Slow Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage
All you need is 5 ingredients for the perfect corned beef and cabbage recipe.
- SERVES
- 4
- COOK TIME
- 8 Hr
We're never too short on time when we have a slow cooker to turn to in our kitchen. This version of our Slow Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage recipe literally cooks itself, and we come home to one of our favorite Irish dishes.
This easy corned beef and cabbage is sure to satisfy on St. Patrick's Day (or any other day). Carrots and potatoes cook right along with the main ingredients in the dish, and so you have a complete mouthwatering meal with almost no effort.
What You'll Need
- 4 large carrots, peeled and cut into 2-inch chunks
- 4 large potatoes, peeled and cut into quarters
- 1 (3- to 4-pound) corned beef brisket (seasoning packet included)
- 1 1/2 cup apple juice (see Note)
- 1 green cabbage, cut into 1-inch wedges
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
What to Do
- In a 5-quart or larger slow cooker, place carrots and potatoes. Place corned beef on top and sprinkle with seasoning packet. Add apple juice.
- Cover and cook on LOW 6 hours. Add cabbage and continue cooking another 2 to 3 hours, or until beef and cabbage are tender. Remove beef, potatoes, and vegetables to a platter and season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Learn More About This Recipe
- What is corned beef made of? Corned beef brisket is beef brisket, usually the flat cut, that is cured and brined using a special blend of salt and spices. Beef brisket is a fatty, tough cut of beef, and so it benefits from the curing process that tenderizes the meat and gives it that distinctive pink color. Slow cooking corned beef also makes it tender. As you can see, when we're finished cooking this recipe the corned beef slices easily. It's ready to be enjoyed with the cabbage and vegetables!
- Should I place the brisket fat side up or down in the slow cooker? The brisket's fat side should be up.
- How do I cut corned beef brisket? Cut your cooked brisket across the grain.
- If you do not wish to have a sweet tasting corned beef, the Test Kitchen recommends substituting water in place of the apple juice.
- You can also make corned beef and cabbage the traditional way, with our recipe for Classic Corned Beef and Cabbage.
- For more easy cabbage recipes like this Slow Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage dinner recipe, be sure to check out our collection of 35 Easy Cabbage Recipes.
- Or, if you'd like to check out more Irish recipes, check out our recipes for Beef and Guinness Casserole, Irish Beef Stew, and Irish Potato Soup. Oh, and if you're looking for a sweet way to finish off your corned beef and cabbage, why not try our Irish Milk Shake?
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thomaso45
Mar 17, 2020
I did some changes - water instead of apple juice, red potatoes, pearl onions (12) red cabbage -- turned out to be the best ever!!!
royjwalls1 0722817
Mar 14, 2019
You cook different way i did i all way put meat in first than veggies on top but look good! I smoke brisket first then cook cabbage,carrots, potatoes slow cook after Irish beef stew!
toniretman 5006408
Oct 21, 2017
husband loved it. I'm not a big fan of brisket, but the veggies were awesome!
MACrisci
Mar 17, 2017
LI agree with dbax 2316862. I tried this on St. Patti's Day and was disappointed because the apple juice really changed the flavor of everything! I should have just used water in the slow cooker. BTW, this was the first time I ever used a slow cooker. I LOVED IT! Cooking in the slow cooker was so easy. Went to work, came home and it was almost done!
kdnspoon 6161139
Mar 10, 2017
We love cooking our corned beef dinner this way - the bit of sweet is delicious. One thing I do differently tho, I put the spices in a tea infuser and place it down in the broth. That way you get the flavor of the spices but they don't get all over everything (and in your teeth!). Just our personal preference. . .
bunnytail
Apr 08, 2016
We been making it this way for years - except putting beef in the bottom first then veggies
dbax 2316862
Mar 19, 2016
tried this and did not like it at all. The apple juice ruined this for us. It made everything "sweet" -- made the corn beef taste like a processed ham. And the potatoes and carrots -- all too sweet. Also had a problem getting the corned beef to cook properly. We finally removed the carrots and potatoes before they cooked into mush and continued to cook the corned beef on slow for 6 more hours. Also, that great aroma you get from a slow cook corned beef was absent, just not there. Would not repeat this recipe. Luckily we did not try this out on St Patty's day dinner but the day after. Just be warned, the apple juice will make everything sweet to the taste over powering the, even, the corned beef seasoning.
beaglesoup05 36148 96
Mar 18, 2016
I tried this on St Patty's, BUT my potatoes/carrots/cabbage didn't cook. Also my corn beef was cold (not raw). My slow cook has number settings 1 to 5. I did 1. Do I need more than 1 1/2 cups of cider? I want to try again.
Test Kitchen Team
Mar 21, 2016
Hello! It sounds to us like there may be a problem with your slow cooker. If your corned beef and cabbage cooked for 8 to 9 hours, like stated in the recipe, then it should have been done. We suggest setting your dial up to 3 or 4 and giving it another try. If you have the same results, then you may need a new slow cooker.
psecor026 2139832
Mar 17, 2016
I made this today for Saint Patty's day. It was the first time I had made corned beef in the crock pot. From now on it will be the only way I will make it. It was a delicious meal.Thanks for the recipe. Oh it was so good!
debbydiroll 931851 3
Mar 16, 2016
You must let the corned beef sit before cutting after removing from cooker. Otherwise, it will be stringy.
hannon 4863922
Mar 15, 2016
do you trim the fat or not and do you put it in the crock pot fat side up or down
Test Kitchen Team
Mar 16, 2016
Hello! In this recipe, we did not trim the fat off the corned beef. We also put it into our slow cooker fat-side-up. You can watch how Howard does it in the video. :) Enjoy!
Sula
Mar 10, 2016
I always remove the corned beef before adding the cabbage this way the meat or everything doesn't taste like cabbage. With the meat I put it in a 250 degree oven wrapped in foil. Until th cabbage is cooked. This way some of the moisture is removed from the meat making it easier to slice. My partner for 33 years mother tought me this method many years ago.
ninawalters27 8935 661
Mar 15, 2014
I have never EVER cooked my St Pats corned beef this way ... I am a bit scared to try it, but the easier, the better for me right now, especially dealing with pain!
gertysgoods871 848 4519
Jan 21, 2014
Looks alot better than what I had today. Sounds even better! Check out how to cut the brisket so it isn't so tough here..... http://bit.ly/1a4rRlx
tinysnickers 27127 99
Mar 17, 2013
I PUT THE CORNED BEEF IN MY CROCKPOT LAST NIGHT, BUT LEFT OUT THE CABBAGE UNTIL THIS MORNING. IT TURNED OUT SO TENDER AND MOIST! I ALSO USED APPLE JUICE INSTEAD OF WATER. WHAT A DIFFERENCE THE CROCK POT MAKES! IT WAS THE BEST CORNED BEEF AND CABBAGE, I HAVE EVER MADE! HAPPY SAINT PATRICKS DAY EVERYONE! :-)
pedslpn
Mar 16, 2013
Instead of apple juice I use a bottle of beer any kind will do. the favor is so good.
SoCal FoodLover
Apr 13, 2012
Have tried, and love, this recipe! While there are many things one can do to make it their own, the one thing I believe EVERYone must consider is: Whenever a soup, stew, or slow cooker recipe like this one, calls for water, ALWAYS use broth instead. I used vegetable broth in this, and it turned out great. Thanx Mr. Food for all that you do! ;-)
rgkatzer 7044089
Aug 01, 2012
I agree with always use broth in place of water. Gives a much better flavor!
htbharley
Mar 15, 2013
Do you use vegetable broth instead of apple juice and water or just replace the water portion with the vegetable broth?
DaFoodCritic
Apr 11, 2012
This is a simple recipe that is excellent. Nice use of the apple juice (some recipes use beer in that fashion and also come out tasty). You can obviously use more or less potatoes and carrots, per your individual choice. In addition to those vegetables, I also cut up and added a large stalk of celery and about 1/2 a huge sweet onion for additional flavor. It came out great.
plk 5149808
Apr 02, 2012
Tried this past weekend. It was delicious! I cooked the brisket in the apple juice broth on Sat. I then let it sit overnight in refrigerator to let the grease solidify. On Sunday, I prepared the veggies, skimmed the grease out of crockpot. Put everything into crockpot and cooked until veggies were done. Looking forward to the leftovers tonight! I will be cooking brisket in the apple broth from now on. Until now, I have always cooked brisket in crockpot in beef broth with pureed onion and pureed bell pepper. That was tasty, but this recipe is very tasty without all the prep! :) This recipe is a keeper!
qbunnee
Mar 22, 2012
I have tried many recipes and this one was by far the best. My family, even the children, enjoyed this meal!
joeysgranny1 06299 94
Mar 18, 2012
never made this before and did it for the frist time it was sooo gooooooooooooooooooooood melted right in your mounth and my kids never would touch cabbage they tryed and enjoyed it
JosieWiFoodie
Mar 17, 2012
I made this last year and it was by far the best slow cooker corned beef and cabbage I ever made. The secret is the apple juice! Thanks Mr Food.
jillrogers 6687315
Mar 16, 2012
I love corned beef and cabbage but whenever I make it it turns out way too salty. Any suggestions on how to make without all of the salt?
Phantom61
Mar 17, 2012
Take it out of the package sety the spice paket aside. Then Rinse the corned beef with cold water - twice ! Then cover with cold water and let it soak overnight. Next day drain, add fresh water and cook as you would normally. taaaa daaaa !
Member 4845448
Mar 14, 2012
how do you make ham&cabbage? any ideas
cken
Mar 16, 2012
My Mom always used smoked butt to make ham and cabbage and made it the same way as corned beef and cabbage.Slowly cook the ham for several hours with onions, a bay leaf and some Worcestershire sauce then add some potatoes and cabbage and cook another hour.
jeannetteb 3000995
Mar 12, 2012
I have always used the pressure cooker for this particular meal and it always comes out great but using the slow cooker and apple juice sounds like a keeper, can't wait to try this week
jcpineslake 845225 4
Feb 02, 2012
I'm allergic to apples. Any suggestions on replacing the apple juice?
neeterg
Feb 23, 2012
I have used chicken broth many times and enjoyed the flavor very much. I have never used apple juice but might try it now.
cken
Mar 16, 2012
A bottle of Guinness or any dark beer and a can of beef broth makes a great corned beef in the slow cooker.
mama2catz
Dec 29, 2011
Great recipe - apple juice is the key. I add onions, a bag of frozen pearl onions or 1-2 quartered white onions, with the carrots & potatoes.
Pw Denny
Apr 12, 2011
Me and my family have been big fans for years. Thank you for the recipe - I saw during St. Patrick's day but only just now getting around to. I never thought of using apple juice - maybe that's what was missing.
Piglet63
Mar 25, 2011
Love, Love, Love this recipe! I have been cooking corned beef for a while but this is the tastiest recipe I have used. One tip when buying corned beef by the Flat cut rather than the Point you'll pay a little more but less waste and more flavor! Excellent job, Mr. Food! Love watching you!
mommysword 2142036
Mar 19, 2011
Although I had been cooking for over 50 years, I had never attempted to cook '' real '' corned beef and cabbage. I saw your show last week right before St. Patrick's day and decided ,' what the heck '. It was simple and everyone loved it. This is coming from a woman who use to cook cabbage and then put in a can of corned beef. It was a hit. thanks
joseph tiu
Mar 18, 2011
I tried this recipe and it is as easy as it sound. The corn beef came out so tender and juicy as well. I always buy the flat cut only since I was told that it is a much superior cut. Some might want to add salt and pepper to taste afterwards.
cchuck7190 9592973
Mar 16, 2011
this sounds delicious. i am certainly going to slave and sweat over this!!! he-he-he! anyway< thanks Mr. Food. you rock!
mimi27962 8859523
Mar 15, 2011
what is the nutrition value on this recipe, like calories, sodium and protein.Thank you for your response back to me.
margie6422nofuss
Mar 15, 2011
Dear Mr. Food, I love your recipes,especially the fast ,and easy ones,because I never have time to fuss to much in the kitchen. I love corn beef and cabbage and I can't wait to taste your recipe in my slow cooker!!!! Thanks MR. Food ,for making fast,easy,recipes that taste soooo good!!!! Margie Becker in Independence,Wi. margie64-22@hotmail.com
grandmalaurie618 0 012416
Mar 15, 2011
Thank you. I never had this I am going to the store now and buy the stuff and have it for thursday .
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