Slow Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage Stew - The Recipe Critic (2024)

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Corned Beef and Cabbage slow cook all day with hearty vegetables making one delicious stew! This is a classic recipe with nostalgic flavors, and it’s so easy to whip up.

I just love a good stew, they are so filling and the perfect thing to throw in the slow cooker. I’ve also never heard ANY of my kids complain about stew for dinner, and that’s saying something! If you are on the hunt for more stew recipes, you’ve got to try this Slow Cooker Beef Stew, this amazing Beef Bourguignon, and this tasty One Pot Chicken Stew.

Slow Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage Stew - The Recipe Critic (1)

Corned Beef Stew

I am sharing a delicious recipe with you today that has been in our family for years. Whether you are Irish or not, this recipe will become an instant family favorite. It is perfect for your St. Patrick’s Day celebration and is hearty and full of flavor. Serve it with some homemade cornbread, this super simple garlic bread, or a refreshing tomato basil salad.

The secret to making slow cooker corned beef and cabbage so flavorful is the pickling spice. Pickling spice hasmustard seeds, allspice berries, whole coriander seeds, and red pepper flakes which add a flavorful and unique taste to this stew. I accompanied it with some other great spices including garlic powder, paprika, and salt and pepper.

Slow Cooker Corned Beef Ingredients

The ingredients are so simple for this slow cooker corned beef and cabbage stew, but I think that’s what makes it such a classic recipe! The flavors really pop once you add the pickling spice. Find the measurements below in the recipe card.

  • Corned Beef: You need 2 pounds of corned beef, then cut them into cubes.
  • Potatoes: I like to use russet. Cut into stew sized cubes.
  • Celery: They add great flavor and texture.
  • Onion: I prefer white onion for this recipe.
  • Carrots: You can buy baby carrots and toss them in, or peel and chop large carrots.
  • Cabbage: You will need 1/2 head of cabbage, and slice it into pieces that make sense to pick up with your spoon.
  • Beef Broth: This is the base of this amazing sauce.
  • Worcestershire Sauce: Adds spice.
  • McCormick® Pickling Spice: This is the key ingredient!
  • McCormick® Garlic Powder: Adds savory flavors. You could add fresh garlic if you wanted to.
  • McCormick® Paprika: I like a little spice.
  • Salt and Pepper: Adds extra flavor.
  • Cornstarch: Optional to thicken sauce.
  • Parsley, Salt and Pepper: For garnish.
Slow Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage Stew - The Recipe Critic (2)

How to Make Slow Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage Stew

This recipe has been in our family for years. But I decided to add my own spin to it. I wanted to make it in the slow cooker, and I wanted to turn it into a delicious and hearty stew. The result was better than I could have expected! The crock-pot brought all of these ingredients together so perfectly. I don’t have alcohol on hand, so I didn’t add any beer to the broth but it would be amazing that way. This is a really simple and delicious dish that the whole family will rave about.

  1. Add Ingredients to Slow Cooker: Add corned beef, potatoes, celery, onion, carrots, and cabbage to your slow cooker.
  2. Mix Spices in Bowl: In a medium-sized mixing bowl combine beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, pickling spice, garlic powder, paprika, and salt and pepper. Then pour over the meat and veggies.
  3. Cook: Cook on low for 8-10 hours or high for 5-6 until the vegetables are tender and the meat is cooked throughout.
  4. Garnish: Add salt and pepper to taste and then garnish with chopped parsley.
Slow Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage Stew - The Recipe Critic (3)

Tips for Making Corned Beef and Cabbage Stew

There are a lot of recipes for corned beef stew out there, but I’ve never tasted one that I like more than my slow cooker corned beef and cabbage recipe. It’s so simple and delicious. Here are a few additions or substitutions you could make if you have missing ingredients or want to switch things up, and tips for making the recipe.

  • Other Spices: When I think of a stew, I think of bay leaves. Absolutely feel free to throw some in when you get ready to turn the pot on. A sprinkle of dill could be amazing. McCormick has a spice packet for beef stew that you could throw in there too. Really just play with the flavors until they are perfect for you.
  • Cubed Ingredients: One of the biggest tips I could ever share is to pay attention to the size of your cuts. If you have huge chunks of meat, and tiny slices of celery, you are going to end up with tough meat and mushy veggies. Make sure to try to keep your cuts even in one inch cubes so that everything will finish cooking at the same time.
  • Add Beer: This is pretty traditional in the recipe. I don’t ever have beer in the house, so most of my recipes won’t call for it. This recipe tastes amazing with beer in it! You can add up to a cup of beer to help make that broth nice and flavorful.
Slow Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage Stew - The Recipe Critic (4)

Storing Leftovers

You better believe that this slow cooker corned beef and cabbage stew makes the BEST leftovers. I seriously love having this one in the fridge, and the freezer because it’s a family favorite and a great one to reheat when you need a flavorful dinner on the spot.

  • In the Refrigerator: You can store your leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 6 days.
  • In the Freezer: Put your stew in a plastic bag in the freezer and store for up to 3 months.

More Stew Recipes to Try

No matter what time of year it is, my family is always excited about stew for dinner. It’s a great way to use pieces of meat that would be too tough to chew and turn them into a soft and flavorful dinner. It’s also an inexpensive way to put together a filling dinner, and to get my kids to eat their veggies! It’s all around a win win, so here are some of my other family favorites that you will love.

Dinner

Guinness Beef Stew

1 hr 45 mins

Soup

Tuscan Vegetable Chicken Stew

55 mins

Dinner

Coq au Vin

45 mins

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Slow Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage Stew

5 from 3 votes

By: Alyssa Rivers

Corned Beef and Cabbage slow cook all day with hearty vegetables making one delicious stew! This is a classic recipe with nostalgic flavors, and it's so easy to whip up.

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 8 hours hours

Total Time: 8 hours hours 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 6 Servings

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds corned beef cut into bite sized pieces
  • 4 large potatoes cut into large pieces
  • 2 stalks celery chopped
  • 1 white onion chopped
  • 1 bag baby carrots 16 oz
  • 1/2 head cabbage cut into small wedges
  • 3 cups beef broth
  • 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 Tablespoons McCormick® Pickling Spice
  • 1 Teaspoon McCormick® Garlic Powder
  • 1/2 Teaspoon McCormick® Paprika
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 Tablespoon cornstarch optional
  • Chopped Parsley and additional salt and pepper for garnish

Instructions

  • Add corned beef, potatoes, celery, onion, carrots, and cabbage to your slow cooker.

  • In a medium sized mixing bowl combine beef broth, worchestershire sauce, pickling spice, garlic powder, paprika and salt and pepper. Pour over the meat and veggies.

  • Cook on low for 8-10 hours or high for 5-6 until the vegetables are tender and meat is cooked throughout.

  • Add salt and pepper to taste and garnish with chopped parsley.

Notes

Originally Posted March 9, 2015

Updated March 5, 2023

Nutrition

Calories: 434kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 29gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 82mgSodium: 2743mgPotassium: 1340mgFiber: 7gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 250IUVitamin C: 88mgCalcium: 116mgIron: 8mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine: American, Irish

Tried this recipe?Mention @alyssa_therecipecritic or tag #therecipecritic!

About Alyssa Rivers

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Alyssa Rivers and the food blogger behind The Recipe Critic. The blog launched in 2012 as a place to share my passion for cooking. I love trying new things and testing them out with my family. Each recipe is tried and true, family-tested and approved.

Read More About Me

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Slow Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage Stew - The Recipe Critic (2024)

FAQs

What happens if you don t rinse corned beef before cooking? ›

1. Not Rinsing the Meat Before Cooking. If you cook the meat straight from the plastic packaging or pulled the meat right away from the brine solution in the fridge without rinsing, you just might be in for a saltier meal than you bargained for.

Can you overcook corned beef in a slow cooker? ›

You can overcook corned beef in a Crock-Pot if it's cooked for too long at too high of a temperature. Overcooked corned beef can taste tough and stringy. It's best to follow the recommended cook time and temperature within the recipe.

Why is my corned beef not tender in the crockpot? ›

Low Temperature: Slow cookers typically cook at relatively low temperatures, which can result in meats like corned beef not reaching a high enough temperature to break down the tough connective tissues and collagen properly. This can lead to a tougher texture rather than the desired tenderness.

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 secret to best corned beef? ›

Because corned beef comes from brisket, a tough cut of meat. You need its connective tissue to break down so you can have tender results. Some like to braise their corned beef in an all-water liquid, with various spices and salt; others add beer to the mix to further tenderize the meat.

Should I use liquid from corned beef package? ›

Do you use the liquid in corned beef? - Quora. Yes. Just add the brine to your cooking liquid for additional flavoring. The brine often contains salt and a mix of spices such as a bay leaf, peppercorns, mustard seed, juniper berries, coriander seed, and whole cloves.

How do you know when corned beef is done in slow cooker? ›

Please note that crock pot cooking times may vary greatly depending upon brand and style. It is important to check the meat with a meat thermometer to ensure it has reached at least 160°F for food safety; for optimal tenderness, cook to an internal temperature of 190°F. For best results, monitor at regular intervals.

Does corned beef get more tender the longer it is cooked? ›

Corned beef is made from one of several less tender cuts of beef like the brisket, rump, or round. Therefore, it requires long, moist cooking. Corned beef is safe once the internal temperature has reached at least 145 °F, with a three minute rest time, but cooking it longer will make it fork-tender.

Should corned beef be fully submerged in water? ›

Yes, it does. Yes, corned beef should be covered with water in a slow cooker. This is important to ensure that the meat stays moist and tender during the cooking process. It is also important to ensure that the water level is high enough to fully submerge the meat, as this will ensure that it cooks evenly.

Does corned beef go fat side up or down in slow cooker? ›

Corned Beef Brisket should be placed in the crockpot or pot with the fat side up. The fat insulates and protects the meat and helps the corned beef from drying out as it cooks. Brisket / corned beef should have a thin layer of fat on the top. Sometimes the fat is super thick and needs to be trimmed.

Is it better to boil corned beef or slow cooker? ›

In order for corned beef to be cooked properly, it needs to sit in a slow boil for a few hours. However, trying to boil it at the proper temperature on the stove is challenging. That's why the best way to cook the corned beef (with almost no effort on your end) is to use your slow cooker.

How do you fix tough corned beef after cooking? ›

Simmering in a little bit of liquid or broth is a great way to tenderize. Acidity can also be your friend here. A little bit of vinegar and lemon juice in the liquid can help you tenderize the meat. It adds moisture, but it also cooks the meat.

What happens if you don't put liquid in a slow cooker? ›

It's really no different from cooking something on a stove: if you have no liquid at all, things are probably going to start getting too hot, sticking on the bottom, and maybe burning. As long as there's some liquid, you'll be fine.

Should meat be submerged in liquid in slow cooker? ›

There is no need to cover the meat in liquid when cooking with a slow cooker, you only need enough liquid to cover the base of the slow cooker as the meat and vegetables will release liquid as they cook. Slow cooking beef is a simple and soothing winter option that never goes out of style.

Should you rinse store bought corned beef? ›

It's a good idea to do so. Don't worry that you will be rinsing away flavor. Rinsing the corned beef means it will be less salty. Also, keep the seasoning packet if one came with it.

What can I do with the liquid from corned beef? ›

Leftover corned beef broth can make an excellent base for starting a French onion soup.

What is the most tender way to-cook corned beef? ›

CROCKPOT: Set on high cover; cook for 8-10 hours. When done, using 2 large spoons or spatulas, carefully remove briskets to serving platter and let rest. The meat will be extremely tender, and will easily break apart if you use a meat fork.

Why did my corned beef come out dry? ›

One of the most important tips is to avoid overcooking your corned beef. Overcooking instant pot corned beef can result in a tough and dry texture, which is far from ideal. To prevent this, cook the meat to the desired level of doneness and remove it from the heat source.

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