Today we are making a traditional Crock-Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage dinner for St. Paddy’s! Go about your day while your crock-pot does all the heavy lifting, and enjoy this dish when you get home from work. Look for brisket that is labeled gluten free, if it’s not check with the meat department or consult the manufacturer’s website to be safe!
The secret to perfectly cooked Corned Beef and Cabbage is in the layering- veggies on the bottom, then the meat, and finally the cabbage wedges resting on top. Resist adding more water than specified in the recipe, as the meat and veggies will create a sufficient amount of liquid as they cook down.
Corned beef is often sold with a spice packet, but if yours doesn’t have one or you suspect it may contain gluten, just toss it and make your own!
Ingredients:
- 2-4 lbs. corned beef brisket
- 1 head of cabbage
- 2 medium potatoes
- 4 large carrots
- 1 large sweet onion
- 2 cloves garlic
- 3 cups water
- 5 tsp. cider vinegar
- 5 tbsp. sugar
For the spices:
- 1 tbsp. mustard seed
- 1 tbsp. coriander seed
- 1 tbsp. peppercorns
- 2 tsp. fennel seeds
- 2 bay leaves
- 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
- 3 whole clove
- 4 allspice berries
Preparation:
Place all of the spices except the bay leaves in a tea ball, or tie them up in cheesecloth.
Peel and chop the potatoes, carrots and onion into large chunks. Mince the garlic. Arrange the veggies in an even layer on the bottom of the crock-pot and add the bay leaves.
Rinse off the brisket and place it on top of the vegetables. If your brisket weighs more than 2 lbs. you may want to cut it in half. This one is a point cut, just under 4 lbs. and I did end up cutting it in two pieces.
Snuggle the tea ball or cheesecloth bundle about halfway down so that it will be submerged in liquid.
Cut the cabbage into wedges and arrange them on top of the meat. Whisk together the water, sugar and cider vinegar, and pour the liquid over everything. Again, it may not look like enough, but more liquid will be created as the meat and cabbage cook down. Cover and cook on low setting for 8-9 hours, depending on the size of your brisket. The internal temperature of the corned beef should be 160º or higher.
It’s that easy friends. Remove the spice bundle and transfer the corned beef to a cutting board. Slice the meat against the grain.
Arrange on a serving platter with the vegetables and dinner is ready. Let the festivities begin!
Notes ♪♫ Brisket – flat cut or point cut? Choose a flat cut for leaner meat and even thickness (a good option if you are limiting fat or your crock-pot is small). Point cut is a fattier piece of meat that is so flavorful and juicy, it is my personal favorite! Whichever you choose, buy more than you think you will need as the meat shrinks considerably during cooking. Both cuts are suitable for this slow-cooked preparation.
