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 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 recipe from Just a Pinch
- 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:
- Reuben Sandwiches
- Corned Beef Hash – by Dinner, Then Dessert
- Leftover Corned Beef Breakfast Sandwiches – by From Valerie’s Kitchen
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Corned Beef & Cabbage Recipe
Equipment Needed:
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 and slice into strips.
- Serve the meat with potatoes, carrots, and cabbage.
- Drizzle melted butter over the potatoes if desired. Serve with horseradish mustard or stone ground mustard.
How to Video:
Recipe Notes:
- Flat cut – easier to slice evenly (pictured below)
- Point cut – can have more marbling but usually not uniform in size.
- Both are great in this recipe. I usually choose whichever is cheaper.
- Beer – such as Guinness
- Beef or chicken broth
- Ginger ale
- Add the brine – If you want more salty flavor, add the brine from the packaging.
- Use water for the liquid (don’t use beer or other high carb liquid)
- Omit the potatoes and use celery or cauliflower instead.
Nutrition Information:
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
What side is best fat side on top or bottom. No mention of this and my roast has a large fat layer hiding on underside
I do fat side on the bottom, but it really doesn’t matter.
I made this yesterday in my Fagor Slow Cooker. I used Guinness Beer instead of water. I used the onions, as you suggested. I put the cabbage in 2 hours before finishing. Cooked on slow for 8 hours. This was excellent. The only problem I had was cutting the beef into nice slices. Maybe cuz I used a point cut. Next time I would make my carrots larger. Potatoes were perfect unpeeled and whole. I will definitely do this one again. And maybe try the brown sugar. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
For my slow cooker I am using my Insta pot. It suggested that I use medium instead of low Low is for 10 hours or more. We’ll see. The preparation was straightforward and we are looking forward to sharing the results this evening with our family.
Made this today to celebrate St Patrick’s Day with my fam. Added a few more garlic cloves and used baby carrots. Also added a little more water and some 21 seasoning (no salt) mix. Family loved it, I will be adding this to my go to recipes.
I followed this recipe to the t. Edible but a disaster. If potatoes go in at beginning as directed they end up mush. Carrots are a little better. If cabbage goes In with two hours to go they become unrecognizable. I would suggest adding vegetables much later in the cooking if you like them a little firmer. Beef was good but not firm. Crumbly when sliced.
Sounds like your slow cooker cooks very hot! I would adjust. I just made this a few days ago, no issues.
Good for you. On my crock pot the settings are off, low, high and warm. Not sure I can adjust settings. your suggestion is welcome but I guess i need a new crockpot.
You probably cut the corned beef with the grain instead of against and it says right in the recipe to wait with the vegetables
I know how to cut beef brisket and I did it how I always do-against the grain.
You are incorrect. The recipe specifically says place potatoes on top of roast followed by carrots and garlic and the liquid then cover and cook on low for eight hours. Recipe does say add cabbage with two hours to go but even that is way too long unless you like mushy cabbage.
Loved your recipe! Have a very tiny kitchen so home cooked meals have to be fairly simple and slow cookers are one of my preferences. Your recipe was super easy and tasted great. Thanks for sharing. ☆☆☆☆☆
Phenomenal! Made with 1 cup beer and 1/2 cup water. Delicious and juicy!
Smells great. Been in the ceockpot since 1030a on low but just realized I forgot the liquid! Just poured in boiling chicken broth for the last hour of cooking. Hope it turns out. Lol Oops.
It should be fine!
The corned beef was DELICIOUS but the veggies were blah. Next time I’ll roast them in the oven I think
Be sure to drizzle them with butter and parsley!
Tried this today, and hands down the best, easiest way to make St. PATTYS DAY FEAST! LOVE IT!
First try cooking corned beef in slow cooker.. Started way too late for eating today, but I have to brag about your recipe and the simplicity of it is great.!!!
may I suggest adding comment to put corned beef in slow cooker fat side up laddie,
I bought extra corned beef on sale will try your way next
as i am doing a in oven recipe for first time; only simmered in the past
Mine is smelling great. Had it in the crock pot since noon today. Looking forward to dinner tonight.
I’ve always i always did my corned beef on the stove top. This was so much easier and turned out great. I only made slight changes. I used vegetable broth in place of water and added 3 cloves minced garlic instead of whole cloves.
What if your corned beef doesn’t come with a seasoning packet? What is in the seasoning packet?
If you can find pickling spice at the store, that would work great. Or something like this recipe: https://keytomylime.com/corned-beef-spice-packet-seasoning-recipe/