by Holly
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 makes for an effortless meal.
Talk about a stroke of good fortune on St. Patrick’s Day or any day of the year!
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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!
This Crock Pot Corned Beef & Cabbage recipe is best cooked in a 6QT slow cooker (or larger) as it really fills the crock. Add your potatoes a few hours into the cooking process, so that they 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.
If you’ve never made corned beef before, it’s actually easy to make but it is important to keep in mind, corned beef (and beef brisket in general) is a tough cut of meat until it is properly cooked. If it is tough, it simply hasn’t cooked for long enough, leave it in the slow cooker and give it a little more time.
Before cutting you’ll always want to allow your corned beef to rest as this is the secret to a great cut of meat. Once rested, cut against the grain to result in corned beef that is juicier, fork tender and more flavorful..
There are a few really important tips you need to be aware of when making any brisket recipe (including this crock pot corned beef recipe).
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!!
What Spices go on Corned Beef?
Corned Beef is beef brisket which 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, coriander to name a few. If your corned beef doesn’t have the spices you can add a couple of tablespoons pickling spices, a few pepper corns 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 slow cooker recipe like Corned Beef and Cabbage. Using a crock pot makes this meal almost effortless!
This Slow Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage 
recipe creates a one of a kind, delicious dinner that your family will love! Since it’s already a complete meal, we most often serve it with 30 Minute Dinner Rolls or Easy Homemade Buttermilk Biscuits and a simple side salad.
I have a feeling you want to make this 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 Irish Favorites
- Lamb Stew (Irish Stew) – So rich and flavorful!
- How to Cook Corned Beef (Stove Top) – Stove top version!
- Irish Soda Bread – Perfect side, great for soups and stews!
- Colcannon Recipe (Cabbage and Potatoes) – The ultimate comfort food!
- My Favorite Reuben Sandwich – Homemade is best!
Slow Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage
Ingredients
- 1 corned beef brisket (3-4lbs)
- 1 onion
- 3 cloves garlic
- 2 bay leaves
- 2.5 - 3 cups water
- 2 lbs potatoes , peeled & quartered
- 2 large carrots , chopped
- 1 small head of cabbage , cut into wedges
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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.
Recipe Notes
(Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.)
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Colcannon
This recipe is perfect. I have never had great success with corned beef and cabbage but this was amazing!
I am so glad you enjoyed the recipe Mary!
I lost my recipe and this is the closest that I have found. The big difference is I substitute about 2-3 cans of pale beer when adding the water, I add 2 beef bouillon cubes and I do add some Pickling Spice. I can’t wait for it to be done. TY
Those sound like delicious substitutions to this recipe! Ihope you enjoy the dish!
Can I use a corned beef round instead of a brisket?
I’m sure that would work.
Hi, I was curious if I’m cooking 2 pieces of corned beef at approx. 3-4 lbs each do I need to allow any longer time or would the 8-10 hrs be sufficient?
I haven’t tried cooking 2 at the same time so I can’t say for sure. You’ll want to cook until the meat becomes fork tender. If you allow for extra time and it’s done early, you can remove it from the slow cooker and keep warm in the oven on low.
I cooked 2 corn beef the first time I tried this recipe and did not need to cook any longer than the recipe called for I cooked 8 hours and both pieces fell apart with fork. Amazing recipe my husband will not eat corn beef cooked any other way now. Thanks for this terrific recipe.
I am so glad your family has enjoyed this recipe Linda!
Can I use beef broth instead of water?
Sure you can, however this will change the flavor.
Hello. Can you please tell me what kind of potatoes are used? Thank you.
I use russet potatoes but any will work in this recipe.
I use small Yukon Gold which work out wonderfully and don’t need to peal them…
Want to try soon. How many does this serve? Im having 12 guests for dinner.
At the top of the recipe card, you’ll find the number of servings on each recipe. This recipe serves 6. Have a great dinner party Mandy!
I MADE THIS ONLY 1 TIME (NOT YOUR RECIPE :) ) BUT THE MEAT CAME OUT FUNNY COLORED. WHAT WOULD CAUSE THIS?
Corned beef does come out a bright red/pink color. The curing process uses sodium nitrite which makes the meat bright pink.
Yup new recipe to try out with corned beef!
Will any can of beer work in this recipe? Thank you!;)
Cheap beer is the best,Milwaukees best , Busch light are the ones that I have had good luck with. Tried Sam Adams with bad taste. Nobody likes it here. The fancy flavorful beer is best for drinking and the cheapest least flavor beer is the best for cooking. ………..
Fabulous, simple and will not use another recipe. I love this one.
Thank you Julie! Glad you love this Corned Beef and Cabbage recipe!
I have been trying a few recipes for corned beef. Oven baked and slow cooker. I am new to corned beef and this year sort of decided to try it. Anyway, this recipe is my favorite. I think the small amount of seasonings is the key. Just enough and the RIGHT ones. Very simple. Its almost June and I’ve made this 3 times already since March…or April. Whenever I found this one. Love it!
I’m just trying to figure out how much of the pickling spice do I use for a 4 pound? And how do I apply it?
If your corned beef doesn’t have the spices you can add a couple of tablespoons of pickling spices, a few pepper corns and a bay leaf. Bundle them up in cheesecloth and toss them into the slow cooker.
I’m not much of a cook but I decided to celebrate St Patrick’s day by making this recipe and having 11 people over to share. It turned out great and was delishous ..Thank you
I am so glad you enjoyed this recipe!
I tried this recipe yesterday and was very pleased. I cooked a 3 lb slab of corned beef and followed the recipe exactly. Next time I’ll add the carrots and potatoes later so they are not as soft. But the cabbage was perfectly cooked – not mushy and not too crunchy. I will definitely make this version of CB and C again!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Yes, this slow cook method produced the best most tender corned beef i ever made. The vegetables also came out great. The only variation is I used less garlic and did not leave it in slow cooker the whole time. I started as per the recipe but after an hour, all I was able to smell was garlic. It was dominating the pot. So I fished most of it out at about the 2 hr mark. Came out fantastic. Many compliments from the guests! Thank you:)
You’re welcome Harry. So happy to hear that your guests loved it!
This was very good, but the veggies were a little over cooked for my taste even adding them later and taking them out early. I will try this again, but will add the veggies at the 4-hour mark instead of the 3-hour mark.
This was so tender and tasty❗️Will use it every St.Patricks Day.
I made it your way low and slow and so far so good last time i cooked it on hi well it’s better low thanks from my family
Great recipe. Mine always comes with a a seasoning packet, but sometimes its hidden in the wrapper. Its usually quite small, so easily missed.
They can be quite small. So glad you loved the recipe Sue!
don’t fprget the cornbeef shrinks so if there is more than 3 people i’d buy two for leftovers also!!
Great tip Paula!
why oh why do most recipes for corned beef and cabbage state such a large size portion of the meat. I cook for one person and have less than one pound of meat. I but it at the deli and so also have no “packet” of spices to use. some comments please
Deli corn beef is cooked corn beef is a beef brisket,( flank steak) with seasoning.
It’s such a large portion because a corned beef is a brisket. And just like turkey, ham, and roasts they only come in large sizes. That is how they are butchered.
People keep asking about the “seasoning packet.” If there is no “packet” with the corned beef, then pour the liquid and spices from the package into the pot. Rinse any remaining spices out with water or beer, and pour it into the pot, then add the remaining liquid…… I have not seen a “seasoning packet” packaged with a corned beef in decades.
I haven’t seen one without a seasoning packet in this decade. It’s usually right in with the meat.
Aldi‘s Corned Beef comes with a seasoning package…
Safeway signatures comes with a seasoning packet.
mine from Costco came with a seasoning packet.
Instead of water, I used Guinness stout and it was wonderful.
That sounds completely awesome!
May I ask what does Guinness stout looks like ?
It is beer.
Yes!!
Does it have to be cooked or raw when you buy corned beef?
I purchase raw corned beef, it’s with the meats.
What seasoning pkt are you suggesting? I did not see it in the ingredients.
The corned beef usually comes with a seasoning packet.
I made this recipe today. Too much water !
I would not almost cover mear. Waterlogged.
I am planning on making this, but, based on your comment, I’d love to know how much water you recommend?
I use beef broth instead of water
Try apple juice instead of water
I’ll be trying this for the first time for Easter dinner with my family. Really excited to see how it turns out. I love corned beef and brisket in general!
Will it turn out okay if I cook it on high for six hours?
I like to cook mine on the low setting but it should turn out fine. Let me know how it turns out if you try it.
The instruction don’t specify the setting of the slow cooker low or high ?
The slow cooker setting is low for 8-10 hours.
The ingredients list says nothing about a “seasoning packet”, but the instructions say, top with seasoning packet.” …What seasoning packet?
The seasoning packed is included when you purchase corned beef at the grocery store. :)