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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Do you drain the leftover water when it’s done cooking?
I usually drizzle some of it over the meat after slicing.
If I am cooking it for 10 hours on low in the crockpot, are the times of 3 hours still accurate to add the potatoes and carrots and or should I wait more than 3 hours to add the potatoes and the carrots?
If you’re cooking 10 hours, you can add the veggies at 3 hours or wait a couple of hours if you’d like them a little firmer.
Can I add all ingredients at the beginning? I have to work and won’t be able to add potatoes, carrots and cabbage at different times. I was going to add everything to the crockpot and let it cook while I’m gone. Let me know. Thanks!
My concern is that they may come out overcooked. If it’s possible for you, they could be boiled on the stove in the juices while the corned beef rests or even roasted in the oven before serving. Let us know how it goes!
Any idea what a 5lb brisket cook time would be in the crocpot? Maybe an additional hour or so?
I would think an hour or so. If you check it and it’s tough, it likely needs more time. If you allow for extra time and it’s done early, it can be kept on warm.
I dont have an onion. Will it taste the same without one?
This will be just fine without onion. You can add about 1 ½ teaspoons of onion powder to the cooking liquid if you’d like.
I have a 2 1/2 pound corn beef. Any suggestions on cooking time?
It may need a little bit less time but not much as it still needs to break down the tough fibers. If it is done early, it can sit on warm for a while as well.
Why bundle the spice in cheesecloth if not using a spice packet? Is it necessary? Thanks! Looking forward to using your recipe!
Depending on the brand, pickling spices can contain pieces like bay leaves or whole cloves that you may not want to bite into. Bundling them in cheesecloth makes them easier to remove while still adding flavor. If you don’t have cheesecloth, check the spices for larger pieces before adding them, or place the spices in a tea ball.
this came out sooo wonderful and tender.
excellent recipe!
Has anyone tried making this with a frozen corned beef (If you forgot to defrost)?
Frozen meat it not recommended in the slow cooker as it can remain at an unsafe temperature for too long. If time allows, I would suggest placing it in a sealed freezer bag in cold water and changing the water every 30 minutes, it should help to thaw faster. If you are cooking from frozen, I would suggest this stovetop recipe, allowing extra time. If you find the corned beef is not tender, it likely needs more time. Let us know how it goes!
For frozen, I would put it in the crockpot by itself for an hour or two on high to start the defrost (you could add a half a cup of water) then take it out and do the recipe on low like she says. Might need an extra hour depending on your slow cooker.
easy and delicious
Can I do any prep the morning before? I work from home and don’t want to leave my desk for too much time during additions.
Everything except the potatoes can be cut the day before. The potatoes can be cut and place in a bowl of cool water on the counter the day of cooking. Let us know how it goes!
Can you slow cook on high?
Other readers have cooked on high for 5 hours, however I find that cooking on low makes the most tender corned beef. Let us know how it goes!
Am I able to double the recipe and use the same instructions?
I haven’t tried doubling this recipe, the slow cooker will be very full so you may need to add extra cooking time and I can’t say for sure how it would cook.
Thoughts about baby carrots? Trying this tomorrow as here in Minnesota we’re gonna get 16 to 20 inches of snow. 😭
This is a perfect recipe for a chilly Minnesota snow day! I haven’t tried this with baby carrots but they do cook a bit quicker since they’re smaller, I would suggest adding them with the cabbage wedges. Let us know how it goes!
how would I cook three corned beef with spice packets on the stove top?
I have a large le creuset
I use this recipe for stove top corned beef. Enjoy!
I’m also from Minnesota , thinking about using this recipe with baby carrots , should I put them in when I add the cabbage ? Also I’ve never made a corn beef brisket so what’s the best way to make one any suggestions? Mine did come with a seasoning packet so I’m assuming I won’t be needing the seasonings it calls for .
Hi Kimberly, yes! I would add them when you add the cabbage wedges. To cook a corned beef brisket you will want to follow the recipe instructions. As mentioned in the recipe, you will need the spice packet that came with the corned beef brisket as well as the other ingredients listed in the recipe!
I always use baby carrots, skip the potatoes and serve with colcannon and thicken the broth to use as a gravy.
Love this no fuss recipe. So easy especially if you’re pressed for time, plus the leftovers (if they’re any), makes a great Reuben sandwich.
So glad you loved it Deborah – Reubens are SO good too!
What cut of brisket is used? Flat or Point Cut?
Either will work just fine! Flat-cut slices cook up nice and neat, while the point cut is a little fattier and extra juicy.
Perfect A+++
Water works, and many recipes call for beef broth. But I worked for restaurants that were know for their corned beef and cabbage, and we used ham based, which worked even better. I’ll be trying this recipe this time because I like the no fuss approach of the slow cooker, plus ham base.
My daughter put it in the oven for instead of the crockpot and it was Great.
do you need to add more water once you add any vegetables?
No need to add more liquid Bruce. Enjoy!
Yummy