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Healthier Irish Corned Beef & Cabbage Recipe

March 13, 2018 by Katie Wells
st. patrick's day corned beef
Table of Contents[Hide][Show]
  • Corned Beef & Cabbage - The Prep
  • Hey... Where's the Potatoes?
  • Corned Beef & Cabbage - The Prep
  • Hey... Where's the Potatoes?
  • Update: Instant Pot and Oven Roasting Options
  • Corned Beef & Cabbage Recipe

Corned beef & cabbage is a favorite meal of ours (as it is for most Americans of Irish descent) and a tradition in our house on St. Patrick’s Day. I’ve found that it’s surprisingly easy to brine my own homemade brisket too (here’s how I do it).

Brining your own corned beef makes this a much healthier dish by avoiding all of the artificial additives found in store-bought, pre-made corned beef.

Really, with these modifications, I see no reason corned beef and cabbage can’t be enjoyed any time of year!

Corned Beef & Cabbage – The Prep

Brining your own homemade brisket may sound like an extra step, but it’s worth it to avoid the added nitrites and chemicals of store-bought corned beef. It does mean planning (well) ahead of time, but once you have the corned beef, the actual dish takes virtually no time to put together!

If it’s still 3-5 days before St. Patty’s Day, you have time to brine your own corned beef brisket! (See above for the recipe.)

Once the brisket is brined and ready, the remaining prep is a snap. I use a Crock-Pot to slow cook the meat but saute the veggies separately in a pan about half an hour before the meat is done for a great texture.

Hey… Where’s the Potatoes?

Of course traditional corned beef is not complete without cabbage (which I definitely include lots of) and potatoes. Our family typically avoids white potatoes (here’s why) because they’re starchy and high on the glycemic index, but on special occasions we will indulge in them.

I definitely  favor more nutrient-dense options like sweet potatoes or cauliflower “mashed potatoes” on the side instead, but feel free to add a few potatoes to the Crock-Pot in honor of the Irish if you wish!

For other recipe ideas that honor Irish heritage in healthier way, check out my potato-free cottage shepherd’s pie or the always popular bangers and mash. (These are also great options if there’s no time to brine a brisket!)

Updated

Corned beef & cabbage is a favorite meal of ours (as it is for most Americans of Irish descent) and a tradition in our house on St. Patrick’s Day. I’ve found that it’s surprisingly easy to brine my own homemade brisket too (here’s how I do it).

Brining your own corned beef makes this a much healthier dish by avoiding all of the artificial additives found in store-bought, pre-made corned beef.

Really, with these modifications, I see no reason corned beef and cabbage can’t be enjoyed any time of year!

Corned Beef & Cabbage – The Prep

Brining your own homemade brisket may sound like an extra step, but it’s worth it to avoid the added nitrites and chemicals of store-bought corned beef. It does mean planning (well) ahead of time, but once you have the corned beef, the actual dish takes virtually no time to put together!

If it’s still 3-5 days before St. Patty’s Day, you have time to brine your own corned beef brisket! (See above for the recipe.)

Once the brisket is brined and ready, the remaining prep is a snap. I use a Crock-Pot to slow cook the meat but saute the veggies separately in a pan about half an hour before the meat is done for a great texture.

Hey… Where’s the Potatoes?

Of course traditional corned beef is not complete without cabbage (which I definitely include lots of) and potatoes. Our family typically avoids white potatoes (here’s why) because they’re starchy and high on the glycemic index, but on special occasions we will indulge in them.

I definitely  favor more nutrient-dense options like sweet potatoes or cauliflower “mashed potatoes” on the side instead, but feel free to add a few potatoes to the Crock-Pot in honor of the Irish if you wish!

For other recipe ideas that honor Irish heritage in healthier way, check out my potato-free cottage shepherd’s pie or the always popular bangers and mash. (These are also great options if there’s no time to brine a brisket!)

Update: Instant Pot and Oven Roasting Options

Cooking the meat in the slow cooker and sauteeing the veggies on the stove is still a nice convenient option. However, I’ve recently tried a couple new cooking methods for this recipe and they both have appealing aspects.

The first is cooking in the Instant Pot. It takes about 2 hours, versus 8 hours in the Crock-Pot, with similar results. I remove the meat after it’s done and then either cook the veggies in the Instant Pot for a few minutes or do them on the stove. Either method is fast and easy.

The second method is roasting everything in the oven. This method takes about 3 hours for a good sized brisket. I uncover it for the last half hour and the meat gets nicely caramelized. I put all the vegetables on a baking sheet and roast them for the last hour or so. Everything has a nice bit of crunch to it that you don’t get from the Instant Pot or Crock-Pot.

st. patrick's day corned beef

Corned Beef & Cabbage Recipe

Katie Wells
Choose your cooking method to make this traditional Irish meal that uses corned beef brined at home!
4.29 from 7 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 mins
Cook Time 2 hrs
Total Time 2 hrs 30 mins
Course Main
Cuisine Irish
Servings 6
Calories 548 kcal

Ingredients
  

For the brisket:

  • 3-4 lb. corned beef brisket
  • 3-4 cloves  garlic (minced)
  • 1 tsp black pepper

For the sides:

  • 1 head cabbage
  • 2 onions
  • 2 carrots
  • 2 TBSP butter (or ghee)
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1 tsp caraway
  • 1 tsp thyme
  • 1 tsp basil

Instructions
 

For the Crock-Pot:

  • First, drain brine, rinse brisket under cool water, and put it in Crock-Pot. 
  • Add garlic, pepper, and enough fresh water to just cover meat. (Do not use the brine ... it will be too salty!)
  • Turn the Crock-Pot on low and cook for 8 hours.
  • About half an hour before beef is done, chop cabbage, onion, garlic, and carrots.
  • Saute onions, carrots, and garlic in butter or ghee in large skillet until somewhat soft.
  • Add cabbage and spices and cook until soft. Add a little corned beef water from the crockpot if it starts to get dry.
  • Serve the corned beef over the cabbage and veggies.

For the Instant Pot

  • First, drain brine, rinse brisket under cool water, and put it in the Instant Pot. 
  • Add garlic, pepper, and enough fresh water to just cover meat. (Do not use the brine ... it will be too salty!)
  • Put the lid on the pot and cook at high pressure for 80 minutes with a 20 minute natural pressure release. 
  • While the meat is cooking, chop the vegetables into large pieces.
  • When the 20 minutes is up, release the remaining pressure and remove the meat, keeping it covered to keep warm.
  • Add the vegetables and the remaining ingredients listed for the sides, omitting the butter, and cook at high pressure for 3-4 minutes, releasing the pressure manually when done. You can also cook the vegetables in a skillet with butter instead as detailed above in the Crock-Pot method.
  • Serve the corned beef over the veggies and enjoy!

For Oven Roasted

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  • Drain the brine, rinse brisket under cool water, and put it on a rack in a roasting pan. 
  • Add about an inch of water to the roasting pan, cover the meat, and place in the preheated oven on the top shelf.
  • Roast for 2 hours.
  • While the meat is cooking, chop the vegetables into large pieces and place them on a baking sheet.
  • Drizzle the vegetables with melted butter or olive oil, sprinkle them with the spices, and place them in the oven with the meat on the bottom shelf.
  • After half an hour, uncover the meat.
  • Cook the meat and vegetables an additional half hour or until everything is tender.

Notes

Serve with cauliflower "mashed potatoes"!

Nutrition

Calories: 548kcalCarbohydrates: 16gProtein: 36gFat: 38gSaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 133mgSodium: 2837mgPotassium: 1049mgFiber: 5gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 3662IUVitamin C: 121mgCalcium: 103mgIron: 5mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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Ever made your own corned beef and cabbage before? What are your tips and tricks?

Classic Irish Corned Beef and Cabbage made the healthy way, slow cooked in the crock pot.

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Category: Beef Recipes, Recipes

About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder and CEO of Wellness Mama and Co-Founder of Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a wife and mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

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Reader Interactions

Discussion (26 Comments)

  1. Rachel

    March 16, 2017 at 1:23 PM

    I’m a big fan of plantain. It’s a yummy way to get healthy carbohydrates into my diet. Typically, I’ll slice up some plantain (green or ripe) and sauté it in coconut oil for a few minutes. Quick and easy plantain chips! You won’t miss potatoes. Easy to digest too!

    Reply
  2. Star Tarrant

    March 15, 2017 at 3:13 PM

    5 stars
    Thank you for ALL your blogs and recipes. I’m delighted to find this one which I try to make this weekend (I think I will keep Friday meatless and celebrate St Joseph and St Patrick on Sunday (so I will also look for any spaghetti / Italian recipes you have posted ! HOWEVER, I cannot find a way to “join the conversation” for your Healthy Mayonnaise which is how I found your website and I really want to add to that discussion and comment on your wonderful recipe and what I’ve done with it … but I cannot find a way to do so. I am new so perhaps I’m not up to speed. Is that discussion closed? Could it be reopened? I noticed there were also some comments with stars on the Healthy Mayo page but I’ve not found a way to “rate” or “Join” / reply on that Mayo subject (thank you for ALL the OTHER Mayo recipes which I will look into but meanwhile — where do I comment on this fundamental Healthy Mayo subject as Corned Beef is probably NOT the right section !!!

    Reply
    • Katie - Wellness Mama

      March 15, 2017 at 8:19 PM

      Hi Star, thanks for your comment. On posts older than 6 months, comments are closed (it helps free up my time so I don’t spend all my time answering comments, and instead can research and write new articles instead). Here’s a couple of Italian recipes for you to check out 🙂

      https://wellnessmama.com/8907/pasta-sauce/
      https://wellnessmama.com/2661/one-pan-spaghetti/

      Reply
  3. Cindy

    July 31, 2016 at 6:47 AM

    5 stars
    You forgot the taties! I know the carbs aren’t healthy but you can’t celebrate an Irish holiday without taties.

    Reply
  4. Maryann

    March 13, 2015 at 4:01 AM

    Looking forward to cooking this this weekend – only, do tell, a comment mentioned “brining solution.” I see no brining solution – or soaking – indicated in your directions. What am I missing?

    Reply
    • Katie - Wellness Mama

      March 13, 2015 at 9:07 PM

      Those instructions are in this recipe: How to Make Corned Beef . If you don’t have the time, you can brine it for fewer days

      Reply
  5. Lora

    March 6, 2015 at 12:12 PM

    Hi, I see that you cook it in fresh water, but do you keep the spices? My mom and I love the peppercorns and mustard seeds.

    Reply
    • Katie - Wellness Mama

      March 8, 2015 at 8:52 PM

      You can keep the spices or add more to the cooking water.

      Reply
  6. zahra

    November 30, 2014 at 5:57 AM

    I never join conversations, but this is my first because your recipe gave me the most outstanding, gorgeous meat! its very juicy, its not salty and everyone has complimented me, so i thought i would pass on the compliments. The only thing I did change was that i reserved all the spices from the brine and kept re-using them (i.e. added them when I soaked the meat in fresh water, and then I added them in the pot when I boiled the meat together with a tomato and onion). Its very yummy, thanks so much for sharing such a wonderful recipe.

    Reply
  7. Irene Tiger

    June 5, 2013 at 12:01 AM

    Must. Try. Love corned beef but not all those yucky nitrates.

    Reply
  8. Tonja Field

    June 24, 2012 at 8:38 PM

    spices to taste? like salt and pepper?? 🙂 

    Reply
    • Wellness Mama

      June 24, 2012 at 8:58 PM

      Salt and pepper and caraway, thyme and basil are good but not needed…

      Reply
  9. Aimee

    March 16, 2012 at 11:44 AM

    Should I use fresh water or the brining solution in the crock pot? Thanks for the recipe 🙂

    Reply
    • Wellness Mama

      March 16, 2012 at 11:47 AM

      Fresh water… the brining solution will be super salty! Just rinse the brisket well in cool water and then use water in the crock pot.

      Reply
  10. Jun Belen

    March 16, 2011 at 5:12 AM

    Thank you for the mention! I just discovered your blog. It’s a wealth of great information!

    Reply
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