Old-Fashioned Braised Beef Brisket with Root Vegetables
Slow-braised beef brisket cooked in a rich broth with hearty root vegetables for a comforting, timeless meal. This american-inspired beef ready in about 235 minutes pairs beef brisket, large, quartered yellow onion, smashed garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 520 calories and feeds 8, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 4 lbs beef brisket
- 4 medium, peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces carrots
- 3 medium, peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces parsnips
- 1 large, quartered yellow onion
- 5, smashed garlic cloves
- 4 cups beef broth
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 3 sprigs fresh thyme
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 325°F. Season 4 lbs beef brisket with 2 tsp sea salt and 1 tsp black pepper on all sides.
- Step 2: Heat 3 tbsp olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Sear the brisket for 4-5 minutes per side until deeply browned. Remove and set aside.
- Step 3: Add 1 large quartered yellow onion, 5 smashed garlic cloves, 4 chopped carrots, and 3 chopped parsnips to the pot, sautéing for 5 minutes until vegetables start to soften.
- Step 4: Stir in 2 tbsp tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes. Pour in 4 cups beef broth, scraping up browned bits from the bottom.
- Step 5: Return brisket to the pot and add 3 sprigs fresh thyme and 2 bay leaves. Cover and transfer to the oven. Braise for 3 to 3.5 hours until meat is fork-tender.
- Step 6: Remove brisket and let rest 15 minutes before slicing. Strain vegetables and serve alongside the sliced brisket with braising liquid spooned over.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Old-Fashioned Braised Beef Brisket with Root Vegetables take to make?
Total time is about 235 minutes (25 min prep + 210 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Old-Fashioned Braised Beef Brisket with Root Vegetables?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep beef brisket from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Old-Fashioned Braised Beef Brisket with Root Vegetables?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Old-Fashioned Braised Beef Brisket with Root Vegetables for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 8 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 8). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Old-Fashioned Braised Beef Brisket with Root Vegetables?
American beef like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
What others are saying
- ★★★★★
The perfect comfort food. My grandmother would have approved of this old-fashioned recipe.
- ★★★★★
This was perfect for a cold winter night! My kids even ate the vegetables! Made it for Sunday dinner and everyone raved.
- ★★★★☆
The root vegetables were delicious, but the beef needed more seasoning. Cooked for 4 hours to get tender.
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