How to Cook Corned Beef in a Slow Cooker for Perfectly Tender Meat

Cooking corned beef in a slow cooker is one of the easiest and most foolproof ways to get deliciously tender and flavorful meat. By using a slow cooker, the corned beef breaks down and becomes fall-apart tender after hours of gentle simmering. The result is moist, juicy and absolutely delicious corned beef that is perfect for sandwiches, hash or just eating on its own.

In this article, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know to cook perfect corned beef in a slow cooker, including:

Benefits of using a slow cooker
Choosing the right cut of meat
Ingredients and seasonings
Step-by-step instructions
Serving suggestions
Troubleshooting tips

By the end, you’ll be able to make amazing corned beef in your slow cooker with confidence!

Benefits of Cooking Corned Beef in a Slow Cooker

There are several reasons why using a slow cooker is the best way to cook corned beef

Tender and moist meat: The low heat and moist environment of the slow cooker breaks down the meat’s tough collagen into gelatin. This makes the meat incredibly tender and juicy.
Intensifies flavor: The long cooking time allows the seasonings and spices to fully penetrate the meat, resulting in corned beef that is bursting with flavor.
Stress-free: Once you add the ingredients to the slow cooker in the morning, the cooking happens hands-off. No need to monitor it like on the stovetop.
Hard to mess up: It’s nearly impossible to overcook corned beef in a slow cooker. The consistent low heat ensures it turns out perfect every time.
Makes its own sauce: The braising liquid that accumulates in the slow cooker combines with the rendered fat and spices to make a delicious au jus sauce.

Choosing the Right Corned Beef Cut

For the best results, choose a corned beef brisket labeled “first cut,” “flat cut,” or “deckle off.” This is the leaner section of the brisket. It has a uniform thickness that will cook evenly.

The “second cut” or “point cut” is the fattier end of the brisket. It has irregular thickness and the fat doesn’t render as well in the slow cooker. Go with a first cut brisket for the most tender, juicy meat.

Look for a well-marbled brisket with ample fat throughout. The fat will baste the meat from within as it slowly cooks, keeping it moist and adding rich corned beef flavor.

I recommend a 3-5 pound first cut brisket to feed a family. You can always slice off the uncooked ends and refrigerate them for another use if it’s too large.

Slow Cooker Corned Beef Ingredients

Corned beef brisket (first cut)
Beef broth or water
Spice packet
Aromatic vegetables: onions, carrots, celery (optional)
Potatoes, cabbage wedges (optional)

The brisket is the star here, but the other ingredients play supporting roles:

Beef broth keeps the meat moist and adds extra flavor. Use 2-4 cups depending on size of brisket.
Spice packet seasons the meat during cooking. It comes tucked into the brisket packaging.
Aromatic vegetables like onions, carrots and celery add subtle background flavor.
Potatoes absorb the rich flavors of the broth. Cook them in the last 2 hours.
Cabbage gains sweetness when cooked with the corned beef. Add it in the last hour.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these simple steps for perfect corned beef every time:

Trim excess fat: Too much external fat can prevent the brisket from cooking evenly. Trim off any thick chunks. Leave about 1⁄4 inch.
Place brisket in slow cooker: Put the brisket in fat side up. Add beef broth until brisket is halfway submerged.
Add seasonings: Sprinkle on the spice packet. Add any other desired seasonings like garlic, bay leaves, mustard seeds, etc.
Add aromatic vegetables: Top with onion, carrot and celery chunks for extra flavor.
Cook on LOW: Cover and cook for 8-10 hours on LOW. Cooking time depends on size of brisket.
Add potatoes: Place potatoes around the brisket and cook for 2 more hours.
Add cabbage: Finally, add cabbage wedges and cook for 1 more hour.
Slice against the grain: Carefully transfer brisket to a cutting board. Slice across the grain for tender meat.
Make sauce: Spoon out vegetables. Pour cooking liquid into fat separator to make au jus.

And that’s it! With these simple steps you’ll have fork-tender corned beef and delicious vegetables cooked in the beefy cooking liquid.

Serving Suggestions

Corned beef cooked in a slow cooker is extremely versatile. Here are some of my favorite ways to serve it:

Pile sliced corned beef high on rye bread for Reuben sandwiches with Swiss cheese, sauerkraut and Russian dressing.
Turn leftovers into corned beef hash by dicing it up with potatoes, onions and peppers. Fry it up for breakfast.
Chop corned beef and mix with boiled potatoes for an easy hash side dish.
Serve slices of corned beef alongside braised cabbage wedges and boiled potatoes for a hearty dinner.
Top a baked potato with shredded corned beef, cheese and green onions.
Toss shredded corned beef with pasta shells, Parmesan and the defatted cooking liquid for a delicious pasta dish.

However you choose to serve it, your homemade slow cooker corned beef is sure to be a hit! The meat is so tender and full of flavor after its low and slow cooking bath.

Troubleshooting Slow Cooker Corned Beef

Follow these troubleshooting tips if your corned beef doesn’t turn out quite right:

Undercooked: First, check to make sure your slow cooker runs hot enough. Cook for longer, testing periodically until fork tender.
Too salty: Don’t use entire spice packet next time. Taste and adjust seasonings before cooking.
Dry and bland: Make sure liquid covers halfway up brisket. Add more beef broth next time.
Not tender: Use first cut brisket. Cook for full recommended time, then keep cooking until meat is fork tender.
Fatty: Excess fat can make meat tough. Trim external fat before cooking. Remove cooked fat before serving.
Vegetables overcooked: Add them later in the cooking process so they don’t get overdone.

Make Delicious Slow Cooker Corned Beef

Cooking corned beef in the slow cooker results in fork-tender meat and complex flavors. With the step-by-step guide above, you can easily make delicious corned beef for sandwiches, dinners and any occasion. The hands-off cooking method and hard-to-mess-up results make corned beef one of the best things to make in a slow cooker. Give it a try! Your family will thank you for the wonderfully tender and flavorful meal.

how do i cook corned beef in a slow cooker

Three ways to buy corned beef

Visit this post for the answers!

Corned beef is what? I get this question a lot.

I have to confess, I never knew what it was either. Read my blog post called “Corned Beef is What?” if you want to learn about the long history, unique way of preparing corned beef, and surprising number of ways it can be used.

How to Cook the Best Tender Corned Beef in the Slow Cooker~Easy Cooking

FAQ

Does corned beef need to be in liquid in a slow cooker?

Brisket should always be cooked with some amount of liquid when placed in the crockpot since that’s what transfers the heat to the meat. A brisket put dry in this kind of appliance will cook unevenly and may become unsafe to eat. For corned beef in particular, you need enough liquid to cover the entire piece of meat.

What is the best method to cook corned beef?

The most common method for cooking corned beef and cabbage is boiling. Put the meat in a large pot, cover it with water or beef broth, add a seasoning packet and boil before lowering the heat to a simmer. Cook for 2 to 3 hours or until the meat is tender and cooked to your liking.

What do I add to the water when cooking corned beef?

Extra flavourings can be added into the pot such as sliced onion, garlic cloves, bay leaves, celery and fresh herbs such as parsley or thyme. It is best to keep the heat to a simmer so that the meat remains tender. As a guide, cooking time is about 25-30 minutes per 500g or until the meat is fork-tender.

Is it better to cook corned beef on stove or slow cooker?

Instead: Regardless of the cooking method, corned beef is best cooked over low heat. A low, gentle simmer on the stovetop or in the slow cooker are two excellent methods for cooking up soft, tender slices of corned beef every time.

How do you cook corned beef brisket in a slow cooker?

Place corned beef brisket, fat side up, into a slow cooker; sprinkle with pickling spice. Place whole cloves throughout the brisket. Add garlic, bay leaves and 2 cups water, or more water as needed to cover the brisket by at least 1 inch. Cover and cook on low heat for 4-5 hours. Add carrots and potatoes to the slow cooker.

How do you cook corned beef in a slow cooker?

Pour the Guinness and beef stock into the slow cooker. Not over the meat. Cover and cook on LOW for 9-10 hours. Gently remove the corned beef from the slow cooker to a cutting board or platter and tent with aluminum foil for 15 minutes. Slice against the grain and serve. We prefer the flat cut to the point cut.

How do you cook brisket in a slow cooker?

Add garlic, bay leaves and 2 cups water, or more water as needed to cover the brisket by at least 1 inch. Cover and cook on low heat for 4-5 hours. Add carrots and potatoes to the slow cooker. Cover and cook on low heat for an additional 2-3 hours, or until tender. Thinly slice the corned beef against the grain.

Can you cook corned beef silverside in a slow cooker?

Enjoy my version of Slow Cooker Corned Beef Silverside. Corned beef is best cooked in a long and slow way so a slow cooker is perfect for this – although you can now do it in an Instant Pot or multi cooker so I will include that instruction below too. What is Corned Beef Silverside?