Name: Crock Pot Corned Beef
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 420 min
Total time: 8 min
Ingredients: 3 pounds raw corned beef brisket with spice packet; 2 tablespoons light brown sugar; 5 cloves garlic (peeled and halved lengthwise); 2 cups Guinness beer; 1 pound baby potatoes; 6 large carrots; Chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)

by: Katerina Petrovskapublished: Mar 9, 2020updated: Jan 25, 2021

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This Crock Pot Corned Beef is cooked in Guinness beer, making it crispy, juicy, and simply mouthwatering. Throw in potatoes and carrots for an easy, hearty, and complete meal.

MY FAVORITE CROCK POT CORNED BEEF

Now, I may not be Irish, but I sure love to eat like I am!

When I think big family dinner – especially around St. Paddy’s Day, I automatically think Corned Beef and Cabbage! Corned Beef is a family favorite in my house and I try to make it pretty often. I especially like to prepare it in the Crock Pot because, it’s so simple and hands off.

This also makes it great for serving at large family celebrations because I can pop it in the Crock Pot earlier in the day and make sure my house is tidy and the table is set by the time family arrives. 🙌

It also frees me up to host and enjoy the time with everyone.

And to drink some Guinness! 🍻

What is Corned Beef?

Corned beef is a way to describe a cooking technique typically used on the brisket cut of beef. With this technique, the beef is preserved through salt-curing. In this process, the beef cut is cured in a brine solution along with other spices and simmered on low until the meat is both flavorful and super tender.

Corned beef is common in both Jewish and Irish traditions.

When you purchase your beef, it will likely come with a spice pack that includes bay leaves, peppercorns, and allspice. Some spices packs might include warming spices like ginger or cinnamon. All of these spices are, of course, accompanied by lots of salt, FYI.

Why Make Corned Beef in a Crock Pot?

I am a huge fan of the ease of Crock Pot meals. While cooking corned beef in a traditional fashion in the stove top is delicious, too. The Crock Pot is just so much easier! Since corned beef is meant to be simmered on low for a long period of time, it is basically perfect for cooking in the Crock Pot!

Once it is set in there, you can literally walk away for hours – or, until it’s time to add in the potatoes and carrots. And, when it’s done, you have a complete meal with super simple cleanup.

Recipe Ingredients

This is a complete meal all in one – meat, potatoes, and veggies!

Here’s what you’ll need:

raw corned beef brisket with spice packet
light brown sugar
garlic
Guinness beer
carrots
baby potatoes
parsley

How to Make Crock Pot Corned Beef

Prep: Place the corned beef, fat side up, into the slow cooker and season it with the spice packet. Sprinkle with sugar, and add the garlic and beer.
Cook: Cover with the Crock Pot 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.
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. Thinly slice the corned beef against the grain.
Serve: Serve with carrots and potatoes and garnish with parsley.

Tips for the Best Crock Pot Corned Beef

These tips will make your Crock Pot corned beef next-level crispy on the outside and tender on the inside!

If your corned beef is not browned on top, or if you like a bit more browning, put the corned beef under a broiler for 2 to 3 minutes, or until browned to your liking.
Be sure to slice the beef against the grain for the most tender result.

How to Serve Corned Beef

I enjoy my corned beef served with the potatoes and carrots I cooked it with. I also love corned beef with Fried Cabbage!
You can always opt to mash the potatoes. The juices from the crock pot would be so yummy spooned over mashed potatoes!
If you are keeping away from carbs, you can serve it alongside roasted veggies instead.

How to Store and Reheat Corned Beef

Your corned beef will stay good in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days. With delicious options for leftovers, you’ll have no problem using it all up in that time frame!

Ideas For Using Leftovers

I so look forward to reusing my corned beef leftovers, especially in a yummy Reuben Sandwich! Another knock-your-socks-off idea is making a corned beef hash with your leftovers. 😍
You could also use your leftover corned beef to make a modified Cuban sandwich.
Try out a cool Irish taco recipe or top your Irish nachos with your leftover shredded corned beef. 🍽

Corned Beef FAQs

What is the best 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.

How do I know when corned beef is done?

Corned beef is cooked through when the internal temperature registers at 145˚F. To ensure accurate results, I suggest using an instant read thermometer.

ENJOY!

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