Tap here to get 5 Secrets to Stress Free Dinners

Slow Cooker Corned Beef

5 from 18 votes
|

posted: 02/28/21

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy
|
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy

Slow Cooker Corned Beef is an easy and delicious all in one dinner. With only 10 minutes of preparation you will love this corned beef and cabbage all year.

overhead of corned beef on a platter with carrots, potatoes, and cabbage

If you have never made corned beef at home, I have a recipe for you today that is so easy to make and fall apart tender. This corned beef and cabbage recipe should not be saved just for St. Patrick’s Day. It is a recipe that your family will love coming home to all year long.

Reader Review

I made this last year, and it was, hands down, the best recipe!! So delicious. It’s on the menu, again, this year!

What is Corned Beef

Corned Beef is a beef brisket that has been cured with salt. Curing is a process that often uses salt to preserve meat. The term “corned” most likely refers to the salt rocks that were used in the process.

Corned Beef has become a staple around St. Patrick’s Day in restaurants across the United States. Though once you try this recipe, I think you will agree it should be eaten all year.

overhead photo of cabbage covering corned beef in a crockpot

How to Cook Corned Beef in a Crockpot

  1. Add the vegetables to the slow cooker.
  2. Make the cooking liquid: Combine the beef stock, vinegar, brown sugar, and seasonings. Pour it over the vegetables.
  3. Top with the corned beef.
  4. Cook on low: When cooking meat, especially beef, I always think cooking low in a slow cooker is best. Cook on low for 8 hours.
  5. Add the cabbage: Finally put in the cabbage wedges and cook for an hour. At this point the dish will be done. As soon as your cabbage is wilted your taste you can eat.

When this recipe is done, the beef practically falls apart. It is soft, tender, and full of this perfect combination of flavors from the spices in the sauce.

While it might seem that your meat isn’t going to get much flavor during cooking, the liquid will bubble up around it and give it plenty of flavor. You will love this easy recipe.

overhead photo of corned beef recipe with cabbage, carrots, and potatoes in a crockpot

Substitutions and Variations

If there is a vegetable in this recipe that your family does not like, I would encourage you to leave it out and replace it with more of a vegetable your family does enjoy.

As mentioned above, the recipe is just about finished at the point that you are putting the cabbage in. So if your family does not enjoy cabbage, you can skip that step.

I do not recommend leaving out the vegetables all together. If you want to make it all potatoes, that is fine, but there needs to be a bed of produce for the corned beef brisket to sit on while it cooks.

side view of corned beef recipe that has been sliced

What to Serve with Corned Beef

Cabbage, carrots, and potatoes are all often served with corned beef, so in this recipe is a one stop shop. You have a complete dinner when your slow cooker corned beef is done.

If you are looking for an after dinner treat, I would recommend my Baileys Brownies or an Irish Coffee.

Slow Cooker Corned Beef Leftovers

If you have slow cooker corned beef leftovers, I recommend storing the meat and the vegetables separate from the liquid. When you go to reheat:

  • Put the meat on top of the vegetables in a baking dish.
  • Pour some of the liquid in the bottom of the pan.
  • Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 45 minutes or until the dish is warmed through.
close up of corned beef and cabbage recipe that has been sliced

FAQ

When is Corned Beef Done?

Corned beef is considered done when it hits 145 degrees. This is not a recipe that you need an instant read thermometer for, just following the recipe will result in fork tender beef.

Can this recipe be made ahead of time?

Yes! If necessary, you can cook this recipe ahead of time and then reheat the whole dish in the oven. Please read the section above marked “Leftovers” for directs.

Is Corned Beef gluten free?

This depends on the corned beef you buy. Some cured meats have gluten added to them, so look on the package or ask your butcher. There is no additional gluten in this recipe though.

Can this recipe be cut in half?

Yes! You can easily cut this recipe in half with a small piece of meat. Though, the leftovers are so good, I think you should make the whole recipe.

close up of corned beef and cabbage recipe that has been sliced
5 from 18 votes

Slow Cooker Corned Beef

Serves: 6 people
(tap # to scale)
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 9 hours
Total: 9 hours 10 minutes
Slow Cooker Corned Beef is an easy and delicious all in one dinner. With only 10 minutes of preparation you will love this corned beef and cabbage all year.

Ingredients

  • 1 large yellow onion cut into 1 1/2 inch wedges
  • 5 large red potatoes (about 2 pounds) quartered
  • 1 pound carrots peeled and cut into 2 inch pieces (about 5 medium carrots)
  • 16 ounces low sodium beef broth
  • 3 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon allspice
  • 1 teaspoon ground mustard
  • 1 teaspoon dried dill weed
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 3 pounds corned beef brisket (seasoning packet discarded)
  • 1 small head of cabbage cut into wedges

Instructions

  • Add potatoes, carrots, and onion to the base of a 6 quart slow cooker.
  • In a mixing bowl combine beef stock, garlic, bay leaves, brown sugar, vinegar, kosher salt, allspice, ground mustard, dill weed, and black pepper. Pour over the vegetables.
  • Top with the beef and cook on low for 8 hours.
  • Add the cabbage wedges on top and cook for an additioanl hour.
  • Serve and enjoy!
Author: Lisa Longley
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Irish
close up of corned beef and cabbage recipe that has been sliced

did you make this

Slow Cooker Corned Beef

I’d love to see what you made! Tag me @lisasimplejoy and hashtag it #simplejoyrecipes!

Hi! I'm Lisa Longley, and I am committed to giving you simple dinner ideas and recipes that are easy to make; recipes that will fill your home with joy. I am the owner and author of SimpleJoy.com and I'm so glad that you are here.

Reader Interactions

    LEAVE A COMMENT

    Have a question? Use the form below to submit your question or comment. I love hearing from you & seeing what you made!

    Rate This Recipe:




  1. Sandra says

    I made this on Monday and my cabbage did not cook in an hour. I cooked the meat and veggies for 8 hours and then added a small cabbage cut into quarters and cooked for another hour.
    Love the flavour but would like to try cooking on the stove and adding the cabbage to that.

    • Lisa Longley says

      I’m so happy you liked the flavor and I’m so sorry that your cabbage didn’t cook! Another option would be to cut the cabbage up more, and put it under the corned beef when you add it.

  2. Leslie says

    I have a question about adding the veggies at the start. I do not want mushy overcooked vegetables. So when would I add them in the cooking process. I read where we need a bed of veggies, I can put some leaves of cabbage & onions down. But potatoes & carrots I prefer soft but not overly so. Please advise. Thank you!!

    • Lisa Longley says

      Hi Leslie! I actually recommend cooking it as written. I wouldn’t have made it this way if the veggies turned out over cooked and mushy. :) That being said, if you absolutely hate soft carrots and potatoes, you could do a bed of onions, and then add the carrots and potatoes after a few hours of cooking on low.

  3. Maritza Gamez says

    5 stars
    I love this recipe and would love to make it! But I have a problem: I don’t have a crock pot. What kind of pot you think I should use?

    • Lisa Longley says

      I have only ever made this recipe in the crockpot. If I were finding another way to make it, I would likely make it in a dutch oven in my oven like a pot roast.

  4. Kim says

    I made this last year, and it was, hands down, the best recipe!! So delicious. It’s on the menu, again, this year!

    • Lisa Longley says

      I’m so happy you liked it so much! Thank you for taking the time to come back and let me know.

  5. Maritza Gamez says

    Thank you Lisa for your reply, good idea using he oven. It’s a great recipe, I’ll let you know how it came out. Maritza Gamez

  6. Capri says

    5 stars
    I was curious about the layering and whether the corned beef would cook well. My husband much enjoyed this recipe as did I. It’s a keeper now.

    • Lisa Longley says

      I’m so glad to hear it!

  7. Lisa C. says

    5 stars
    I made this for St. Patrick’s Day and it was DELICIOUS! It’s going to be my go-to recipe from now on. The apple cider vinegar is genius. Thank you for such a wonderful recipe! I’ve shared it with all my friends.

    • Lisa Longley says

      I’m so glad you liked it!

  8. Toey Forresr says

    Hello, I enjoyed your Recipes very much
    I make cake with Pieces Pig cake brought to work every one loved it !! Question
    I don’t have slow cooker but I have pressured cooker !! Can I reduce the cooking to half ??

    • Lisa Longley says

      Hi! I would need to test this recipe in a pressure cooker before I could give you recommendations on how to alter it for that. I’m so glad you enjoyed the cake!

  9. Donna Dague says

    5 stars
    I made my first corn beef brisket with this recipe. I did it as the recipe said; and the corn beef was way up to the lid. I checked the vegs and I had layered them right with correct measurements. After 3 hrs on low; I removed the cabbage and moved the meat down to the carrots. Cooked the cabbage in the Dutch oven and put them down in the broth before the slow cooker was done.
    The meal was delicious! We loved the broth; it made the vegs so good!
    Thank you for sharing! 🙏🏻😀🎉

    • Lisa Longley says

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

  10. Doris.councilman says

    I usually do my cornbeef,and onions first my mother-in-law said to let it cool in its own juice take it out and do your veggies

SUPER-SIMPLEFAMILY FAVORITES
Broccoli Pasta"Omg! I didn’t think anything so simple could be so good!"
overhead of skillet of Cajun Shrimp Pasta ingredients on a cooling rack with toasted bread sitting beside
Cajun Shrimp Pasta"My family absolutely loved this recipe. Even my finicky eaters."
overhead photo of a gray skillet filled with beef and broccoli recipe, garnished with sliced green onions
Beef and Broccoli Recipe"I have made this a couple or more times. It’s easy & quick to prepare. I like this for a quick meal. It will be my go to recipe."

SUBSCRIBE & RECEIVE

5 Secrets to Stress Free Dinners

SUBSCRIBE & RECEIVE

MY TOP 10 EASY DINNER EBOOK!

5 Secrets to Stress Free Dinners

SUBSCRIBE & RECEIVE

MY TOP 10 EASY DINNER EBOOK!