Corned beef brisket is slow cooked with potatoes, turnips, carrots and cabbage.
3 pounds corned beef
3 cups water
6 carrots, peeled and cut in half lengthwise
6 potatoes, peeled and cut in half lengthwise
1 head cabbage, cut in wedges
6 turnips, peeled and cut into quarters
Place the corned beef in the crock pot. Add the water.
Cover the crock pot and cook on high heat for 1 hour. Reduce the heat to low and cook for 1-2 more hours or until the corned beef is about half-way cooked.
Remove the corned beef from the crock pot. Place the carrots, potatoes, cabbage, and turnips in the crock pot. Place the corned beef on top of the vegetables.
Cover the crock pot and cook on high for 1-2 more hours or until the vegetables are cooked and the corned beef is tender.
Adjust the seasoning as needed with salt and pepper.
Adjust the size and quantity of vegetables to fit your crock pot. This recipe also works well with ham.
Rinse the corned beef before cooking if it's overly salty.
Cut the vegetables uniformly for even cooking.
Check the seasoning before serving and adjust if necessary. Corned beef is very salty so you shouldn't need to add salt.
Allow the meat to rest for a few minutes before slicing.
Serve with mustard, horseradish, or a vinaigrette for added flavor.
Experiment with different combinations of root vegetables.
Use a large enough crock pot to accommodate all the ingredients or reduce the serving size to make a smaller quantity recipe.
Yes, you can use ham or smoked pork shoulder as alternatives to corned beef.
Some corned beef may be very salty and benefit from soaking in water overnight, but this step is optional based on your taste preference.
You can add vegetables like parsnips, onions, or leeks.
The corned beef is cooked when it's fork-tender and easy to slice.
Yes, you can simmer the ingredients in a large pot on the stove, but cooking times will vary.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Yes, you can cook the entire dish on low heat for about 6-8 hours, depending on your crock pot.
It's best served fresh, but you can cook the corned beef ahead and reheat it with the vegetables.
Fresh vegetables are recommended but if you wish to use canned, add them during the last 30-60 minutes of cooking.
Crock Pot or Slow Cooker: For slow cooking the corned beef brisket with the vegetables.
Knife: To peel and cut the carrots, potatoes, turnips, and cabbage into the appropriate sizes for the dish. You can also use a vegetable peeler for the carrots, potatoes, and turnips.
Cutting Board: To provide a stable surface for chopping the vegetables and preparing the corned beef brisket.
Tongs or Large Fork: For removing the corned beef brisket from the crock pot and placing it on top of the vegetables during the cooking process.
Irish soda bread: the dense and slightly sweet Irish soda bread will be the perfect vehicle for sopping up all the flavorful juices.
Spicy Mustard: a kick of spicy mustard will cut through the richness of the corned beef and add a zesty element to each bite.
Horseradish Sauce: the sharp, pungent flavor of horseradish will complement the briny, salty taste of the corned beef.
Wine Pairings
Sauvignon Blanc: A crisp and refreshing Sauvignon Blanc can cut through the richness of the corned beef while complementing the variety of vegetables in this dish. Look for one with citrus notes to brighten up the flavors.
Pinot Grigio: If you prefer a lighter white wine, a Pinot Grigio with its delicate flavors and hints of green apple can be a lovely match for the vegetables.
Merlot: For a heartier option, a medium-bodied Merlot with its red fruit notes can go surprisingly well with the corned beef, offering a nice balance to the dish. Look for one with soft tannins to avoid overwhelming the flavors.
Other Alcohol Pairings
Irish Red Ale: Stick with tradition and sip on a classic Irish Red Ale. Its malty sweetness and subtle hop bitterness can complement the savory flavors of the corned beef.
Whiskey: Are you feeling bold? A good whiskey, neat or on the rocks, can stand up to the richness of the corned beef with its robust flavors. The smoky notes in the whiskey can also add an interesting layer of complexity to each bite.
Hard Cider: If you're looking for a lighter option with a touch of sweetness, a hard cider can be a delightful choice. Its fruity flavors can enhance the natural sweetness of the vegetables while offering a crisp contrast to the savory corned beef.
Non-Alcoholic Pairings
Iced Chai Latte: Spice things up with an iced chai latte. The warm spices in the chai can complement the flavors of the vegetables, while the creamy texture adds a delightful contrast to the meal.
Ginger Beer: Looking for a little kick? A cold glass of ginger beer can add a zesty element to the meal. The ginger's spicy notes can enhance the flavors of the corned beef and vegetables.
Pumpkins aren't just for pies or Halloween decorations. These large, orange gourds - while naturally sweet - also work well in savory dishes. They pair well with poultry and pork (and especially bacon) and their creamy-when-cooked texture blends easily into soups.
A can of cream of mushroom soup can be a real dinner saver. It works great in casseroles and can turn into a sauce or gravy in a pinch.
In a cooking rut? Try one of these taste-tested, family-approved recipes using ground beef.
reviews & comments
September 7, 2023
So Good
March 26, 2023
It was delicious! I added more potatoes and less carrots (personal preference). I also added pepper, salt, onion powder and garlic powder. So tender and so yummy!
January 1, 2020
It takes way longer to cook than the recipe says. Frustrating because it smells so good!
Which is why we include the note about cooking times varying by crock pot manufacturer and brand. It cooked in that timeframe when we made it.
January 26, 2019
I love this stuff, but I add turnip, rutabagga (sp) and parsnip.
I have been crock pot cooking for 15 years and there is nothing wrong with my pot. The meat was done, but none of the vegetable were. Hard as a rock. I had to put some in a dish and nuke it so we could have our dinner. I thought surely there had been a typo in the receipe. My pork and beef roast I usually do for 5 or 6 hours on low and they are done as are the vegetables.
All crock pots heat differently - it doesn't mean there is anything wrong with it, you just need to know to adjust recipes differently. Yours apparently needs longer time to cook. Unfortunately, there is no standard among crock pots to heat at the same temperatures so it's often a guessing game.
I'm not going to rate this recipe this time around because prepping too many ingredients to fit in my slow cooker complicated things, I used the spice pack included with my corned beef, and I got tired and went to bed before it was done, so it may have cooked much longer than necessary. Nevertheless, it turned out pretty well, although I'm getting some bites of cabbage and turnip that are pretty bitter.
It turns out this is too much for my 6-qt slow cooker. I recommend 4 servings or less for a cooker this size.
The 3-1/2 lb corned beef has been in my Hamilton Beach Crock Watcher for over an hour on high and there's very little steam, just condensation on the lid. The cooker is hot to the touch. How long should it take to "steam vigorously"?
Unfortunately the exact time will really vary by crock pot (even ones of the same model can vary based on age, temperature of ingredients, etc). My own crock pot would probably take about 2 hours to get up to full boil/steam.
October 25, 2013
I don't like turnips so I skip them and add a few more carrots and potatoes. I use a small head of cabbage and cut it in thin wedges so it fits in the crock nicely.
Sounds like exactly what I'm looking for. Hubby does not like carrets and celery. He's a meat and potatoes man.
December 11, 2007
Yummy! Wow, we hadn't had this in a long time. The recipe was extremely easy to follow, but be aware of the size of your Crock-Pot ...ours isn't huge (5 Qt), so when we went for the max servings, it wouldn't all fit in the Crock-Pot. We removed about 1/4 of the cabbage and all was fine. In all fairness, we did add a couple extra carrots which may have contributed to the problem. Let me tell you, the house smelled so good. Can't wait to try this one again!
February 25, 2006
i don't know why there are no reviews for this recipe. it's simple and exactly what i was looking for. excellent and thank you for posting.