Begin rant > How is it possible that I don’t have a lick of Irish in me, but growing up, we enjoyed corned beef and cabbage a few times a year…then I marry a full-blooded Irish man…who does not like Corned Beef and Cabbage at all?! And, get this. My sister married an Irish guy, too (what are the odds?), and he doesn’t like corned beef and cabbage, either. I ask you, WHAT ARE THE ODDS? < End rant
This is my mom’s recipe. Actually it’s my grandmother’s recipe. And actuuuaaally, it’s now my recipe, because I sort of totally altered it. And I thought she was going to have a conniption fit when I told her. You don’t mess with tradition, people. And I did.
While I absolutely love her version, I’m in love with this one, too. All the same great flavors, but I added in bit of sugar, an onion and carrots, and instead of boiling it and cooking everything separately, I took a gamble on my crock pot. It paid off.
Paul still wasn’t thrilled. But he ate every last bite on his plate. He’s a good man.
Slow Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage
Serves 4
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 10 hours on low
Ingredients
• 4 cups water
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 bay leaves
• 3 pound corned beef brisket with spice packet
• 5 yellow potatoes, washed and cut into halves or quarters, depending on the size
• 1 sweet onion, peeled and cut into quarters
• 2 cups mini carrots
• 1/2 head of cabbage, cut into 4 segments, leaving a piece of core in tact
• Butter
Directions
In a 6 quart crock pot, combine the water, sugar, and bay leaves. Place corned beef, fat side up, in the water mixture along with the contents of the spice packet. Scatter the potatoes, onions, and carrots along the sides and top. Cover, and cook on low for 8 1/2 hours.
Remove lid and scatter the cabbage wedges over the top. Put lid back on and continue cooking for another 1 1/2 hours.
Thinly slice the corned beef against the grain and serve with the vegetables, some of the cooking liquid, and butter.
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{ 29 comments… read them below or add one }
Just made this. OMG! Even the kids loved it!
YAY!! *claps hands* My kids loved it, too :D
I made this yesterday and had it for dinner last night, and it was SOOO yummy. The corned beef was so tender that it just fell apart (literally, when I took it out of the slow cooker it fell into two pieces), and the carrots and potatoes were the perfect amount of doneness. I didn’t even need butter with the cabbage because the juices it cooked in were so good. Definitely a KEEPER!
Right???! Yay :D
With St. Patty’s coming up I just might have to try your recipe out! I love that it is made in the slow cooker.
Looks cool, thanks for the recipe!
If it makes you feel any better, The.Boy is greek and doesn’t like feta cheese. Or olives. And these things are pretty much MY.LIFE. UGH!!!
Well, at least he ate it!! You’ve taught him well.
Omg. Not liking feta or olives? That’s way worse. Way, way worse. My condolences, Joanne.
Corned beef and cabbage is seriously one of my favorite meals…but we tend to only have it once a year (plus left overs). I don’t know why! AND, I never even thought to put it in the slow cooker…. That could easily make it a more frequent meal around here!
Steph, my mom does the traditional boil and I had intentions to make it that way, too. But it just happened that on the day I planned on making it, we were going to be gone and I couldn’t have it simmering on the stove for 3 hours while we weren’t home. So I thought, why wouldn’t it work in the crock pot?…that’s how I make my pot roast. So happy it came out!
I am SO trying this! I miss corned beef and cabbage. Jay can just pick around the cabbage. I love the addition of the potatoes and carrots. I bet Mom wasn’t happy…kind of like when I told her I was altering the brisket recipe for Passover. Still brisket, but….
I remember that! Ya, same thing. I also asked her to give me her Matzo Ball soup recipe and I think she almost said “no” afraid I would alter that one, too.
Looks just like Mom’s. I’ll be over.
Now Amy, I hate to burst all the bubbles, but “Corned beef is a salt-cured beef product. The term comes from the treatment of the meat with “corns” of salt. It features as an ingredient in many cuisines, including Jewish and Caribbean cuisines.”
If you would cook it in Guinness…
Anyway, stop the craziness. Just more for me.
LOL. Aaaaah, so beer is the key. Of course! I bet it’s usually made that way. I still don’t think he’d like it. Although he might drink the broth like soup. I made Reuben sandwiches today and thought of you. Sometimes an hour drive does feel like an eternity away….
As the afore mentioned BIL, I actually like the corned-beef half of the equation, it’s the boiled cabbage I can do without.
Still wrong. It’s so good…with the meat flavor from simmering. And the butter. And the butter ;-)
Maybe it’s because they ate too much of it growing up?
As a Sicilian I can honestly say….we NEVER had corned beef and cabbage….ever, lol. I love all the veggies but I’m not crazy about the corned beef. Your version does look mighty tasty though. Paul is a good doobee for eating it all :)
Lol. No, I guess it wouldn’t be a staple in an Italian household. You know what you should do, Lisa?… cook some up, and then make Reuben sandwiches. Oh god. SO GOOD.
You have to have carrots with Corned Beef and Cabbage. Good add, I say.
It just seemed the natural thing to do..I mean, I wouldn’t dream of leaving it out of my slow cooked pot roast. And besides, I like the added color :D
You know what’s crazy? Corned beef and cabbage made an appearance in my (Jewish and totally not Irish) house every couple of months too. It was also one of the only things my mom made that I thought was really good. And her version looks a LOT lot lot like yours – potatoes, cabbage, onion, carrots, crock pot. I love everything about this. :)
Ha! No kidding? Well, read my Dad’s comment ^^^…apparently I need to add beer to it, and then Paul will like it *snort*
I almost made something similar this year and decided not to. How funny!
Well, obviously my timing is all about the St. Patrick’s holiday, but you can make this anytime during the year. You should, Rachel…it’s seriously delicious.
I make mine almost exactly the same way, minus the sugar and butter…Going to add those ingredients when I make it this year. John’s part Irish and does LOVE corned beef and cabbage :)
That’s what I’m talking about! Smart man.
I saw corned beef at Costco yesterday and I was salivating!! Love your easy recipe, looks delish!!
Thanks for the reminder; off to Costco this week to stock up and save!
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