Crockpot Corned Beef and Cabbage Recipe - Family Fresh Meals (2024)

ByCorey Created Updated

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Why do I only cook corned beef and cabbage once a year for St. Patrick’s Day? It is just so darn good and a cinch in the slow cooker. I need to remind myself to make this more often.

Crockpot Corned Beef and Cabbage

Most corned beef brisket will come with a seasoning pack, but I muchprefermy homemade corned beef seasoning packet recipe! I love flavor and this recipe delivers just that. I hope you enjoy this Corned Beef Slow Cooker Recipe!

Looking for an INSTANT POT version of this recipe? I have my famous Instant Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage recipe right HERE!

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Can I freeze corned beef and cabbage?

You can keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. You can freeze the corned beef, but I DON’T recommend freezing the veggies.

Do I have to use beer in this recipe?

No! If you want to cook this with out the beer, you can leave it out and sub in 8oz of water or low sodium beef broth.

Crockpot Corned Beef and Cabbage

  • 5-6 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 1 small onion, cut into wedges
  • 3 cups of water
  • 2 TBSP sugar
  • 2 TBSP vinegar
  • 8 oz beer
  • 4 lbs corned beef brisket
  • 1 (1 lb) bag of baby carrots
  • 1 lb small red potatoes, quartered
  • 1 head of green cabbage, cut into wedges
  • —- seasoning packet ingredients —–
  • {leave this out if you are using the packet that comes with the meat.}
  • 1/2 tsp mustard seeds
  • 2 bay leaves, crushed
  • 8 Allspice berries
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp pepper
  1. First place onion wedges and garlic at the bottom of your 6-8qt crockpot. This is going to act as a stand for your meat, so it doesn’t touch the bottom and dry out.Place beef on top of onions and garlic.
  2. Next, mix together water, beer, sugar and vinegar.
  3. Pour over beef and then sprinkle seasoning packet over meat. If you are using my homemade corned beef seasoning recipe, simply mix together the mustard seeds, bay leaves, allspice berries, salt and pepper and sprinkle on top of beef.Crockpot Corned Beef and Cabbage Recipe - Family Fresh Meals (5)
  4. Set crockpot, cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours.
  5. After 4 hours of cooking, add in potatoes and carrots. Cover and continue cooking.Crockpot Corned Beef and Cabbage Recipe - Family Fresh Meals (6)
  6. When 1 hour remains, add cabbage to the crockpot. Cover and continue cooking for the remainder of the time. After 8 hours, you will have an unforgettable dinner! Hope you enjoy this Crockpot Corned Beef and Cabbage recipe as much as I did!Crockpot Corned Beef and Cabbage Recipe - Family Fresh Meals (7)

Got Leftovers? Make sure to pack them up for lunch!

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Crockpot Corned Beef and Cabbage Recipe - Family Fresh Meals (10)

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Crockpot Corned Beef and Cabbage

Never made corned beef? Not to worry! This Crockpot Corned Beef and Cabbage recipe is so easy, you will wonder why you haven’t made it before!

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 8 hours hrs

Total Time 8 hours hrs 10 minutes mins

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Ingredients

  • 5-6 garlic cloves crushed
  • 1 small onion cut into wedges
  • 3 cups of water
  • 2 TBSP sugar
  • 2 TBSP vinegar
  • 8 oz beer
  • 4 lbs corned beef brisket
  • 1 1 lb bag of baby carrots
  • 1 lb small red potatoes quartered
  • 1 head of green cabbage cut into wedges

—- seasoning packet ingredients —–

  • {leave this out if you are using the packet that comes with the meat.}
  • 1/2 tsp mustard seeds
  • 2 bay leaves crushed
  • 8 Allspice berries
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp pepper

Instructions

Nutrition

Calories: 531kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 34g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 122mg | Sodium: 2968mg | Potassium: 1160mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 7855IU | Vitamin C: 82mg | Calcium: 60mg | Iron: 5mg

Nutritional Disclaimer: Family Fresh Meals is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.

Sharing of this recipe is encouraged and appreciated. Copying of full recipe to any social media is prohibited.

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Looking for more St. Patrick Day Recipes?

  • Instant Pot St. Patrick’s Day Recipe
  • Reuben Sliders Recipe
  • Reuben Dip

Post Updated March 2023

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  1. Yum! I grew up on this stuff but haven’t made it in ages 🙂

    Reply

    1. Keeley, my little Irish queen 🙂 XO

      Reply

  2. What kind of beer do you use for this?

    Reply

    1. Rachel, you can use whatever you have on hand. I used a pale ale. But I really think any beer would be great! Hope that helps. XO

      Reply

  3. Is the corn beef tender this way? I’ve always made this on the stove top….and the meat is a little tough? Thoughts?

    Reply

    1. I thought it was pretty tender. The slow and low cooking style helps that a lot 🙂

      Reply

  4. This is very similiar ingredient wise to the recipe I have been making for years but since I don’t cook with any alcohol due to health reasons I have used apple juice for the liquid. I also cook it for ten hours rather then just eight and it comes out perfectly tender everytime. I always wondered what was in that packet and appreciate being able to make my own! Hopefully my apple juice idea will help anyone who needs an alternative for such a wonderful dish, it gives it a great flavor! Keep up the great work!!

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much for the tip Jennifer! I am sure there are a lot of people who will find that really helpful 🙂 XO

      Reply

      1. how much apple juice should i put in

        Reply

    2. I will be sure to try the apple juice then since I can’t have the beer either due to my gluten free diet. Thanks for the suggestion! Looking forward to trying this recipe!

      Reply

    3. Oooh, thanks for the apple juice tip. We don’t typically keep beer on hand (though I’ll buy it from time to time to make beer bread), so I was hoping someone would make a substitute suggestion!

      Reply

    4. Thanks so much for the tip on the apple juice! I can’t use beer due to allergy issues, but apple juice should do the trick!

      Reply

    5. Yes, you just gave me an idea, for religious reasons I can’t cook with alcohol and have plea th of Apple juice on hand. Thanks

      Reply

    6. I’m not a fan of regular beer but always have cidre beer on hand. With the apple juice suggestion, I think the cidre beer would work as well. Thanx everyone!

      Reply

  5. How many people will this recipe serve? I am feeding about ten people this weekend, any thoughts?

    Reply

    1. Just missed the top portion of the recipe for some reason, answered my own question. Thanks though!

      Reply

      1. Haha 🙂 I am glad that workout 🙂 Hope you love it Emily! XO

        Reply

  6. Yum! I made this tonight and it was great! I just used the seasoning that came with the corned beef but I did everything else according to the recipe. My crock pot was a little too small to fit all the veggies though 🙁 but still a great meal!!

    Reply

    1. I am so glad you loved it Anna! XO

      Reply

    2. Crockpot Corned Beef and Cabbage Recipe - Family Fresh Meals (14)
      I followed the recipe, but the potatoes and carrots were too firm, wondering if maybe should have put on high instead of low….at least for half the time or maybe put them in earlier. I used Red Elf Ale, white vinegar, and made the seasoning mix but added some red pepper flakes and a couple more bay leaves. The meat turned out perfectly, but the cabbage would not fit in the crock pot so had to cook that on the stove. Over all a great recipe but next time I will cook on high 1/2 the time.

      Reply

      1. Hey Cindy! So glad you liked the recipe. Some crockpots tend to run cooler than others. Sorry your veggies were too firm. I know if I would have done mine on high for part of the time, my veggies would have been mush. But I think that is a great idea for you to try out next time. May I ask what size crockpot you have? Bummer about the cabbage not fitting in. I do love your add-in of red flakes 🙂 XO

        Reply

  7. Crockpot Corned Beef and Cabbage Recipe - Family Fresh Meals (15)
    What kind of vinegar did you use? Apple cider, white, red wine…?

    Reply

    1. I have used both apple cider and white vinegar for this. Both work out great!

      Reply

      1. Thank you. Making this tonight. I’m going to use organic apple cider vinegar since its much healthier. Can’t wait to try this recipe… I also got blue moon ale for the beer. I’ll let you know how it turns out

        Reply

  8. What kind of vinegar do you use? Thank you!!!

    Reply

    1. I have used both apple cider and white vinegar for this. Both work out great!

      Reply

  9. This is absolutely amazing! Thank you so much for a delicious FAST recipe!!!

    Reply

  10. Crockpot Corned Beef and Cabbage Recipe - Family Fresh Meals (16)
    I made this yesterday for St Patrick’s Day and was the best I ever made. This will be my St Patrick’s Day recipe forever now. So easy and was very good!!!!

    Reply

    1. That is wonderful Rosanna! I am so glad you loved it 🙂 Thanks for sharing!

      Reply

Crockpot Corned Beef and Cabbage Recipe - Family Fresh Meals (17)

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Crockpot Corned Beef and Cabbage Recipe - Family Fresh Meals (2024)

FAQs

Does corned beef need to be covered with liquid in a slow cooker? ›

You can add seasonings other than salt, like black peppercorns and bay leaves. Keep the brisket submerged at all times as well since it's the water actually transferring heat into the meat and cooking it. Letting the top become exposed will dry out the meat and slow down the cooking process, leading to uneven doneness.

What is the secret to tender corned beef? ›

Turn the crock pot to the low setting and let the slow cooker corned beef cook for 8 to 10 hours. This extended cooking time makes the meat tender, juicy and flavorful. Alternatively, you can use an instant pot to make corned beef in less time.

Do you rinse corned beef before slow cooker? ›

Instead: Whether you bought a ready-to-cook corned beef or you cured your own, rinse the meat several times under cool water to remove any excess salt.

Is it better to cook corned beef on stove or slow cooker? ›

Low and slow is the way you need to cook corned beef and what better way than in the slow cooker. Also known as corned silverside all you need to do is place all your ingredients in the bowl of the cooker, set it to low and go about with your day – to return to a fork tender, delicious dinner.

What happens if you don't rinse corned beef before cooking? ›

Many recipes don't include a step for rinsing the meat, but it's worth doing it anyway. Depending on the pickling solution used for the meat, you may be in for a saltier meal than you bargained for if you cook the meat without rinsing it. And don't worry: Rinsing won't make the beef taste bland!

Should you use the juice in the corned beef package? ›

To make the corned beef, open the sealed package right over the slow cooker, because you want to include the brine in the cooking liquid. Don't discard the brine.

Does corned beef get more tender the longer it is cooked? ›

Information. Corned beef is made from one of several less tender cuts of beef like the brisket, rump, or round. Therefore, it requires long, moist cooking. Corned beef is safe once the internal temperature has reached at least 145 °F, with a three minute rest time, but cooking it longer will make it fork-tender.

How to make corned beef taste better? ›

Add a tablespoon or two of pickling spice as well as a few garlic cloves, a quartered onion, a carrot, and a few stalks of celery if you like. Bring everything to a boil, cover, and reduce the heat to maintain a steady simmer.

Why add beer to corned beef? ›

You need its connective tissue to break down so you can have tender results. Some like to braise their corned beef in an all-water liquid, with various spices and salt; others add beer to the mix to further tenderize the meat.

Why is my crockpot corned beef tough? ›

Not filling the pot with enough water.

One of the keys to getting there is the amount of water in the pot. From start to finish, when there's not ample liquid to cover the meat, your dreams of tender corned beef might be crushed with a tough, chewy result.

What to drink with corned beef and cabbage? ›

Strangely, the same wines that go with Thanksgiving dinner also go with corned beef and cabbage. If you prefer red, go with Beaujolais, Grenache (a Rhone varietal), or a light Zinfandel if you can find one. A light Pinot Noir, like from Anderson Valley, might also work. Steer clear of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

What cooking method is best for corned beef? ›

The USDA recommends simmering corned beef on the stovetop for 1 hour per pound of meat. If you're cooking yours in the oven, plan for 3 to 3 1/2 hours for a 2 1/2- to 3-pound cut.

Should corned beef be fully submerged in slow cooker? ›

Coat the brisket evenly with the pickling spice, then place on top of the potatoes, fat side up. Add the water, it should come to just the top of the beef, but not submerge it. Cover and cook until the beef is very tender, about 7 to 8 hours on low or 5 to 6 hours on high.

Can you overcook corned beef in a slow cooker? ›

You can overcook corned beef in a Crock-Pot if it's cooked for too long at too high of a temperature. Overcooked corned beef can taste tough and stringy. It's best to follow the recommended cook time and temperature within the recipe.

How many hours does it take to cook corned beef? ›

For a two to three-pound corned beef brisket, cook for 2 1/2 to 3 hours. For a three to five-pound corned beef brisket, cook for 3 to 3 1/2 hours. STOVE: Place brisket fat-side up in a large pot and cover it with water. Bring the water to a boil; then reduce the heat and simmer, allowing about 1 hour per pound.

Should you cover corned beef with water when cooking? ›

Remove Corned Beef from package and place in large pot with enough water to cover the meat. Bring water to boil. For a more robust flavor, cut open the spice pack and add desired amount of enclosed spice packet to water. Reduce to simmer and cover.

Do you have to cover beef with liquid in a slow cooker? ›

There is no need to cover the meat in liquid when cooking with a slow cooker, you only need enough liquid to cover the base of the slow cooker as the meat and vegetables will release liquid as they cook. Slow cooking beef is a simple and soothing winter option that never goes out of style.

Can you cook corned beef in a slow cooker without water? ›

Mix together the mustards, brown sugar, onion flakes and pepper in a small bowl. Pour the mustard mixture over the corned beef and wrap the entire roast tightly in the aluminum foil. Place the foil packet in a large slow cooker and cook on low setting for 6 hours.

How do you keep corned beef submerged when cooking? ›

Add enough water to cover the meat by 1 inch. NOTE: the briskets will float, so I put a heavy heat-resistant plate or bowl on top to keep them submerged. STOVETOP: Turn heat to high and bring contents to a boil. Turn heat to a low simmer; cover and cook for 6 hours or more.

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