The Best Corned Beef and Cabbage Recipe
This Corned Beef and Cabbage recipe is easy to make. Ale braised corned beef is roasted with simple ingredients and paired with a caramelized pan roasted cabbage to create a dish that goes beyond the usual boiled dinner. Instructions are included for both the oven and slow cooker or crock pot.
Why This Recipe is the Best Ever
Every year, on St. Patrickโs Day, we had corned beef and cabbage for dinner that was cooked in the slow cooker all day long. The smell of the cabbage was simply overwhelming, filling the house with the off-gasses from the vegetable that, by the end of the day, made me want to eat anything OTHER than corned beef and cabbage.
It was like I could taste it all day, so, why bother eating it. I was ready for something else. Like Bangers and Mashโฆ.or peanut butter or jelly.
When I moved out on my own, I vowed to never make Corned Beef and Cabbage ever again st. Patrickโs day. I LOVE corned beef and I really LOVE cabbage so I thought maybe the problem is in the preparation.
Maybe the cabbage needs a little extra love all on its own so it doesnโt start to smell like a week old garbage pail in 90 degree heat. So, I created, the BEST Corned Beef and Cabbage recipe on the planet by coaxing the flavor out of each ingredients separately before marrying them together. If youโve ever been to Katzโs Deli in New York City, this corned beef rivals it.
Magical Flavor with Simple Ingredients
- Beef โ I use a corned beef brisket. You can use a regular brisket, flat cut or point cut, if you canโt find corned beef at your grocery store. You donโt have to use the spice packet if you have the spices on hand.
- Beer โ For the braising liquid, I use ale or lager. Both impart the hoppy flavor and break down the beef so it melts-in-your-mouth. If you donโt want to use beer, you can substitute with beef stock or beef broth.
- Vegetables โ Carrots and celery give the braising liquid a hint of sweetness. We donโt serve the vegetables, theyโre mainly here for the flavor.
- Seasoning โ Even though I use the contents of the seasoning packet, I like to amp up the flavor with dry mustard, dried thyme, mustard seeds, bay leaves, kosher salt and black pepper. I donโt feel like the seasoning packet has enough spices to adequately season the beef.
- Cabbage โ You can use either Savoy cabbage or green cabbage here. We usually grab a head of green cabbage because itโs budget friendly.
- Onion โ Yellow onion or Vidalia onion has enough sugar content to lend a beautiful caramelization to the cabbage.
- Butter โ Salted butter helps add fat and depth to the cabbage. You can substitute with olive oil or unsalted butter, if you prefer.
For the full ingredient list and instructions, see the recipe card below.
How to Make Corned Beef
My favorite way to cook Corned Beef is in the oven but I also like a good Crock Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage for the ease of preparation and the fact that I donโt have to be home to pull it out of the oven when itโs done cooking.
Now, weโre not curing our own beef here so donโt run away. But youโre creating two very simple dishes and then serving them together. Itโs pretty simple.
The Corned Beef is braised in ale (or a lager if youโre not an ale fan) with a few carrots, celery and spices for 3 hours. And the cabbage is fried in a skillet with some onions until they begin to caramelize then finished off with a quick roast in the oven. This prevents the cabbage from making everything taste and smell like cabbage, it also prevents the cabbage from becoming overwhelmed with the salty corned beef flavor.
What you get is a deep, rich flavor of sweet and salty that will completely blow your mind.
How to cook Corned Beef and Cabbage in the oven
- In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium high heat. Add the brisket to the pan fat side down and cook until golden brown, approximately 4-5 minutes.
- Turn the brisket over and brown the other side, approximately 5-6 minutes. Turn off the heat and drain the fat.
- Transfer the brisket to a large dutch oven with a lid.
- Pour the ale over the brisket. Stir in the cold water, carrots, celery, mustard, thyme, mustard seeds and bay leaf. (Be sure to add enough water to cover the beef.)
- Cover and cook in the oven at 300หF for 2-3 hours or until fork tender.
- When the brisket has one hour left of cook time, heat the olive oil in a large skillet.
- Stir in the butter until melted. Add the onion and cook until softened. Add the cabbage wedges.
- Cook until wilted and beginning to caramelize. Season with salt and pepper.
- Transfer the skillet to the oven and roast for 15-20 minutes stirring after 10 minutes.
- When the brisket is done, it should be tender enough to pull apart with a fork.
- If itโs still tough, continue to cook for an additional 30 minutes.
- Allow to rest for 10-15 minutes at room temperature covered with foil before slicing against the grain. Serve with the cabbage.
How To cook Corned Beef and Cabbage in the CrockPot
- In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the brisket to the pan fat side down and cook until golden brown, approximately 4-5 minutes.
- Turn the brisket over and brown the other side, approximately 5-6 minutes. Turn off the heat and drain the fat.
- Transfer the brisket to the slow cooker.
- Pour the ale over the brisket. Stir in the water, carrots, celery, mustard, thyme, mustard seeds and bay leaf.
- Cover and cook in the slow cooker on low for 6-7 hours.
- When the brisket has one hour left of cook time, heat the olive oil in a large skillet.
- Stir in the butter until melted. Add the onion and cook until softened. Add the cabbage.
- Cook until wilted and beginning to caramelize. Season with salt and pepper.
- Transfer the skillet to the oven and roast for 15-20 minutes stirring after 10 minutes.
- When the brisket is done, it should be tender enough to pull apart with a fork.
- If itโs still tough, continue to cook for an additional 30 minutes.
- Allow to rest for 10-15 minutes covered with foil before slicing against the grain. Serve with the cabbage.
- Itโs so easy to make a slow cooker corned beef recipe from the oven version and it works well for busy family dinners!
You can choose to use the little packet of corned beef spices that come with the brisket for extra flavor it you want, sometimes I just make my own corned beef spices with dry mustard, dried thyme, mustard seeds and a bay leaf.
This post may contain affiliate links which wonโt change your price but will share some commission.
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What Is Corned Beef?
Corned beef is a salt cured beef brisket commonly used in braising with cabbage in celebration of St. Patrickโs Day. The term โcorned beefโ comes from the process used to cure the beef using large grained rock salt called โcornsโ of salt.
How to Store Leftovers
Leftover Corned Beef is great on a Corned Beef Reuben Sandwich or in The Best Corned Beef Hash. If you need to store it for later, transfer it to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3-4 days.
What To Serve With Corned Beef
- Super easy Caramelized Cabbage and Onion Colcannon
- Mini Soda Bread Muffinsโฆ.sooo cute and tasty!
- Make it a meaty dinner with simple Bangers and Mash
- Serve it up with a Nutty Irishman
- Finish with a sweet treat, Nutty Irishman Cupcakes
- Or THESE Baileyโs Irish Cream Scones
Trust me when I say.. once you try this Corned Beef and Cabbage recipe, you will never make it any other way again.
More Easy Family Dinner Recipes
- The BEST Stuffed Cabbage Rolls ever made
- Super simple Stuffed Cabbage Roll Soup
- Easy Beef Cabbage Soupโฆa great way to use up that leftover cabbage that didnโt fit in the pan.
- Leftover corned beef? Try these easy Mini Reubens!
The leftovers are incredible in a reuben the next day or this easy Reuben Casseroleโฆ.so good, in fact, you will not be saving this recipe for once a year any longer.
Want more simple recipe inspiration? Follow us on Instagram!
Get the Recipe: The Very Best Corned Beef and Cabbage
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
- 3 pound corned beef brisket
- 12 ounces ale or lager
- 24 ounces water
- 3 carrots, roughly chopped
- 3 celery stalks, roughly chopped
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 1/2 cups sliced Vidalia onion, about one large onion
- 1 head savoy or green cabbage, core removed and sliced
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
Instructions
- If oven cooking, preheat the oven to 300 degrees.
- In a large dutch oven (or skillet, if cooking in the slow cooker), heat the oil over med-high heat. Add the brisket to the pan fat side down and cook until golden brown, approximately 4-5 minutes. Turn the brisket over and brown the other side, approximately 5-6 minutes. Turn off the heat and drain the fat. (If cooking in the slow cooker, transfer the brisket to the slow cooker at this time.)
- Pour the ale over the brisket. Stir in the water, carrots, celery, mustard, thyme, mustard seeds and bay leaf. Cover and transfer to the oven for 3 hours. (Or cover and turn the slow cooker on low for 6-7 hours.)
- When the brisket has one hour left of cook time, heat the olive oil in a large skillet. Stir in the butter until melted. Add the onion and cook until softened. Add the cabbage. Cook until wilted and beginning to caramelize. Season with salt and pepper.
- Transfer the skillet to the oven and roast for 15-20 minutes stirring after 10 minutes. (The onions and cabbage should start to turn golden brown and caramelize.)
- When the brisket is done, it should be tender enough to pull apart with a fork. If itโs still tough, continue to cook for an additional 30 minutes. Allow to rest for 10-15 minutes covered with foil before slicing against the grain. Serve with the cabbage.
Video
125 Comments on โThe Best Corned Beef and Cabbage Recipeโ
This was fantastic! Everyone was raving over it. Corned beef came out so tender & such great flavor. And the cabbageโฆ.my new favorite way to cook it. I agree with you, the best corned beef & cabbage recipe!
Thank you so much! Iโm so happy you enjoyed it!
Hi Kellieโฆam new to this recipeโฆI love rutabaga and potatoes in my meat dishes, do you see a problem with adding these two items?โฆmy wife loves my cooking, so I must be getting betterโฆmany thanks.
I think that will just make it even better!
OMGosh! So good I had seconds! Iโm usually not that crazy about corned beef but this recipe is so good. I especially loved the cabbage and onions. Only thing I will do different next time is add more carrots ( love cooked carrots) and make more of the cabbage and onions. Absolutely delicious!
Thank you so much for your comment! Iโm so happy you enjoyed it!
Best corn beef I have ever had! This will be my go to recipe. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you! Iโm so happy you enjoyed it!
My new favorite corned beef and cabbage recipe for St. Pattyโs Day! Iโll never put my cabbage in the broth again โ we all loved it sautรฉed!
Itโs so good that way! Thank you for your comment!
Havenโt made this yet but Iโm curious as to why no review has pointed out that in the body of the post step 3 (after browning) on both the oven method and crockpot method reads: Transfer the brisket to the slow cooker.
The recipe itself has instructions for the oven โ which is what I intend to try.
5 stars in anticipation of a great St Paddyโs day meal
Itโs noted because I was including the recipe for both the slow cooker and oven. A CrockPot is just a brand name.
A little less ads on your recipe page. It was a hassle of hitting them by accident, and not being able to see the actual steps because they were in the way
I can show less ads but then that would require a paywall and subscriptions so the recipes would no longer be free. With skyrocketing grocery prices, I donโt want to add more expenses to my readers plates so if you could just scroll to the recipe card to get your free recipe, that would be great. My apologies for the inconvenience.
This was very good! Even my son , who did not like Corned Beef and Cabbage liked it!
That makes me so happy! Thank you for your comment!
This recipe looks amazing! Any recommendations on multipying the serving size and the cooking time? I have a 12-13lb corned beef brisket.
So you just need to roast it longer and definitely double the ingredients for the cabbage. Most importantly is to make sure you use enough liquid so itโs submerged so it braises evenly. Itโs about 10-15 minutes of roasting time per pound, although, it may not take that long. Check it at the 4-5 hour mark for doneness.
This only has the slow cooker method. What temp did you cook at in the oven?
Itโs in the recipe card, the first like says if youโre oven cooking preheat to 300หF. Enjoy!
Couldnโt make it through all of the ads to the actual recipe.
Thereโs a jump to recipe button at the topโฆ..and you scrolled all the way through the ads to make a comment.
I made this yesterday! Love it. I tried making corned beef years ago & it was way to salty. Found this recipe & gave it a try! It was great! My whole family approved! I added some garlic powder & corriander.
Iโm so glad you loved it! Thank you for your comment!
I have historically always did the boiling method with corned beef, but I thought I would try this recipe and boy am I pleased. Meat was fork tender, carrots soft but not mushy. I added potatoes because I like them. I also really like the cabbage. This is a keeper.
Thank you so much!
Hi, I want to make this recipe this week! Iโm wondering if it can be doubled? And if you happen to know what the time adjustment would be?
Hi Julie. Yes, it can be doubled and you would just add about 15 minutes per pound of corned beef to the cooking time.
Your website is so hard to navigate itโs ridiculous! So many distracting pop ups and crap zooming across page. Cut down on your ads!
Hi Diana, Thank you for your input. If I cut down on the ads then I will require my readers to pay a subscription fee to help cover the high cost of running a website, skyrocketing grocery costs and basic necessities like electricity so I can continue testing recipes to share. The ads pay for all of those things so I can share my recipes for free. Apologies for the inconvenience.