Cozy Slow Cooker Corned Beef (Print Version)
Tender brisket with vegetables for classic comfort.
# 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)
# Directions:
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 Tips:
01 -
- Your slow cooker does literally all the work while you go about your day
- The vegetables become perfectly tender without turning to mush
- Leftovers somehow taste even better the next day
02 -
- Fat side up is not negotiable. That fat cap renders down and keeps the meat moist throughout the long cooking time.
- Cabbage timing is critical. Too early and you get cabbage soup. Too late and you get raw cabbage.
- Slicing against the grain is what separates good corned beef from great corned beef. Look for the lines running through the meat and cut perpendicular to them.
03 -
- Pat the meat dry with paper towels after rinsing. This helps the spices adhere better and creates a nicer exterior.
- Letting the meat rest before slicing is annoying but essential. Those juices need to redistribute or they'll all end up on your cutting board.