Corned Beef and Cabbage Slow Cooker Recipe (2024)

This Corned Beef and Cabbage Slow Cooker recipe packs all of the deliciousness of corned beef into a meal that cooks itself.

Tender Corned Beef and cabbage, carrots, & potatoes all cooked to perfection in the Crock Pot make for an effortless meal.

Talk about a stroke of good fortune on St. Patrick’s Day or any day of the year!

Corned Beef and Cabbage Slow Cooker Recipe (1)

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The Best Recipe for Corned Beef and Cabbage!

I’m often asked “What is the best recipe for corned beef and cabbage?” and I have to admit that I’m partial to this slow cooker recipe! Making this crock pot Corned Beef & Cabbage recipe, it so easy that it practically cooks itself.

  • It is best cooked in a 6QT slow cooker (or larger) as it really fills the crockpot.
  • Add the potatoes a few hours into the cooking process, so thatthey cook for about 5-6 hours, this will keep them from getting mushy.
  • Add the cabbage 2 hours before you plan to serve the meal.

Low and Slow Cooked Corned Beef

If you’ve never made crockpot corned beef before, it’s actually easy to make. Keep in mind that in mind, corned beef (and beef brisket in general) is a tough cut of meat and it benefits from a long low and slow cooking time.

Quickly check the corned beef with a fork to see if it is tender. If it is tough, it likely hasn’t cooked for long enough; leave it in the slow cooker and give it a little more time.

Important Note

After slow cooking corned beef, be sure to allow the corned beef to rest for at least 15 minutes before cutting.

Once rested, cut against the grain for corned beef that is juicier and fork tender.

How to Cook Corned Beef to Make it Tender

  • Low & Slow:Brisket is a tough cut of meat, and to get the very best results, it should be cooked low and slow. In this recipe, I use the slow cooker and I make sure to use the low setting.
  • Give it time: This goes back to “slow”… this recipe calls for 8-10 hours and mine usually takes closer to 10. If your corned beef is tough, there’s a good chance it didn’t cook long enough.
  • Rest your meat: As with most meats, allow it to rest for a few minutes before slicing.
  • Cut across the grain:Brisket has long fibrous strands so it is very important to cut across the grain. In fact, this is one of the most important parts of this recipe!!
Corned Beef and Cabbage Slow Cooker Recipe (2)

What Spices go on Corned Beef?

Corned Beef is beef brisket that has been cured and brined. When sold, it often comes already seasoned or with a seasoning packet. The seasonings include beautifully fragrant spices such as whole allspice, peppercorns, mustard seeds, and coriander, to name a few. If your corned beef doesn’t have a spice packet, you can adda couple of tablespoons of pickling spices, a few peppercorns, and a bay leaf. Bundle them up in cheesecloth and toss them into the slow cooker.

St. Patrick’s Day is the perfect time to enjoy an easy crock pot Corned Beef and Cabbage. Using a slow cooker makes this meal almost effortless!

Corned Beef and Cabbage Slow Cooker Recipe (3)

This recipecreates a one of a kind, delicious dinner that your family will love! Since it’s already a complete meal, we most often serve it with30 Minute Dinner RollsorEasy Homemade Buttermilk Biscuitsand a simple side salad.

Don’t eat this just on St. Patrick’s day, it’s wonderfully cozy all year round! This easy corned beef and cabbage recipe contains a complete meal all in one, tender corned beef, potatoes, sweet carrots and cabbage.

More St. Patrick's Day Favorites

Classic Shepherd’s Pie

Casseroles

Colcannon (Cabbage and Potatoes)

Side Dishes

Irish Soda Bread

Lamb Stew (Irish Stew)

Corned Beef and Cabbage Slow Cooker Recipe (10)

4.99 from 1986 votes↑ Click stars to rate now!
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Corned Beef and Cabbage Slow Cooker Recipe

This Slow Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage recipe packs all of the deliciousness of corned beef into a meal that cooks itself. Talk about a stroke of good fortune on St. Patrick’s Day or any day of the year!

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Corned Beef and Cabbage Slow Cooker Recipe (11)

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 8 hours hours

Total Time 8 hours hours 10 minutes minutes

Corned Beef and Cabbage Slow Cooker Recipe (12)

Servings 6 servings

Corned Beef and Cabbage Slow Cooker Recipe (13)

Author Holly Nilsson

Ingredients

  • 1 corned beef brisket 3-4 pounds
  • 1 onion
  • 3 cloves garlic sliced
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 2 ½ – 3 cups water
  • 2 pounds potatoes peeled* & quartered
  • 2 large carrots chopped
  • 1 small head of cabbage cut into wedges

Instructions

  • Chop onion into large chunks and place in the bottom of a 6 qt slow cooker. Top with corned beef and seasoning packet.

  • Pour water into slow cooker until it just about covers the corned beef. Add garlic and bay leaves.

  • Cook on low 8-10 hours.

  • After the initial 3 hours, add potatoes and carrots to the slow cooker.

  • Two hours before serving, add cabbage wedges to the slow cooker.

  • Remove corned beef from slow cooker and let rest 15 minutes before slicing. Serve with potatoes, carrots and cabbage.

Video

Corned Beef and Cabbage Slow Cooker Recipe (15)

Notes

Up to 2 cups of water can be replaced with beer if desired.

If your corned beef doesn’t have a spice packet, add a couple of tablespoons of pickling spices, a few peppercorns, and a bay leaf. Bundle them up in cheesecloth and add them to the slow cooker.

If using russet or baking potatoes, they should be peeled. If using thin skinned potatoes (red, Yukon gold), peeling is optional.

Once cooked corned beef should be tender (mine usually cooks closer to the 10 hour time). Appliances can vary, if your corned beef is not tender, it likely needs to cook longer.

It is essential to cut your corned beef across the grain.

4.99 from 1986 votes

Nutrition Information

Calories: 592 | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 39g | Fat: 34g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 122mg | Sodium: 2817mg | Potassium: 1653mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 3545IU | Vitamin C: 136.9mg | Calcium: 135mg | Iron: 9.5mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Corned Beef and Cabbage Slow Cooker Recipe (16) Course Dinner

Corned Beef and Cabbage Slow Cooker Recipe (17) Cuisine American

© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.

Corned Beef and Cabbage Slow Cooker Recipe (18)
Corned Beef and Cabbage Slow Cooker Recipe (19)

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Holly is a wine and cheese lover, recipe creator, shopping enthusiast and self appointed foodie. Her greatest passion is creating in the kitchen and making deliciously comforting recipes for the everyday home cook!
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Corned Beef and Cabbage Slow Cooker Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Does corned beef have to be covered in water in slow cooker? ›

You can add seasonings other than salt, like black peppercorns and bay leaves. Keep the brisket submerged at all times as well since it's the water actually transferring heat into the meat and cooking it. Letting the top become exposed will dry out the meat and slow down the cooking process, leading to uneven doneness.

What happens if you don t rinse corned beef before cooking? ›

1. Not Rinsing the Meat Before Cooking. If you cook the meat straight from the plastic packaging or pulled the meat right away from the brine solution in the fridge without rinsing, you just might be in for a saltier meal than you bargained for.

Do you rinse corned beef before slow cooking? ›

Yes, corned beef should be rinsed because it is cured in a salt brine; there is probably excess salt on the meat. The uncooked corned beef should be rinsed under cool running water before it is cooked.

Can you overcook corned beef in a slow cooker? ›

You can overcook corned beef in a Crock-Pot if it's cooked for too long at too high of a temperature. Overcooked corned beef can taste tough and stringy. It's best to follow the recommended cook time and temperature within the recipe.

Should you use the juice in the corned beef package? ›

Do you use the liquid in corned beef? - Quora. Yes. Just add the brine to your cooking liquid for additional flavoring. The brine often contains salt and a mix of spices such as a bay leaf, peppercorns, mustard seed, juniper berries, coriander seed, and whole cloves.

Why is my corned beef not tender in the crockpot? ›

Low Temperature: Slow cookers typically cook at relatively low temperatures, which can result in meats like corned beef not reaching a high enough temperature to break down the tough connective tissues and collagen properly. This can lead to a tougher texture rather than the desired tenderness.

What is the secret to best corned beef? ›

Because corned beef comes from brisket, a tough cut of meat. You need its connective tissue to break down so you can have tender results. Some like to braise their corned beef in an all-water liquid, with various spices and salt; others add beer to the mix to further tenderize the meat.

Is it better to boil or slow cook corned beef? ›

Corned beef is a brisket that has been brined. It is often sold precooked, but if you have purchased it raw, the best way to cook corned beef is slowly. You can bake, boil, or cook it in your slow cooker, but the key to a tender, flavorful meal requires at least a few hours.

Do you use water or stock for corned beef? ›

The most common method for cooking corned beef and cabbage is boiling. Put the meat in a large pot, cover it with water or beef broth, add a seasoning packet and boil before lowering the heat to a simmer. Cook for 2 to 3 hours or until the meat is tender and cooked to your liking.

Why is my slow cooked corned beef tough? ›

Not filling the pot with enough water.

One of the keys to getting there is the amount of water in the pot. From start to finish, when there's not ample liquid to cover the meat, your dreams of tender corned beef might be crushed with a tough, chewy result.

Does corned beef go fat side up or down in slow cooker? ›

Corned Beef Brisket should be placed in the crockpot or pot with the fat side up. The fat insulates and protects the meat and helps the corned beef from drying out as it cooks. Brisket / corned beef should have a thin layer of fat on the top. Sometimes the fat is super thick and needs to be trimmed.

What cooking method is best for corned beef? ›

The USDA recommends simmering corned beef on the stovetop for 1 hour per pound of meat. If you're cooking yours in the oven, plan for 3 to 3 1/2 hours for a 2 1/2- to 3-pound cut.

Should corned beef be fully submerged in water? ›

Yes, it does. Yes, corned beef should be covered with water in a slow cooker. This is important to ensure that the meat stays moist and tender during the cooking process. It is also important to ensure that the water level is high enough to fully submerge the meat, as this will ensure that it cooks evenly.

Why did my corned beef turn out rubbery? ›

Slow cooking over low heat causes the connective tissue to gelatinize, resulting in a moist, tender final product. If you cook corned beef over high heat, the collagen behaves in the opposite way. Instead of loosening, it becomes even tighter. The result is meat with a dry, rubbery texture.

Does corned beef get more tender the longer it is cooked? ›

Corned beef is made from one of several less tender cuts of beef like the brisket, rump, or round. Therefore, it requires long, moist cooking. Corned beef is safe once the internal temperature has reached at least 145 °F, with a three minute rest time, but cooking it longer will make it fork-tender.

Does meat in slow cooker have to be covered by water? ›

Water or liquid is necessary to create steam. When cooking meat or poultry, the water or liquid level should cover the ingredients to ensure effective heat transfer throughout the crock. Some manufacturers of slow cookers recommend adding liquid to fill the stoneware 1/2 to 3/4 full.

Does meat have to be fully submerged in slow cooker? ›

It doesn't matter if it is covered or not. The inside of the slow cooker will be warm enough to cook the meat. Braising (not submerged) and simmering (submerged) are two methods which both can lead to good results. The "very chewy" result sounds like choosing the wrong type of meat for slow cooking.

Why do you cook corned beef in water? ›

Boiling is the traditional way of preparing corned beef. This approach accomplishes three things simultaneously: It cooks the meat, tenderizes the tough cut of brisket, and draws out the excess salt.

Do you put corned beef in cold water? ›

It is important to rinse your corned beef in cold water before cooking it to remove some of the excess salt from the corning process. (I usually soak mine in cold water for a bit depending on the brand - some are much saltier than others).

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