Slow Cooker Corned Beef Recipe (2024)

Slow Cooker Corned Beef Recipe – easy to make, with just 5 minutes of prep work, crispy on the top and juicy on the inside corned beef brisket. This slow cooker dish tastes great when served with cabbage, potatoes, vegetables, but you can also use the leftovers on sandwiches, in soups, pizza, casseroles and dips.

ThisSlow Cooker Corned Beef Recipe is very simple to make and you can always make a big batch of it and freeze it. It reheats well.

I’ve always been a huge fan of corned beef and I wonder why I haven’t shared thisSlow Cooker Corned Beef Recipe on the blog so far.

So many people have been obsessed with the Instant Pot lately, but for corned beef brisket I like tho use my good old crockpot.

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

I think that the easiest way to cook corned beef is in the slow cooker. It requires minimal prep work and effort. You can still cook it in the oven, but it requires monitoring and you need to be extra careful to not burn or dry out the meat. The slow cooker makes the beef brisket tender, juicy and leaves it extra flavorful, due to the slow cooking.

How do you make corned beef that is crispy on the outside?

If you have experience using a slow cooker, you know that meats cooked in it are not crispy. In order to get the nice, crispy and crunchy crust on top of your slow cooker corned beef, you need to place it on a baking sheet, very lightly brush the top with oil and broil for 2-4 minutes. Be careful not to burn or overcook the meat, because it will dry out. This way you get the perfect slices of corned beef brisket, with a nice golden top.

What seasoning do you use for slow cooker corned beef?

If you are in the US, you may have noticed that corned beef brisket comes with its own seasoning pack. I suggest that you use it. What if the corned beef doesn’t come with a seasoning pack? The contents of the package usually are – what it is called pickling spice. It is basically a mix of:

• Bay leaf (chopped, not whole)
• Yellow or brown mustard seed
• Black Peppercorns
• Whole Allspice
• Dried Chiles
• Whole Cloves

So if your corned beef doesn’t come with a seasoning pack, you can pretty much make it yourself.

Since the beef is already pretty salty from the “corning process”, there is no need to add salt.

All I add to the slow cooker, when making thisSlow Cooker Corned Beef Recipe is – 3-4 lb corned beef with the seasoning packet, 1 small chopped onion, 3 garlic cloves, 1 – 1.5 cups water, 2 small bay leaves and 1 tbsp vinegar or lemon juice. Adding vinegar (lemon juice) is totally optional, but makes the meat extra tender. If you look at some of my other slow cooker recipes for beef and pork, you may notice that I always add either vinegar or lemon juice.

What ingredients do you need to make slow cooker corned beef?

• corned beef brisket
• seasoning pack
• onion
• garlic
• water
• bay leaves
• apple cider vinegar or lemon juice

How to make the best slow cooker corned beef?

1. Place the onion on the bottom of the slow cooker. Add the beef fat side up.

2. Add the seasoning, garlic, bay leaves, lemon juice/apple cider vinegar (optional) and water.

3. Cook on high for 7 hours or on low for 9-10 hours.

4. Take the corned beef out of the slow cooker and place on a baking sheet (fat side up). Brush or spray with a little bit of vegetable or olive oil.

   Broil the meat for 2-4 minutes, keeping a close eye on it and leaving the oven door open, so it gets crispy and doesn’t burn.

   Slice and serve with desired side dish.

What to serve Slow Cooker Corned Beef With?

Some recipes call for adding vegetables – carrots, potatoes, cabbage to the crock pot, while the corned beef is cooking. This is what my husband likes, too.

I personally like to cook the meat on its own and prepare separate side dishes like roasted Brussels sprouts, oven fries and salads.

Looking for a Stove Top Corned Beef And Cabbage Recipe?

This (pictured below) is the best Corned Beef and Cabbage I’ve ever made! Cooked slowly on the stove top in a Dutch Oven.