French Onion Braised Beef Brisket

French Onion Braised Beef Brisket. Using my homemade French Onion Soup recipe as a base to create a braising liquid for beef brisket, produced one of the best and tastiest comfort food meals I’ve had in years.

Originally published October 2013. 

Although weather-wise we have had not a a bad October at all so far here in St. John's, the Autumn chill is definitely in the air despite the sunny days.

It's the time of year when simple comfort food and a good straightforward hot meal to warm your bones is very much appreciated. Such was the case last week when I was inspired to have this delicious slow cooked meal.

Beef brisket does take a long time to slowly cook to tender perfection but it is so worth the time. Brisket has some of the best flavour of any cut of beef, so there is a reward for your effort. I don't really see slow cooked meals as a lot of work as some folks do.

Once the initial preparation is done and the brisket is in the oven, it really becomes just a matter of time and not work, so if you're at home all afternoon anyway, I really don't see what the big deal is.

I really see slow cooking as a relatively no-fuss sort of meal and they are very often the kinds of dishes we prepare on what we call Slow-Cooked Sundays.

Other cuts of beef

Other cuts of beef suitable for braising, like chuck, bottom round or blade roast or even flank steak will work well in this recipe and will also shave at least an hour off the cooking time, depending on their size.

Taking the time to slowly caramelize the onions is of paramount importance in this recipe; it is the flavour base of the entire recipe and shouldn't be rushed. Remember, once that part is done and it's in the oven, you really just coast through the next few hours until it's time to serve up this fantastic comfort food dinner.

Popovers not optional.

The Yorkshire Pudding popovers shown in the photo are never optional at our house. We simply have to have them with any roast beef dinner; there would be many protestations and much whining if we did not.

Perfecting popovers is a skill every good home cook needs to learn and we have full instructions with all the tips and tricks needed to make them successfully every time.

It's one of those recipes that really is all about perfecting the method of baking much more than anything else. Unlock all the secrets to making perfect Yorkshire Pudding popovers by clicking here. 

See the mouth watering photo of some Yorkshire pudding brisket sandwiches at the end of this recipe. Leftovers like those are a great reason to buy a larger brisket! 

Another fantastic serving suggestion for this tender beef brisket recipe and a perfect excuse to make additional Yorkshire pudding popovers, is this popover stuffed brisket sandwich with the French onion braising liquid as an au jus dip. Leftovers were never more satisfying or delicious than this.

Love great beef recipes?

You might also like our recipe for Smoked Beef Brisket. 

Like this French Onion Braised Beef Brisket recipe?

You'll find hundreds of other great ideas in our Slow Cooked Sundays Category and even more in our Chicken Recipes Category.

It's easy to keep up with the latest home style cooking & baking ideas from Rock Recipes. Be sure to follow Rock Recipes Facebook Page and follow us on Instagram. 

Plus you'll see daily recipe suggestions from decadent desserts to quick delicious weekday meals too. 

You can also sign up for our FREE newsletter to know immediately when we add new recipes. You'll also get weekly suggestions for great family friendly  meals and desserts too!

Rock Recipes a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Our product recommendations are almost exclusively for those we currently use or have used in the past.

Continue to Content

French Onion Braised Beef Brisket

Yield: 12 or more servings

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 4 hours

Total Time: 4 hours 30 minutes

French Onion Braised Beef Brisket. Using my homemade French Onion Soup recipe as a base to create a braising liquid for beef brisket, produced one of the best and tastiest comfort food meals I’ve had in years.

4.7 Stars (15 Reviews)

Print

Ingredients

Toggle ingredient group

• 4 to 5 lb beef brisket roast
• salt and pepper to season
• 3 large onions, white or red, sliced thin
• 2 tablespoon butter
• 2 cloves garlic, minced cloves garlic, minced
• 1 quart /liter low sodium beef stock
• 1 cup red wine
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme, or 2 teaspoon dry thyme
• fresh ground nutmeg
• 3 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

Instructions

1. Begin by caramelizing the onions. Add the butter to a saute pan along with the onions and garlic over medium heat. Season with salt and pepper.
2. Slowly cook the onions until they are softened and begin to slowly caramelize and turn brown. Do not do this too quickly or they will develop a bitter flavor. Slow cooking the onions will bring out their natural sweetness. Don’t rush this, it will take 15 o 20 minutes or so.
3. In a cast iron pan over medium high heat, add a little canola oil. Season the brisket with salt and pepper and brown the brisket on all sides before adding it to a covered roasting pan.
4. To the roasting pan, add all of the other ingredients, including the caramelized onions. Season with salt and pepper if necessary.
5. Cover the roasting pan with aluminum foil as tightly as possible before adding the lid. Place in a 325 degree oven for 4 hours or until the brisket is fall apart tender.
6. Skim the excess fat from the pan drippings and serve as a jus with the brisket or use it to make a gravy, whichever you prefer.

Notes

Another fantastic serving suggestion for this tender beef brisket recipe and a perfect excuse to make additional Yorkshire pudding popovers, is this popover stuffed brisket sandwich with the French onion braising liquid as an au jus dip. Leftovers were never more satisfying or delicious than this.

Nutrition Information

Yield

12

Serving Size

1 serving
Amount Per Serving Calories 296Total Fat 13gSaturated Fat 5gUnsaturated Fat 0gCholesterol 99mgSodium 325mgCarbohydrates 6gFiber 1gSugar 2gProtein 33g

Did you like this recipe?

Do you love our "Real food recipes for real people'? Share the recipe on Facebook to let your friends know about us. They'll thank you for it.