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corned beef and cabbage

Slow Cooker Corned Beef & Cabbage with Guinness

An easy, festive slow cooker corned beef made with Guinness, brown sugar, and warm spices. Prep it in the morning and come home to the most tender, flavorful St. Patrick’s Day dinner.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 9 hours
Total Time 9 hours 10 minutes

Equipment

  • 1 slow cooker

Ingredients
  

  • 1 flat cut corned beef (with seasoning packet)
  • 1/8 cup brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon black peppercorns
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 yellow onion quartered
  • 1 16 oz can Guinness
  • 1 head cabbage cut into wedges
  • 2 large carrots quartered
  • 4 gold potatoes quartered

Instructions
 

  • Load the crockpot: Place the corned beef in the slow cooker, fat side up. Sprinkle the brown sugar over the top, then add the seasoning packet.
  • Add flavor: Add the black peppercorns, bay leaves, and quartered onion. Pour the Guinness around the beef.
  • Slow cook: Cover and cook on low for 8–10 hours.
  • Add veggies: About 1–2 hours before serving, add the carrots and potatoes. About 30 minutes before serving, add cabbage.
  • Slice and serve: Remove the corned beef, let it rest, then slice against the grain. Serve with veggies and spoon some of the cooking liquid over the top.

Notes

  • I like using flat cut because it slices nicely, but point cut works too if you want something a little more tender and fatty.
  • Don’t skip the Guinness — it adds a deep, rich flavor without tasting overly like beer.
  • Add the cabbage later so it doesn’t get too soft.
  • The brown sugar balances out the saltiness of the corned beef perfectly.