Slow Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage

Why This Recipe Works

Simple & Satisfying: The beauty of this recipe is the slow cooker. It will cook the corned beef and cabbage perfectly so that you have a satisfying dinner ready with minimal effort. This recipe is seriously so simple, with whole, healthy ingredients that use an easy preparation method. Plan ahead so that the beef can be slow cooked for 10 hours on low!

Flavorful: This corned beef and cabbage recipe is seriously packed with flavor! It starts with the seasoning packet which is a mixture of seasonings that really complement the beef like coriander and mustard seeds. Along with the flavorful and aromatic veggies, and slow cooked to perfection, you will be super impressed with how much flavor this meal has!

Ingredients

My slow cooker corned beef and cabbage uses whole ingredients that are easy to find! Here’s what you’ll need:

• Corned Beef Brisket: You will need 2-3 lbs of corned beef brisket for this recipe, although you can definitely half the recipe for less people! Most corned beef brisket will come with a seasoning packet and you will be using that as well to season this meal!
• Onion: Lots of onion cut into big chunks will add loads of flavor. They will cook down nicely in the slow cooker.
• Bay Leaves: I believe that bay leaves lend a nice, subtle flavor that deepens the longer you cook them. Make sure your bay leaves aren’t expired for the most flavor!
• Water: To cook everything up, you can simply use water here.
• Carrots: Use large carrots and cut them into pretty big chunks!
• Small Red Potatoes: No need to peel the potatoes. Just wash them off and cut them in half before adding them to the slow cooker!
• Cabbage: It wouldn’t be corned beef without some tender cabbage! Avoid purple cabbage as it might dye the other ingredients a red color.

Here’s How to Make It

Step by Step Instructions

1. Prep and Start Slow Cooker: Create a layer of onion slices in the bottom of the slow cooker and scatter over the seasoning packet. Place the corned beef, fat side up on top of the onions. Add the bay leaves and the water. Cook on low for 3 hours. (photos 1-2)
2. Add Carrots & Potatoes: Add the carrots and potatoes around the beef and cook for another 5 hours. (photo 3)
3. Add Cabbage: Add the cabbage around the beef, pushing it down into the liquid. Cook for a final 2 hours, checking occasionally to make sure the cabbage stays as submerges as possible. (photos 4-5)
4. Rest & Serve: Leave the beef to rest for 15 minutes before slicing and serving alongside the vegetables. (photo 6)

Expert Tips

• Cook the beef low and slow! I know it is tempting to decrease the cooking time by turning the slow cooker to high, but it is super important for this cut of meat to be cooked slowly and at a low temperature. This will ensure tender beef!
• Use leftover corned beef in different ways! You can make a reuben sandwich or try my corned beef hash!
• Don’t add extra salt! The seasoning packet that comes with the corned beef has plenty of salt, which is why we want to cook it in water instead of broth. So don’t add any extra salt or else it might comes out too salty!
• Slice against the grain. Like with any meat, make sure to slice the corned beef against the grain for the most tender bites!
• Don’t forget to pair this with some Irish Soda Bread! Skip the dried fruit in this recipe for a savory bread, or add them for a little dessert!