Jamielyn Nye
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This corned beef and cabbage recipe is an easy dinner for St. Patrick’s Day made with tender corned beef, cabbage, carrots and potatoes simmered in the slow cooker all day for the best results!
Love crockpot recipes? Try crockpot beef stroganoff, slow cooker BBQ brisket sandwiches, slow cooker beef bourguignon.
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Table of Contents
- Easy Corned Beef and Cabbage
- Corned Beef and Cabbage Ingredients
- How to Make Corned Beef and Cabbage
- Cooking Tips
- Recipe FAQs
- Storage and Freezing
- More St. Patrick’s Day Recipes
- Corned Beef and Cabbage Recipe Printable Recipe
Easy Corned Beef and Cabbage
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. It’s an easy slow cooker meal that is simple to throw together just like my crockpot beef stew or crock pot Mississippi pot roast
This easy recipe for crock pot corned beef simmers on low all day, giving the meat a seasoned, tender and flavorful taste. Add some Irish soda bread for a festive and traditional way to bring a taste of Ireland to your dinner table!
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. Serve it with mustard or horseradish sauce for a St. Patty’s Day feast!
Find the fullprintable recipewith 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. It will come either flat cut and point cut. Flat cut is more common.
- Spice packet: Usually corned beef brisket will come with a spice packet that is a mixture of peppercorns, whole mustard seeds, allspice and bay leaves. McCormick pickling spices work, too.
- 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. Chicken broth, vegetable broth or even Guinness beer can be used instead.
- 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’s a straightforward, yet fun dinner to celebrate as a family!
- Rinse. Rinse the meat with water, then add to the bottom of the crockpot.
- 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.
- Cook. Cook in crockpot on low for 8 to 10 hours.
- Add veggies. About 3 hours prior to serving, add potatoes and carrots. Then add cabbage 30 minutes before serving.
- 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.
Cooking Tips
- Low heat. Corned beef is a tougher cut of meat so the key to making a tender and juicy brisket is cooking the meat low and slow. If you cook it too fast and at a high temp, the meat will be chewy.
- 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. Wait to taste and adjust after it is done cooking.
- Add the veggies in later. Because the meat cooks on low heat for so long, don’t add the veggies in at the very beginning or else they’ll overcook and be 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, tender 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 for tender, less chewy slices.
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 spices go on corned beef?
Corned beef 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!
When is corned beef with cabbage done cooking?
If cooked correctly, corned beef should be very soft and tender and easily shred with a fork. Brisket is a tougher cut of meat, so it’s important to cook it low and slow for at least 8 hours in the crockpot. The internal temperature should be 145°F. Your potatoes and carrots should also be fork tender while cabbage will be wilted but still have a crisp.
What to serve with corned beef and cabbage?
Crockpot corned beef and cabbage is a full meal in itself and doesn’t need much added to it. All you might like to add is some dinner rolls or corn bread!
Storage and Freezing
- Store: Place leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for two to three days. Leftovers make delicious corned beef Reuben sandwiches or add to eggs for a simple hash.
- Reheat: 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 beef broth in case it dries out.
- Freeze: I would not freeze the vegetables, but you can freeze the corned beef in a freezer safe bag or container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator.
Do you love St. Patrick’s Day recipes? Try my St. Patrick’s cookies, rainbow jello and a rainbow fruit platter, too.
More St. Patrick’s Day Recipes
- Rainbow Cupcakes
- Irish Scones
- Homemade Shamrock Shake
- Pistachio Dessert
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Corned Beef and Cabbage Recipe
5 from 23 votes
↑ Click stars to rate now!
Author: Jamielyn Nye
This corned beef and cabbage recipe is an easy dinner for St. Patrick's Day made with tender corned beef, cabbage, carrots and potatoes simmered in the slow cooker all day for the best results!
Prep Time: 10 minutes mins
Cook Time: 8 hours hrs
Total Time: 8 hours hrs 10 minutes mins
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 vegetables in the oven.
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!
Categorized as: Beef, Crockpot, Crockpot, Dairy-Free, Dinner, Gluten-Free, Nut-Free, One Pot, One Pot
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is also the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook. Here you will find easy family-friendly recipes for every occasion.
More about Jamielyn Nye
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27 comments
- Sharina
Glad I found a new favorite recipe! This corned beef and cabbage recipe was so easy and simple to make, and it turned out so gooood! So satisfying!
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- Olivia
We all loved this corned beef so much!! It was so easy to make and turned out amazing!
- Reply
- Anna
Every time I make this dish, I am amazed at its flavor! Simple ingredients yet so delicious! It’s a favorite around here!
- Reply
- Wanda
I kind of do a combination of cooking methods. My slow cooker isn’t big enough for the two corned beefs I make, so I put the meat in the slow cooker all day. Then later I roast the veggies in the oven and combine it all on the stove top in a huge pot and add my cabbage. Love it!
- Reply
- I Heart Naptime
Great idea, Wanda! Sounds delicious :)
- Reply
- Sophie
My mom always roasted her vegetables too. I don’t like them wet and mushy. It’s so much better for you and flavor much better.
- Reply
- Shaaron Wismer
I add about 1 tsp of pepper corns, celery and rutabaga. Makes a great meal with leftovers unless you have a large family. I find it feeds 5 to 8.
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- Dorie
We raise our own beef and have it processed. Our processing company doesn’t send a seasoning packet. What seasoning should I use and how much??
- Reply
- I Heart Naptime
Hi Dorie, we don’t have a recipe for the corned beef spice packet on our site, but here is another recipe you can try: https://hildaskitchenblog.com/recipe/corned-beef-spice-packet-recipe/.
- Reply
- Marie Ferguson
I use McCormack pickling spice!!
- Paula
McCormicks brand seasonings sells a bottle of PICKLING SPICE found in the seasoning isle in every store. I hope u can find this brand in ur stores. It’s the best! It has alllll the right seasonings for corn beef. Hope this helps
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- Jennifer
LOVE this corn beef recipe! So delicious and salty! Just how I like it!
- Reply
- Sharon Henderson
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!
- Reply
- Stephanie
Thanks for this recipe! Delicious and so easy!
- Reply
- Sharon Bowen
My brisket did not come with a spice packet. Can you please email the ingredients for me to create my own spice packet.
Thank you
Sharon- Reply
- I Heart Naptime
Hi Sharon – I’ll send you an email :)
- Reply
- Pat
Thank you for sharing these easy to follow (without 20+ ingredients) recipes. I’m busy all day but my husband loves to eat and in the morning is already asking what am I making for dinner. So much for retirement.😕 when I start making them, I will let you know.
- Reply
- Jamielyn Nye
Hope you enjoy! Thanks for stopping by! :)
- Reply
- Wanda
Thank you for sharing this easy-to-follow recipe. The aroma has been drifting thru my home since mid-day. We are not Irish but we are eating this dish tonight complete with Irish Bread and Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream pie. I have been receiving your posts this is the first of many recipes I want to try. Thx agaim ❤️
- Reply
- Jamielyn
Hope you enjoyed it! Sounds like a delicious meal!
- Reply
- Sommer
This sounds so incredible!
- Reply
- Aimee Shugarman
We love this corned beef recipe! So good.
- Reply
- Jamielyn
I’m so glad you enjoy it!
- Reply
- Becky Hardin
This!!! So delicious and tender! Love everything about this dish!
- Reply
- michele
This was so easy to do in the crockpot. Tasted great and the cleanup was a breeze! Thanks!
- Reply
- Jamielyn
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
- Reply
- Kristyn
This looks delicious!! That meat looks so tender! It definitely looks hearty & healthy! I’ll be making this asap!
- Reply
