Say goodbye to tough and tasteless corned beef. This Slow Cooker Corned Beef is tender, flavorful, and super easy to prepare. It's the very best corned beef recipe you'll ever make!!
If you're wondering what to serve along side this tender and flavorful crock pot corned beef this Irish-colcannon-inspired Fried Cabbage and Leeks with Roasted Smashed Potatoes is just the ticket!
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Table of Contents Found Here
- The ingredient list:
- Kitchen tools and equipment needed:
- How this recipe came to be:
- Why this slow cooker corned beef recipe works:
- What's inside that little packet packaged with the corned beef?
- Why is there no salt listed in the ingredients?
- How long will this recipe take from start to dinner?
- Why it's important to slice corned beef, or any protein, across the grain:
- The step-by-step photos for making the BEST EVER crockpot corned beef:
- Recipes using leftover corned beef:
- Printable Recipe Card
- Please comment if you've made this recipe.
The ingredient list:
*Please note that the exact measurements along with a "shop the recipe" feature from Instacart and Walmart is available inside the printable recipe card.
- corned beef (4 pounds), plus the pickling packet
- beef broth (I used no sodium)
- prepared chili sauce
- prepared horseradish
- brown sugar
- dill pickle juice
- black pepper
Kitchen tools and equipment needed:
How this recipe came to be:
Last St. Patrick's Day my mom was coming over for dinner, and to play some cards. We like playing Russian Rummy. Ever hear of it?
Back to dinner...My mom loves corned beef so naturally, with it being St. Patrick's Day, I wanted to make it a meal she'd really enjoy, and one I didn't have to babysit while we were busy.
At the time I didn't take any photos of the finished corned beef, but I wrote down the ingredients I'd used and took some prep photos (shown below).
I waited a full year to remake this crockpot corned beef, remembering how wonderfully tender and flavorful it was, and I'm super excited to finally be sharing it with you now!
Why this slow cooker corned beef recipe works:
Because it cooks low and slow, and because of the pickle juice acting as a meat tenderizer, the finished meat is amazingly fork-tender and wonderfully juicy!
I also like it because it's what I call a "dump" recipe. Meaning... you add all the ingredients into the crockpot at one time, set the timer, and walk away until it's done.
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What's inside that little packet packaged with the corned beef?
That's the pickling packet. Don't throw that away. This gets added to the slow cooker along with all the other ingredients.
Spices included in the packet are typically peppercorns, dill seeds, crushed bay leaves, and mustard seeds.
Why is there no salt listed in the ingredients?
Because the addition of salt in this recipe is not needed.
Since the corned beef has already been cured (preserved in a salty brine solution), and with the addition of dill pickle juice (another salty element), adding additional sodium would make the meat far too salty and unappealing.
How long will this recipe take from start to dinner?
With the slow cooker set on high, this corned beef will be ready in 4-5 hours.
With the slow cooker set on low, the corned beef will be ready in 6-7 hours.
Why it's important to slice corned beef, or any protein, across the grain:
I found the following video on YouTube which explains it perfectly. If you're a visual learner (like I am), the video below will be very helpful for you.
The step-by-step photos for making the BEST EVER crockpot corned beef:
- Place the corned beef, along with the pickling spices included with the meat, into the slow cooker.
- In a large bowl, whisk together all the other ingredients.
- Cover the cooker and set the timer for 4 hours on high, or 6 hours on low.
- Remove the corned beef to a carving board, cover with aluminum foil, and allow to rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing (across the grain) and serving.
Recipes using leftover corned beef:
*Corned Beef and Cabbage Coleslaw (shown below)
This recipe for Corned Beef and Cabbage Coleslaw may be unusual, but it’s also unusually delicious! Inspired by traditional Irish fare, this recipe is decidedly untraditional!
*Lazy Latke Reuben Casserole (not shown) from THE LAZY SLOW COOKER
*Irish Corned Beef Boxty (not shown)
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a classically stuffed boxty. An Irish Corned Beef Boxty is a potato pancake stuffed with tender corned beef and lots of melted Swiss cheese.
*Corned Beef Hash Frittata (shown below)
When you have a taste for some corned beef hash, but also a wonderfully eggy frittata, why not make this unexpected yet delicious Corned Beef Hash Frittata?
*Leftover Corned Beef and Cabbage Soup (not shown) from HOT EATS AND COOL READS
*Corned Beef Macaroni and Cheese (not shown) from WHO NEEDS A CAPE?
*Creamy Reuben Soup with Rye Croutons (shown below) -
Creamy Reuben Soup tastes amazingly like an iconic Reuben sandwich, complete with the grilled rye bread! You'll be blown away by the flavor and how fast and easy this soup is to make.
When you make today's recipe (and I hope that you will), I'd appreciate it if you'd take the time to come back and give it a star rating along with a comment on why you rated as you did.
Search engines such as Google appreciate comments and ratings and, in turn, will show my recipes to more people. Please look for the pink star rating box within the printable recipe card. Thank you!!
Printable Recipe Card
SLOW COOKER CORNED BEEF
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 corned beef brisket (4 pounds) including the pickling packet
- 3 cups beef broth low or no sodium is best
- 1 jar (12 ounces) chili sauce
- 1 cup dill pickle juice
- 3 tablespoons prepared horseradish
- ¼ cup packed brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons capers
Instructions
- Remove the corned beef from the packaging and place in the slow cooker.
- Sprinkle the pickling packet (found inside the packaging) on top of the corned beef.
- In a large bowl or measuring cup, whisk together the beef broth, chili sauce, pickle juice, horseradish, brown sugar, capers, and black pepper.
- Pour the beef broth mixture over the corned beef, cover, and set the slow cooker timer to your desired time.4-5 hours on HIGH6-7 hours on LOW
- Remove the corned beef from the cooker and place it on a carving board. Cover with aluminum foil and allow it to rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing.
- *NOTE - Make sure to always slice ACROSS the grain for tender meat.
- Ladle some of the cooking liquid into a bowl and serve with the sliced corned beef if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
I sincerely hope you've enjoyed today's slow cooker recipe for easy corned beef brisket as much as I've enjoyed bringing it to you!
Should you have any questions or comments regarding anything you've seen on my site, please don't hesitate to reach out to contact me. It is always my distinct pleasure to get back with you just as soon as I possibly can!
Thank you so much for visiting me today in my Kudos Kitchen. I hope you found something you'll love and that you will come back and visit me often. Please know that there is always room for you around my kitchen table!
Until we eat again, I hope you have a delicious day!
Erin says
I make corned beef every year but have not tried slow-cooking it yet. Printing this recipe to try this year! Looks delicious!
Renée says
You're going to love it, Erin.
Enjoy!!
Allison says
This is cooking now and it smells delicious. Thanks for sharing!
Renée says
My pleasure, Allison.
Enjoy!!