Meal Planning: Game-Day Slow Cooker Brisket Sliders

When my kids were growing up, we had a tradition of hosting a Super Bowl party for several friends and their kids each year. The house filled with people who spilled from our living room onto the patio and into the game room and kitchen as food was brought in, one covered dish at a time.

For reasons none of us can recall, we started measuring the heights of all the kids at the party each year. They'd each line up against the brick wall in my kitchen while one parent held a book or ruler to mark their height and another wielded the tape measure. At the end of the night, the kids all stood together holding a sheet of paper with their height on it. One year after many of the kids reached full height, they switched it up measured the moms.

Many recipes were sampled and many friends came and went through our house during those years, but house-smoked brisket was regularly on the menu. Today, I've simplified the prep with these Game Day Slow Cooker Brisket Sliders. We use the crockpot instead of the smoker and cook it low and slow all day, allowing more time to enjoy the main event. The recipe was pulled from Southern Living magazine a few years and remains a favorite for feeding a crowd. If you have two crock pots, this is easy to double for larger crowds. It can also be made ahead and reheated.

Game Day Slow Cooker Brisket Sliders

1 1/2 TBSP packed brown sugar

2 tsp kosher salt

1 tsp cumin

3/4 tsp black pepper

2 lb brisket, trimmed

3 chipotle chiles in adobo sauce, minced

3 garlic cloves, smashed

Slider buns, spicy pickles chips and your favorite BBQ sauce for serving

In a small bowl, stir brown sugar, salt, cumin and pepper together. Place the brisket fat-side up in the crock pot and coat all sides with the sugar mixture. Top with the garlic and chipotle chiles.

Cover and cook all day on low (about 8-10 hours). When you're ready to serve, shred the brisket with two forks and place in a large bowl. Add cooking liquid to moisten and stir until it's completely coated.

Serve on slider rolls with BBQ sauce and pickle chips on the side.

Do you have a Super Bowl tradition? Do you want to start one?