The 9 Best Leftover Brisket Recipes

We’ve got you covered on 9 the best leftover brisket recipes! From brisket nachos to brisket empanadas, we’ve tried it all and compiled this list of all the ways you can used brisket in a new and fresh recipe. 

Okay okay, so before you make any jokes — “Who the heck ever has leftover brisket?” Or, one of my favorites, “If you have leftover brisket you must be doing it wrong.” Ha ha, get your laughs out — let’s talk about the truth of brisket.

Jump to:

• Storing Leftover Brisket
• The Best Way to Reheat Brisket
• Brisket Chili
• Texas Chili
• Smoked Brisket Tacos
• Brisket Grilled Cheese Sandwich
• Brisket Enchiladas
• Smoked Brisket Nachos
• Smoked Brisket Bruschetta
• Smoked Brisket Empanadas
• Smoked Brisket Pizza
• How to Reheat Brisket

The truth is, when you are practicing at your brisket game, it’s likely you’re going to have leftovers. It happens. And no, it doesn’t mean that you did a bad job. A great brisket is RICH in flavor, and personally I can only enjoy a few pieces before I need to cut myself off. And let’s be honest, even the smallest briskets are pretty big, especially if you’re just feeding a small family.

We smoke our briskets, but no matter how you cook it — braised, baked, heck even Instant pot — all of these leftover brisket recipes would be great uses for that tender and delicious meat. But, of course, you just can’t beat a perfectly tender, juicy, smoky, smoked brisket! It’s one of the holy grails of BBQ.

But first, you need a good brisket recipe before you even yield any leftovers. Here are our two favorite:

• Smoked Beef Brisket
• Smoked Brisket Burnt Ends

We also have a great Merlot mopped brisket in our cookbook for more inspiration.

Storing Leftover Brisket

Leftover brisket will typically last up to 5 days in the refrigerator. If you don’t plan to eat it all it freezes really well for up to six months.

• It’s best to use a vacuum sealing tool so you can remove the air and maximize space. We use the Foodsaver brand tool. It’s expensive but if you cook a lot it’s amazing for storage and even marinades.
• If you don’t have a vacuum sealer plastic bags work as well.

Label the date and what’s in the bags with a good sharpie. Trust us when we say that over time you will forget what’s in it.

The Best Way to Reheat Brisket

If you aren’t using one of these leftover brisket ideas then the best way to reheat is in the oven unless it’s shredded.

Brisket Slices

The best way to reheat brisket slices is in the oven or shred it and reheat in a pan.

1. Preheat the oven at 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Place a cookie drying rack on a sheet pan. Pour beef stock into the bottom of the pan. Place brisket slices on the cookie drying rack and cover in foil. Place in the oven and warm for 20 minutes. The beef stock will steam while the beef warms and keep it moist.

Brisket Burnt Ends

The best way to reheat brisket burnt ends is in the oven.

1. Preheat the oven at 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Place the burnt ends in an oven safe dish. Be sure to include all the rendered fat too. Cover with aluminum foil.
3. Bake for 20 minutes until the fat has rendered again and the burnt ends have warmed to at least 150 degrees F internal temperature.

Shredded Brisket

The best way to reheat shredded brisket is to sauté it in a sauce. This is perfect if you want to make a shredded beef sandwich.

1. In a medium size pan over medium heat (we like cast iron) add 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Place the shredded brisket in the pan.
2. Stir for 8 minutes and then add your favorite sauce. We love our Kansas City BBQ sauce. Stir an additional 2 minutes and serve.

Related Article: Our favorite BBQ Sauces

Brisket Chili

Since I led off with that one it’s only fair to start with it. This is a multi-award-winning leftover brisket recipe for chili! We’ve even had readers email us to say they entered this chili in chili cook-offs and won first prize.

This chili is smoky, a touch spicy, rich, and jam packed with flavor. It’s actually quite controversial too.

Texas Chili

Modify this recipe that calls for chuck meat with leftover brisket. You will not be sad. But it is spicy!

Smoked Brisket Tacos

May seem obvious and easy, but there are few things in the world more satisfying than a good taco. And smoked brisket makes for the greatest tacos ever.

Brisket Grilled Cheese Sandwich

These make me hungry just looking at them! Warmed up brisket mixed with melted cheddar cheese, on toasted sourdough. Add some smoked tomato bisque and I’m set for LIFE!

Brisket Enchiladas

Want to really go over the top with leftover brisket recipes? Make your whole neighborhood happy with a batch of these enchiladas. Meaty, cheesy, and covered in a rich red chili sauce. This is the ultimate comfort food.

Smoked Brisket Nachos

Some might credit this recipe for the start of our catering company, Ember & Vine. It was a story that garnered national attention and the grand prize in a BBQ recipe competition! It is LEGIT!

Smoked Brisket Bruschetta

Having friends over for a cookout and looking for a fun and different appetizer to serve? These are not only gorgeous, but probably the most flavorful bruschetta a BBQ lover could ask for. We even featured these on TV and the crew loved them.

Smoked Brisket Empanadas

I’m pretty sure these are one of my favorite leftover brisket recipes. Take some help from the store and use a store-bought pastry dough for these treats I can only describe as pure brisket goodness. They’re filled with a combination of leftover brisket, some sweet bell peppers, jalapeño, BBQ sauce, and more, then wrapped in the pastry dough, baked to perfection and dipped in a Crème Fraîche BBQ Dipping Sauce. I could eat these for daaaaaayys.

Smoked Brisket Pizza

Use your own homemade dough or a store-bought to make the ultimate brisket pizza. This will make for the perfect Friday night! Throw in a bottle of wine and you’re set!

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Mary (a certified sommelier and recipe developer) and Sean (backyard pitmaster) are co-authors of the critically acclaimed cookbook, Fire + Wine, and have been creating content for the IACP nominated website Vindulge since 2009. They live in Oregon on a farm just outside Portland.