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Enjoy cooking brisket but tired of eating the same dish repeatedly? Imagine having a variety of recipes that turn your leftover brisket into diverse cuisines each night—Italian, Mexican, Asian, Spanish—or even into a delightful breakfast, brunch, or lunch. We've got you covered!
Preparing brisket often involves a lengthy process, requiring slow cooking at low temperatures. When you invest that much effort, you want to maximize it by cooking in large quantities. Additionally, brisket isn't typically sold in small portions. Plus, everyone agrees that brisket tastes even better the next day.
Once you've cooked your brisket, explore the recipes below where you can effortlessly substitute leftover brisket for pork, steak, ground beef, or sausage. Since the brisket is already cooked, you can skip the meat-cooking step, making each recipe quicker and easier to prepare.
1. Speedy Brisket Bolognese
Victor ProtasioPasta night becomes a breeze when the meat is pre-cooked and tender. Follow this recipe to create a rich bolognese: a classic Italian tomato-based meat sauce. Simply replace the step of cooking ground sirloin and pork with your already-prepared brisket. The result is a hearty sauce perfect for pairing with any pasta. Mangia!
2. Cuban Brisket Sandwiches
Greg DuPreeBy swapping slow-cooked pork with leftover sliced brisket in this Cuban sandwich recipe, you save at least 8 hours of cooking time! Jump straight to Step 2 to learn how to assemble and broil this sandwich, achieving gooey cheese and a perfectly toasted bun in just minutes.
3. Individual Nacho Cups
Grace ElkusSlow-cooked meat works wonderfully as a filling for numerous Mexican dishes. In this creative recipe that typically uses ground beef, simply replace it with brisket to create individual-sized beef nacho cups. Say goodbye to sharing struggles!
4. Crispy Potato and Brisket Omelet With Smoky Aioli
Greg DuPreeSwap the serrano ham for leftover brisket in this recipe to add a Southern twist to this Spanish-inspired omelet. It features patatas bravas-style potatoes, perfectly crisped for extra flavor, along with manchego cheese and a paprika-infused aioli.
5. Easy Brisket Dumplings
Greg DuPreeAlmost anything can be turned into a tasty dumpling filling, and leftover brisket is no exception. Finely chopped brisket can easily substitute Italian sausage in this recipe. With the help of store-bought wonton wrappers, crafting these Asian-inspired delights is simpler than it appears.
6. Southwestern Beef Chili With Corn
Hector M. SanchezSimplify your weeknight chili by skipping the ground beef and using diced or pulled brisket instead. This recipe includes corn, but chili is versatile enough to incorporate various leftovers—like squash, lentils, chickpeas, rice, or even pasta.
7. Brisket Fried Rice
Cara CormackFried rice is an excellent way to repurpose leftovers. It works well with almost any pre-cooked meat, such as brisket, and whatever fresh vegetables you have on hand. Combine it with an egg, cooked rice, and seasonings like soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sesame oil for a quick, satisfying meal that also clears out your fridge.
8. Quick and Easy Shepherd's Pie
Marcus NilssonThis recipe is already known as the quickest shepherd's pie, and by substituting leftover brisket for ground beef, it becomes even speedier. Additional time-savers include using frozen mixed vegetables and instant mashed potatoes. The outcome is a comforting meat-and-potatoes meal ready in under 20 minutes.
9. Quesadillas Poblano
Jen CauseyTransform this Tex-Mex classic into a heartier dish by swapping a can of pinto beans with chopped brisket. This meat-filled version retains the gooey jack cheese, mildly spicy poblanos, and oil-brushed tortillas, ensuring you lose nothing but the leftovers in your fridge.
10. Grandma Pie With Brisket and Pink Sauce
Greg DuPreeBrisket on pizza? Absolutely! Using brisket instead of pepperoni in this recipe would earn the approval of any nonna. This simple baking-sheet-style pizza begins with homemade pizza dough (or store-bought, because Grandma would understand) and a touch of heavy cream in the tomato sauce to create its signature "pink" hue.
11. Baked-Potato Brisket and Eggs
William MeppemThis twice-baked potato recipe is an ideal way to use leftover brisket as a substitute for turkey sausage. For a meatier option, skip the eggs and double up on the brisket, creating a cheesy, effortless meat-and-potatoes dish.
12. Three-Cheese Brisket Calzones
Kan KanbayashiWhy hasn't a brisket calzone become a staple yet? Simply swap the salami in this recipe with leftover brisket in its three-cheese-and-spinach filling. Using store-bought dough and jarred marinara for dipping makes these calzones quick and easy to prepare.
13. Cheesy Baked Beans and Tomatoes
Victor ProtasioThis one-pot recipe requires no substitutions. Leftover brisket is the ideal addition to this vegetarian dish, which can be ready to serve in just 20 minutes.
14. Four Cheese Brisket Lasagna
Natasia HanrattyGive this classic lasagna recipe a twist by replacing ground beef with leftover brisket. Skipping the meat-browning step saves time, while still delivering the rich, flavorful dish you crave.
15. Brisket Tacos
Gentl & HyersReplace the garlic skirt steak strips in this recipe with brisket slices for a quick, flavorful taco upgrade. Tacos aren't just about the meat—these are packed with sautéed Napa cabbage, garnished with thinly sliced radishes and onions, and topped with a dollop of sour cream.
16. Lentil and Brisket Stew
Roland BelloSwap kielbasa with leftover brisket in this hearty stew to boost its protein content even further. Let the lentils simmer for at least 35 minutes, adding the brisket in the final 10 minutes just to heat it through. Be sure to serve with crusty bread for a complete meal!
17. Italian Baked Eggs With Tomato Sauce
Jen CauseyThis recipe traditionally uses hot Italian turkey sausage, but leftover brisket is an excellent alternative. This versatile one-pot dish, ready in under 25 minutes, is perfect for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner.
18. Brisket and Fontina Spaghetti Pie
Victor ProtasioThis dish is called a pie, resembles a cake, and is definitely not a dessert. Regardless of its classification, your family and friends will love it. Leftover brisket can seamlessly replace Italian sausage in this recipe, pairing perfectly with the creamy vodka tomato sauce, kale, and the fontina-and-ricotta "crust."
19. Beef and Vegetable Stew
Quentin BaconThis hearty stew is already quick and easy to prepare, and substituting lamb with brisket chunks simplifies it further. Packed with onions, carrots, green beans, and tomatoes, this all-in-one dish is perfect for a fuss-free dinner.
20. Beef and Bok Choy Stir-Fry
Jose PicayoStir-fry is an excellent way to use leftover brisket. In this recipe, substitute thinly sliced flank steak with brisket. Paired with bok choy in a flavorful Asian-inspired sauce and served over white rice, this dish is a quick and satisfying meal.
21. Kimchi and Beef Wontons
Greg DuPreeSubstituting leftover chopped brisket for ground beef in this simple recipe is effortless. It combines with egg, jarred kimchi, cauliflower rice, ginger, and scallions to create a rich filling for store-bought wonton wrappers.
22. Sheet Pan Frito Pie
Caitlin BenselThis sheet-pan dish, perfect for appetizers or game day, is a winner with leftover brisket. Replace the chili with chopped brisket—with or without BBQ sauce—for a Texan twist on the classic Frito pie.
23. One-Pot Brisket-Gnocchi Soup
Jennifer CauseyReplace Italian sausage with leftover brisket to elevate this hearty, wholesome soup. Combined with store-bought gnocchi, diced tomatoes, spinach, and Italian herbs in a chicken broth, this dish becomes a comforting, nourishing meal ready in under 30 minutes.
