It might be the most well-known dish to eat on St. St. Patrick’s Day, but our family enjoys this Irish-American corned beef dish all year round. This is how to make corned beef and cabbage. —Evelyn Kenney, Trenton, New Jersey.
What is corned beef and what cut should I buy?
- Corned beef is salt-cured brisket. Compared to uncured plain brisket, this is different.
- A seasoning packet for corned beef typically contains: bay leaves, peppercorns, mustard seeds, and dill seeds. This flavor packet creates a wonderfully flavored roast.
- There are two types of corned beef cuts: the point cut and the flat cut. Point cuts can have more marbling but are typically not uniform in size. Flat cuts are easier to slice evenly (see illustration below).
- Flat or point cut corned beef should be saved with the accompanying spice packet!
- Although they aren’t typically added to corned beef, onions add SO much flavor.
- I mix baby red and gold potatoes for my potatoes.
- Carrots – Whole carrots, peeled and sliced thick
- Garlic cloves (not pictured)- Peeled
- Water helps keep the dish moist overall; you can substitute beef broth if you prefer.
- All that will fit in the slow cooker with the other ingredients is a small amount of cabbage (about a half head, cut into thin wedges).
Step One: Place the onions in the slow cooker’s base.
Step Two – Add the corned beef and seasoning packet.
Step 3: Add the carrots, potatoes, and garlic. If you’d like, peel the potatoes. Add the water.
Step Four: You have the option of adding the cabbage now or saving it for the final two hours of cooking. If you add now, the cabbage will be ultra-tender.
Step Five: Cook for five hours on HIGH or eight hours on LOW without opening the lid.
What other kind of liquid can I add?
Although water is traditionally used as the liquid in crockpot corned beef and cabbage, feel free to experiment with one of these alternative liquids for something different:
- Beer – such as Guinness
- Beef or chicken broth
- Ginger ale – see this recipe from Just a Pinch
- Add the brine from the packaging if you prefer a more salty flavor.
When do I add the cabbage?
- Everyone has a different preferred slow cooker cooking time for cabbage. In the recipe card’s video, I add the cabbage in the final two hours. For anyone making corned beef and cabbage for the first time, I believe that amount of time is ideal.
- You can add the cabbage at any point. Add it at the start if you want it to be extra tender. If you want it crisp, add during the last hour.
What can I do to make this low carb?
Corned beef is low carb. Just be cautious about the additional ingredients you add.
- Use water as the liquid; avoid using beer or other beverages high in carbohydrates.
- Omit the potatoes and use celery or cauliflower instead.
Can I add brown sugar to this recipe?
In corned beef, brown sugar adds depth of flavor and lessens the salty taste. Sprinkle two tablespoons over your corned beef before cooking.
How do I serve crock pot corned beef and cabbage?
- Slice the meat against the grain.
- If preferred, smear the potatoes with melted butter and parsley.
- Serve with horseradish or stone-ground mustard.
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Corned Beef & Cabbage Recipe
- ▢ 2-4 lbs. Flat- or point-cut corned beef brisket with an included seasoning packet
- ▢ 1 white onion, sliced (this is optional but good!)
- ▢ 2 lbs. Peel the red or gold potatoes, or a combination of both if you’d like!
- ▢ 3 carrots sliced thick
- ▢ 2 garlic cloves peeled
- ▢ 1/2 head cabbage cut into thin wedges
- 1 1/2 cups of water (for other liquid suggestions, see the notes below)
- ▢ parsley for garnish
- ▢ melted butter for potatoes if desired
- ▢ horseradish or stone-ground mustard
- Add the sliced onion to the slow cooker.
- Rinse your corned beef and pat dry. Add to your slow cooker. Sprinkle over the included seasoning packet.
- Add your baby potatoes on top of the roast. To ensure that your potatoes become tender, you can cut them in half if they are larger. Add the carrots and garlic.
- Pour over the water. Add cabbage now if you want ultra-tender cabbage. Otherwise wait to add it until the last 2 hours.
- Place the lid on the slow cooker.
- Cook on LOW for eight hours or HIGH for five. (Add the cabbage during the last 2 hours). To fit the cabbage in the pot, you might need to rearrange some items or cut your cabbage thinner.
- Strip the meat after removing it to a cutting board.
- Serve the meat with potatoes, carrots, and cabbage.
- Drizzle melted butter over the potatoes if desired. Serve with horseradish mustard or stone ground mustard.
- Flat cut – easier to slice evenly (pictured below)
- Point cut: can have more marbling, but typically the size is not constant.
- Both are great in this recipe. I usually choose whichever is cheaper.
- Beer – such as Guinness
- Beef or chicken broth
- Ginger ale
- Add the brine from the packaging if you prefer a more salty flavor.
- Use water as the liquid; avoid using beer or other beverages high in carbohydrates.
- Omit the potatoes and use celery or cauliflower instead.
Nutrition info is auto-generated. If you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations as this information is only an estimate.
Here are my other corned beef recipes and Irish inspired recipes:
Easy Corned Beef and Cabbage (Stovetop or Slow Cooker)
FAQ
Can you overcook corned beef and cabbage?
Yes, you can overcook corned beef. I’ve done it. It will be hard and chewy like jerky, a complete letdown after the elegant meal you had in mind. Cooking corned beef on high heat or for an excessively long period of time are the two most frequent errors that result in overcooked corned beef.
How long does it take to boil cabbage?
Boiling or blanching Place the shredded or chopped cabbage in a large pan and cover with water halfway. Bring to a boil and cook for three to five minutes, or until tender. Cover with water and boil for three minutes to blanch vegetables (so they can be later sautéed or fried). Transfer the leaves to cold water to refresh.
When boiling a corned beef do you put the fat side up or down?
When preparing corned beef in a liquid like water, beer, or cider, the majority of people advise cooking it with the fat side up. Otherwise, you will get tender meat below the liquid line and tough meat above the liquid line. The meat must be completely submerged in the liquid. Corned beef can also be baked with the fat side up.
What do you put in water when cooking corned beef?
The ideal way to cook corned silverside is over a stovetop in a pot of water with the water barely covering the meat. Additional flavorings like sliced onion, garlic cloves, bay leaves, celery, and fresh herbs like thyme or parsley can be added to the pot. To ensure that the meat stays tender, it is best to keep the heat at a simmer.