Crockpot Corned Beef

4.64 from 30 votes

Mar 09, 2020, Updated Jan 15, 2024

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This Crockpot Corned Beef is the kind of meal that basically cooks itself, but tastes like you spent all day on it. Simmered low and slow, the beef turns out fall-apart tender with crispy edges and deep flavor. Toss in potatoes and carrots, and you’ve got a full, comforting dinner all in one pot.

slow cooked corned beef sliced and served with potatoes and carrots

Corned beef is a go-to in my house when I want something hearty, comforting, and totally hands-off. It’s especially perfect for big family dinners—like St. Paddy’s Day—because everything cooks low and slow in the Crock Pot while I take care of the rest. I love how the beef turns out melt-in-your-mouth tender, packed with flavor from the Guinness, and the potatoes and carrots soak up all that goodness too. It’s the kind of meal that feels festive but couldn’t be easier to pull off.

Why You’ll Love Making Corned Beef in the Crockpot

The slow cooker does all the work. Just toss everything in and let it simmer. How’s that for easy?
So much flavor. The Guinness adds a rich, deep taste that takes the beef to the next level.
Melt-in-your-mouth tender. After hours of slow cooking, the beef is juicy, tender, and packed with savory goodness.
A full meal in one pot. With carrots and potatoes cooking right alongside, dinner is done without dirtying a bunch of pans.

Looking for a version of this with cabbage? Try my corned beef and cabbage recipe!

Corned beef, carrots, and potatoes ready to cook in the crock pot.

Recipe Ingredients

Corned beef brisket with spice packet – These come in a bag and are usually kept in refrigerators at your local grocery store.
Light brown sugar – The sugar adds a touch of sweetness to balance the savory flavors in the dish and enhances caramelization.
Garlic – Fresh garlic is used for extra flavor. If you only have garlic powder, that’s also okay to use.
Guinness beer – This Irish beer is used for that deep, rich flavor it adds to the dish and helps tenderize the meat.
Carrots – A classic vegetable that complements the corned beef and potatoes.
Baby potatoes – These will absorb the flavorful juices from the corned beef and beer.
Parsley – I use fresh parsley as a garnish.

What Cut Of Meat to Use

The cut of beef used for corned beef is the brisket. The brisket is located in the front of the cow, toward the bottom, near the cow’s front legs. For corned beef, you can use a point cut or a flat cut. Point cut is typically cheaper and harder to find. It’s considered less attractive and often used if the meat will be shredded. The flat cut is much leaner than the point cut. This cut is easy to find in supermarkets and best for slicing. You could also choose the whole brisket, which will include both cuts.

cooked Corned beef in the crock pot with potatoes and carrots

How to Make Crockpot Corned Beef

Now, let’s look at the step-by-step process of making succulent crock pot corned beef, from preparing the meat to achieving that perfect tenderness. It’s a complete meal featuring meat, potatoes, and veggies all in one!

Prep: Place the corned beef, fat side up, into the slow cooker and season it with the spice packet. Then, sprinkle with brown sugar, and add the garlic and beer.
Cook: Cover with the lid and cook on LOW for 4 to 5 hours.
Add: Remove the lid and add the carrots and potatoes. Cover and continue to cook for 2 to 3 more hours or until the corned beef is tender. If using cabbage, add it in one hour before the beef is done cooking.
Test for doneness: Corned beef is cooked through when the internal temperature registers at 145˚F. To ensure accurate results, I suggest using an instant read meat thermometer.
Rest: Take the corned beef out of the slow cooker and transfer it to a cutting board. Let it stand for 15 minutes before cutting. Then, thinly slice the corned beef against the grain.
Serve: Garnish with parsley and serve the corned beef with the veggies.

Recipe Tips

Broil it. If your corned beef is not browned on top, or if you like a bit more browning, put the beef under the oven broiler for a few minutes or until browned to your liking.
Sear it. To add an extra layer of flavor and texture to the corned beef, consider searing it in a hot skillet before placing it in the slow cooker.
Add cabbage. For a more traditional recipe, add freshly chopped cabbage 1 hour before the meat is done cooking.
Let it rest. Allow the corned beef to rest for about 15 minutes after cooking and before slicing. This allows the juices to redistribute, keeping the meat moist and tender.
Cut against the grain. Be sure to slice the beef against the grain for the most tender results.

Crock Pot corned beef sliced and served with potatoes and carrots.

What Goes With Corned Beef?

I enjoy my corned beef served with soda bread plus potatoes and carrots, but I also love corned beef with fried cabbage or a side of classic coleslaw. You can always opt to mash the potatoes. The juices from the crock pot would be so yummy spooned over mashed potatoes! If you want something more lean, you can serve it alongside roasted vegetables instead.

Ways to Use Leftovers

I look forward to reusing my corned beef leftovers, especially in a tasty Reuben sandwich! Another knock-your-socks-off idea is making a corned beef hash with your leftovers or this amazing Reuben casserole.

With leftover corned beef, you could also make a modified Cuban sandwich, try out a cool Irish taco recipe, or top your Irish nachos with leftover shredded corned beef.

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4.64 from 30 votes