Guinness Crock Pot Corned Beef

Need an idea for a super easy St. Patrick's Day dinner?

You are in luck. It does not get too much easier than this. Throw a few things in the crock pot and *voila* done. 

I'm going to list my cooking times and I will also add the cooking times from the original recipe (an old newspaper clipping). It helps if you know how your crock pot cooks. Mine leans towards cooking things much faster than other crock pots.

This is perfect for a busy weekday meal but is still fancy enough to serve for your St. Patrick's Day dinner guests. The Guinness adds a definite tang to the dish without being too overpowering. 

Guinness Crock Pot Corned Beef

Ingredients

2 - 3 lb corned beef

1 1/2 cups Guinness draught

1/4 cup white vinegar

1/4 cup brown sugar

3 garlic cloves, minced

2 Tbsp prepared mustard

2 bay leaves

1/4 tsp pepper

6 medium potatoes, peeled and halved

5 large carrots, cut in chunks

Gravy

2 Tbsp flour

2 Tbsp butter

Directions

Spray your crock pot with cooking spray. Place the corned beef on the bottom.

In a mixing bowl, whisk together the Guinness, vinegar, brown sugar, garlic, mustard, bay leaves, and pepper. Pour over the corned beef.

Cover and cook on low for 4 hours. Turn meat over and cook, covered, another hour.

At the 5 hour mark, place the halved potatoes into the crock pot with the corned beef. 

Cook another hour on low.

At the 6 hour mark, turn the slow cooker up to high, place the chunked carrots into the crock pot. Lift the corned beef out and make sure the potatoes and carrots are covered in the liquid, then place the corned beef back on top of the vegetables. 

Cover and cook on high until vegetables are done - about another hour.

When everything is done: remove the corned beef to a plate and cover with tinfoil. Let the meat rest, covered, while you prepare the gravy. 

To prepare the gravy - place a large strained in a bowl. Pour the contents of the crock pot into the strainer.

Place the vegetables back into the crock pot and keep covered. 

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, cook and stir the butter and flour until smooth. Slowly whisk in the strained liquid from the crock pot. Bring to a boil and keep whisking until thickened, about 2 - 3 minutes or so. 

Slice your corned beef (against the grain).

Serve the gravy over the corned beef and vegetables. 

The above instructions include my cooking times for my crock pot. 

Here is the original recipe cooking times - Cook on low for 4 hours. Add in the potatoes. Cook another 3 hours. Add in the carrots. Cook another hour. (For a grand total of 8 hours on low.)

I'm guessing the original recipe times would apply to most crock pots so, therefore, might be a bit better to try if you are not sure of your crock pot. 

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