This Slow Cooker Corned Beef & Cabbage is a classic recipe that is perfect for St. Patrick’s Day or any day of the year. The crockpot makes corned beef melt in your mouth tender.

The slow cooker is the BEST and EASIEST way to make corned beef! You can make this classic recipe below or my Guinness Corned Beef and Cabbage or Maple Mustard Corned Beef for St. Patrick’s Day.

What is corned beef and what cut should I buy?

• Corned beef is salt-cured brisket. This is different than plain brisket which has not been cured.
• Corned beef usually comes with a seasoning packet that often includes: bay leaves, peppercorns, mustard seeds, and dill seeds. This flavor packet creates a wonderfully flavored roast.
• There are 2 cuts of corned beef; point cut or flat cut.
  • Flat cut – easier to slice evenly (pictured below)
  • Point cut – can have more marbling but usually not uniform in size.

Recipe Ingredients

• Corned Beef – Flat cut or point cut, be sure to save the spice packet that comes with it!
• Onions – Onions aren’t tradionally added to corned beef but adds SO much flavor.
• Potatoes – I use a mixture of baby red and gold potatoes
• Carrots – Whole carrots, peeled and sliced thick
• Garlic cloves (not pictured)- Peeled
• Water – Helps keeps the entire dish moist, can use beef broth if desired.
• Cabbage – About a 1/2 head, cut into thin wedges, that’s all will fit in the slow cooker with all the other ingredients.

Step-by Step-Directions

Step One – Add the onions to the bottom of the slow cooker.

Step Two – Add the corned beef and seasoning packet.

Step Three – Add the carrots, potatoes, and garlic; you can peel the potatoes if you prefer. Add the water.

Step Four – You can add the cabbage now or add it during the last two hours of cooking. If you add now, the cabbage will be ultra-tender.

Step Five – Cook on HIGH For five hours or LOW for 8 hours without opening the lid during the cooking time.

What other kind of liquid can I add?

Water is the classic liquid used in crockpot corned beef and cabbage but feel free to try one of these other options for something different:

• Beer – such as Guinness
• Beef or chicken broth
• Ginger ale – see this Ginger Ale Corned Beef Recipe
• Add the brine – If you want more salty flavor, add the brine from the packaging.

When do I add the cabbage?

• Everyone has their own preference for how long to cook cabbage in the slow cooker. In the video in the recipe card, I add the cabbage during the last 2 hours. I think that is a perfect amount of time for anyone who is cooking corned beef and cabbage for the first time to try.
• You can add the cabbage at any point. If you want it ultra tender add it at the beginning. If you want it crisp, add during the last hour.

What can I do to make this low carb?

Corned beef is low carb. Just be conscious of what else you add to the pot.

• Use water for the liquid (don’t use beer or other high carb liquid)
• Omit the potatoes and use celery or cauliflower instead.

Can I add brown sugar to this recipe?

Brown sugar is great in corned beef; it adds depth of flavor and cuts back on the salty taste. Sprinkle two tablespoons over your corned beef before cooking.

How do I serve crock pot corned beef and cabbage?

• Slice the meat against the grain.
• If desired, drizzle melted butter over the potatoes and sprinkle with parsley.
• Serve with horseradish or stone-ground mustard.

Leftover ideas:

• Slow Cooker Reuben Sandwiches
• Corned Beef Hash – by Dinner, Then Dessert
• Leftover Corned Beef Breakfast Sandwiches – by From Valerie’s Kitchen

Here are my other corned beef recipes and Irish inspired recipes:

• Slow Cooker Reuben Dip
• Slow Cooker Colcannon Potatoes
• Slow Cooker Corned Beef Hash (from raw corned beef)
• Slow Cooker Guinness Corned Beef and Cabbage
• Slow Cooker Maple Mustard Corned Beef
• Slow Cooker Guinness Beef Stew
• Slow Cooker Irish Cream Hot Cocoa
• Beer Bread by Vintage Recipe Tin

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