Brisket drippings are the delicious juices that are left behind in the pan after cooking a beef brisket. This flavorful liquid is full of beefy goodness and is too tasty to simply throw out. Brisket drippings can be used in a variety of ways to add extra beefy flavor to other dishes and sides. Here are some of the best uses for brisket drippings.
Make a Pan Sauce
One of the easiest and tastiest ways to use up brisket drippings is to make a simple pan sauce. After removing your brisket from the pan, pour off excess fat from the drippings, leaving behind just the concentrated juices. Place the pan over medium-high heat and add a spoonful of flour or cornstarch to thicken the juices. Whisk the flour into the drippings until smooth and let bubble for 1-2 minutes. Finally, stir in a splash of wine, stock, vinegar or other liquid to finish the sauce. Drizzle the sauce over sliced brisket or serve it alongside.
Enrich Gravy
Brisket drippings can add deep beefy flavor to gravy. After separating the fat from the drippings, stir a few spoonfuls of the defatted drippings into your regular gravy recipe. For special occasion gravy, you can make gravy completely from the drippings. After removing excess fat, place the pan over medium heat and whisk in flour to form a roux. Cook for 2-3 minutes until browned. Slowly pour in milk, stock or broth while whisking. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until thickened to your desired consistency. Season with salt, pepper and other spices.
Make Au Jus
Brisket drippings are the secret ingredient to insanely savory au jus. Simply spoon off any fat from the drippings. Add the defatted drippings to a saucepan along with beef broth, red wine, herbs and spices. Simmer everything together for 10-15 minutes until well combined. If needed, thicken the au jus with a bit of cornstarch mixed with water. Serve the rich, beefy au jus alongside your brisket for dipping sliced meat into.
Boost Beans and Chili
A spoonful of brisket drippings can add incredible depth and beefiness to pots of beans, chili or stew. For a chili or beef stew, stir a few tablespoons of defatted drippings into the simmering pot. For beans, add 1-2 tablespoons of drippings to the bean pot towards the end of cooking. The meaty drippings infuse the dishes with smoky, beefy flavor from the brisket.
Make a Brisket Board
Drizzle brisket drippings over a brisket charcuterie board for next-level flavor. Arrange sliced brisket flat and point along with pickles, mustard, cheese and crackers. Drizzle the defatted drippings over the meat or serve it alongside for dipping. The concentrated beefy juices take the entire board to new heights.
| Dish | Amount of Drippings |
|---|---|
| Pan Sauce | 2-3 tablespoons |
| Gravy | 3-4 tablespoons |
| Au Jus | 1/4 – 1/2 cup |
| Beans/Chili | 1-2 tablespoons |
| Brisket Board | 2-3 tablespoons |
This table provides a quick reference for how much brisket drippings to use in different dishes. The amounts can be adjusted based on personal preference.
Make a Smoky BBQ Sauce
Brisket drippings can be one of the key ingredients in homemade barbecue sauce. Start by cooking minced garlic and onions in a bit of the drippings. Next, add ketchup, brown sugar, chili powder, paprika, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard and any other desired seasonings. Finally, stir in 1/4 cup or more brisket drippings for maximum smoky flavor. Simmer for 10-15 minutes, then pour the barbecue sauce over shredded brisket sandwiches.
Boost Baked Beans
For next-level baked beans, stir some brisket drippings into the bean mixture before baking. To make the beans, sauté onion and garlic in a little drippings. Add your favorite baked bean recipe along with 1-2 tablespoons brisket drippings. Baked until thickened and infused with meaty flavor. The drippings add wonderful smoky depth.
Enhance Collard Greens
For Southern-style collard greens, cook bacon in a skillet until crispy. Remove the bacon but leave the rendered bacon fat. Cook the greens in the bacon fat, along with minced garlic and onions. Season with salt, pepper, vinegar and spices. Right before serving, stir a couple spoonfuls of brisket drippings into the greens. The brisket juices give the greens a major boost of meatiness.
Punch Up Baked Potatoes
Make insanely beefy baked potatoes by topping them with brisket drippings. Bake potatoes until tender all the way through. Cut a slit open and fluff the insides with a fork. Top with shredded cheese, sour cream, bacon bits and green onions. Drizzle a few tablespoons of brisket drippings over the top or serve it on the side for dipping. The potatoes become irresistibly beefy.
Garnish Vegetables
Unleash extra dimensions of flavor on roasted vegetables by finishing them with brisket drippings. Roast vegetables like potatoes, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower or Brussels sprouts per usual. When the veggies come out of the oven, toss them with a few spoonfuls of brisket drippings. The meaty juices give new life to the vegetables.
Boost Cornbread
Buttery, moist cornbread can be taken to new heights with brisket drippings. Prepare your favorite cornbread batter and pour into a greased baking dish. Top the batter with a few spoonfuls of brisket drippings. The fat will melt into the cornbread, infusing it with incredible depth. For even more flavor, top the cooked cornbread with additional drippings or serve it on the side.
Make Southern Dirty Rice
Dirty rice gets gloriously meaty flavor and color from brisket drippings. Cook rice according to package directions. Meanwhile, cook onion, celery and garlic in the drippings until softened. Add the cooked rice along with 1/4 cup brisket drippings, chicken livers, spices and chicken stock. Cook until heated through and the flavors meld. The drippings give incredible savoriness.
Boost Mac and Cheese
Mac and cheese turns indulgent and meaty with the help of some brisket drippings. Make your favorite mac and cheese recipe as usual. Right before serving, stir a few spoonfuls of the defatted drippings into the cheesy pasta. Or top each serving with extra drippings for a hit of beefiness in every bite. Smoked brisket drippings pair perfectly with the rich cheese sauce.
Make Refried Beans
Brisket drippings add incredible depth of flavor to refried beans. Cook pinto beans until very soft and mushy. Mash the beans along with minced garlic and onions sautéed in a bit of drippings. Continue mashing and stir in more drippings, 1-2 tablespoons at a time, until the beans reached the desired consistency. Season to taste. The meaty drippings take ordinary refried beans to new levels.
Boost Meatloaf
Adding brisket drippings to meatloaf recipe creates the ultimate savory flavor. Prepare your regular meatloaf mixture with ground beef and seasoning. Before baking, poke holes all over the top with a fork or knife. Drizzle 2-3 tablespoons of brisket drippings evenly over the meatloaf, letting it soak into the holes. Bake as usual so the drippings infuse the whole loaf with flavor. The brisket juices take the meatloaf over the top.
Make Dog Food Topper
Dogs go crazy for brisket drippings used as a tasty food topper. Pour any excess brisket drippings into an ice cube tray and freeze. Once solid, pop the cubes out and store in a ziplock bag. When ready to use, place a beefy frozen cube atop your dog’s regular kibble meal. As the cube melts, it releases irresistible meaty flavor to turn ordinary dog food into a treat.
Pro Tips for Using Brisket Drippings
Here are some top tips for getting the most out of your precious brisket drippings:
- Refrigerate drippings within 2 hours of cooking to increase shelf life.
- Pour drippings into a fat separator to easily remove excess fat.
- Freeze drippings in ice cube trays or muffin tins for easy use later.
- Avoid burning the drippings by cooking over lower heat when making sauces.
- Mix a slurry of cornstarch + water to easily thicken drippings-based sauces.
- Add some vinegar or lemon juice to drippings to brighten the flavor.
- Use within 3-4 days or freeze for longer storage.
Conclusion
Brisket drippings are liquid gold – too flavorful to waste. By saving and repurposing the leftover juices from cooking brisket, you can infuse tons of dishes with mouthwatering smoky, beefy flavor. From gravy and sauces to baked beans and chili, the possibilities are endless. With a little creativity, you can get the most out of every last drop and create amazing new dishes along the way. So next time you cook up a brisket, remember to reserve those drippings for your next culinary adventure.