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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

Corned Beef and Cabbage Slow Cooker Recipe
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.
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This is the absolute best corned beef and cabbage recipe for slow cookers. I took Holly’s note and set it for 10 hours and it was the most tender corned beef I’ve ever made. This is a definite keeper!
Made this yesterday for Saint Patricks Day, it was the best I’ve ever made. I cooked the meat on low for 11 hours on low just to be safe as corned beef is such a tough cut. The potatoes for 6 hours, and the cabbage the last 2 hours. The meat was so tender I can cut it with a fork, fabulous. The only thing I would do differently is cut the cabbage cook time to an hour as I like my cabbage al dente. I think one of the things that helped the flavor of the meat was I read in the comments/questions you advised pouring the juice from the package in the crockpot, I had not only poured that down the sink prior to your recipe but had always rinsed the meat as it feel’s slightly slimy, I think it really enhanced the flavor to include it. Thank you for the recipe.
I wish I had read the comments before I made this. Although I didn’t eat yet. I made mine today and just waiting a little bit longer, but I poured the juice down the sink. I didn’t think to include it. All I know is it smells delicious and I’m sure it will be delicious also.
I made this for my husband last year, and then insisted we use this recipe for our St. Patrick’s Day dinner for our RV Park’s St Patty’s Day Dinner (we cooked for 140 people!) We got rave reviews, and the only complaint … no vinegar on the condiment table!! This WILL BE OUR GO TO ST. PATTY’S DAY DINNER MEAL!! Thank you Holly! Every recipe of yours I have ever used has been a huge success!!
What a feast it must have been for 140 people! I’m so glad everyone loved it Sharon.
Could you cook this in the oven instead? if so for how long and at what temp? My crock is too small.
Thanks
I have a stovetop recipe for corned beef. I hope that helps!
I made this yesterday for St. Paddys Day, It was the BEST Corned Beef I have ever eaten. Thank you for the recipe.
HiI am making this for the first time right now. Not sure what size crockpot I’m using, but I did need far more water than the recipe indicated to almost cover the brisket. Hope it works out. I also may not have room for the cabbage. I have a fairly large crockpot, so I’m surprised that there’s not more room after adding the carrots and potatoes.
Can you replace the carrots with turnip? How would the cooking time change? Thank you
I haven’t tried this with turnips so I can’t say for sure but I do think they’ll cook a little bit faster than carrots.
Thank you!
Turned out perfect! Thanks!
So glad you loved it!
HORRIBLE RECIPE! This was my first time making corned beef and cabbage, and it did not cook in time. I have cooked it for 8 hours in a crock pot, on low, and it is NOWHERE NEAR tender! It definitely won’t even be done until tomorrow, and by then all the vegetables will be mush! Completely RUINED St. Patrick’s day! EXTREMELY unhappy with this recipe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How disappointing Shawna. This recipe states that it should be cooked on low for 8 to 10 hours – if you’ve only cooked it for 8 hours, it isn’t done yet and should be cooked for the additional 2 hours per the recipe. As you can see from the reviews on this recipe, a 4lb corned beef should be nice and tender by this time.
If you have opened the slow cooker several times to check it, this can also let heat out and can add additional cooking time. If your veggies are done, you can certainly remove them while the corned beef continues to cook and you can warm them before serving. Hope that helps!
I had a 3lb corned beef and cooked it on low for 10 hours. It was delicious! Rave reviews from the family. I did let cabbage cook 3 hours instead of 2. Loved this recipe and will definitely make again! Thank you!
Can you freeze it or reheat
Leftovers freeze and reheat well.
it turned out perfectly.. I did brine my own brisket for a week. but followed the instructions on the slow cook crock pot the rest of the way.. adding the veggies as instructed. I’d definitely do it again!
Hi there!
I washed my corned beef, but while cooking it has the white fluff stuff all over. What do I do?
Thank you!
I haven’t seen foam when cooking corned beef in the slow cooker however I have noticed it when simmering other cuts of beef (like beef for stew). As I haven’t experienced it, I can’t say for certain however I would recommend using a spoon to skim it off and discard.
instructions were perfect! cooked on low for ten hours everything was delicious!
This was delicious! Followed recipe as written. Perfect! Corned Beef was very tender!
This was delicious! Followed recipe to as written. Perfect! Corned Beef was very tender!
Hi, I love your recipes! My slow cooker is to small… do you have instructions for cooking it in the oven?
I have a stovetop corned beef recipe here, I hope that helps!
Thank you! I made your slow cooker option last year & it was wonderful… but it kicked the bucket this year. I’ll be making you stove top recipe today…. Thanks again Holly
I used beer ( Guinness) instead of water, wow what a difference! Loved it…..
hi there, I just put my corned beef in the crockpot and added the juice from package as well as more water to about cover the corned beef. it is a 4lb piece of meat.
questions:
I read later that you do not use juice from package, is it okay that I did?
I set for 9 hours…when should I put in GOLD potatos so they do not come out mushy?
this is my first time cooking this and my mother in law is coming over so want to get it as right as I can. any additional info is appreciated.
I generally don’t use the juices but it’ll be totally fine if you have added it! I add the potatoes after about 3 hours of cooking – no need to peel them if they’re Yukon gold potatoes. You can cut them in half (or quarters if they’re really large). Enjoy and Let us know how it goes!
What about adding turnips? When would I add them? With potatoes?
I haven’t tried adding turnips although they do tend to cook a little faster I would suggest adding them with the cabbage.
This recipe didn’t work well for us. The meat and vegetables were too soft like they didn’t require nearly as much time. Also could probably just use 1 lb of potatoes.
I have a 3.75 flat cut. I don’t have 10 hours to slow cook it. Do you think I could cook it on high for 2 hours, then turn it down to low for 6 hours? Thx
1st timer here. I’m going to check out some of your other recipes.
I find I get the best results with low but you can also cook it on high for 5 to 6 hours.Let us know how it goes!