The Best Crock Pot Corned Beef Recipe

🍀 The Best Crock Pot Corned Beef Recipe (Perfect for St. Patrick’s Day or a Cozy Sunday Supper!) 🥔

There’s something incredibly satisfying about walking into your kitchen and being welcomed by the irresistible aroma of slow-cooked comfort food. And friends, there is nothing more comforting (and easy!) than crock pot corned beef. Juicy, tender, and perfectly seasoned, this classic favorite is ideal for your St. Patrick’s Day celebrations or simply an easy, hearty weekend meal.

Whether you’re throwing a festive party to celebrate Irish heritage or just looking to bring some cozy warmth to Sunday dinner, this recipe has you covered. Best of all? Your slow cooker takes care of the heavy lifting. Just set it and forget it!

✨ My Grandma’s Corned Beef: A Heartwarming Memory

Growing up, our family kitchen was always filled with laughter, love—and mouthwatering smells. St. Patrick’s Day was never complete without my grandma’s beloved, comforting corned beef dinner. I remember waking up early in the morning and seeing her set up her trusty crock pot—carefully sprinkling spices, chopping cabbage, potatoes, and carrots—and knowing that dinner would be legendary later that night.

Now, as a chef, I’ve played around with countless corned beef recipes, but I always return to grandma’s method: simple ingredients, effortless cooking, and tons of flavor. So today, I’m thrilled to share this foolproof crock pot corned beef recipe with you—just like we made in our own kitchen for decades!

🌟 Why Use a Crock Pot For Corned Beef?

Cooking corned beef in a slow cooker ensures tenderness, juiciness, and incredible flavor. Slow cooking gently breaks down the fibers, creating meat so tender it’ll practically melt under your fork. Plus, minimal effort is required—exactly what you need for a relaxing cooking experience.

Hungry yet? Let’s dive in!

🥩 Ingredients You’ll Need

The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity. Just grab a few ingredients, and you’re good to go:

– 1 packaged corned beef brisket (approximately 3–4 lbs, with seasoning packet included)
– 1½ cups water

Optional Veggies (Highly Recommended!):

– 1 head cabbage, cut into wedges
– 5–6 medium potatoes, roughly cubed (Russet or red potatoes are great)
– 4–5 carrots, peeled and chunked (totally optional, but tasty!)

Yes, that’s all you need! Easy, right?

🔥 How to Make Crock Pot Corned Beef (Step-by-Step Instructions)

Let’s create this yummy dish together. Trust me, your kitchen will smell heavenly!

Step 1: Prep the Beef

Take your packaged corned beef brisket, unwrap, and gently set it in your slow cooker, fat side up. This lets the fat render down and keeps the meat juicy while it cooks.

Step 2: Season and Add the Liquid

Sprinkle the seasoning packet provided right over your beef. Then, here’s my grandma’s cool culinary trick: pour 1½ cups of water into the empty beef package, swirl to collect all those flavorful juices, and pour it over the meat. You don’t want to miss out on any of that flavor goodness!

Step 3: Let the Magic Happen

Cover your crock pot. Cook on:

– High heat: For about 4–5 hours
– Low heat: For around 6–8 hours

Seriously, that’s it—your slow cooker is working hard for you!

🥬 Adding Potatoes and Cabbage (Optional but Scrumptious!)

Corned beef simply loves pairing up with tender potatoes and hearty cabbage. You can cook veggies separately or easily toss them right into the slow cooker.

– Potatoes: Add approx. 4 hours before serving to ensure they are perfectly soft but not mushy.
– Cabbage: Toss wedges in 2 hours before serving so they turn tender but remain vibrant and delicious.

Need a faster hack? Simply boil potatoes and cabbage separately, adding a few ladles of delicious broth from your corned beef to infuse great flavor!

⚡ Prefer Using an Instant Pot? We’ve Got You Covered!

Yes, the Instant Pot can do wonders with corned beef too:

– Add beef, seasoning, and water.
– High pressure for 90 mins, and natural release for about 12–15 mins.
– Once meat is out, toss in cabbage wedges and potatoes for an additional 5 minutes high pressure cooking, then quickly release pressure.

Dinner—in a jiffy!

🍽 Serving Suggestions For An Epic Corned Beef Dinner

To serve your perfectly cooked corned beef:

– Carefully remove from crock pot (be gentle!).
– Slice thinly across the grain for maximum tenderness (this step makes a noticeable difference!).
– Serve alongside potatoes, carrots, and cabbage as desired.
– Add condiments like whole-grain mustard, spicy mustard, horseradish cream, or your favorite sauces.

Serve with crusty Irish soda bread and your favorite beverage (a cold Irish stout, anyone?), and enjoy the blissful silence as your loved ones dig in enthusiastically.

📋 Chef’s Pro Tips for Corned Beef Perfection

– Always slice against the grain: Your steaks will practically fall apart.
– Fat-side up: Cooking corned beef fat-side up allows juices and flavor to seep through the meat during cooking.
– Rest before slicing: Give cooked corned beef 10–15 minutes to rest loosely covered in foil. That short waiting period helps keep juices locked inside, giving you juicy, flavorful slices every time!

🌱 Nutritional Info (approx. per serving):

Serving size: 6 ounces corned beef (without sides)
Calories: 280 kcal
Protein: 25g
Fat: 20g
Carbohydrates: 0g

(Remember this is approximate and doesn’t include optional vegetables or sides.)

🥳 Ready To Enjoy Your Corned Beef?

Folks, there you have it: the easiest, most flavorful, delectable crock pot corned beef that’s guaranteed to wow everyone at your table. It’s a crowd-pleaser every single time! I can’t wait for you to try it—let me know how it turns out.

Wishing you cozy meals, lively laughter, and a dash of Irish luck! 🍀

Print

📌 Pin For Later!

 

Happy cooking, foodie friends! 😄