to cook a brisket and I am sold! It came out perfect
Amy Casey says
That is great Dani. I love that my pressure cooker can double as a slow cooker too.
Jenny says
The brisket sandwiches came out great! We had an outdoor gathering and served these, they were such a big hit. Your recipe is easy and fuss-free; Thanks so much; we will make them again
Amy Casey says
That is why I love this recipe. Perfect for a group without a lot of prep. Thanks for your comment Jenny 🙂
Tracy says
This sandwich is so incredible. We loved all of the amazing flavors. That homemade BBQ sauce is soooo good. Thanks for another recipe!
Amy Casey says
Thank you Tracy! This is my go to bbq sauce.
Mikayla says
In just under an hour I put dinner in the table and everyone loved it. They wanted left overs for lunch the next day!
Amy Casey says
Aren't leftovers the best?! Thanks for your comment Mikayla.