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Slow Cooker Corned Beef Brisket

Slow Cooker Corned Beef Brisket is super easy to make, amazingly juicy, and has a tender taste that will have you coming back for more!  A great easy meal for St. Patrick’s Day or it’s perfect for family meals anytime. 

My method of cooking corned beef brisket could not be easier.  Slow Cookers are the perfect method of cooking corn beef because they produce the perfect tender taste every time.  

Slow Cooker Corned Beef Brisket sliced on a plate with a serving fork.
Slow Cooker Corned Beef Brisket

Putting a piece of corned beef brisket into a crockpot or slow cooker is always an awesome idea!  This slow cooker corned beef brisket recipe is that amazing!  

If you want to know how to cook corned beef brisket, then follow my step-by-step instructions.  You should definitely make this corned beef recipe more often than just on St. Patrick’s Day. 

Start in the slow cooker in the morning and let it cook all day long.  No need to flip, stir, or fuss with it.

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What is Corned Beef Brisket?

Corned beef brisket is a piece of beef brisket that is brined in a special solution for 5 to 7 days and then is slow cooked in water to create a super tender cut of meat. 

If you are looking to make your own pickling spice packet brined corned beef recipe, then give Sweet & Savory Meals a try.

I buy corned beef in a seal package that the corned beef is soaking in the brine and has a provided spice packet.

Corned Beef Brisket in a Sealed Package along with a Seasoning Packet.
Corned Beef Brisket in a Sealed Package along with a Seasoning Packet.

How to Cook Corned Beef Brisket

Gather all ingredients to make the corned beef brisket.  My slow cooker of choice is a West Bend. I have owned this brand of slow cooker for more than 20 years.

Slow Cooker By West Bend
Slow Cooker By West Bend

My West Bend Slow Cooker gets used so often, that my husband buys me a new one every couple years because I wear mine out!

Place the corned beef brisket into a slow cooker with the fat side up.  Cover the piece of meat with cold water. 

Turn the slow cooker to the high setting.  If desired, add the seasoning packet that comes with a package of corned beef brisket, use your own desired seasoning, or just leave the meat unseasoned. 

This recipe does not require any added salt. The reason is because corned beef briskets are already brined with spices and salt so you can avoid adding additional salt. 

Because the corned beef brisket is brined for several days and is in its solution during packaging, it has lots of flavor already.  The addition of seasoning during cooking is going to depend on your desired finished meat flavor. 

How Long to Cook Corned Beef in the Slow Cooker?

Slow cooker corned beef brisket needs plenty of time to cook properly.  Slow cook for 8 to 10 hours on high. 

Cooking time will vary depending on the cut of corned beef and the size of the whole brisket. The corned beef should be fork tender and shred apart very easily. No meat thermometer is needed.

When ready to serve, remove the brisket from the slow cooker to a cutting board.  Discard the water remaining in the slow cooker. 

Remove the layer of fat from the top of the slow cooker corned beef brisket.  Slice or shred the corned beef brisket recipe to serve. 

Make a sandwich with slices of the cooked corned beef, sliced provolone cheese, and a mound of sauerkraut. 

Corned Beef Sandwich made from 2 slices of bread, cheese slices, corned beef slices, and topped with sauerkraut on a plate.
Corned Beef Sandwich

Shred the fall apart tender corned beef and serve it with cooked cabbage, roasted potatoes, and carrots.  Growing up my mom used to make us corned beef hash which tasted amazing!!      

How to Store Corned Beef Brisket

Store leftover corned beef brisket in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 6 days.  Reheat the leftover corned beef in the microwave or air fryer until the desired temperature is achieved. 

What to Serve with Corned Beef Brisket?

Serve slow cooker corn beef with glazed carrots, mushroom risotto, griddle grilled butternut squash, smashed potatoes on the Blackstone Griddle, fried rice, mashed potatoes, or make into a corned beef Rueben. Another great side dish option is this Hawaiian Macaroni Salad!

Blackstone Griddle Grilled Reuben- whole sandwich.
Blackstone Griddle Grilled Reuben

I also like to make a corned beef and cabbage boiled dinner from time to time.

Crock Pot Corned Beef

When making crockpot corned beef, it’s prepared the say way as slow cooker corned beef. Place the corned beef into the crock pot, cover with cold water, turn on high, cover, and let slow cook for at least 8 hours.

Using this method, it’s hard to overcook corned beef unless all the water cooks out of the crock pot.

More Slow Cooker Recipes

Corned Beef Brisket Recipe sliced on a plate with a serving fork.
Corned Beef Brisket Recipe

Slow Cooker Corned Beef Brisket – FAQ

Do You Have To Rinse Corned Beef Before Cooking?

No, you do not have to rinse corned beef before cooking.  The brine that the corned beef is marinated in has tons of flavor that can be use when slow cooking the meat.  Just don’t overuse the corned beef brine. 

Why was my corned beef tough from the slow cooker?

If the corned beef recipe is tough, then it needs to be slow cooked longer.  Make sure the dial is on high and the corned beef is completely covered in water.  Slow cooker corned beef brisket needs plenty of time to cook so plan on 8 to 10 hours. 

Does corned beef have to be covered in water in slow cooker?

Yes, corned beef should be covered in water as it slow cooks.  This helps to break down the tough fiberish tissue in a piece of corned beef. 

Slow Cooker Corned Beef Brisket Recipe

Get the full recipe and nutrition calories below!

Yield: 6 Servings

Corned Beef Brisket Recipe

Slow Cooker Corned Beef Brisket sliced on a plate with a serving fork.

Slow Cooker Corned Beef Brisket is super easy to make, amazingly juicy, and has a tender taste that will have you coming back for more!  A great easy meal for St. Patrick’s Day or it's perfect for family meals anytime.  My method of cooking corned beef brisket could not be easier.

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours 5 minutes

Ingredients

  • Corned Beef Brisket 3 pounds

Instructions

    How to Cook Corned Beef Brisket Recipe

  1. Gather all ingredients to make the corned beef brisket recipe. 
  2. Place the corned beef brisket into a slow cooker pan with the fat side up. 
  3. Cover the corned beef meat with cold water. 
  4. Turn the slow cooker to the high dial setting. 
  5. You can add the seasoning packet that comes with a package of corned beef brisket, use your own seasonings, or just leave the corned beef unseasoned. 

How Long to Slow Cook Corned Beef?

  1. Slow cooked corned beef brisket needs plenty of time to cook properly.  Slow cook for 8 - 10 hours on high.  Slow cooking time will vary depending on the cut and the size of corned beef.
  2. The fully cooked corned beef should be fork tender and shred apart very easily. No meat temperature thermometer is needed.
  3. When ready to eat, remove the brisket from the slow cooker to a cutting board.  
  4. Discard any remaining water in the slow cooker. 
  5. Remove the thin layer of fat from the top of the corned beef brisket. 
  6. Slice or shred the corned beef brisket to serve. 

Notes

Tips:

This corned beef does not require any additional salt. The reason is because corned beef briskets are already brined with seasonings as well as salt so you can avoid adding additional salt.  Because the corned beef brisket is brined for several days and is in its solution during packaging, it has lots of extra flavor already.  The addition of seasoning during slow cooking is going to depend on your desired finished meat flavor. 

Make a sandwich with thin slices of the cooked corned beef, provolone cheese slices, and a layer of drained sauerkraut.  Shred the tender corned beef and serve it with cooked cabbage, roasted potatoes, and carrots.  Growing up my mom used to make us corned beef hash for breakfast which tasted amazing!!

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This page contains affiliate links. Click on the highlighted text in a post to explore a product. If you purchase through one of them, I will receive a commission (at no additional cost to you). I ONLY EVER ENDORSE PRODUCTS THAT I TRULY LOVE. Thank you for your support!

Nutrition Information

Yield

6

Serving Size

1

Amount Per Serving Calories 655Total Fat 42gSaturated Fat 17gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 20gCholesterol 240mgSodium 109mgCarbohydrates 0gFiber 0gSugar 0gProtein 65g

Note: For exact nutritional information, consult your dietitian. All nutritional information is simply a guideline.

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By on March 11th, 2023
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About Sherry

Welcome to FROM MICHIGAN TO THE TABLE! My name is Chef Sherry Ronning and I am a food blogger from Michigan. Professionally cooking and baking Midwestern Cuisine for more than 30 years. Specializing in fresh fish, venison, farm raised meats and griddle recipes. Please enjoy my recipes!!

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