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17 Ideas Of What To Do With Leftover Brisket

17 Ideas Of What To Do With Leftover Brisket

We love smoked brisket! We are from Texas after all. It is just so darn delicious when it is done properly. 

It really is an art form unto itself.

It is the perfect meat for a get-together or pot luck. We love it in summer or winter.

It is rare that we don’t have leftovers though and that is why we compiled this list of what to do with leftover brisket. 

You wouldn’t want all your hard work to go to waste, so you’ll want to know what to do with leftover brisket. 

Here are some leftover brisket recipes that make yet another amazing meal.

We also give you a few tips on how to best freeze brisket.

Depending on how you want to make use of your leftover brisket, there are a variety of different recipes that you can opt for.

You can either bake or cook it as a part of another recipe, or just use it as it is and put it into a sandwich or tacos. 

For the record, there is nothing in the world wrong with reheating that brisket and cooking up some side dishes such as green beans  and corn .

Add a nice piece of Texas toast to the plate and some fresh-cut red onions and you got yourself a true Texas dinner. 

If you’re willing to get creative and make the most of your food, here are some options that you might want to consider:

1. Brisket Chili

Smoked brisket can be added to chili and turn it into a unique and flavorful dish. 

When making brisket chili we do recommend adding charred peppers to the mix to bring in that smokey flavor.

Just cut up some onions and add garlic, ground cumin, and tomatoes. 

Next, throw in charred, seeded, and peeled poblano chilies. Ancho, jalapeno, and serrano chilies work great too, depending on the kind of taste you’re looking for.

Once you’re done with the ingredients, proceed to make it the way you usually make your chilis. You could always start with our 3 bean chili recipe  as a base foundation.

2. Brisket Tacos

You’ll have to fry up the brisket and whip the avocado cream sauce , but apart from that, there aren’t many steps to this dish.

All you need are some tortillas, green chilies, pepper, ground cumin, and whatever you want to add to your liking. 

Heat the shredded brisket in the skillet with your chosen seasonings on low. You can also add pickled onions, and as much brisket as you want. 

Quick Tip: A trick for making homemade brisket tacos taste restaurant quality is to heat up the tortillas in a skillet. Just add them to a dry pan on medium heat and let them heat until they start to bubble a bit and then flip them over for another minute. 

How to quickly pickle onions: Thinly slice onions and add them to a bowl with vinegar and lime juice. Mix and then allow them to soak while you are prepping the rest of the meal.

3. Brisket Salad

If you know how to throw together a strawberry and spinach salad, you’re already halfway done with this dish. 

You can also make one with more citrus, asparagus, baby greens, along with a seasoning of your choice.

Just add in the chopped brisket and you’re good to go. 

We love to make a kitchen sink salad and add brisket to it. So don’t overthink the ingredients here and just use what you have.

4. Smoked Brisket Empanadas

For the best results, get some pastry-dough from the store and you’re ready for this amazing leftover brisket treat. 

Fill the dough with brisket, jalapeño, sweet bell peppers, and BBQ sauce.

If you have any other filling ideas, don’t hesitate to add them to the mix. Throw the pastries in the oven. 

When they’re baked, you can pair them with a dip of your choice.

5. Brisket Enchiladas

A serving of brisket enchiladas is the perfect cure for a bad day. 

It’s loaded with cheese, meat, and salsa, but you can add greens to this baked dish to make it a healthier, wholesome meal.

Spinach is a perfect addition, especially with kids that are picky eaters. The cheesy meatiness can make any vegetable taste great!

6. Brisket Quesadillas

You will need cheese, tortillas, BBQ sauce and a couple of pounds of brisket to make this dish.

This is one of the easiest uses of leftover brisket because it doesn’t require that many ingredients—just make sure you have enough sauce on hand!

7. Brisket Pizza

Yes, you really can make just about anything with leftover brisket. Either go for homemade dough or buy pizza crust from the store.

Add your favorite toppings, along with shredded or sliced pieces of brisket and bake till it’s ready.

8. Brisket Bruschetta

This dish is a mix of brisket, BBQ sauce, and crème Fraiche. Warm up the shredded brisket and add the BBQ sauce. 

Place the combination onto toasted slices of baguette.

Lastly, use a piping bag for the crème Fraiche at the top. You can also garnish it with parsley for extra flavor.

9. Grilled Brisket Sandwich

A brisket grilled cheese sandwich is one of the easiest post-BBQ snacks you can make with brisket.

All you need are slices of bread, preferably Italian or Texas toast, shredded cheddar cheese, butter, and a few slices of shredded brisket.

10. Brisket Shepard’s Pie

If you’re trying to make use of a large quantity of leftover brisket, then you can make a shepherd’s pie with vegetables and brisket.

Instead of adding the meat that the recipe calls for, use brisket. You’ll probably need around 1.5 to 2 pounds for one dish, either shredded or cut into small pieces.

11. Leftover Smoked Brisket Taquitos

If you have some leftover brisket and want to make something yummy with it, this is a great recipe to use.

You only need some corn tortillas, cheese, onion, and a few other spices and oils. 

Consider cooking these up in the air fryer instead of frying them. Oh and you may want to make some salsa for dipping.

12. Leftover Brisket Nachos

Making nachos out of leftover brisket is such a delicious treat. 

If you are like me and want to make sure that we eat every single ounce of that leftover brisket, then you are gonna love this recipe.

Pile on all of the cheese, tomatoes, olives and sour cream that you can. Then dive in and enjoy.

13. Brisket Sliders

Leftover brisket served between a sweet Hawaiian roll is a real winner in my book. 

Then you add in a slice of Swiss cheese and drizzle it with BBQ sauce. Oh my goodness, I am hungry.

14. Leftover Brisket Hash

So hash is usually made out of cubed pieces of potato, onion, peppers, spices and a meat. 

In this recipe the meat is the glorious leftover brisket. So you cook that all together and you have some rich and full of flavor.

Then fry up a couple of eggs and make some toast. With all of that you have a meal fit for a Queen.

15. Brisket Mac And Cheese

I love mac and cheese with all of my belly. It is one of my absolute favorite foods. 

So when someone suggested that we add leftover brisket to mac and cheese, I legit hugged them.

Make this. Love this.

16. Leftover Brisket Pasta

This recipe only uses a few simple ingredients but combines them together to make a bright flavor. 

If you want to fit in some green vegetables without it being too obvious this is a great way to do it. 

It uses 3 cups of kale and since it is wilted you barely notice it is there.

17. Cowboy Brisket Casserole

This casserole is jammed with flavor and it is gonna fill you up good. It has so many Texas flavors packed into it.

You will use a can of Ranch style beans, corn, brisket, green onions, loads of cheese and a few other delicious ingredients.

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Can You Eat Cold Brisket?

When heated up, or when it has just been made, brisket is full of flavor and is easier to eat. It is juicier and tender, but that doesn’t mean you can’t eat it when it’s cold as well.

In fact, if you have leftover smoked brisket from the day before, you could consider slicing it up further and making it into a sandwich. It’s easier to cut up when it’s more firm too.

How Do You Make Leftover Brisket Tender?

If you’re not a fan of cold brisket, you can always warm it up again until it’s tender like when it was originally made.

To do this, you need to have some of the sauces and juices you used when you first made it. When heated the wrong way, it can become brittle or hard and ruin the taste.

Once you take it out of the fridge, let it go down to room temperature. If you’re using the oven, have it preheated to 325 degrees Fahrenheit and place the brisket on a tray.

Pour the leftover sauces back on it. Cover it entirely in tin foil and put it in the oven for around 40-45 minutes. Make sure to keep checking it until it is thoroughly warmed because the heating times will vary.

If you’re using a microwave, we’ll warn you that it won’t taste nearly as delicious but if you are in a hurry then don’t shy away from this method. 

If you want the same taste and don’t want it to dry out, have the juices you used on hand. 

If you don’t have the leftover juices, add some water to the container prior to reheating it in the microwave.

Reheat the brisket in a microwave-safe dish and cover it with a paper towel. Reheat it in 45-second increments until it is thoroughly warmed. 

Be careful not to overheat it.

How To Store Leftover Brisket In The Freezer

The trick here is to make sure your brisket doesn’t lose its original moisture when you store it in the freezer. To preserve it, you should opt for a vacuum sealer that locks the moisture in.

However, if that’s not available, you can simply wrap the brisket in plastic wrap first, and then foil. Place it in an airtight freezer bag , like a Ziploc.

These extra layers will really make a difference for keeping that brisket moist in the long run. 

As an added measure, some people also prefer pouring in some of the juice you had set aside onto the brisket before beginning the wrapping process.

How Long Does Leftover Brisket Last?

If you’re going to keep the leftover brisket in the fridge, the maximum number of days it can go without going bad is 5.

It can even start going bad in 3, depending on the humidity and temperature of your home. In the freezer, brisket can even stay for up to 3 months as long as you know how to properly thaw and restore its taste and texture.

Once you’ve thawed the brisket, however, then reheated brisket must be eaten as soon as possible.

Tips and Suggestions

To make sure your brisket hasn’t gone bad, check for any sour smells. If it feels slimy or has a bad odor, do not risk eating it.

Brisket should not be left out at room temperature for too long. Always store it in the refrigerator. Only remove and heat up single servings as a time. 

The best way to reheat brisket is in an oven, because it brings it as close to its original taste as possible.

Try to reserve any extra juice when you’re initially making brisket. It will come in handy when you’re reheating it and eating it later on. 

It’ll also be a great addition to any brisket-based dish you decide to make.

The bottom line

Not many people have uncovered the many ways you can use leftover brisket. 

The great thing about this smoked meat is that it can be turned into another meal or a snack, depending on what you feel like having—and none of the dishes take long to prepare.

4 of our favorite pieces of cookware lately!

17 Easy Ways To Use Leftover Brisket ♨️

17 Easy Ways To Use Leftover Brisket ♨️

These are our favorite ideas for what to do with leftover brisket.

Ingredients

  • Brisket Chili
  • Brisket Tacos
  • Brisket Salad
  • Smoked Brisket Empanadas
  • Brisket Enchiladas
  • Brisket Quesadillas
  • Brisket Pizza
  • Brisket Bruschetta
  • Grilled Brisket Sandwich
  • Shepherd’s Pie With Brisket
  • Leftover Smoked Brisket Taquitos
  • Leftover brisket nachos
  • Brisket sliders
  • Leftover Brisket Hash
  • Brisket Mac And Cheese
  • Leftover Brisket Pasta
  • Cowboy Brisket Casserole

Instructions

  1. Choose a few leftover brisket recipes to try.
  2. Tell us your favorite recipe.

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