Corned beef is a salt-cured brisket that has long been a staple in many cultures. This tender, flavorful meat has an unmistakable pink hue and makes for hearty, comforting dishes. While corned beef is synonymous with St. Patrick’s Day fare like corned beef and cabbage, there are many delicious ways to prepare and serve this versatile meat beyond just one holiday meal.
In this article, we will explore 15 amazing ways to serve corned beef, from traditional boiled dinners to creative sandwiches, tacos and more. Let’s dive in!
Traditional Boiled Corned Beef and Cabbage
This is the classic preparation for St. Patrick’s Day or anytime you crave hearty comfort food. Simmer a corned beef brisket in broth or water with spices like bay leaves, mustard seeds, and peppercorns until fork tender. Cook wedges of cabbage, carrots and potatoes in the savory cooking liquid towards the end. Slice the corned beef across the grain and serve with the vegetables, mustard and rye bread.
Corned Beef Sandwiches
Nothing beats a piled-high corned beef sandwich on rye! Layer sliced corned beef with Swiss cheese, Thousand Island dressing, sauerkraut and/or pickles. Add some crispy kettle chips on the side for a satisfying lunch or dinner.
Corned Beef Hash
This diner staple is easy to make at home with leftover corned beef Dice the meat and combine it in a skillet with diced boiled potatoes Cook until browned and crisp, season with spices, and top with a fried egg for breakfast or brunch.
Reuben Sandwiches
The Reuben sandwich is a corned beef icon. Layer sliced corned beef with sauerkraut, Swiss cheese and creamy Russian or Thousand Island dressing between slices of grilled rye bread. Grill the sandwich until the cheese melts for hot melty goodness.
Corned Beef Tacos
Who says corned beef is only for sandwiches? Dice or shred cooked corned beef and use it as the filling for tacos with cabbage slaw, Swiss cheese, Russian dressing and hot sauce. Serve on soft corn tortillas for a tasty Tex-Mex twist.
Corned Beef Pizza
Pile refrigerated prepared pizza dough with shredded corned beef, sauerkraut, caramelized onions, Thousand Island dressing and shredded Swiss cheese. Bake until the crust is crispy and cheese melted for a hearty pizza perfect for St. Patrick’s Day.
Corned Beef Egg Rolls
For an appetizer twist, wrap sliced corned beef, sauerkraut and Swiss cheese in egg roll wrappers. Fry or bake until golden brown. Serve with Russian or Thousand Island dressing for dipping.
Corned Beef Casserole
Make this easy baked dish by layering cubed rye bread, chopped corned beef, sauerkraut, Thousand Island dressing and shredded Swiss cheese. The flavors meld together in the oven for corned beef decadence.
Corned Beef Stew
Cube cooked corned beef and add it to beef stew along with carrots, potatoes and onions. The salty corned beef adds wonderful flavor to the rich broth. Serve in bowls with Irish soda bread.
Corned Beef Nachos
Pile tortilla chips with shredded corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, Thousand Island dressing and jalapeños for a super indulgent appetizer or light meal. Melt under the broiler before digging in.
Corned Beef Quesadillas
Sauté sliced corned beef and cabbage together, then place inside a tortilla with shredded Swiss cheese. Fry in a skillet until toasted and melty, then slice and serve with Russian dressing for dipping.
Corned Beef Salad
Chop or shred cooked corned beef, then toss with boiled potatoes, shredded cabbage, carrots and Thousand Island dressing. Top with a soft boiled egg for a satisfying spin on egg salad.
Corned Beef Soup
Simmer diced corned beef in beef broth with potatoes, cabbage and carrots. Finish the soup with a swirl of heavy cream or milk to enrich it. Garnish bowls with shredded Swiss cheese.
Corned Beef Hash Browns
Combine shredded cooked corned beef with frozen shredded hash browns. Cook in a skillet until browned and crispy, then top with a fried egg for an easy weeknight dinner.
Irish Corned Beef Pasty
Encapsulate the flavors of an Irish boiled dinner by wrapping chopped corned beef, potatoes, carrots and cabbage in a savory pie dough. Bake the hand pies until golden for a hearty handheld meal.
Corned Beef Fried Rice
Transform leftover corned beef into an easy fried rice. Dice it up along with boiled potatoes and cabbage, then stir fry with rice, eggs, peas and soy sauce for a quick and tasty one-pan meal.
The possibilities are endless when it comes to serving up delicious and creative corned beef dishes. Move beyond just sandwiches and boiled dinners with these recipes. With its unique salty flavor and tender texture, corned beef pairs wonderfully with so many ingredients and lends itself to both traditional and innovative preparations.
Corned Beef And Cabbage
Simple, satisfying, and easy to make, were not sure why corned beef and cabbage is relegated to one day a year. Corned beef is technically just referencing a type of preparation that could be applied to a number of cuts of beef that benefit from long cook times, but the cut that provides the perfect balance of rich flavor from fat and tender lean meat is brisket. Its great for slicing, which makes it a perfect candidate for corned beef.
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Is your ideal sandwich a perfect Reuben? Ours too. Corned beef, Russian dressing, sauerkraut, and Swiss cheese—what’s not to love? It’s why we made these melty Reuben squares: They’re kind of like the giant grilled cheese version (complete with a toasty buttery top) that’s perfect for sharing.
Get the Reuben Squares recipe.
Not feeling a Reuben sandwich or need to serve all the best ingredients from it—corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, Russian dressing—to a crowd? Its time to break out the bagel chips! Get the Reuben Nachos recipe.Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Admittedly, calling this a Reuben is a bit of a stretch, since it’s only got a short-cut Russian dressing, no sauerkraut, and, of course, no rye bread. Despite that, we’re still extremely happy with it, and think you will be too. Particularly if you’re the type to eat a pickle straight out of the jar while ruminating with the fridge door open about whether or not you actually want to cook. This recipe is perfect for you.
Get the Pickle Reubens recipe.
Honestly, you can put anything in an egg roll and itll be delicious—this Reuben wrap is no exception!
Tangy, tender, creamy, and meaty—its hard to beat a Reuben. We swapped corned beef for a juicy beef burger (but dont worry, corned-beef lovers, theres still some in the sauerkraut topper), all smothered in Swiss for a comforting, melty burger. Get the Melty Reuben Burger recipe.
Everyone loves the cheesy bread topping on French onion soup, so we stole the idea for this Reuben soup! We might not ever go back to the original ever again.
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Corned Beef & Cabbage Cheese Quesadillas
Cabbage is getting transformed in ways you wouldn’t be able to believe. It’s become illustrious for its multipurpose culinary usage. The spotlight is no longer on stuffed cabbage rolls or coleslaw; instead, it’s all about how to make it innovative and cool. These corned beef and cabbage quesadillas feature Swiss cheese, beef, and cabbage wrapped up in flour tortillas. Sauerkraut and stone-ground mustard are also taking center stage in a creamy dipping sauce to serve alongside the quesadillas. Taste buds, get ready!
Get the Corned Beef & Cabbage Cheese Quesadillas recipe.
No smoker? No problem! We made a makeshift smoker in our oven for an easy way to achieve that smoky flavor. Cooking it low and slow over a bed of wood chips creates and tender and juicy piece of meat thats perfect for any special occasion. Be sure to turn your leftovers into a Reuben sandwich!
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Skip the carbs and make this easy one-skillet recipe with cabbage, corned beef, sauerkraut, and Russian dressing. It has everything you love about the classic Reuben sandwich, without the bread.
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Here at Delish, we’re all about a good Reuben sandwich. Creamy dressing, corned beef, Swiss cheese… what’s not to love? They pop up a lot around St. Patrick’s Day, of course (what else are we going to do with all that corned beef?), but they’re delicious enough to seek out year-round too.
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Corned beef has taken on new challenges beyond the Reuben. We’ve taken the classic Reuben and repurposed it in nacho and casserole form. Next challenge: a taco, with a melted layer of Swiss and a lightly creamy, acidic, and caraway-forward slaw. Get the Corned Beef Tacos recipe.
This roasted recipe is one of our favorites; its super-moist and tender, with a unique spice blend you wont find in a little plastic baggie. Roasting also provides a delicious crust on the outside of the brisket that you could never get from a pot of boiling water. Complete your feast with fried cabbage and boiled potatoes.
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A Reuben is one of the best all-time sandwiches. Full stop! Not only is built on one of the best of all sandwich breads, rye of course, but it balances the salty, cured corned beef with tart sauerkraut and mild, almost creamy melted Swiss. And dont get us started on Russian dressing. Get the Reuben Sandwich recipe.
The Reuben is a perfect sandwich. So turning such a masterpiece into a casserole is a no-brainer—it takes everything you love about a Reuben and turns it into a crowd-pleasing, easy-to-assemble dish with layers of cubed pumpernickel-rye bread, chopped corned beef (or pastrami!), and shredded cheese, all with a generous dressing drizzle. Get the Reuben Casserole recipe. Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
As much as we’d like to, we can’t eat a Reuben sandwich for dinner every day. This stuffed chicken, though? That’s a whole other story. It’s filled with all our favorite ingredients—corned beef, Russian dressing, sauerkraut, and Swiss cheese—and is fancy enough to serve to dinner guests, while still being easy enough to enjoy any night of the week.
Get the Reuben Stuffed Chicken recipe.
How to Make Corned Beef & Cabbage | Allrecipes
FAQ
How are you supposed to eat corned beef?
Traditionally, hot corned beef is served very simply, sliced and accompanied by boiled or steamed vegetables and a white sauce flavoured with horseradish. Cold corned beef is eaten sliced with salad or on sandwiches, often with mustard.
What sauce do you serve with corned beef?
Mustard Sauce for Corned Beef
This buttery, tangy, and vinegary mustard sauce is subtly sweetened with brown and white sugars. An egg thickens things up a bit, so it’s perfectly rich.
What is corned beef best served with?
This tender, fall-apart corned beef and will make your St. Patrick’s Day dinner the talk of the town. Serve it with cabbage, potatoes, and carrots to make your holiday dinner complete.
What’s the best way to eat canned corned beef?
Slice and fry the corned beef in a skillet, and serve with eggs, grits, potatoes, or rice! Or put the corned beef on bread with mustard, and have a sandwich! You can also make potatoes and cabbage with the corned beef!
What to serve with corned beef?
Pair your steak with a side of truffle fries! Woah! This Fan-Favorite Corned Beef Has Salpicao, Bulgogi, + Mechado Flavors You Can Easily Make a Carbonara Pasta Sauce in 15 Minutes! What are you craving for?
What to eat after corned beef?
Apples have long been a staple of bakers, and this not-too-sweet Irish Apple Cake will be the ideal dessert to serve after your savory corned beef main dish. Oats, a common ingredient in Irish homes, serve as the foundation of this cake recipe. As this cake bakes, the warm baking spices cinnamon and nutmeg give it a wonderful aroma.
Do corned beef and cabbage go well together?
Corned beef and cabbage go so well together that the two seem inseparable, like burgers and fries, or rice and beans. It’s such an established tradition in the U.S. that it almost feels sacrilegious to separate this pairing. As you may know, corned beef and cabbage is actually not a very common dish in Ireland.