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Corned Beef and Cabbage Recipe

This corned beef and cabbage recipe is a hearty and delicious comfort meal with tons of flavor! The brisket simmers in the crockpot all day, giving it a wonderfully seasoned and tender taste. Perfect dish for celebrating St. Patrick’s Day!

Corned beef and cabbage on a white plate.
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Traditional St. Patrick’s Day Dinner

Corned beef and cabbage is a hearty meal that’s traditionally served on St. Patrick’s Day, but can really be served all year long. If you’ve never made it before, this recipe is a great place to start. It cooks in the crockpot and is so simple to throw together. You can’t mess it up!

Once cooked, the beef is extremely tender, flavorful, and delicious! It simmers on low all day, giving the meat a wonderfully seasoned and yummy taste. If you haven’t tried corned beef, it has a unique and distinct pickled flavor that some love and some don’t. It’s definitely worth giving a shot!

Corned Beef and Cabbage Ingredients

I love to add fresh vegetables like carrots, potatoes, and cabbage. The broth from the brisket gives them such a nice flavor. You can also serve it with mustard or horseradish sauce if desired. Making this recipe is a fun tradition and is definitely worth trying out.

Corned beef cooking in slow cooker.

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

  • Corned beef brisket: This is a beef brisket that is already cured. The cured meaning comes from the color of the brisket. It will be a pink color to the meat rather than a deep red.
  • Spice Packet: Usually the corned beef brisket will come with a spice packet. If you do not have one you can always use McCormick pickling spices.
  • Onion: Slice and quarter the onions then separate them to lay on top of and around the beef brisket.
  • Beef broth: Adds flavor and keeps the brisket tender and juicy as it is slow cooking. You can also use chicken broth or vegetable broth for various flavors.
  • Red potatoes: Cut and quarter each potato and add it to the crockpot. Red potatoes cook quicker than other potatoes and have a soft inside and skin when cooked.
  • Carrots: Fresh carrots are best! Slice carrots evenly to help them cook at the same time.
  • Cabbage: Quarter and cut into cabbage wedges and add to the slow cooker. Cabbage will float to the top of the slow cooker as it is cooking.

How to Make Corned Beef and Cabbage

Start a great tradition by enjoying a delicious St. Patrick’s classic dinner. It doesn’t take long to prepare the ingredients and let the slow cooker do the work. It is a simple and fun dinner to celebrate as a family!

Corned beef and cabbage cooking in crockpot.
  1. Rinse. Rinse the meat with water, then add to the bottom of the crockpot.
  2. Add seasonings. Sprinkle the seasoning packet on top. Next, add the onion on top and tuck it into the sides. Pour broth around the sides. Then fill the broth can with water and add until it just about covers the beef.
  3. Cook. Cook in crockpot on low for 8 to 10 hours.
  4. Add veggies. About 3 hours prior to serving, add potatoes and carrots. Then add cabbage 30 minutes before serving.
  5. Serve. Remove from the crockpot (make sure it’s fork-tender) and let rest for a few minutes on a serving platter. Slice and serve with vegetables.
Corned beef and cabbage on a white plate.

5 star review

“People laugh at how much my family loves this and how often we make it. Not just for St. Patricks Day! Such a great recipe!”

-Sharon

Cooking Tips

Know just how to make corned beef and cabbage with these simple cooking tips that will help you along the way. With these helpful tips, you will make the perfect Irish dinner that everyone loves!

  • Low heat. The key to making tender and juicy brisket is cooking the meat low and slow. It’s a tougher cut of meat, so cooking on low heat for about 8 to 10 hours makes all the difference.
  • Don’t over-salt. If you’re using the salt brine seasoning packet that comes with the meat, make sure NOT to add in any additional salt. The seasoning already has a salty flavor, so anything additional would be overkill.
  • Add the veggies in later. Because the meat cooks on low heat for so long, you don’t want to add the veggies in at the very beginning or else they’ll overcook and get super mushy. Add them to the crock pot with about 3 hours left on the timer.
  • Let rest. This allows the juices to flow back into the meat and makes it super moist and juicy. I let mine rest for about 5 to 10 minutes.
  • Slice against the grain. Once rested, slice the meat against the grain in order to break up the long muscle fibers. This results in slices that are more tender (and less chewy).
  • Using leftovers. Make corned beef sandwiches with leftovers! The brisket tastes delicious on a Reuben sandwich served on rye or Irish soda bread.

Recipe FAQs

What is corned beef?

Corned beef is beef brisket that has been cured in a rock salt brine. The large grains of salt are referred to as “corns” of salt, hence the name. They help to give the meat its pickled (salty and sour) flavor. The beef cooks slowly all day, creating a tender and seasoned taste. It’s often served with vegetables like carrots, potatoes, and cabbage.

What is in the spice packet that comes with it?

What is in the spice packet that comes with it? It will often come with a spice packet consisting of seasonings that help give it that briny taste. Some of these common spices might include peppercorns, mustard seeds, bay leaves, allspice, ginger, coriander, nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves. Please note that the meat is extra flavorful and salty, so no need to add extra salt!

Do you rinse the meat before cooking?

Yes, rinse in water prior to placing it in the crockpot.

Is it supposed to be chewy?

If cooked correctly, corned beef should be very soft and tender. Brisket is a tougher cut of meat, so it’s important to cook it low and slow. That’s why I like to cook it in the crockpot on low heat for at least 8 hours. If you cook it too fast and on a higher heat, you’ll end up with meat that’s tough and chewy.

Does it need to rest after cooking?

Once cooked through, I let mine rest for about 5 to 10 minutes. This helps it hold its shape when slicing.

Corned beef and cabbage on fork.

Storing Corned Beef Brisket and Veggies

Place leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for two to three days. When ready to reheat, place in the microwave, oven, or back in the slow cooker until warmed through. You may need to add more cooking liquid like the beef broth in case it dries out.

Do you love celebrating all things St. Patrick’s Day?! Then come celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with these extra fun recipes that are green, rainbow color, and all things Irish. Try my St. Patrick’s cookies, Irish soda, and rainbow fruit platter this March 17!

More Slow Cooker Comfort Dishes

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Corned beef and cabbage on fork.

Corned Beef and Cabbage Recipe

5 from 20 votes
↑ Click stars to rate now!
Author: Jamielyn Nye
This corned beef and cabbage is a hearty and delicious comfort meal with tons of flavor! The brisket simmers in the crockpot all day, giving it a wonderfully seasoned and tender taste. Perfect dish for celebrating St. Patrick's Day!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 8 hours
Total Time: 8 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 6

Ingredients 

  • 3 pounds corned beef brisket , with spice packet
  • 1 onion , quartered
  • 15 ounce can low-sodium beef broth , or water
  • 1 pound red potatoes , quartered
  • 2 cups carrots , sliced
  • ½ head cabbage , cut in wedges

Freshly cracked pepper, to taste

    Instructions

    • Rinse the corned beef in water and then place into the crockpot. Then place the seasoning packet on top of the beef. Next add the onion on top and tuck into the sides. Pour the beef broth around the sides. Then fill the can with water and add until it just about covers the brisket. Cook on low for 8-10 hours.
    • Three hours before serving add the potatoes and carrots. Then 30 minutes before serving add the cabbage. 
    • Remove corned beef from slow cooker when fork tender and allow to rest for a few minutes. Then slice against the grain and serve with vegetables. 

    Notes

    Note: This meat is extra flavorful and salty, so no need to add extra salt.
    Cooking on stove top: Place the corned beef in large pot and cover with broth or water. Add the spice packet that came with it. Cover the pot and then bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer for 45 minutes per pound or until tender. Add the vegetables and cook an additional 15 minutes or until tender.
    Variation: Many readers have mentioned they like using Guinness Stout instead of beef broth.
    Alternatively you can roast the vegetables in the oven: https://www.iheartnaptime.net/roasted-winter-vegetables/

    Nutrition

    Calories: 550kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 37g | Fat: 34g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 122mg | Sodium: 3081mg | Potassium: 1347mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 7200IU | Vitamin C: 99.3mg | Calcium: 76mg | Iron: 5mg

    Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.

    Course: Main Dish
    Cuisine: Irish

    Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!

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