Slow Cooker Corned Beef Mustard Brown Sugar

slow cooker corned beef and cabbage pinterest

Easy Slow Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage is hands-down the best corned beef recipe! Corned Beef brisket flavored with brown sugar, mustard, and apple juice can be cooked in the crock pot or instant pot.

sliced corned beef on a wooden cutting board

What Makes this the Best Recipe?

I understand claiming this to be the best corned beef recipe is quite a statement. But hear me out.

People have told me time and again they've never enjoyed corned beef and cabbage before trying this recipe. The flavors of brown sugar, apple, and mustard convert anyone on the fence about corned beef!

The taste makes this recipe pretty stellar, but how easy it all comes together is the icing on the cake.

Simply whisk together apple juice, brown sugar, and whole grain mustard to cook the corned beef in your crock pot or instant pot.

Corned beef brisket made with apple juice is moist and tender, while the cabbage, carrots, and potatoes take on an incredible sweet and savory taste. If you love pressure cooking, the instant pot directions produces equally delicious results.

Decide between the recipes depending on your preferred equipment or how much time you have.

an overhead shot of a platter of slow cooker corned beef and cabbage with potatoes and carrots

How Much to cook Per Person

Corned beef shrinks down quite a bit during cooking, whether it's cooked traditionally in the oven or in the slow cooker. What appears to be a large brisket in the store, can be deceiving.

Figure at least 1/2 – 3/4 pound per person depending on people's appetites. To guarantee leftovers (the best part of cooking corned beef), one pound per person is best.

Should I Buy Flat Cut or Point Cut?

When purchasing corned beef there is quite a price difference between flat cut and point cut corned beef brisket.

Point cut is generally much cheaper. It has more fat marbled throughout so it will fall apart easily upon cooking. Use this if you prefer shredded corned beef, which would be good in rubens or corned beef hash.

Flat cut is leaner and holds up for slicing. There will still be a layer of fat on one side, but this keeps the meat moist while cooking. After cooking the excess fat can easily be removed.

I always buy flat cut for slow cooker corned beef and cabbage because it slices nicely and more of the weight is made up in meat versus fat.

a close up of a plate of sliced corned beef, cabbage, potatoes, and carrots

What is in that Spice Packet?

For Crock Pot or Instant Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage the spice packet is sprinkled over the brisket before cooking. If the brisket doesn't come with one you can improvise!

Sprinkle one tablespoon of pickling spice over the corned beef.

Or make your own seasoning by combining a crumbled bay leaf, mustard seeds, coriander seeds, allspice berries, crushed red pepper, and minced garlic.

What to Serve with it

The beauty of Slow Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage is it's a whole easy meal in one recipe. Meat cooks right along side a delicious collection of cabbage, potatoes, and carrots.

However, I have never made this meal without making the world's best Irish Soda Bread to go along with it. I think my family would disown me if I ever tried it.

The Irish Soda Bread recipe I use was the one my mother always made. As kids, we looked forward this bread all year (way more than corned beef and cabbage).

Basically we endured the meal to afford us seconds on the bread.

It's like a dessert bread with a golden, crunchy, sweet crust, moist, chewy interior, and dotted with tangy cranberries. Plus it's easily thrown together in five minutes.

an overhead shot of a platter of slow cooker corned beef and cabbage with potatoes and carrots

Should it Be Rinsed before cooking?

I always rinse the corned beef before cooking without sacrificing any flavor. However, this seems to be a matter of preference.

Some people shun rinsing away the gelatinous brine. I just find it, well, a little off putting.

Since this corned beef recipe cooks in mustard, apple juice, brown sugar, and spices, the extraordinary flavor still shines through!

overhead shot of a plate of corned beef and cabbage

How To Reheat

The best way to reheat corned beef and cabbage is to simmer covered on the stove.

Save the cooking liquid from the corned beef. Place the leftovers in a pot, pour the liquid over, bring to a boil, then cover and gently simmer until potatoes are warmed through.

How To Make Corned Beef and Cabbage in a crockpot

Place potatoes and carrots on bottom of large crock pot.
Lay corned beef brisket on top and lay cabbage wedges over the top and on sides.
Mix together apple juice, brown sugar, and whole grain mustard. Pour over top of everything. Cover and cook on low for 10-12 hours or 6-8 hours on high.

How To Make Instant Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage

In the pressure cooker pour apple juice, brown sugar, and mustard. Stir to combine.
Set the rack in the instant pot and place corned beef on top. Sprinkle seasoning packet over top.
Cook on HIGH for 80 minutes cooking time with a 20 minute natural release, then quick release.
Remove corned beef and wrap in foil to keep warm. Remove rack.
Strain the cooking liquid with a mesh strainer. Pour cooking liquid back into the instant pot. Place potatoes, carrots, and cabbage in the pressure cooker. Cook on HIGH for 8 minutes and then quick release.

Intimidated by using an Instant Pot? Learn in minutes with this Easy Start Instant Pot Guide full of tips, hacks, and tricks.

Apple juice being poured into crockpot holding Slow Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage recipe

best Tips and tricks

Double the recipe in two crock pots, especially if you are having company. Corned beef shrinks during cooking. Refer to post above to gauge how much corned beef to buy per person.
If you prefer to cook the cabbage separately to make it all fit, use this extremely flavorful Crispy Roasted Cabbage recipe.
For a less sweet version, cover with water or broth instead of apple juice.
If the lid won't fit securely with all the cabbage, no worries. Just cover the top with foil and place the lid on top of the foil. As it cooks everything will reduce in size.
For additional seasonings, throw in 2 bay leaves, a couple garlic cloves, and the spice packet.
Make sure to use a large slow cooker or instant pot. At least a 6 quart slow cooker, or instant pot is best.
If you don't have a large enough slow cooker or instant pot, leave out the potatoes and cook them separately with this recipe.

more St. Patrick's Day recipes!

Best Ever Irish Soda Bread
Fluffy Mint Cream Chocolate Pudding Cake
Boiled Salt Potatoes
Bacon Brussels Sprouts
Crispy Roasted Cabbage

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▢ 2 pounds small red potatoes, about 1 1/2" diameter
▢ 1 pound baby carrots
▢ 1 small cabbage, cut in 8 wedges
▢ 3 pounds flat-cut corned beef
▢ 4 cups apple juice
▢ 3/4 cup brown sugar
▢ 1 tablespoon whole ground mustard

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Slow Cooker Instructions:

Put potatoes on bottom of 6 quart slow cooker. Place carrots on top, then corned beef, fat side up. Sprinkle seasoning packet on top of corned beef. Fit cabbage wedges on top and around sides of brisket.
Whisk together the apple juice, brown sugar, and mustard. Pour liquid over everything in the crock pot.
Cook on low for 10-12 hours or high 5-7 hours until meat is very tender. Slice beef against the grain. Mix together (optional) mustard and butter and serve with vegetables and corned beef.

Instant Pot Instructions:

In the pressure cooker pour apple juice, brown sugar, and mustard. Stir to combine.
Set the rack in the instant pot and place corned beef on top, fat side up. Sprinkle seasoning packet over top. Cook on HIGH for 80 minutes with a 20 minute natural release, then quick release. Remove corned beef and wrap in foil to keep warm. Remove rack.
Strain the cooking liquid with a mesh strainer. Discard solids and pour cooking liquid back into the instant pot. Place potatoes, carrots, and cabbage in the pressure cooker. Cook on HIGH for 8 minutes and quick release.
Mix together (optional) mustard and butter and serve with vegetables and corned beef.

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Best Tips and Tricks

Double the recipe in two crock pots, especially if you are having company. Corned beef shrinks during cooking. Refer to post above to gauge how much corned beef to buy per person.
If the lid won't fit securely with all the cabbage, no worries. Just cover the top with foil and place the lid on top of the foil. As it cooks everything will reduce in size.
Make sure to use a large slow cooker or pressure cooker. At least a 6 quart slow cooker, or instant pot is best.
If you don't have a large enough slow cooker or instant pot, leave out the potatoes and cook them separately with this recipe.

How To Reheat:

The best way to reheat corned beef and cabbage is to simmer covered on the stove.

Save the cooking liquid from the corned beef. Place the leftovers in a pot, pour the liquid over, bring to a boil, then cover and gently simmer until potatoes are warmed through.