No smoker? No problem. Make the best of a good thing with your slow cooker. This fork-tender brisket is magical. Then you know I had to add some cheese sauce and make tacos, because tacos, duh ;).
There are days that are meant to be a celebration between you and your smoker. Long slow summer day, wood chips prepped, brisket trimmed and ready. Visions of tacos dancing in your head. Today was none of those things. There were unexpected downpours all day, it was humid, and work piled up. So my brand new smoker continued to sit unchristened and neglected while I pouted and came up with a plan for my brisket tacos.
I decided to whip out my trusty slow cooker and make the best of things instead of scrapping the whole plan and making another trip to the market. I was determined to use only ingredients in the house and make something that was still finger licking worthy. Something I could still dub smokehouse seal of approval.
After licking my fingers clean, I’d say I approved.
Tacos are my happy place. From the super simple, to the loaded twisted tacos you’ll find on this site. I want all of them. Try these out next Tuesday! Do it!
If you’ve tried my BBQ Brisket Tacos with Dubliner Cheese Sauce, or any other recipe on GirlCarnivore.com please don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know where you found it in the comments below. I get inspired by your feedback and comments! You can also FOLLOW MEon Instagram @girlcarnivore as well as on Twitter and Facebook.
BBQ Brisket Tacos with Dubliner Cheese Sauce
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
- 2 tbs adobo sauce from canned chipotle chiles
- 1 tbs ground cumin
- 1 tbs smoked paprika
- salt and pepper
- 1 5 lbs beef brisket flat trimmed
- 1 onion minced
- 2 tbs tomato paste
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tbs vegetable oil
- 1 tbs chili powder
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 1 tbs cider vinegar
- 1/2 teas liquid smoke
- 1/2 cup Dubliner cheese shredded
- 1/4 cup Velveeta cheese cubed
- 1/2 milk
- taco shells
- coleslaw and other taco style accouterments for serving
Instructions
- Combine the sugar, 2 tbs adobo sauce, cumin, paprika, 1 teas salt, and 2 teas black pepper in a bowl. Stir to combine. Using a fork, prick the brisket all over. Slather in the sugar mix and wrap in plastic wrap. Let the flavors mingle in the fridge over night.
- When ready to cook, unwrap brisket and place in slow cooker.
- In a small heatproof bowl, microwave the onions, tomato paste, garlic, oil, chili powder, and remaining 2 tbs adobo sauce in for 1 minute increments, stirring as needed, until the onion is soft. Transfer to slow cooker. Add the water and cover and cook on high for 5 to 7 hours or on low 9 to 11 hours.
- Carefully transfer brisket to a cutting board, tent with foil, and let rest for 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, let the braising liquid settle 5 minutes and skim any fat from the surface. Whisk in the ketchup, vinegar, and liquid smoker. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Shred the brisket with 2 forks and toss with the remaining sauce.
- Make the cheese sauce: In a small sauce pan over medium-low heat, heat the milk until just simmering. Add the Velveeta and Dubliner cheese and stir to melt.
- Arrange brisket in taco shells and top with desired toppings, ending with a spoon full of cheese sauce. Sink your teeth in and enjoy.
Nutrition
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This looks delicious! Quick question: the ingredients list has 2 tbs adobo sauce listed, but the directions have 2 tbs adobo sauce used in the marinating rub in step 1 and then step 3 calls for the remaining 2 tbs adobo sauce to be used with the onions, tomato paste, etc. So, are there 4 total tbs used? I just wanted to clarify since I’ve never used adobo sauce before.
These look phenomenal! You had me at brisket tacos, so the cheese sauce just threw it over the edge. Delicious! Pinned.
Yum, I love brisket. I love that this is made in the slow cooker, and they sound like a great filling for tacos.
I’m just saying…we should be neighbors. I’d prefer you over Ina.
Me like a lot….how is that for the caveman talk? Hubby and I have several days of rain here in the south, actually a ridiculous amount of rain. So not grilling seems to be a common topic, and trying to figure out what to make seems to be the other theme. These tacos sound and look fantastic! Hugs, Terra
It totally wrecked my weekend plans. I had a turkey breast brined and ready, and this – should have fed us for days. Instead slow cooker and patience had to win out ><
Lots of rain in Memphis too. I don’t own a smoker to be ruing my rain however, so I’m loving that this was a slow cooker recipe.