Smoked Corned Beef and Cabbage + Smoked Butter

Published on 03/08/23

Sliced, smoked corned beef, cabbage, carrots, and potatoes on a platter.

Quick Look at this Smoked Corned Beef Cabbage and Potatoes

Ready In: 6 hours
Serves: 6
Main Ingredients: corned beef brisket, cabbage, carrots, potatoes, onion, and garlic smoked butter!
Dietary Info: dairy-free
Best For: St. Patrick’s Day, another special occasion, or family dinner
Why You’ll Love It: For years, my mom made us the best corned beef and cabbage recipe on St. Patrick’s Day to celebrate our Irish heritage! This year we started it on our Traeger pellet grill to infuse all the smokey flavors before moving it to the stove top. The result was incredible! Follow along as I share my complete guide to making the best corned beef and cabbage recipe!

Key Ingredients + Substitutions

Be sure to see the recipe card below for a full listing of ingredients, instructions, and estimated nutritional information.

A raw corned beef brisket with seasoning packet on a plate next to a whole cabbage, two onions, and two potatoes with labels on them.

Corned Beef Brisket: found at most local grocery stores. Simply remove the packaging and be sure to keep the seasoning packet that is included!
Cabbage, Carrots, & Potatoes: traditional vegetables that always go well with perfectly tender corned beef.
Smoked Butter: optional but highly recommended! It really takes the whole meal to the next level!

How To Smoke Corned Beef & Cabbage

A corned beef brisket on the smoker before cooking.

Step 1 – Rinse the brisket and place on the preheated smoker.

A large, white dutch oven with water and chicken broth in it on the smoker.

Step 2 – Put the water and broth in a dutch oven and place on the smoker next to the brisket for 3 hours.

Pro Tip

Smoking the brisket separately from the cooking liquid (water & broth) and the vegetables allows all those wonderful smokey flavors to be maximized in each piece of this recipe. They are then finished off together in the pot on the stove.

A smoked corned beef brisket added to the dutch oven after being on the smoker with the contents of the seasoning packet.

Step 3 – Carefully transfer the brisket into the pot and add the seasoning packet contents. Cover and simmer on the stove.

Cabbage wedges, cubed potatoes, onion, and carrots on a wire rack on a baking sheet.

Step 4 – Place all of the veggies on a baking sheet with a wire rack.

Cabbage, potatoes, onion, and carrots on a sheet pan with a wire rack placed on the smoker.

Step 5 – Move it all to the smoker for 30 minutes.

Smoked carrots, potatoes, and onions added to a simmering corned beef in a dutch oven.

Step 6 – Add the carrots, potatoes, and onion to the pot and simmer for 10 minutes.

Smoked cabbage wedges added to a pot of smoked corned beef, potatoes, and carrots.

Step 7 – Place the cabbage on top and simmer for 10 more minutes.

Smoked butter in a cast iron skillet on the smoker.

Optional Step 8 – Make the smoked butter for serving.

Smoked corned beef and cabbage on a platter with potatoes and carrots after being fully cooked.

Step 9 – Transfer everything to a serving platter and slice to serve.

Side Dish Pairings for Smoked Corned Beef and Cabbage

First, it cannot be recommended enough to serve with a drizzle of that smoked butter on top! And if you are looking for something to pair with this epic meal, I would recommend some Irish Soda Bread and a tall glass of Guinness beef.

A spoon drizzling smoked butter on top of slices of smoked corned beef brisket.

Traeger Smoked Corned Beef and Cabbage FAQs

Do you soak corned beef before smoking?

No, just give it a quick rinse under cold water and it is ready to go on the smoker. The rinse also helps to cut down on the saltiness of the meat.

What woods chips are best for smoked corned beef and cabbage?

Typically it is best to stick with a more mild fruit wood chip, like cherry or apple. But for a stronger flavor, hickory wood chips would be good too.

How long does it take to smoke a corned beef brisket at 225 degrees F?

It depends on the size of the brisket. A 4 pound corned beef brisket will take about 5-6 hours to reach the recommended internal temperature of 190-205 degrees F (use a meat thermometer).

What is the best temperature to smoke corned beef at?

In this recipe, I kept the smoker at 215 degrees F to get the most smokey flavor because it eventually gets transferred to the stove top to finish the cooking process.

Made this recipe and loved it?!

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