Crockpot Paleo BBQ Pulled Beef

at a glance
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 9 hours
Servings 6 servings
5 from 1 vote

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This crockpot paleo BBQ pulled beef is so tasty you guys! Even in the busiest of times, I do my best to still eat food so delicious that it makes me wonder how something can taste so good and still be good for me.

When you’ve got a lot going on or little time to spend in the kitchen, a crockpot or slow-cooker recipe can be a major savior.

Having grown up in Texas, BBQ has been and remains a major part of my diet.

What’s the secret to good BBQ? Smoke and patience.

What’s the secret to good BBQ that requires way less equipment and expertise? Crockpot and a killer sauce recipe.

Slow-cooked brisket, if done properly, can fulfill your wildest dreams of a simple way to make amazing BBQ at home. And this crockpot paleo BBQ pulled beef hits all the major players for your BBQ cravings!

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I like my paleo BBQ sauce tangy, (a little) sweet, and smoky. I know that everyone has his or her own opinion of what “good BBQ sauce” should taste like. Feel free to experiment with more/less honey, apple cider vinegar, and seasonings until you find your own perfect BBQ sauce fit.

So much is going on right now. I’m writing to you from the middle of a perfect storm of house renovation, moving, and major work projects. Weeks like these really make you appreciate those quiet nights on a couch next to your loved one when you can lazily sip a glass of wine while watching Duck Dynasty (oh yeah … I’m a DD fan … a major fan, Jack!).

For starters, roughly chop the onions. Add them to a pot on medium/high heat. Keep stirring the onions until they start to turn brown. This should take about 3 (or so) minutes.

Chop the garlic. Add it to the pot.

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Pour the tomato sauce in the pot. Add the honey. Stir it all together until it starts to look dreamy.

DSC_0493Grab some liquid smoke. Stubb’s BBQ makes my favorite liquid smoke. I’m a lucky girl because I live about an hour away from the Stubb’s BBQ Restaurant in Austin, TX. They have really tasty food and their backyard is one of my favorite music venues. I’ve seen everyone from Coheed and Cambria, to Nickle Creek, to Thrice, to Regina Spektor on that stage. Great memories. I’m pretty sure it’s also the place where I got my first taste of Miller High Life, “the Champagne of Beers.” My friends had the gullible 21 y/o Cassy convinced it was the finest beer on the planet.

Add about a capful of the liquid smoke to the pot. Be careful not to add too much – this stuff is potent. Add in the chili powder. Add in the apple cider vinegar and water.

DSC_0497Wash, pat dry, and place your brisket in the crockpot. Cover in the black pepper and salt.

Pour the sauce over the brisket. Cook on high for about 2 hours then reduce the heat to low for the next 6 hours. It smells amazing.

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Pull out the brisket. Set it aside on a cutting board. Using two forks, start pulling the tender brisket apart. If some of the brisket towards the middle isn’t as easy to shred, don’t be discouraged, just whip out a knife and chop it up.

DSC_0652Meanwhile, pour the remaining sauce/meat drippins from the crockpot back into the pot you were using earlier. Using an immersion blender (or an actual blender), blend the sauce until it’s smooth.

DSC_0665Simmer on medium/low to help some of the extra moisture evaporate off. Note that this is not a thick BBQ sauce because of the extra water added to help cook the brisket. If you want it thicker, simmer it longer or add some arrowroot. Oh my goodness, our crockpot paleo BBQ pulled beef is just coming together!

Meanwhile, put your shredded brisket into a 9 x 13 inch baking dish. Ladle about 1/3 of the BBQ sauce over the brisket. Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 15 minutes. This step helps the tasty goodness of the sauce creep into the last nooks and crannies of the pulled beef.

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Top with your favorite fresh herbs/veggies (I used cilantro) and enjoy!

I enjoyed mine in a “clean your veggie drawer out” Romaine lettuce wrap that was topped with chopped radishes, avocado, purple onion, jalapenos, more BBQ sauce, and extra cilantro. It was DEElish.  If you’re looking for more paleo-inspired BBQ dishes, you’ll love this Paleo Summer BBQ roundup!  I hope you love this crockpot paleo BBQ pulled beef as much as we did!

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crockpot paleo BBQ pulled beef

Crockpot Paleo BBQ Pulled Beef

By: Cassy
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time: 30 mins
Cook Time: 9 hrs
Servings: 6 servings
This crockpot paleo BBQ pulled beef is so tasty! Delicious taste AND good for you - AND it cooks hands-off all day? Yes, please!

Ingredients  

  • 1 Brisket ~6 pounds, trimmed by the butcher – just ask
  • 2 tablespoons avocado oil
  • 2 Medium-Sized Yellow Onions chopped
  • 6 Cloves Garlic minced
  • 1 Can Organic Tomato Sauce
  • 1/3 cup Raw Honey
  • ¼ teaspoon or capful of Liquid Smoke
  • 1 teaspoon Chili Powder
  • 1 cup Apple Cider Vinegar
  • ½ teaspoon Cracked Black Pepper
  • ½ teaspoon Kosher Salt
  • 2 cups Water

Instructions

  • Heat oil in a large pan over medium/high heat.
  • Add onions to pan and brown for approximately 3 minutes
  • Add garlic and cook until just fragrant.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk the tomato sauce, honey, liquid smoke, chili powder, and vinegar. Then add mixture to pan, and stir it all together until melted.
  • Add in the water.
  • Wash, pat dry, and place your brisket in the crockpot. Cover in the black pepper and salt.
  • Pour the sauce over the brisket and cook on high for about 2 hours.
  • Reduce the heat to low for the next 6 hours.
  • Pull out the brisket and set it aside on a cutting board.
  • Using two forks, start pulling the tender brisket apart. If some of the brisket towards the middle isn’t as easy to shred, don’t be discouraged, just whip out a knife and chop it up.
  • Meanwhile, pour the remaining sauce from the crockpot back into the pot you were using earlier. Using an immersion blender {or an actual blender}, blend the sauce until it’s smooth.
  • Simmer the sauce on medium/low to help some of the extra moisture evaporate off. Note that this is not a thick BBQ sauce because of the extra water added to help cook the brisket. If you want it thicker, simmer it longer or add some arrowroot.
  • Put your shredded brisket into a 9 x 13 inch baking dish and ladle about 1/3 of the BBQ sauce over the brisket.
  • Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 15 minutes.
  • Top with your favorite fresh herbs/veggies {I used cilantro} and enjoy!

Nutrition Information

Nutrition Facts
Crockpot Paleo BBQ Pulled Beef
Amount per Serving
Calories
858
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
39
g
60
%
Saturated Fat
 
12
g
75
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
2
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
19
g
Cholesterol
 
281
mg
94
%
Sodium
 
1104
mg
48
%
Potassium
 
1947
mg
56
%
Carbohydrates
 
27
g
9
%
Fiber
 
3
g
13
%
Sugar
 
21
g
23
%
Protein
 
96
g
192
%
Vitamin A
 
591
IU
12
%
Vitamin C
 
12
mg
15
%
Calcium
 
61
mg
6
%
Iron
 
10
mg
56
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Recipe Notes

Instant Pot Version:
  1. Heat oil in the Instant Pot on Saute.
  2. Add onions to Instant Pot and brown for approximately 3 minutes.
  3. Add garlic and cook until just fragrant.
  4. In a medium bowl, whisk the tomato sauce, honey, liquid smoke, chili powder, and vinegar. Then add mixture to Instant Pot, and stir it all together until melted.
  5. Add in the water.
  6. Wash, pat dry, and season the brisket and then place it in the Instant Pot.
  7. Place the lid on the pot, cover, and make sure the valve is set to sealed. Press the “manual” button and set to cook for 90 minutes.
  8. After 90 minutes is up, let the pressure release naturally (about 20 minutes) and remove the lid from the pot.
  9. Once the  are done, follow the remaining instructions from Step 9 on.
Meet the Author
Cassy Headshot

Cassy Joy Garcia

HOWDY! I’m Cassy Joy and I am just so happy you’re here. I’m the founder, Editor-in-Chief, and Nutrition Consultant here at Fed and Fit. What started as a food blog back in 2011 has evolved now into so much more.
Get to know Cassy

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    Recipe Rating




  1. justalialauren says

    justalialauren —  04/13/2013 At 19:04

    This sounds amazing! Thanks for the recipe!

    • fedandfit says

      fedandfit —  04/13/2013 At 21:46

      Of course! Thank you for visiting!

  2. Tom Burwell says

    Tom Burwell —  04/14/2013 At 09:51

    Sorry, is this cooked on high and then low on the hob or in the oven and is it covered when in the crock pot?

    • fedandfit says

      fedandfit —  04/17/2013 At 10:15

      Hi Tom! It’s cooked on high and then low while on the counter. I shred, smother in the sauce, and cover with foil for re-heating in the oven. Hope that helps!

  3. JG says

    JG —  04/14/2013 At 21:58

    DEFINITE YUM! Thank You!

  4. Rob says

    Rob —  07/21/2013 At 22:14

    You say a can of tomato sauce, how many ounces?

    • fedandfit says

      fedandfit —  07/23/2013 At 09:29

      Grrrrrreat question! I hunted far and wide to find you an answer. My almost official answer is 15 ounces. I’ll check back to confirm shortly. Hope that wasn’t too late of an answer!

  5. chaberl says

    chaberl —  07/27/2013 At 12:35

    Reblogged this on Bewusste Hobbyküche and commented:
    Das muss ich nachmachen, sobald mein “Liquid” Smoke kommt. Natürlich ohne Honig. #whole30

  6. renfrop says

    renfrop —  08/13/2013 At 18:00

    Hi, Looks good but are you sure this recipe is gluten free to be paleo? I worry about the “smoke” and the bouillon

    • fedandfit says

      fedandfit —  08/16/2013 At 18:32

      Great question. I had to look up the ingredients on my bottle of liquid smoke before I answered you. The smoke is gluten-free but not soy free. I’m not sure about the bouillon. At the end of the day, the recipe calls for so little of the liquid smoke that the amounts of soy are trace. That being said, both the liquid smoke and the bouillon are optional. If you can’t find a paleo-friendly bouillon, you can just leave it out. I hope that helps!

  7. quixotic says

    quixotic —  09/14/2013 At 04:24

    Love this! would it be possible to substitute the beef for another meat – say pork?

    • fedandfit says

      fedandfit —  09/14/2013 At 09:08

      Absolutely!

  8. Amanda says

    Amanda —  02/17/2014 At 03:23

    I just wanted to let you know I made this for dinner tonight and it was amazing! Its going to be my go to recipe for sure! I’ve even tossed around the idea of using chicken and pork. Thank you so much for the wonderful recipe!

  9. Rachel @ GrokGrub says

    Rachel @ GrokGrub —  03/20/2014 At 03:27

    You live an hour from Stubbs? My parents do, too!

  10. Paleo Lucy says

    Paleo Lucy —  11/04/2014 At 15:15

    I know a lot of great paleo recipes, and I’m so happy when I find a new one. 🙂 I haven’t tried this yet, so thanks for the nice idea!

    • Cassy says

      Cassy —  11/05/2014 At 18:13

      You’re welcome! I hope you love it.

  11. Cameron Galsworthy says

    Cameron Galsworthy —  12/13/2014 At 09:55

    Thanks for this recipe. Definitely going to give this a crack over the festive season.

    I want to also say thank you for diligently taking photos of each step of what we should be seeing. It helps immensely to avoid spoiling the broth so to speak!

  12. Felicia says

    Felicia —  01/19/2015 At 12:50

    You are a superstar! Thank you for this recipe!

    I’ve never been able to get brisket quite right, and I used your recipe (even sourced liquid smoke online, which is hard to find in rural England), and it made the best ever tasting brisket and sauce ever!!

    I boiled the sauce down for about two hours, skimmed off some of the fat and added a little more honey before blitzing.

    Oh my goodness, it was so good. Thank you SO much. First time I’ve ever made a good tasting piece of beef. Delicious.

    • Cassy says

      Cassy —  01/19/2015 At 15:05

      Ah this just completely makes my day. Thank you so much, Felicia! I’m thrilled to know you liked it!

  13. Rhonda says

    Rhonda —  06/05/2015 At 16:04

    Can you use regular honey also instead
    Of raw honey?
    This recipe sounds so good !

    • Kelly says

      Kelly —  06/07/2015 At 18:36

      Hi Rhonda, regular honey will work just fine! Hope you enjoy it!

  14. Erika says

    Erika —  06/06/2015 At 04:13

    Can you fit 6# of brisket into a crock pot? I got a huge brisket from a farm and I know it won’t fit in my crock. Do you have an extra big crock pot?

    • Kelly says

      Kelly —  06/07/2015 At 18:39

      Hi Erika! Yes it can fit into a bigger sized crockpot. If it doesn’t fit in yours, you could try to half the recipe and only use 3 pounds of the brisket. Or just cut the brisket in half and try to maneuver it so it does fit. Hope that helps.

  15. Heather says

    Heather —  09/22/2015 At 20:10

    I am just finishing this up and I just realized it says a SIX POUND brisket after I used a TWO POUND brisket! Haha, I guess I wasn’t reading as carefully as I thought, but I’m glad, because now I have all of this extra BBQ sauce to use throughout the week! YUM! Everything turned out great!

    • Kelly says

      Kelly —  09/27/2015 At 22:46

      So glad you liked it Heather! Extra BBQ sounds like a good dilemma to be in 🙂

  16. Beth Olmo says

    Beth Olmo —  10/14/2015 At 22:35

    This is SO good!!
    Do you know how long the sauce will keep? Couple of days, maybe? Toss whatever remains when the brisket runs out?

    • Kelly says

      Kelly —  10/19/2015 At 01:02

      Hi Beth, glad you liked the recipe! I would say the sauce would keep at least a week in a sealer container in the fridge. If it starts to smell a little weird then you can toss it. I hate throwing food away so I keep them as long as it is possible lol.

  17. Stephi says

    Stephi —  07/12/2016 At 09:18

    I really want to try several of your recipes, but your blog takes sooo long to load with so many photos and ads. 🙁

    • Cassy says

      Cassy —  07/25/2016 At 06:57

      That’s good to know! I’ll consult my developer.

  18. Sloan says

    Sloan —  10/05/2016 At 11:46

    Do you think this would work w/o the honey? I’m trying to make it Whole 30 compliant for my sis.

  19. Jaclyn says

    Jaclyn —  10/15/2020 At 03:35

    Hoping to try this recipe! Do I need to adjust the cooking time for a 3 lb brisket? Thanks!

    • Brandi Schilhab says

      Brandi Schilhab —  10/15/2020 At 08:16

      Nope, you should be able to keep the time the same, Jaclyn!