Description
Savory slow cooker corned beef and cabbage whisks home cooks straight to Irish culinary traditions with minimal effort. Tender meat and hearty vegetables simmer together, creating a comforting meal you’ll want to share with family and friends.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 3 to 4 pounds (1.36 to 1.81 kilograms) corned beef brisket
Vegetables:
- 1 large onion, quartered
- 1 small head of cabbage, cut into wedges
- 4 large carrots, peeled and cut into chunks
- 1 pound (454 grams) baby potatoes, halved or quartered
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
Spices and Seasonings:
- 4 cups (946 milliliters) beef broth
- 1 tablespoon mustard seeds
- 1 tablespoon black peppercorns
- 1 teaspoon allspice berries
- 1 teaspoon thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Position the corned beef brisket in the slow cooker base, nestling quartered onion and minced garlic around the meat to enhance underlying flavors.
- Generously pour beef broth over the brisket, ensuring complete coverage, then sprinkle mustard seeds, black peppercorns, allspice berries, thyme, and bay leaf across the surface for aromatic depth.
- Secure the slow cooker lid and set to low temperature, allowing the meat to tenderize over 8-9 hours until it reaches optimal softness and rich flavor infusion.
- Approximately 2 hours before serving, introduce peeled carrots and halved baby potatoes into the cooking environment, gently incorporating them with the simmering liquid and meat.
- During the final hour of cooking, strategically layer cabbage wedges atop the existing ingredients, allowing them to steam and absorb the surrounding savory essences.
- After cooking completes, carefully extract the corned beef and permit a 10-minute resting period to redistribute internal moisture, then slice against the grain into substantial portions.
- Artfully arrange sliced meat alongside roasted vegetables on a serving platter, drizzling reserved cooking liquid for additional moisture and intensified taste profile.
- Garnish with freshly chopped parsley, creating a visually appealing presentation that celebrates this traditional, comforting dish perfect for shared dining experiences.
Notes
- Choose a high-quality, well-marbled corned beef brisket for maximum tenderness and flavor.
- Rinse the brisket before cooking to remove excess salt and prevent the dish from becoming too salty.
- For a leaner option, trim visible fat from the brisket before slow cooking.
- Experiment with different spice blends by adding smoked paprika or red pepper flakes for extra kick.
- Vegetarian adaptation: Replace corned beef with large portobello mushrooms or seitan for a meat-free version.
- Gluten-sensitive diners can ensure broth and mustard seeds are certified gluten-free before preparing.
- Enhance leftovers by shredding remaining meat for sandwiches or hash the next day.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 to 9 hours
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Irish
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg