Leftover Brisket Recipes (9 Delicious Ideas for Repurposing Leftover Brisket)

Whether it’s smoked brisket, slow-cooked, or grilled version, it’s hard to beat the tender, juicy flavor of a well-prepared brisket. But what do you do when you have leftover brisket? Firstly, I recommend making some BBQ sandwiches with it. But you can also make other dishes like tacos, pizza, brisket chili, or brisket hash with it. 

There are a lot of things you can do with brisket leftover instead of throwing it away. As a seasoned pitmaster/chef with years of experience in smoking meats and crafting delicious dishes, I’m excited to share with you some of my go-to recipes for repurposing leftover brisket. Let’s get right into it!

9 Best Leftover Brisket Recipes to Try

There are plenty of ways to reuse these leftovers. From the classic leftover briskets to comfort food, and other creative dishes, here are some of my best leftover brisket recipes you can try. 

Classic Leftover Beef Brisket Recipes

Here are some classic leftover brisket recipes that you can try at home:

1. BBQ Brisket Sandwiches

Ingredients

• 1lb brisket, shredded
• 1/2 cup BBQ sauce
• 4 hamburger buns
• 4 slices of cheddar cheese

Directions

• Preheat your oven to 350°F.
• Divide the leftover meat into four portions and heat them in the microwave for 1-2 minutes or until it’s heated through.
• Toast the hamburger buns in the oven for 2-3 minutes.
• Spread some BBQ sauce on the bottom of each bun.
• Place the heated brisket on the sauce and top with a slice of cheddar cheese.
• Put the sandwich in the oven for 2-3 minutes or until the cheese has melted.
• Close the sandwich with the top bun and serve.

Tip: You can customize the sandwich by adding toppings like pickles, coleslaw, or sliced onions. You may also use a grill instead of an oven if you like a good grilled cheese sandwich. It’s up to you!

Related Reading

• Pulled Pork Sandwich Toppings: 20 Options Worth Trying

2. Brisket Tacos

Ingredients

• 1lb brisket leftover, shredded
• 8 flour tortillas
• 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
• 1/2 cup diced onion
• 1/2 cup crumbled queso fresco cheese
• Lime wedges

Directions

• Heat the shredded brisket leftover in a skillet over medium heat until it’s warmed through.
• Heat the tortillas on a separate skillet for 30 seconds on each side.
• Place the heated brisket on each flour tortilla.
• Add diced onions, chopped cilantro, and crumbled queso fresco cheese.
• Serve with some lime wedges on the side. Yummy!

Tip: I like to customize the tacos by adding toppings such as salsa, avocado, or some hot sauce.

3. Brisket Chili

Ingredients

• 1 pound brisket leftover, chopped
• 1 can of kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 can of diced tomatoes
• 1/2 cup diced onion
• 1/2 cup diced green bell pepper
• 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

• Sauté the onions and green and red bell peppers in a large pot until they soften up.
• Add all the chopped briskets, including kidney beans, diced tomatoes, chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper.
• Simmer for 20-30 minutes or until the chili heats through and the flavors combine well
• Serve hot.

Tip: Add other vegetables to the chili, such as corn or carrots. You can swap out the kidney beans for baked beans in your leftover brisket recipe. You may also adjust the seasoning to your taste.

Leftover Brisket in Breakfast and Brunch Dishes

Trust me; leftover beef brisket can be a game-changer for breakfast and brunch dishes. It is a hearty breakfast recipe that adds a savory flavor to your morning meal and will please your taste buds. Here are some ideas for using brisket leftovers to make delicious breakfast and brunch dishes:

4. Brisket Hash

Ingredients

• 1lb leftover chopped brisket
• 4 medium diced potatoes
• 1 chopped onion
• 2 cloves of minced garlic
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons oil

Directions

• Take a large skillet and heat the oil over medium-high heat.
• Add the potatoes and onions and cook for about 5-7 minutes, occasionally stirring, until the potatoes are tender and lightly brown.
• Add the minced garlic and chopped brisket and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Serve hot.

Tip: You can top the brisket breakfast hash with a fried egg for an extra protein boost.

5. Brisket Omelet

Ingredients

• 1/2lb brisket leftover, chopped
• 1/4 cup milk
• 4 eggs
• 1 tablespoon butter
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1/4 cup shredded cheese

Directions

• Whisk together the eggs, milk, salt, and pepper in a medium size bowl.
• Take a non-stick skillet and melt the butter over medium-high heat.
• Add your chopped brisket and cook for 2-3 minutes until it’s heated through.
• Pour the egg mixture into the skillet and cook until the edges are set and the bottom browns out lightly. 
• Sprinkle your shredded cheese over the top of the omelet.
• Using a spatula, fold the omelet in half and cook for an additional minute or until the cheese melts.
• Serve hot.

Tip: You can add some chopped vegetables such as bell peppers, mushrooms, or spinach to the omelet for some extra flavor kick and nutrients

Leftover Brisket in Comfort Food Dishes

You can also make some classic comfort food dishes out of your brisket leftover. From beef stroganoff to shepherd’s pie and beef pot pie, these recipes are great if you want some hearty meals. And here are some of my favorites. 

6. Beef Stroganoff

What’s more comforting than a classic stroganoff? It is the ultimate comfort food, like a warm hug in a bowl. If you don’t have any tender beef, leftover brisket is the perfect substitute to add that same depth and flavor. Here’s how to make it:

Ingredients

• 1 pound of cooked or smoked brisket, shredded or sliced
• 8 ounces of sliced mushrooms
• 1 diced onion
• 2 minced garlic cloves
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups of beef broth
• 1/2 cup of sour cream
• 1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard
• Some salt and pepper 
• Egg noodles

Instructions

• Melt the butter over medium heat in a large skillet. Add the mushrooms and onions and cook until tender for about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for another minute.
• Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and stir to combine. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes to cook out the flour’s taste.
• Slowly pour in the beef broth, stirring it constantly. Add the Dijon mustard and bring the mixture to a simmer.
• Add the shredded beef to the skillet and cook until it’s heated for about 5 minutes.
• Remove the skillet from heat and stir in the sour cream. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Serve the stroganoff over the cooked egg noodles.

Tips

• For some more flavors, consider adding more vegetables, such as bell peppers or peas, for extra flavor and nutrition.
• Swap out the egg noodles for your favorite pasta or rice.
• Use different types of mushrooms, such as shiitake or portobello, for a more earthy flavor

7. Shepherd’s Pie

Shepherd’s Pie is a classic Irish dish made with ground beef, vegetables, and potatoes. Swapping out the ground beef with brisket leftover adds a unique twist to this traditional recipe. Here’s how I turn this into an ultimate comfort food:

Ingredients

• 1 pound of cooked shredded or sliced beef brisket
• 1 diced onion
• 2 minced garlic cloves
• 2 peeled and diced carrots
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 1 cup of frozen peas
• 1 tablespoon of tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce
• 1 cup of beef broth
• 4 cups of mashed potatoes

Instructions

• Preheat your oven to 375°F.
• Sauté the onion and garlic in a large skillet until it’s tender. This can take about 5 minutes.
• Add the carrots and celery and cook for another 5 minutes.
• Add the shredded beef brisket, frozen peas, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, and beef broth. Cook until it heats through for about 5-7 minutes.
• Pour the mixture into a 9-inch baking dish.
• Spread the mashed potatoes over the top of the mixture, smoothing it out with a spatula.
• Bake the shepherd’s pie for 30-35 minutes or until the potatoes are golden brown and the filling is bubbling.

Tips

• Add additional vegetables such as green beans, baked beans, or corn for extra nutrition.
• If you like smoky brisket, you can also use a smoker instead of an oven.
• Swap out the mashed potatoes for sweet potato mash for a different flavor.
• Add cheese to the top of the mashed potatoes for a cheesy dish 

Leftover Beef Brisket in Creative Dishes

With creativity, you can transform your delicious smoked brisket leftovers into new and exciting dishes. Here are some ideas to get your creative juices flowing:

8. Brisket Pizza

Ingredients

• 1lb leftover brisket, chopped
• 1 prepared pizza crust
• 1/2 cup of barbecue sauce
• 1/4 cup of sliced red onion
• 1/4 cup of sliced green bell pepper
• 1/2 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar cheese

Directions

• Preheat your oven to around 425°F (218°C).
• Spread the barbecue sauce evenly over the pizza crust.
• Sprinkle the chopped brisket, red onion, and green bell pepper over the sauce.
• Top with shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese.
• Bake for 12-15 minutes or until the crust is crispy and the cheese melts.
• Slice and serve hot.

Tip: You can also add your favorite pizza toppings, such as sliced jalapeños or diced tomatoes

9. Brisket Fried Rice

Ingredients

• 1lb chopped leftover brisket
• 2 cups of cooked white rice
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1/2 cup frozen peas and carrots
• 2 cloves of minced garlic
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons oil
• 2 lightly beaten eggs
• 2 green onions, chopped

Directions

• Heat the oil in a large skillet or wok over high heat.
• Then add the chopped onion and minced garlic. Then stir-fry for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
• Add the chopped brisket. Next, stir-fry for 2-3 minutes until heated.
• Move the brisket to one side of the skillet. Then add your beaten eggs on the other end.
• Next, scramble the beaten eggs until they cook thoroughly. Now, mix them with the brisket.
• Add the cooked rice, frozen carrots and peas, and soy sauce to the skillet.
• Stir-fry everything together for 3-4 minutes until the rice heats up and the vegetable is tender.
• Top with chopped green onions and serve hot.

Tip: Add some other vegetables like sliced mushrooms or chopped bell peppers for extra flavor and nutrients.

FAQs 

1. What Can I Do With Leftover Tough Brisket?

If your brisket leftover is tough, you can try shredding it like pulled pork and using it in recipes that require cooked, shredded beef. For example, you could use it in beef stews, chili, or as a filling for tacos or burritos. You could also try slicing it thinly and using it in a grilled cheese sandwich or on top of salads.

2. How Long is Leftover Brisket Good for?

Up to 4 days in the fridge as long as you store it in an airtight container. But if you want to keep it for longer, then you should definitely freeze it. This way, the leftover brisket will last up to 3 months.

3. What Can I Do With Frozen Leftover Brisket?

If you have frozen leftover brisket, you can thaw it in the refrigerator overnight or microwave using the defrost setting. Once it’s thawed, you can use it in any recipe that calls for cooked brisket, such as tacos, burritos, or stir-fry. Just be sure to heat it thoroughly before serving.

Conclusion

Never throw away your leftover brisket. This should not be an option, and this article provides some of the best ways to use it. You can repurpose your leftover brisket in many ways, from classic sandwiches and tacos to creative breakfast dishes like brisket hash or omelets.

The recipes shared here are easy to follow, and they allow for customization based on personal taste preferences. So, next time you have leftover brisket, try out one of these recipes and enjoy a tasty meal without any waste.