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 have a question. It says to put “seasoning packet” in. But there’s no seasoning pack on the ingredient list. What packet are you referencing? Thanks
This would be the seasoning packet that comes with your corned beef.
What kind of potatoes do you recommend I use with this recipe…red, yellow, Russet, etc?
I am looking forward to making this recipe on St. Pat’s Day 2021.
I use russet potatoes but any will work in this recipe. Enjoy Elizabeth!
Made this today, turned out great, no more mushy cabbage. Will be using your recipe from now own.
I followed this recipe to the “T” except for one thing. I used beef broth in lieu of water. Came out fantastic. The corned beef just fell apart…didn’t even need to cut it….so tender! Thank you for sharing.
Well that just made my day Barbara!!
I love corn beef is specially on st Patrick’s day I love doing corn beef any time of the year.
Me too Isaac!
Love all your recipes! Can you tell me what kind of potatoes you use for the corned beef dinner? I know they all seem to have their own “consistency”. Thank you!
I use russet potatoes but any will work in this recipe. Enjoy Lauri!
I’m looking forward to trying this! My brisket is a little more than 2.5 lbs . I need to adjust the cooking time. By how much do you think?
I’d suggest that you check the corned beef after 6-7 hours to see how it is doing. Enjoy Margaret.
I’m cooking this as I type. I have a 4 lbs piece of meat cooking low and slow. My issue is, there doesn’t seem to be enough room for the vegetables. I’m probably going to cook the vegetables at the end on the stove using the meat juices for 25 minute following your stove top receipt.
Can you use Chicken broth and water?
You sure could Tracy. I’d suggest that you use a broth with no salt added. Enjoy!
When putting the corned beef into the crockpot, do you pour in the juices that the meat is packaged with?
They’ll add a lot of flavor if you add them Tiff.
Is it possible to make this stovetop?
Yes, we use this stove top corned beef recipe.
I am hoping to make both corned beef and colcannon for St. Patrick’s Day this year. I’ve never made either but I’ve looked at both your recipes and I’m wondering if there’s a way to do both in two separate slow cookers? I have a large and a regular sized one. I’m looking for your input on my idea…corned beef and possibly carrots in one slow cooker, potatoes in the other…just to soften for mashing once it’s close to dinner time. But left I’m wondering which slow cooker I should put the onions and the cabbage in? The cabbage won’t be a side dish but will only be put in the colcannon. TIA
Crock Pot potatoes take about 3 hours. Cooking cabbage will take longer, so you’ll want to cook it with the meat, or start it before you start the potatoes. Good luck!
Hi Holly!
If I’m using an oven because I don’t have a slow cooker, what temp and approx time would you suggest?
Thank you!
I’d suggest baking at 325F for about 2 hours. Check for tenderness, and cook longer as needed.
I have been making this recipe since my mother who was Irish and my gramma Mimi o Riley made it. It is the only way to get it right thanks for posting it as I lost my home made cooking book and have to rely on memory and the internet.
Thank you for sharing Becky! So happy you found this recipe!
I’m making this for the first time and making 4 briskits in 3 crockpots. I’m really glad I found this. It seems so easy especially since this is my first time! Keeping my fingers crossed I get through this!
Just made this & it turned out absolutely amazing !!! It was my brothers first time having corned beef & cabbage & hes In love .
WIN FOR ME !!!
Definitely meant to put 5 stars !!!
So happy to hear that Shantel!
Definitely a 5 star recipe! This was my first attempt at making corned beef and cabbage. 10 hours on low made for very tender corned beef. Perfecto! It was a family hit. Thank you.
I am sure this would have been delicious had I not been so duuummmb! I bot a brisket from the butcher and proceeded to create a wonderful dinner. The recipe worked perfectly, the timing for adding the veg excellent, however the cook – not so great.
So for those that don’t buy a packaged corn beef brisket, be on alert! One has to first brine the brisket for several days to create the corned beef item! Tasted dreadful. I will give this recipe another try as it worked in all ways but for me messing it up.
I have not seen a packaged corn beef at my grocery stores or at Costco. Easier to go with that if its available.
I wouly llike to get some of ur resapies. Thank You.
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What seasoning packet ?
Hi Sean, there is one that comes in the package with the corned beef when you purchase it.
How do you season and prepare the “corned beef” if you just buy a brisket?? How do you bribe and fir how long snd what amount of which spices?? Thank you!
I don’t have a recipe for actually corning the beef Lawdida. It takes about a week to cure, and is made with salt, sugar, pink salt, and often includes pickling spices.
Corned beef always comes with a spice packet included in the packaging. It’s never enough though (only 1/2 tbsp). I always add extra (Ball or McCormick Mixed Pickling Spice available in the canning section at Walmart)
Do you rinse the brisket when you take it out of the package before you place it into the Crockpot? And can this be cooked in a pressure cooker?
I personally do not rinse it. You can follow the directions here for Instant Pot Corned Beef & Cabbage.
I’m about ready to make this recipe but I’m curious. Do you eat the onion as well. You didn’t include it in the serving portion of the recipe. Thanks. Steve
Hi Steve, we love the onion in the recipe. You can choose to not eat it if you prefer! As for servings, this recipe makes 6 servings.
I have not made it yet but I only have a 4 ct slow cooker, how should I adjust? I already bought the ingredients
I’d suggest that you reduce the ingredients by ⅓ (so make ⅔ of a recipe). Check out the these tips to help with reducing the recipe. Enjoy Jackie!
I made this today, since this year going on on St. Patrick’s Day wasn’t an option. I was nervous about such a long cooking time, but it turned out perfectly. ( I cooked the corned beef about 9 hours.) I put the potatoes, carrots and some parsnips in at the 3 hour mark, as suggested. They also turned out perfectly. I didn’t have room in the crockpot for the cabbage, so I cooked that separately in my pressure cooker. Everyone loved it. Definitely a keeper!