Slow Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage

Pop this corned beef and cabbage in the slow cooker and enjoy the St. Patrick's Day celebration with everyone else! Made from humble ingredients, this corned beef and cabbage is an inexpensive meal that's easy to put together thanks to the slow cooker. It also happens to be one of the best traditional Irish dishes of all time! The corned beef cooks gently until it's fall-apart tender while the veggies cook to perfection nestled right alongside. All that's missing is a skillet of this Irish soda bread and pint of green beer. This is guaranteed to become your new favorite of all the St. Paddy's Day traditions.

How do you make corned beef and cabbage in a slow cooker?

Start by adding some aromatics to the base of your slow cooker: carrots, onions, and thyme. These will infuse your cooking liquid with fresh flavors and balance the seasoning of the salty, brined corned beef. The carrots and onions also provide a nice base for the corned beef to sit on in your slow cooker! Remove the corned beef from its package and brine, and place it over top of the vegetables. Most corned beef packages include a seasoning packet—sprinkle that over the top of the beef. Set your slow cooker to high heat, cover, and cook for five hours. Because no one wants mushy cabbage or potatoes, you'll add those ingredients closer to the end. After five hours, nestle the potatoes around the sides of the corned beef and top with the wedges of cabbage. Cook for two to three more hours until the corned beef, cabbage, and potatoes are tender.

What happens if corned beef doesn't have a spice packet?

Don't sweat it! If your corned beef didn't come with seasoning packet, try this easy substitute: 1 tablespoon of pickling spice. Pickling spice has herbs and spices like peppercorns, allspice, mustard seeds, cinnamon, dill, coriander, and bay leaves. It works like a charm as seasoning for a corned beef brisket!

Does corned beef go in a Crock-Pot fat side up or down?

Place the brisket in the slow cooker with the fat cap facing up. The fat on the corned beef protects the meat from drying out and helps achieve that fall-apart tender texture.

Does corned beef need to be covered in water in the slow cooker?

Corned beef needs liquid and moisture. That said, it does not need to be completely covered in water in the slow cooker. For this recipe, one quart of water is added to the slow cooker, which fills it about one-third to one-half full, and leaves some the top of the corned beef exposed. As the slow cooker works its magic, the steam it creates will provide gentle, moist heat to cook the part of the corned beef that is not covered in water. This also allows the seasonings placed on top of the corned beef to not wash away!

Can I use a different cooking liquid for corned beef and cabbage?

Absolutely! To boost the flavor of the vegetables, you can substitute 1 quart of chicken or vegetable stock, or even use 2 pints of of light beer in place of the water.

How do you know when corned beef is done in a slow cooker?

Corned beef should be cooked until tender. A good test is to use two forks to gently pull apart a piece of the corned beef—if the meat resists when pulled, it most likely needs more time.

Can you overcook corned beef in a Crock-Pot?

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.

Is it better to cook corned beef on high or low?

Either setting works for this recipe. It just depends on how much time you have! Cooking on high shortens the cook time, whereas cooking on low requires more time in the slow cooker for the corned beef to reach the optimal temperature and tenderize.

How long does cooked corned beef last in the fridge?

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.

What can you do with leftover corned beef?

Having extra corned beef is a good thing because there are tons of leftover corned beef recipes to enjoy! Make this towering corned beef sandwich on marbled rye, or this classic reuben sandwich complete with sauerkraut. Whip up cheesy reuben dip for a delicious appetizer, make this reuben casserole for dinner, and don't forget about breakfast! This corned beef hash will keep you full and satisfied until lunch.