Description
Hearty slow cooker corned beef cabbage brings Irish-American comfort to dinner tables across the United States. Tender meat and vegetables simmer together, creating a classic one-pot meal you’ll savor with family and friends.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 1 corned beef brisket (3 pounds / 1.36 kilograms)
Vegetables:
- 4 large carrots, peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces
- 1 pound (454 grams) small waxy potatoes, such as Yukon golds, halved if larger than 1-inch
- 1 small yellow onion, cut into 1-inch thick wedges
- 1 pound (454 grams) savoy cabbage (about 1/2 small head), cut into 1-inch wedges
Seasonings and Liquids:
- 1 tablespoon pickling spices
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 3 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1 (8-ounce / 237 milliliters) bottle lager or brown ale
- 6 to 8 cups (1.4 to 1.9 liters) water
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- Prepare the slow cooker by setting it to LOW temperature, allowing it to warm up while organizing ingredients.
- Position the corned beef brisket fat-side facing upward inside the slow cooker, generously coating with pickling spices, sugar, and salt.
- Carefully pour beer and water into the slow cooker, ensuring the brisket is completely submerged. Add vinegar and gently mix the liquid.
- Distribute root vegetables – carrots, potatoes, onions, and thyme – evenly around and over the brisket.
- Secure the slow cooker lid and cook for 8-10 hours on LOW setting or 4-5 hours on HIGH setting until meat and vegetables reach desired tenderness.
- During the final 45 minutes of cooking, layer cabbage on top of the brisket and existing cooking liquid.
- Once cooking is complete, transfer brisket to a cutting board using tongs and slice thinly against the grain.
- Using a slotted spoon, remove vegetables from the cooking liquid and plate alongside the sliced corned beef.
- Serve the meal hot, allowing diners to enjoy the tender meat and perfectly cooked seasonal vegetables.
Notes
- Optimize Meat Tenderness Choose a well-marbled corned beef brisket to ensure maximum moisture and rich flavor during slow cooking.
- Spice Customization Adjust pickling spice blend by adding whole cloves, bay leaves, or peppercorns for deeper aromatic complexity.
- Low and Slow Technique Cooking on LOW setting helps break down tough meat fibers, resulting in meltingly tender corned beef that falls apart easily.
- Diet Flexibility Swap beer with beef broth for gluten-free version or use vegetable broth for a lighter liquid base that still adds depth to the dish.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 hours (on Low) or 5 hours (on High)
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Irish
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg