Here’s an easy slow cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage paired with potatoes! It’s an excellent dish for St. Patrick’s Day or any day of the year.
Crockpot Corned Beef and Cabbage
I may have become the wife of the year in John's eyes with this Slow Cooker Crock Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage Recipe! So easy to make, the slow cooker does all the work!
Perfect for St. Patrick's Day or any day of the week! I hopefully hold that title every day.
I can not count the number of times John told me this is his favorite recipe I have ever made. After each bite, he kept telling me how much he loved it. Even the next day, eating leftovers, he told me how much he loved the Crock Pot Easy Corned Beef and Cabbage Recipe!
So easy to make, the slow cooker does all the work! Perfect for St. Patrick's Day or any day of the week!
Yes, we have a regular Slow Cooker Saturday lunch at our house. We invite our loved ones over, and they get to try whatever recipe I am making for the weekend in the Crock-Pot.
This Corned Beef recipe comes out so tender and packed with flavor. Serve with your favorite vegetables and Irish Beer.
The meat should slice easily or fall apart in chunks depending on how long it cooks.
Ingredients
Here is a quick overview of the simple ingredients needed to make an epic CrockPot Corned Beef and Cabbage! The printable recipe card at the bottom of the post includes specific measurements and step-by-step instructions.
- Baby Red Potatoes
- Onion
- Water
- Corned Beef Brisket with Seasoning Packet
- Beer
- Cabbage
- Salt and Pepper
Optional Add-Ins: Carrots
Beer - If you are not a fan of cooking with beer, you can use beef broth or chicken broth.
What is in a corned beef spice packet?
The spice packet that comes with corned beef is to help flavor the beef.
Corned Beef Spice packets normally include fresh spices like mustard, coriander, black peppercorns, bay leaf, cinnamon, dill, cloves, all spice, fennel, and a hint of chili powder!
Equipment Needed
- CrockPot: We suggest using a 6-quart crockpot with a digital timer that automatically switches the slow cooker to warm after a set time to ensure your dinner cooks perfectly without stressing about cooking time.
- Kitchen Spoon/Stirring Utensil
How to Make CrockPot Corned Beef and Cabbage
I've included complete instructions in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post, but here's a quick version.
- Place onions and potatoes in the bottom of the Crock-Pot.
- Pour in water and place brisket on top.
- Pour about half a can or bottle of beer over brisket.
- Sprinkle brisket with spices, then set Crock-Pot on high.
- Cook on high. An hour before serving, stir in cabbage pieces and place the lid back on the CrockPot.
Preparation and Storage
Make-Ahead: This recipe is make-ahead-friendly! It takes eight hours to cook in your slow cooker, meaning you have plenty of idle time or time to work on other menu items once you add all the ingredients to the Crock Pot.
Storage: Transfer leftovers to the refrigerator in an airtight container and enjoy them within three to four days.
Freezing/How to Freeze: Freeze leftover portions in an airtight, freezer-safe container and enjoy them within three months.
How to Reheat: Reheat your leftover Corned Beef and Cabbage using your microwave or oven, depending on how many servings you need to prepare. Let frozen leftovers thaw overnight in the fridge to ensure they reheat evenly.
Recipe Variations
Substitutions:
We used an IPA, but you can use your favorite beer. If you do not like cooking with beer, you can use beef or chicken broth.
Vegetarian + Vegan Option: Replace the corned beef brisket with a meatless alternative to make this recipe vegetarian and vegan.
Gluten-Free: Use a gluten-free beer or beer alternative, like gluten-free beef or chicken broth, to make this St. Patrick’s Day recipe gluten-free.
Alcohol-Free Option: Use a non-alcoholic beer or replace it with beef or chicken broth to make this recipe alcohol-free.
Smaller Serving Size + Larger Group/More Servings: The written recipe makes eight servings. Scale it up or down to your desired yield, keeping in mind that you may need to work in batches according to the size of your slow cooker if you scale up.
Make It Spicy: Corned beef spice packets often include chili powder, so add more chili powder to spice up this recipe.
Sugar-Free: The written recipe contains 6 grams of sugar per serving. The final sugar content will depend on the sugar in your spice packet and beer, so check the labels on these ingredients before starting.
Tips for the Best CrockPot Corned Beef and Cabbage
- A corned beef spice packet is a spice packet that comes with corned beef to help flavor the meat. Corned beef spice packets usually include fresh spices like mustard, coriander, black peppercorns, bay leaf, cinnamon, dill, cloves, allspice, fennel, and chili powder!
- We have a ton of the best Crock Pot recipes on the blog. This dish is one of our favorite recipes to make. Everyone loves this Corned Beef and Cabbage slow cooker recipe. It is so easy to make and tastes fantastic!
What to Serve with CrockPot Corned Beef and Cabbage
This CrockPot Corned Beef and Cabbage is a must-have entree for St. Patrick’s Day! Here are some menu planning suggestions for all-day Irish-inspired feasting.
Sides: CrockPot Reuben Dip, Guinness Beer Cheese Dip, Guinness Beer Bread, Celtic Knot Rolls, Southern Fried Cabbage with Bacon, Guinness Glazed Pecans, Creamed corn
Main Dishes: CrockPot Guinness Corned Beef and Cabbage, Crock Pot Guinness Stew, Corned Beef Shepherd's Pie, CrockPot Guinness Braised Short Ribs
Desserts: Guinness Chocolate Cupcakes, Guinness Chocolate Cake, Watergate Salad
Drinks: Homemade Irish Cream, Rainbow Cocktail, Fuzzy Leprechaun, Irish Sour Apple Cocktail, Iced Irish Coffee, Guinness and Cider Beer Cocktail, Irish Flag Shot, Pickleback Shot
When to Serve
- St. Patrick’s Day
- Irish Feast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Great St. Patrick’s Day Recipes
Crock Pot Guinness Corned Beef and Cabbage
Here are some drinks to go with them!
See all of our St. Patrick's Day recipes!
Do you love recipes? Check out our copycat recipes, dessert recipes, and our Best Slow Cooker Recipes.
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Slow Cooker Crock Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage Recipe
Ingredients
- 10 Baby red potatoes quartered
- 1 Onion peeled cut into pieces
- 4 Cups Water
- 4 pounds corned beef brisket with spice packet
- 6 ounces Beer we used an IPA but you can use your favorite beer
- ½ Cabbage coarsely chopped
Instructions
- Place onions and potatoes in the bottom of the Crock-Pot
- Pour in water and place brisket on top
- Pour beer over brisket, It is about a half a can
- Sprinkle brisket with spices set Crock-Pot on high
- Cook 8 hours on high, 1 hour before serving stir in cabbage pieces and recover crockpot
Kitchen Tools
- Slow cooker
Nutrition
Originally shared February 4, 2013, updated on February 4, 2020
Tracy Bandell
I made it for the 1st time last year and for someone who really wasn't a fan of cornedbeef and cabbage. we loved it.
Jessica St.Gelais
I make this Corned beef and cabbage every year since I found this recipe and it's always a winner!! People are constantly asking for me for your recipe! Thank you!
Sharon
This has been my go to corned beef recipe since I came across it several years ago. My whole loves it. I cook the potatoes separately (preference).
Susan
This was outstanding
Candi
I have made this so many times I have lost count. It’s a great recipe and so easy and comes out delicious every time.
Tammilee
That makes me so happy! Thank you for sharing!
Kristie
I made this for St. Patricks Day. It was so easy and so good. My family ate it all.
Angie
What flavor of IPA beer do you suggest using? Going to make this for the first time and never cooked with beer before..please help
Traci
Do you cook potatoes on Hugh 8 hours as well as the meat?
Tammilee
Traci, Yes you put the potatoes and onions in for the full 8 hours
sharon thorpe
I live in Balto. Md and my corn beef brisquit did not come with spices any ideas what I can use please
Petunialadybug53
I made this recipe using an IPA beer because I couldn't purchase just a single bottle of Guinness. The author of this recipe said she just used an IPA beer too. The broth and vegetables tasted like VERY strong, bitter beer!!! It was terrible!! The corned beef tasted fine, though. The recipe was simple and while it was cooking in the crockpot, it smelled delicious!! Next time I will just use water and more pickling spices. Everything else about the recipe was fine and the vegetables cooked fine. It was done in about 5 hrs. I added whole carrots and everything would have tasted wonderful if I'd only left out the beer!! I don't think Guinness would have tasted any better to me. Lesson learned!!
Laura
For those asking about the spice packet: In the US, at least where I am, corned beef that you buy at the supermarket comes with a spice packet. In other countries corned beef doesn't come with this. The packet contains about 2-3 tablespoons of the spice mix but it doesn't list what spices are included. The spice mix is similar to a pickling spice mix, such as this one from McCormick: http://www.amazon.com/McCormick-Pickling-Spice-1-5-Ounce-Unit/dp/B000B6FLM0. If you can't get that where you are, you can look at the link for a picture with ingredients.
I made this today and it was really good. Yep, you really cook on high for 8 hours. Mine came out super tender but wasn't disintegrating at all. The potatoes didn't turn to mush but next time I'll leave it a bit longer to add the cabbage as I prefer it a bit firmer.
Tiffani
OMG! I have this in the crockpot as we speak. But, I used a whole 12oz bottle of beer. I hope that doesn’t hurt too bad.
Tammy
My son's girlfriend's grandma makes this dish every St. Patrick's day and my son loves it. I have never made it before but this looks so good so I would like to give it a try. Could we substitute something else for the beer?
Petunia 53
You can replace the beer with beef or chicken broth.
Paula
On the corn beef and cabbage. Do you really cook on HIGH for 8 hours?
Gretchen
Tweeked mine a little. Didn't have potatoes so I used carrots and since my BF and I LOVE spicy. I added Serano chilies. It came out amazing! The meat was so tender and had just the right amount of kick. The only downside was we didn't buy a big enough piece of meat! Oh well next time we will....
Amanda
With the red potatoes being quartered is 8hrs of cooking going to turn them to mush?
Stephani
What can be used instead of beer?
Melissa
Beef broth
Tiffany
What is the spice packet you used?
Kim
So what is in the spice packet??? My meat department had no idea what spices this would be and you don't say!!
Savannah Fields
Hey this looks sooo yummy! I was wondering though what liquid you could use instead of the 6 oz of beer?
Christy
I saw on other recipes you could use water but it said the flavor won't be the same. I also saw beef broth as a substitute.
Tifanie
My sister in law used Dr. pepper because she doesn’t like to use the beer! It’s good that way too
Tammilee
Oh what a great idea! I hadn't thought about using Dr. Pepper. I am going to have to try it
Jan
This looks fantastic! But one question.... For the cabbage, do you put it in the crockpot during the last hour of *cooking*? Or do you put it in there after the 8 hours have finished such that the crockpot is not *on* anymore. I wasn't sure.
Thanks so much,
Jan
Tammilee
I put the cabbage in during the last hour of cooking. If you are going to have the corned beef sit on warm for a bit before serving I wouldn't add the cabbage until the hour before you are going to serve the meal.
Monica Capers
This Turned Out Really Good. My Husband Loved It! It Was Very Simple To Make And My Husband Is Raving About It. Thanks So Much!
Lauren
Made this yesterday and it came out perfect!! My whole family loved it!!
Tammilee
Lauren, that is fantastic! Thank you so much for letting me know! I am so glad your family loved the recipe!
Danielle Maynard
This recipe was amazing!! I made a double batch and brought it to work. Several of my co-workers have never even heard of it before. It was a huge hit! I have one question though. What's the serving size for this recipe? I am tracking my calories on my fitness pal and needed to input that tidbit of info. (I know I'm going to have to hit the gym really hard today but it was sooo worth it.) Thanks so much!!!!!
Doreen
The calories for this are based on 7 equal servings. I meal prep and freeze my dinners this way I can tailor my dinners more to meet my wanted calories and know the exact serving size. So, for this recipe I would have a smaller serving and maybe stretch the servings to 9 or 10 to get it more in line with what I feel is a better caloric intake per meal. I would also maybe sub some of the potatoes with radish and this will remove some calories. I know that sounds yuck but when it is cooked with all the other stuff they are not "radishy". I do this with Zuppa Tuscona soup and you can not taste the difference.
Emily
Your recipe looks great and I love the addition of the beer! I am questioning the slow cooker setting though...should it read cook on LOW for 8 hours instead of cook on HIGH for 8 hours? All the other recipes I have seen or use for big cuts of beef are to cook on low. I have tried cooking on high before with beef and it came out awful, so tough!
Tammilee
Hi Emily, I have always cooked corned beef on high, it gets really tender and falls apart with a fork.
Jackie
This looks so easy and delishious, but you would think that the corned beef would be too tender and maybe fall apart? Is this so?
Jackie
... Or vice versa and become tough? And also do the potatoes come out too mushy? I'm really wanting to do this recipe just trying to plan ahead for tweaks I may need to make thank you!
Tammilee
HI Jackie, the corned beef is so tender but does not fall apart all over the place. We make this all the time. It is one of my Husbands favorite meals.
Sarah
Hello!
I am very excited to try this and maybe I am just a newbie - but what's in the spice packet that you use? Does that come with the brisket? Or can you just use spices that are at home already? Also, I've never cooked with beer before, can you offer any specific suggestions?
Thanks!
Tammilee
Hi Sarah, The spice packet should come with the corned beef. Most of them will say on the packaging that the spice packet is included. Cooking with beer is super easy. just pour it in and you are done. Just like adding a regular liquid.
Tifanie
My sister in law used Dr. pepper because she doesn’t like to use the beer! It’s good that way too
Carolyn
How do you deal with all the fat? Seems like your veggies would be full of grease. If you trim all the fat from the corned beef, you lose flavor and tenderness, but maybe being in the crock pot for 8 hours would make the beef tender?
Tammilee
Hi Carolyn, The beef becomes really tender. I pull it out after 8 hours and cut off all of the fat that I can on the meat.
Michelle
I bookmarked this to make this week!! And thanks for the list of other crockpot recipes!
Angela
This looks fantastic! I'll be making this for sure.
LyndaS
That looks so delicious - if only my husband liked corned beef. ~sigh~
Natalie
LOVE discovering new crock pot recipes! Thank you!
Wanda Carter
Hi I don't see any where to print these recipes how do you print them are are we allowed to print the ones we want?
Thanks
Wanda Carter
Tammilee
Hi Wanda, Yes you can print any of the recipes. I will check and see why the printable recipe is not showing.
Nannette
Great recipe, but I did add carrots at the bottom of the pot with onions & potatoes :~)
=^..^=
Heidi
This was a fabulous recipe. The best and easiest Corned Beef & Cabbage I have ever made. I did have to ad-lib a bit, my brisket didn't come with the spice packet. I had Ground Cloves and Allspice in my pantry so I used that with some black pepper. I used about a tsp of each and the flavors were wonderful. My husband said it was the best Corned Beef he had ever had. I always ask when I try out a new recipe, is this a keeper or a throw away...this one is definitely a keeper!
Tammilee
Yeah! I am so glad you enjoyed the recipe. It is a family favorite here.
Grace
Do you just use the spice pack that comes with it?
Tammilee
Yes, The spice packet that comes with it is perfect.
Lauren
I made this for St Patrick's Day. Oh My God, fantastic. Best corned beef I have ever had. Definitely going to make this more than once a year.
Tammilee
Lauren,
I am so glad you loved the recipe!
Jewels
About what is the serving size on this? (Serving size for big eating men)
Tammilee
Hi, I have a bit eating man in the house and we had enough for lunch for him and his Mom and leftovers for a few days.
tammy s
8 hours on high? can you confirm, thanks
Terri
I was wondering if I cook it on high for 8 hours then add cabbage while it warms or do i cook it on high 7 hours add cabbage then continue to cook
Tammilee
Hi, I added the cabbage and continued to let it cook
Nikki Da Lovely
What spices do you like to use?
Amanda
What do you mean by seasoning packet?
Tammilee
Some Corned Beef comes with a packet of season inside the package.
Michelle
I am making this for the first time tomorrow - am I missing something? Does the corned beef come with a spice pack?? If not what kind of spice pak am I supposed to get?
Tammilee
It depends on the corned beef package. Most come with a spice packet inside the corned beef packaging.
Cathryn
Hey Tammilee! I am kind of new to crock pot cooking and was wondering if I had 8 pounds of corned beef (went a little overboard at Costco...) could I just leave it in the crock pot for double the time? Love your site and thanks!
Tammilee
Hi, I would make sure 8 pounds will fit in your crock pot along with the potatoes. If you have 2 crock pots you may want to cut it in half and make it in each of them. when I made it the crock pot was full with the 4 pounds that I made.
Dana
Hi, I was wondering how much a 4 lb. corned beef would feed?
We have 6 adults and one nearly 3 year old and will also be serving it with Irish Soda Bread and the carrots/potatoes as suggested above.
Thanks. 🙂
Tammilee
We made 4 pounds and it lasted a few days as leftovers. We had 2 adults eating it.
Renee
DH's birthday is the 18th, so he loves corned beef for his meal. Sometimes he tells me not to bother though because he's the only one in the house that eats meat. This is so simple, I can surprise him and be free at dinner time to make some leek and potato soup and soda bread too! Thanks!
candice
This sounds delish! I was wondering what type of BEER should be used? Dark, light, etc.?
Tammilee
Hi, We used a IPA for the Corned Beef. We went with Johns favorite beer so we would know he liked the flavor. I made a Guiness Corned Beef in the stove also.
Jessica
Thanks, will definetly be making this this weekend!
Cindy
I was also wondering if it was really supposed to be cooked on HIGH.
Tammilee
Hi, The Corned Beef cooked on high for 8 hours. It is so tender when it is done.
Lisa
I was wondering if you meant to cook it for 8 hours on low, or if it really needs to be cooked on high for 8 hours.
Jessica
Lisa, I was thinking the exact same thing. Ive never really seen a recipe that you need to cook it on high for that long.
Rachael
I had the same question - I researched some other recipes and I *think* you should cook on LOW for 8 hours, not high.
Tammilee
Hi, The Corned Beef cooked on high for 8 hours. It is so tender when it is done.
Irene Black
It worked really good for a 2 lb. Brisket five hours on high and 2 hours on low after adding cabbage.
Danielle
I made this dinner tonight and it was absolutely fantastic! Everything was packed with soo much flavor, even the cabbage! My husband is a HUGE fan go corned beef and after eating this meal he told me that we should have that every day.
Tammilee
Danielle, That is so wonderful to hear! My Husband told me the same thing. He keeps looking at Corn beef at the store and telling me we could make it for dinner this week.
Jamie
Last year was the first time I had Corn Beef and Cabbage. Absolutely love it =)
Shana
I can't wait to try, but with a beef roast... cabbage is cheap this time of year here in Iowa!!!