Corned Beef & Cabbage (Crockpot)
318 CommentsFeb 13, 2025
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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, while the cabbage and veggies soak up all the delicious flavors.
Featured Comment
“By far the best I’ve had, …and I’ve had it for many many years. I honestly would not change a thing! Thank you for sharing!!!”
– jill
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 main cuts of corned beef:
- Flat cut – easier to slice evenly (pictured below)
- Point cut – can have more marbling but usually not uniform in size.
Either cut is great for cooking in the crockpot! I usually grab whichever is cheaper.
Key Ingredients
Corned Beef – Find this in butcher meat section of the store, next to the roasts.
Onions – Onions aren’t traditionally added to corned beef but add SO much flavor.
Potatoes – I use a mixture of baby red and gold potatoes
Carrots – Whole carrots, peeled and sliced thick
Garlic cloves – 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.
How to Make Crockpot Corned Beef and Cabbage
- Build the base: onion + brisket + seasoning, then tuck in potatoes, carrots, and garlic.
- Let it cook low and slow until the beef is tender and the veggies are soft.
When do I add the cabbage?
Firmer Cabbage: Add during the last 2 hours for a cabbage with a little more bite.
Ultra Soft: Add that cabbage with everything else for a buttery tender bite.
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 – This will add more sodium to the dish, so beware.
- Ginger ale – see this Ginger Ale Corned Beef Recipe
- I’ve even had one reader who used pickle juice!
How do I serve crock pot corned beef and cabbage?
This meal is great straight out of the pot, but here are some ways to enhance this meal:
- Let the meat rest for about 10 minutes before slicing. Slice the meat against the grain.
- If desired, drizzle melted butter over the potatoes and sprinkle with parsley.
- Serve with horseradish sauce or stone-ground mustard.
- Can’t go wrong by serving with Irish soda bread or a piece of cornbread.
More FAQs
Use water for the liquid (don’t use beer or other high-carb liquid). Omit the potatoes and use celery or cauliflower instead. Corned beef is low carb. Just be conscious of what else you add to the pot.
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.
You can use one tablespoon of pickling spice. If you do not have that, don’t fret. Just add a few seasonings such as coarse black pepper, ground dry mustard, garlic powder and a bay leaf to add some flavor to your dish.
Wondering which way to place your corned beef in the crockpot? While it might not look the prettiest, fat side up is the way to go! As it cooks, the fat slowly renders, keeping the meat tender and flavorful.
Yes, you want to do more than just pat dry your corned beef. You’ll want to rinse it well, for it can have a slimy texture that you want to get rid off. Also, rinsing will help get rid of some of the overwhelming sodium content.
Corned Beef & Cabbage Recipe
How to Video
Ingredients
- 2-4 lbs. Corned beef brisket (flat or point cut), (with seasoning packet that is included)
- 1 white onion, sliced, (this is optional but good!)
- 2 lbs. red or gold potatoes, (or a mixture of both!) Peel them if you'd like!
- 3 carrots, sliced thick
- 2 garlic cloves, peeled
- 1/2 head cabbage, cut into thin wedges
- 1 1/2 cup water, (or see notes below for other liquid ideas)
For serving:
- parsley for garnish
- melted butter for potatoes if desired
- horseradish or stone-ground mustard
Instructions
- Add the sliced onion to the slow cooker.
- Rinse your corned beef and pat dry. Add to your slow cooker. Sprinkle over the included seasoning packet.
- Add your baby potatoes on top of the roast. If your potatoes are larger you can halve them to ensure they get tender. Add the carrots and garlic.
- Pour over the water. Add cabbage now if you want ultra-tender cabbage. Otherwise wait to add it until the last 2 hours.
- Place the lid on the slow cooker.
- Cook on HIGH for 5 hours or LOW for 8 hours total. (Add the cabbage during the last 2 hours). You may have to rearrange things into the pot to get the cabbage to fit (or cut your cabbage thinner).
- Remove the meat onto a cutting board (let rest for 10 minutes) then slice into strips (against the grain).
- Serve the meat with potatoes, carrots, and cabbage.
- Drizzle melted butter over the potatoes if desired. Serve with horseradish mustard or stone ground mustard.
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
Here are my other corned beef recipes and Irish inspir ed recipes
Try Slow Cooker Reuben Dip made with store-bought pastrami, Slow Cooker Colcannon Potatoes with gold potatoes and cabbage, or Slow Cooker Corned Beef Hash made from raw corned beef—a breakfast staple.
If corned beef isn’t your thing, Slow Cooker Guinness Beef Stew is another hearty option, and Beer Bread makes a great side for the meal.
You can make the classic recipe below or try Guinness Corned Beef and Cabbage or Maple Mustard Corned Beef for St. Patrick’s Day—there are plenty of ways to cook this unique cut of beef.
Deeeeeeeelicious! Thank you!!!!
We did this for new years and the recipe was perfect. Wouldn’t change a thing. Low and slow was soooo good.
I love this recipe, and I definitely like it tender and medium rare. Half is for eating as is, the rest of the Corned Beef is perfect(!) for Reubens If it gets overcooked…ugh.
Excellent recipe for corn beef & cabbage! Easy instructions , perfectly cooked every time ! Every one is happy and asks for seconds .
Ok great recipe. I make a few changes though. I use low sodium broth (beef or vegetable). I put the cabbage in the last 1hr -30mins. Longer than 1hr and they’re way too mushy. I also shred the meat, not slice it and add it back into the crock pot (slow cooker) then mix it in with everything else. Use a strained ladle to serve in a bowl. Also, if you can’t get it with the seasoning packet, you can Google the spices used and make it yourself. Personally I don’t like whole peppercorns in mine so I tend to make the packet myself as follows:
2 tsp. Finely ground peppercorn
Pinch of salt
1 tbsp crushed dry bay leaves
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
1/2 tsp coriander
1/2 tsp mustard seeds
1/4 tsp anise seeds
Hope this helps someone.
i will never make corned beef another way again. this turned out perfectly. i cooked mine on high for about 4.5 hours and it was delish, tender corned beef and the veggies were to die for. i opted for homemade coleslaw instead of cabbage cause that’s what i had and it made it more of a springtime meal than a winter one. i HIGHLY recommend a try!!!
Trying it for the first time only because my boyfriend accidentally got corned beef brisket instead of beef brisket so far going well just put it in the slow cooker so now I just wait, it’s a very easy recipe, in my younger years I brought canned corn beef and absolutely loved it on my lunch sandwiches so I know for sure I’m going to love it with the potatoes carrots and cabbage
I did the corned beef in a slow cooker on high for the first 5 hours in Guinness beer, onion and garlic clove. Then one more hour under pressure, I use a Ninja Instant Pot for both. I add the cabbage, carrots and potatoes and pressure cook another 30 minutes and it turned out awesome! I used point cut today, last time was a flat cut.
Hi,you list many nutritional values, but what is the serving size for such values?
I do not have measurements. I apologize.
What happens when you put the corned beef on top of all the vegetables
About the same! The liquid usually boils up over where ever you put that vegetables.
I cooked a 4 lb corned beef w veggies for almost 9 hrs but it came our tough and hard to cut. I love the slow cooker I think I’m just a lousy cook.
Did you add enough liquid? I usually add about 1 to11/2 chps of water (use that to rinse out the package liquid into the crockpot). Lack of liquid is usually the cause of dry ANYTHING! Don’t give up. Keep trying and looking for hints. If I could teach my husband to cook, ANYBODY can learn!
I assume it got cooked to long, remember corned beef is always pink cook on low for 6-hours then put your cabbage in for the final two hours, I also am trying this for the first time and going exactly what the recipe says get flat cut corned beef
Did you cook it on low or high? You definitely want to cook it on LOW. If you cooked it on high, after 9 hrs, it would be like shoe leather. Always, always, always cook it on low. I’ve got a 4.34 lb brisket that I literally just put on and I’m gonna check it in about 7 1/2 hrs; however, I’ll add my potatoes in about 2 hrs. I’ve made enough of these that I know when to add the cabbage. I make it at least once a month. And if by chance the cabbage goes in later than planned, I’ll take the brisket out and let it rest while the cabbage finishes cooking. That takes no time to cook. And don’t forget the Rye bread. Preferably Jewish Rye but Pumpernickel will work Hope this helps. Happy Eating!.