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!
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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 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.
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!!
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 add a 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!
This 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.
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
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 to 4 pounds corned beef brisket uncooked, with spice packet
- 1 onion
- 3 cloves garlic sliced
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 ½ to 3 cups water
- 2 pounds potatoes peeled* & quartered
- 2 large carrots chopped
- 1 small head green 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
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Dinner
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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…
I just bought one at Safeway with packet.
Mine has a season packet
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.
Guinness Stout is a root vegetable from Cornwall, England [Just Kidding]. Sorry, I always wanted to do that because I do, truly appreciate people who ask questions. It is really the only way to get answers. So please, just keep asking. There are thousands of people out here who really do want to help.
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. :)