Cozy Slow Cooker Corned Beef (Printable)
Tender brisket with vegetables simmers to perfection in your slow cooker for an effortless Irish-American classic.
# What You'll Need:
→ Meats
01 - 1 (3-4 lb) corned beef brisket with spice packet
→ Vegetables
02 - 1 medium head green cabbage, cored and cut into wedges
03 - 6 medium carrots, peeled and cut into large chunks
04 - 6 small Yukon Gold potatoes, halved or quartered
05 - 1 large yellow onion, peeled and quartered
06 - 3 cloves garlic, smashed
→ Liquids & Seasonings
07 - 4 cups low-sodium beef broth
08 - 2 cups water
09 - 2 bay leaves
10 - 8 whole black peppercorns
11 - 1 tbsp Dijon mustard (optional)
# How To Cook:
01 - Rinse the corned beef under cold water to remove excess brine. Place it fat side up in the slow cooker.
02 - Sprinkle the contents of the spice packet (and mustard, if using) over the brisket.
03 - Add onion, garlic, carrots, potatoes, bay leaves, and peppercorns around and on top of the meat.
04 - Pour beef broth and water over the ingredients.
05 - Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours, or until the meat is fork-tender.
06 - Add cabbage wedges during the last 2 hours of cooking.
07 - Carefully remove the corned beef; let it rest for 10 minutes. Slice against the grain.
08 - Serve the corned beef with vegetables, spooning some broth over for extra flavor.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- The meat becomes so tender it practically falls apart under your fork
- Almost zero active cooking time thanks to the slow cooker doing all the heavy lifting
- Leftovers make incredible sandwiches the next day
02 -
- Cutting against the grain is nonnegotiable or you'll end up with tough stringy meat
- Don't skip the resting period even if everyone's already at the table
- The cabbage timing matters too early and it disappears too late and it's underdone
03 -
- Low-sodium broth is crucial since corned beef is already heavily salted
- Resist the urge to lift the lid too often every peek adds time to the cook