Keto Beef Brisket: A Guide to Delicious Low-Carb Cooking

For a satisfying and easy-to-make low-carb dinner, keto beef brisket is an excellent choice. This article explores various methods for preparing this dish, including slow cooking, using an Instant Pot, and oven baking, ensuring a tender, juicy, and flavorful result every time.

Understanding Beef Brisket

Brisket is a cut of meat taken from the breast or lower chest of beef or veal. Due to the muscle's location, which supports approximately 60% of the animal's weight, brisket is typically a tough cut of meat. To tenderize it, slow cooking methods like baking or roasting are essential.

Choosing the Right Cut

When making keto beef brisket, it's important to choose the right cut. The brisket point cut, rather than the flat, is recommended because it is marbled with fat, making it less prone to drying out during cooking.

Keto Beef Brisket Recipes

Slow Cooker Keto Beef Brisket

This method is straightforward and requires minimal active cooking time.

Ingredients

• Beef brisket
• Avocado oil (or preferred oil)
• Onion
• Brown sugar substitute
• Tomato paste
• Broth
• Vinegar
• Thyme
• Paprika
• Garlic powder
• Salt
• Black pepper
• Cayenne pepper
• Xanthan gum (keto-friendly thickening agent)

Instructions

1. Season the Brisket: Combine paprika, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper in a small bowl. Spread the mixture over the brisket and marinate for at least 2 hours or refrigerate overnight for the best flavor.
2. Prepare the Sauce: Heat avocado oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, brown sugar substitute, and tomato paste. Cook until the onion is soft, about 8 minutes. Whisk in the broth and vinegar.
3. Slow Cook: Add the sauce, brisket, and thyme to your slow cooker. Cover and cook for 10 hours on low heat or 5 to 7 hours on high heat.
4. Rest and Thicken: Remove the brisket from the slow cooker and let it rest for 20 minutes. Strain the juices and return them to the slow cooker. While the brisket rests, stir in the xanthan gum and set the pot to high for 20 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
5. Serve: Slice the brisket against the grain and serve with the sauce.

Instant Pot Keto Beef Brisket

Using an Instant Pot significantly reduces cooking time while still providing tender and juicy results.

Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers

Ingredients

• Beef brisket
• Avocado oil
• Onion
• Brown sugar substitute
• Tomato paste
• Broth
• Vinegar
• Thyme
• Paprika
• Garlic powder
• Salt
• Black pepper
• Cayenne pepper
• Xanthan gum

Instructions

1. Sear the Brisket: Set your Instant Pot to high saute. Heat the avocado oil, then add the onion, brown sugar substitute, and tomato paste. Cook until the onion is soft, about 8 minutes.
2. Add Ingredients: Add the broth and scrape up any brown bits from the bottom of the pot. Stir in the vinegar, then add the brisket and thyme to the Instant Pot.
3. Pressure Cook: Place the lid on the pot and set to High Pressure for 75 minutes. Allow the pressure to naturally release for about 20 minutes.
4. Rest and Thicken: Remove the brisket from the pot and let it rest for 20 minutes. Strain the juices and return them to the Instant Pot. While the brisket rests, stir in the xanthan gum and set the pot to high saute for 8 minutes.
5. Serve: Slice the brisket against the grain and serve with the sauce.

Oven-Baked Keto Beef Brisket

Oven-baking is another excellent method for achieving a melt-in-your-mouth brisket.

Ingredients

• Beef brisket (4-7 lbs)
• Avocado oil
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Paprika
• Salt
• Pepper
• Beef broth
• Dry red wine
• Sugar-free BBQ sauce

Instructions

1. Season the Brisket: The night before, season the brisket liberally with coarse sea salt and refrigerate, covered, overnight.
2. Prepare for Baking: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Allow the meat to sit on the counter for 1 hour before cooking.
3. Sear the Brisket: Heat the avocado oil over medium-high heat in a Dutch oven. Sear the brisket on all sides for about 5 minutes per side.
4. Add Liquids: Add broth and wine to the Dutch oven. You can also add vegetables such as onions, carrots, and celery.
5. Bake: Cover and place in the oven for 3-4 hours until the meat is fork tender.
6. BBQ Glaze: Drain off fat. Set oven to 350. Pour the sugar-free BBQ sauce over top and cook uncovered for about 30 minutes or until the sauce is bubbly and the top of the brisket is caramelizing.
7. Serve: Remove from the oven and place on a large cutting board. Slice across the grain.

Sous Vide Keto Beef Brisket

Sous vide offers precise temperature control for a perfectly cooked brisket.

Ingredients

• Beef brisket
• Brisket rub (paprika, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper)
• Morton’s Tender Quick (optional, for smoke ring)
• Liquid smoke (optional)

Instructions

1. Prepare the Brisket: Trim the brisket fat down to a 1/4 inch and save the fat for tallow. Cut the brisket into large chunks that will fit into a foodsaver bag.
2. Season and Seal: Cover the brisket with brisket rub, reserving 2 Tbsp for the finishing stage. Seal the meat in a foodsaver bag.
3. Sous Vide Cook: Drop the sealed bag into preheated water for 24 hours. Weigh the bag down to the bottom with a weight on top.
4. Finish on the Grill: Cut the corner off the foodsaver bag and reserve the beef juices for the finishing sauce. Sprinkle fresh rub over the surface. Cook over indirect heat to firm up the fat and bark.
5. Render Tallow: Place the trimmed fat pieces on a grate over a foil pan, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and place on the grill beside the brisket to render the fat into tallow.
6. Serve: Remove the brisket from the grill when finished and tent with tinfoil. Serve with creamy brisket sauce.

Creamy Brisket Sauce

This sauce complements the brisket perfectly.

Ingredients

• Garlic
• Diced onion
• Butter
• Brisket broth

Instructions

1. Mince a clove of garlic and add diced onion to a saucepan.
2. Add butter and sauté until light brown.
3. Pour in brisket broth and simmer until reduced by half.
4. Serve with the sliced brisket.

Tips for the Best Keto Beef Brisket

• Marinate Overnight: For the best flavor, season the brisket and allow it to marinate in the refrigerator overnight.
• Sear the Meat: Searing the brisket before slow cooking or pressure cooking adds a depth of flavor and enhances the overall taste.
• Use a Sugar-Free BBQ Sauce: When using BBQ sauce, opt for a sugar-free version to keep the dish keto-friendly.
• Slice Against the Grain: Always slice the brisket against the grain to ensure maximum tenderness.
• Rest the Meat: Allowing the brisket to rest for at least 20 minutes after cooking helps the juices redistribute, resulting in a more tender and flavorful dish.
• Save the Juices: Don't discard the juices left over after cooking. They can be used to create a delicious sauce or gravy.
• Consider Tallow: Rendering the trimmed fat into tallow provides a great cooking fat with a high smoke point and excellent flavor.
• Optional Smoke Ring: Add a little Morton’s Tender Quick for the nice smoke ring which is optional just like the liquid smoke.

Serving Suggestions

Keto beef brisket can be served with a variety of low-carb side dishes, such as:

• Parmesan-cheesy rice
• Steamed broccoli
• Roasted vegetables
• Keto Fat Bombs (using the crisp fat from rendering tallow)

Health and Dietary Considerations

The Atkins diet supports individuals on their weight loss journey, but individual results can vary. Weight loss is influenced by exercise, lifestyle, dietary pattern, and calories consumed. It is essential to consult with a physician or healthcare provider before beginning any weight loss program, including the Atkins Diet. The weight loss phases of the Atkins Diet should not be used by persons on dialysis.

Read also: Keto Calorie Counting: A Detailed Guide

This keto beef brisket recipe is also dairy-free, nut-free, and egg-free, making it suitable for individuals with certain dietary restrictions.

Read also: Magnesium Supplements for Keto

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