Crockpot Corned Beef
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.
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!
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.
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.
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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Crock Pot Corned Beef
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
Instructions
- Prep the corned beef. Place the corned beef, fat side up, in the slow cooker and season it with the spice packet. Sprinkle with sugar, add garlic, and pour the beer around it.
- Cook. Cover and cook on LOW for 4 to 5 hours.
- Add the vegetables. Remove lid and add carrots and potatoes; cover and continue to cook for 2 to 3 more hours or until tender. Corned beef is cooked through when the internal temperature registers at 145˚F. Use an instant-read meat thermometer for accurate results.
- Rest and slice. Remove the corned beef from the slow cooker and transfer it to a cutting board; let it rest for 15 minutes before cutting. Thinly slice the corned beef against the grain.
- Enjoy. Serve slices of corned beef with carrots and potatoes, and garnish with parsley.
- Extra browning. If the corned beef is not browned on top or if you like a bit more browning, put it under a broiler for 2 to 3 minutes or until browned to your liking.
Video
Notes
- Corned Beef: The cut used for corned beef is the brisket. The brisket is located in the front of the cow, toward the bottom, and near the cow’s front legs. For this corned beef recipe, you can use a flat cut. The flat cut is much leaner than the point cut; it is easier to find in supermarkets and is best for slicing.
- Vegetables: Use any root vegetables you like, or have on hand. Potatoes and carrots are our favorites, but you can also throw in some turnips, onions, sweet potatoes, etc…
- Add cabbage: For a traditional spin on this corned beef recipe, add chopped cabbage to the slow cooker about 1 hour before the meat is done cooking.
- Store Corned Beef in an airtight container and keep it in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
Great recipe it came out delicious thank you
I’m very glad you enjoyed it! Thank YOU! 🙂
Cool recipe but you are wrong on the statement, saying that this is an Irish tradition. St. Patrick’s Day was an American created tradition. Everything about the “traditions” are bull. Corned beef and cabbage is not Irish and guess what? NEITHER ARE LEPRECHAUNS! All that junk is just a gimmick that America came up with. I am Irish btw
Absolutely spot on, Brandon.
In the UK and Ireland, this dish is a Jewish speciality known as ‘Salt Beef’ – not ‘Corned Beef’.
Corned beef comes in a can and is otherwise known as ‘Bully Beef’.
Brandon & Rob V are idiots. Comes from upbringing… parents were probably idiots too.
You are so spot in! Irish stew with lamb is my fav! And traditional!
Can I use water instead of beer
Hi! Yes, that will work. Beef broth works, too.
I have used chicken broth before and thats fine too. Any kind of beer really works. Today I used a pale ale IPA as that was what I had on hand and it was delicious!
It’ll be nasty
To each his own… I’ve used broth and it comes out quite tasty…
I’m an American with Irish heritage. However, WE in America, INDEED cook corned beef and cabbage on St. Patrick’s Day. Therefore, it IS a TRADITION – and Irish/American tradition. I didn’t realize guy’s could be such Karen’s as girls can. Its a great recipe. If you don’t like it, maybe just keep your smart ‘aleck thoughts to yourself. Try it, we will like it.
Thank you Debi, was getting ready to say the same thing.
Well said Debi!
My family loved this, my kids and my husband kept trying to sneak pieces when I wasn’t looking. I took the juice from the crockpot and finely cut up cabbage and sautéed it and put the corn beef potatoes and carrots over it.. I have made my Irish husband proud!!!
That’s wonderful! I am very glad you enjoyed it! Thank YOU! 🙂
This Crock Pot Corned Beef couldn’t look any more perfect!
Thank you SO much, Erin! 🙂
This corned beef looks so inviting! Love this!
Thank you SO much, Catalina! 🙂
What a great recipe for St. Patrick’s Day and beyond! Looking forward to enjoying this for dinner soon!
Thank YOU, Sara! I hope you enjoy it! 🙂
I’ve been looking for a good crock pot version, thank you!
I hope you enjoy it! Thank YOU! 🙂
I agree I love corned beef so much haha but not Irish. You couldn’t afford a brisket like this back then.
Bring on that Guinness beer! I love that the crock pot is doing all the work!
THANK YOU! 🙂
My husband and I cannot get enough of this meal!
That’s so great to hear! I am SO happy you enjoyed it! 🙂 Thank YOU!
My wife cook the corn beef on high in the crockpot for 4 hours put in the potatoes and carrots I went and tried to stick a fork in it and can’t it’s tuff. can we put it on low and cook it for couple more hours and it come out tender? Please help
Hi!
Is the corned beef cooked through? If the corned beef is cooked through, you can remove it and continue cooking the vegetables.