6 Best Beef Brisket Substitutes You Can Try Next Time

Have you ever been in a situation where beef brisket is on the recipe, but there is no of this cut available on the local market?

Have no fear!

There are plenty of ways to make a delicious dish out of something that might not seem like it would work.

In this blog post, we will be exploring some options to substitute for beef brisket that you can try next time.

What is beef brisket?

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Beef brisket is a cut of meat from the breast or lower chest of the cattle.

Beef brisket is one of the primal cuts of beef that is often used to make corned beef, pastrami, or roast beef and served as sandwiches on rye bread with mustard and sauerkraut.

Since beef brisket contains a lot of connective tissues, it is a tough cut that needs to be slow-cooked to tenderize the meat.

The low and slow cooking methods will let you achieve a tender beef dish that is juicy and flavorful.

Not only being versatile but beef brisket is also affordable compared to other steak cuts, making it a favorite beef cut of many people from all classes. It is typically sold in most local butchers or grocery stores.

However, it is one of the sought-after cuts that are quickly out of stock due to the high demand for it.

Can you substitute beef brisket in cooking recipes?

One of the most common questions is can beef brisket be substituted with other cuts or ingredients in cooking?

And the answer is simply yes.

There are many reasons why people are looking for a substitute for beef brisket.

For example, there is no beef brisket cut left in the local butcher or grocery store and you must look for another cut instead.

On the other hand, if you just want to experiment with new cuts and dishes or want to go vegan, then it is also essential to opt for a beef brisket alternative.

No matter what the reason is, you have plenty of options including meat-based or plant-based substitutes to use in your next recipe in place of beef brisket without any fuss.

What can you substitute for beef brisket?

Now, let’s take a closer look at other meat cuts or ingredients that can be used as a good substitute for beef brisket:

1.     Chuck roast

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Chuck is a cut that is on top of the brisket cut.

Therefore, using the chuck roast cut to replace beef brisket will be a good idea.

Chuck roast has a tough texture and perfect marbling fat, making it perfect for slow-cooking methods like roasting, baking, smoking, or braising. 

2.     Boneless beef short ribs

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You can also use boneless beef short ribs to substitute for beef brisket.

Boneless short ribs are actually cut from the chuck section instead of the cow’s rib cage.

It is sold boneless with a lot more meat than the bone-in short ribs.

Boneless beef short ribs are great for barbecuing or braising so that the meat can be fork-tender or fall off the bone.

This is also an economical cut compared to the bone-in version.

3.     Beef shank

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Beef shank is another option to substitute for beef brisket.

Beef shank is cut from the leg portion of the cow, and it is more available and cheaper than beef brisket due to its low demand.

However, this lean cut can still work great in stewing recipes, to make soups or ground beef.

4.     Pork shoulder

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If you expect to have a twist on the flavor of your dish, pork shoulder will be a great replacement for beef brisket.

It is cut from the shoulder section of the pig and has a tough texture with a perfect meat-to-fat ratio.

Pork shoulder can be roasted, grilled, braised, or stewed.

The cooked pork shoulder can also be served in different ways.

The whole cut can work as the main course, while pulled pork is perfect for burgers or tacos.

5.     Lamb roast

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Another kind of red meat that can be used to replace beef brisket is the lamb roast cut.

It is taken from the front part of the lamb’s lower hind leg and goes all the way down.

Due to the tough texture, lamb roast is ideal for roasted, grilled, or stewed with other aromatic vegetables like carrots, onions, and potatoes.

However, in general, lamb is a more tender kind of meat compared to beef, so it will take a bit less time to cook than working with the beef counterpart.

6.     Seitan

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Are you a vegan?

Don’t worry, this beef brisket substitute will satisfy you.

Seitan has been one of the top choices for real meat because it has a chunk texture and is high in protein.

Seitan is made from vital wheat gluten so consider it if you are following a gluten-free diet.

When using seitan in place of beef brisket, you should buy a whole slab of this product and give it a great marinate with barbecue sauce or smoke liquid before baking to resemble the taste of roasted beef brisket.

The bottom line

Hopefully, this article has given you some ideas to substitute for beef brisket.

From other cuts of beef to other similar red meat cuts like pork or lamb, and even a vegan option like seitan if you want to cut down the animal product intake from your diet.

In the end, deciding which beef brisket substitute works best in your recipe will depend on your personal preference.