Crock Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage

This one-pot, budget-friendly Crock Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage recipe takes only 5 minutes to prep and easily feeds a hungry crowd!

The “Luck O’ the Irish” Meal

I don’t know about you, but “traditional Irish food” makes me think about a pint of Guinness, a baked potato, and maybe a Reuben sandwich piled high with corned beef, Swiss and sauerkraut…mmmm! (These Baked Reuben Sliders are excellent, by the way!)

Back in Ireland, potatoes, cabbage, and BACON were the ingredients of the authentic St. Patrick’s Day meal. Considered “peasant food,” these ingredients were simply an inexpensive way to feed a big family. But when the Irish immigrants came to New York, they found pork bacon to be pricey and replaced it with corned beef brisket.  

Regardless of how it has changed over the years, we’ve come to love corned beef and cabbage on St. Paddy’s Day, and this recipe is absolutely delish!

Other Recipes to Serve for St. Patrick’s Day

• No Irish celebration would be complete without some green grown-up drinks like these Luck of the Irish Shots!
• And these Pot O’ Gold Cocktails are magically delicious!

Ingredients

Meat: A 3-pound flat-cut beef brisket is ideal for making corned beef because of its even texture and shape. You can also use the point cut of brisket or a good chuck roast if needed.

Veggies: Simple stew vegetables work best with corned beef. We’re using baby potatoes, carrots, and a large yellow onion; all cut into large bite-sized chunks, and a cup of chopped cabbage.

Broth: You can use water, of course, but 2 cups of beef broth give this slow cooker meal a much richer, savory flavor.

Brisket Seasoning: So, the seasonings for corned beef are unique! Of course, there’s salt, pepper, and garlic powder, but there are also several thyme sprigs and a tablespoon of pickling spices. You can find pickling spices at almost every grocery, or if you bought a prepared corned beef, it includes a little packet of pickling spices.

Garlic Butter: As the yummy finish to all the flavors, make a garlic butter to pour over the crock pot veggies from a stick of unsalted butter, a couple of garlic cloves, a dash of sea salt, and some fresh chopped parsley.

How to Make Crock Pot Corned Beef & Cabbage

STEP ONE: Mix all the dried herbs and spices in a small bowl and set aside. Place the beef brisket into the slow cooker and sprinkle the spices. Now place the potatoes, carrots, and onion around the meat and the thyme sprigs. Pour 2 cups of beef broth into the crock pot.

STEP TWO: Cover and cook on LOW for 5 hours.

STEP THREE: After 5 hours, add the cabbage to the slow cooker and cook for another hour or until the brisket reaches around 190 degrees F internal temperature. (With slow cooking, the brisket will be more tender at or around 190 degrees F but is considered fully cooked at 165 degrees F.)

STEP FOUR: Remove the roast and rest for 5 minutes before slicing. While waiting, make the garlic butter by melting the butter, minced garlic, salt, and fresh chopped parsley in the microwave for 30 seconds to 1 minute.

STEP FIVE: Slice the meat and plate it with the vegetables on a serving platter. Drizzle with the garlic butter over the veggies. Serve the corned beef with whole-grain mustard, and enjoy!

Tips for Success

• Always slice corned beef against the grain to ensure it’s tender and not chewy. 
• If you buy a “ready to cook” corned beef, make sure you rinse the brine solution off the meat. Otherwise, it will be too salty. 
• Follow the slower cooking time & lower temperature in the recipe, as brisket can get tricky when cooked fast and hot. 
• You can exchange 1 cup of beef broth with 1 cup of Guinness if you want a whole Irish experience. 

What is Corned Beef?

Corned beef is brisket that is salt-cured and marinated in pickling spices like coriander, cloves, peppercorns, bay leaf, and mustard seeds, among others. You could consider the brisket to be “pickled.” It is then cooked until moist, tender, and a bit salty. Despite the name, corned beef has nothing to do with actual corn. The word refers to the kernels of salt used to cure the meat.

Is Corned Beef Supposed to be Pink?

Yes, corned beef brisket will almost look rare, even when thoroughly cooked. This is normal. Because nitrates are used in the curing process, the color of the meat is stabilized. This means it will remain pink (like ham) even when the internal temperature reaches 145-190 F (fully cooked).

Irish Dessert and Drink Recipes

• Homemade Irish Cream
• Irish Coffee Royale
• Irish Cream Mousse Cups
• Irish Julep
• Irish Cream Brownie Parfait