Corned Beef and Cabbage is a classic Irish meal (traditionally served on St. Patrick’s Day) that is delicious and easy to make. Make sure and add this corned beef and cabbage recipe to your St. Patrick’s Day menu! (Slow Cooker + Instant Pot Directions included!)
Best Ever Corned Beef and Cabbage
Talk about a tried-and-true recipe (and Irish American dish – it’s actually not all that popular over in Ireland) – my family has been making this recipe for decades and it is a dish I look forward to cooking every year. It is really quite simple to make and tastes absolutely delicious. I cannot wait for all of you to try it this year!
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Classic: This is just pure, classic St. Patrick’s Day flavor (and it is SO easy!).
- Tried and True: My family has been making our yearly corned beef and cabbage this way for (literally) decades. I look forward to it every year!
- Flavor: is it weird to say the cabbage might actually be my favorite part of this recipe (don’t get me wrong I love the corned beef too), but there is something about that steamed cabbage in the corned beef broth – it is so good!
What is Corned Beef
Corned beef is a cut of beef, usually a brisket, which is essentially cooked down during a salt-filled brining process. This long process ensure that the brisket, usually a fairly tough cut of meat, becomes tender. We then cook it a little bit more in liquid and this helps it become even more tender and moist!
There are two types of cut of corned beef: the flat cut and the point cut (both would be included if you purchased a whole brisket). The Flat Cut is square and has a little less fat + cuts easily – this is what is most commonly found in your local grocery store. the Point Cut comes to a point, has more fat and shreds more easily. Either will work for this recipe.
Store-Bought Ready to Cook vs. Curing Your Own
You have two choices when it comes to corned beef:
- Store-Bought Ready to Cook: This is your most typical option – you will find pre-packages and pre-brined corned beef at the store.
- Curing Your Own: If you are feeling ambitious you can also cure your own brisket to make corned beef. The process takes about 7 days and here is a resource if you are interested in doing that!
Is it Better to Bake or Boil Corned Beef
We obviously prefer boiling and that is likely the most popular way to cook corned beef. Boiling in liquid helps ensure this tougher cut of meat is as tender and moist as possible.
Do I Need To Rinse Store-Bought Corned Beef
No, it isn’t a requirement, but you can if you want to. Rinsing will wash off some of the brine and may result in a slightly more mild flavor.
How Long do You Boil Corned Beef
Once you have your corned beef in your pot and just barely submerged with water you will want to let it boil approximately 3 hours (for a 3 pound brisket).
At What Temperature is Corned Beef Fully Cooked
Per the USDA, corned beef is fully cooked when it reaches an internal temp of 145 degrees – then let it rest for 3+ minutes. Cooking it longer will only result in a more tender meat.
How to Make Corned Beef and Cabbage
Place your corned beef in a Dutch Oven and barely cover with water. Cover and simmer.
Add your veggies and potatoes. Cover and boil.
Uncover and add in your cabbage slices. Cover and let boil – this will steam your cabbage and cook it perfectly – vegetables should fork tender.
Uncover and you are done! Serve and enjoy!
Other Recipes You Might Like:
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Corned Beef and Cabbage
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: Approx. 6 servings
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stove Top
- Cuisine: Irish American
Description
Corned Beef and Cabbage – A classic Irish meal (traditionally served on St. Patrick’s Day) that is delicious and easy to make!
Ingredients
- 3–4 pound corned beef brisket
- bay leaf
- 1 head of cabbage, cut in half, remove core, cut into medium-sized wedges
- 6 medium carrots, peeled and cut into uniform 1-2 inch chunks
- 1 yellow onion, cut into quarters
- 1–2 russet potatoes, cut into 1 inch chunks
- water
Instructions
- Remove brisket from packaging (rinse off if you desire or pat dry).
- Place in a large Dutch Oven or other large pot – fat side up.
- Take spice packet from brisket package and sprinkle on top of brisket; add in bay leaf.
- Add water until brisket is barely covered.
- Bring to a boil; Cover and reduce heat and simmer for approx. 3 hours (for a 3 pound brisket) or more (you can prepare your vegetables during this time).
- After approximately 3 hours of simmering, add potatoes, carrots, and onion. Cover and bring back to boil for 5-10 minutes (feel free to boil the potatoes/carrots longer if you prefer a softer texture, but they will be cooked for an additional 5-10 minutes in the next step).
- Then add cabbage wedges, cover again, continue boiling for an additional 5-10 minutes (this essentially steams the cabbage).
- Remove the cabbage, potatoes, carrots, onion and corned beef and place on a large plate or platter.
- Let the meat rest 5-10 minutes, sliced against the grain and then serve.
- Suggestion: Serve the cooking liquid/broth as “au jus” to be poured over the meat.
Notes
- Slow Cooker/Crock Pot Instructions: add onions and corned beef (+ spice packet) to your slow cooker along with approx. 3 cups of water. Cover and cook on HIGH 4-5 hours or LOW 8-10 hours. Add potatoes and carrots in about halfway through cooking. Add cabbage on top when there is approx. 1 hour left of cooking.
- Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker Instructions: place trivet inside. Add onions and corned beef (with spice packet) along with 3 cups water. Cook on HIGH pressure for 80 minutes. Manually release the pressure. Remove corned beef (set on a plate and cover with foil). Keep any liquid inside the IP and add in the potatoes, carrots and cabbage. Cover and cook on HIGH pressure 3-5 minutes. Manually release pressure. Checkout our Instant Pot Corned Beef & Cabbage post for all the details!
- Dutch Oven Size – I used a 5.5qt dutch oven for the stove-top method.
- Rinsing Corned Beef: Rinsing isn’t a requirement, but you can if you want to. Rinsing will wash off some of the brine and may result in a slightly more mild flavor.
- Cabbage Serving Suggestion – we always eat our cabbage with some butter (or ghee or plant-based butter) and salt and pepper – so good!!
- Broth: it is kind of up to you how you want to use/serve the broth. You can essentially serve everything in a bowl and almost make it a soup/stew OR you can just serve the broth as an “au jus” and pour over the meat to make sure it is extra delicious! Either way its amazing!
- Storage: This makes excellent leftovers! Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. Use your leftovers to make corned beef hash!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 lb corned beef
- Calories: 282
- Sugar: 5.7 g
- Sodium: 1430.2 mg
- Fat: 17.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 13.6 g
- Protein: 18.7 g
- Cholesterol: 61.3 mg
Abigail says
I never made this before and I’m honestly shocked how good it is. Thanks so much for this recipie! I overcooked the veggies a little but it’s still delicious!
Erin says
That’s so awesome to hear, Abigail! A recipe we have making in my family for decades 🙂 Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for coming back to leave a rating and review – I really appreciate it!
Ann Stoneback says
I pretty much followed your recipe and it was wonderful! I used a slow cooker and cooked my 3# corned beef on low for 8 hours, adding the carrots about an hour before it was done. I roasted the red potatoes in the oven just for a change. Anyway, my hubby gave me a 5 star review! Whoopie! Also made a sauce of mustard, horseradish and Mayo. Yummy! Then we discussed why we didn’t do this dinner more often! Why don’t we? 🙃
Erin says
That’s so funny – I said the same thing to my husband this year!? Why don’t we make it more often!! So glad you enjoyed it!
Gretchen Wilson says
I have always made corned beef and cabbage in the crockpot. This recipe has forever changed me for the better. The meat had flavor and texture!! The vegetables melted in my mouth and it was just delicious. Thank you!!
Marianne Phelps says
I followed this recipe, but the small amount of liquid – I used 12 oz. of beer – boiled away and burned the meat and the pan black after about 2 hrs. at as low a temperature as my stove will go and still simmer. Maybe it was the beer? I was very careful to watch it and keep it at a low simmer. It took about 15 minutes of not peeking at it to burn up. Had to pull out the meat and replace it in water to resume simmering. It tasted OK, not burned, but it is rubber tough at 2 1/5 hrs. for a 2 1/2 lb. roast. Trying to continue cooking longer, and then will add the vegetables. Pot will take some serious scrubbing. Very disappointed! Was it the beer? And are you supposed to add more liquid?
Erin says
Hi Marianne – so in step 4 you need to add enough water to just almost cover your corned beef brisket – the exact amount differs depending upon the shape and size of your brisket, but usually it takes a good 8 cups or more, so it seems like you just didn’t use enough liquid! Hope that helps for next time!
Lynda says
Such an easy recipe for an outstanding meal! I used the stove top method and this will be my go to recipe from now on – won’t even wait for next St. Patrick’s Day! I had to make it a day early so I made up through the potatoes, carrots, and onions being 1/2 way cooked and stored the meat , broth, and veggies separately. Next day threw the meat and broth on until simmering, added the veggies and when they started simmering added the raw cabbage. It came out perfectly.
Erin says
So glad you enjoyed it, Lynda! Thanks for coming back to leave a review!
Patty says
I’ve been making mine like this for years! We love this so much that I’ve developed a very bad habit that I need to come clean about it. I can only find corn beef that weighs about 3 1/2lbs. So no matter how many I’m feeding, I always make at least 2 pots of this so my husband and I can have leftovers! 🤦🏼♀️
I know that sounds extreme but I’m feeding at least 7 but if both my kids & their families are eating I’m feeding 13…not counting if we have friends here. It seems to me it’s just easier to fix 2-3 of these at the same time instead of making it again a day or two later and I’ve never thrown any away! If anyone’s questioning THIS recipe…beware it’s so good that you could end up like me!
Erin says
So happy to hear that, Patty! And thanks for taking the time to come and leave a review – I appreciate it!
Niki Groeschl says
Wow! I just knocked the socks off my family with a St. Patrick’s day crockpot full of deliciousness thanks to the Wooden Skillet! I didn’t think I would like this, honestly. I’m not a meat and potatoes person but it was fantastic. Loved it!
Erin says
So glad you enjoyed it!!!
Anna says
We loved this recipe. It was easy to make and delicious. I didn’t even know I like corned beef. And now we have lots of leftovers
Erin says
Yay! So happy to hear that, Anna! And thanks so much for taking the time to come back and leave a feedback – I really appreciate it!
Amy O'Donnell says
I don’t see a recommended oven cooking temp here in the recipe
Erin says
Hi Amy – this is cooked on the stovetop, not the oven!
Shar Perk says
Hi Erin – Amy was asking because you posted separate instructions for both slow cooker/crock pot and pressure cooker, but not oven.
Amy – oven temp is 325 for 1 hour per pound, brisket and onions covered with foil or close-fitting lid. Then add your potatoes and carrots 1 1/2 hours before anticipated end time return to oven, then add cabbage 15 – 20 minutes before anticipated end time. (The extra time is due to the loss of cooking heat from being removed and uncovered.)
Kerri Mullaney says
Perfect! If I’m using 4lbs – how long should we boil for?
Thank you for your wonderful recipes, especially the Buffalo chicken meatballs!
Erin says
Hi Kerri! If you are using a 4lb corned beef you should still be good at simmering it 3 hours as its written in the recipe! It won’t hurt it to cook it longer though if you want, it will just result in a more tender meat. And thank you so much – I am so glad you enjoy them! :). Let me know if you have any other questions!
Ed Holland says
Made this meal for some friends who have never had corned beef and cabbage. They absolutely loved it.
Erin says
So happy to hear that, Ed! And thank you so much for taking the time to leave your feedback – it means a lot!
Mary Bailey Soelberg says
Just to brag a wee tad, I taught the teacher! So glad the recipe and the Irish genes got passed down. This is one of my favorite meals. Gramma
Erin says
So true!!! You are the original, of course!
Linda says
Corn beef and cabbage is the best ! Love it and love being Irish ☘️!
Erin says
Agreed!! Thanks for teaching the recipe!! ❤️