20 Creative Ways to Use Up Leftover Corned Beef

Corned beef is a tasty cured meat that’s commonly served around St. Patrick’s Day. It’s made by curing beef brisket in a brine solution giving it a distinct pink color and salty seasoned flavor.

But corned beef takes a lot of time to prepare. And after the holiday festivities are over you may find yourself with lots of leftovers.

That’s why I’ve gathered 20 delicious ways to use up leftover corned beef. With a little creativity, you can transform those remnants into easy meals, snacks, and appetizers that your family will love.

Soups and Stews

One of my favorite ways to use up leftover meats is making hearty soups and stews. Corned beef works wonderfully here, adding great flavor to brothy dishes

Try adding chopped corned beef to potato chowders or cabbage soups. The meat pairs nicely with root vegetables and greens.

You can also use shredded corned beef in chili, lentil stew, or beef barley soup. It will add savoriness without overpowering the other ingredients.

Casseroles and Bakes

Casseroles are an easy and comforting way to transform leftovers into an easy weeknight meal. Corned beef Casserole with potatoes, cheese, and vegetables is a tasty option.

For breakfast, make a corned beef hash casserole with potatoes, onions, peppers, and eggs. Or mix corned beef into a quiche or strata.

You can even assemble a Reuben casserole by layering corned beef with sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and thousand island dressing between slices of rye bread.

Sandwiches and Melts

Of course, corned beef is right at home on a sandwich. Pile it high on rye bread for a classic Reuben, or keep it simple with Swiss cheese and mustard on toasted bread.

For an easy hot sandwich, top corned beef with sauerkraut and Swiss cheese on rye and broil it open-faced. You can also make corned beef melts on English muffins or toasted bagels.

Salads and Slaws

Corned beef makes a tasty addition to main-dish salads for lunch or light dinners. Try dicing and mixing it into potato, pasta, or grain-based salads.

You can also use shredded corned beef in coleslaws for a fun twist. Add it to crunchy cabbage slaws, creamy mayo-based slaws, or tangy vinaigrettes.

Eggs and Breakfast

Looking for a hearty breakfast? Corned beef hash is a diner classic, made by pan-frying diced meat with potatoes and onions.

You can also scramble eggs with bite-size pieces of corned beef. Or fold it into egg bakes, frittatas, and stratas for easy make-ahead breakfasts.

Pastas, Grains, and Veggies

For a flavorful pasta dish, combine cubed corned beef with tomatoes, olives, peppers, and zesty seasonings. Toss it with penne, rigatoni, or your favorite pasta shape.

You can also add shredded corned beef to rice or grains like farro, barley, or quinoa. Mix in roasted vegetables for a hearty one-pot meal.

Snacks and Appetizers

Jazz up snacks and starters with leftover corned beef. Make mini Reubens on small pieces of rye bread for easy party apps.

You can also wrap bites of corned beef, sauerkraut, and Swiss cheese in wonton wrappers or eggroll skins for handheld appetizers.

For a cheesy dip, blend chopped corned beef with cream cheese, cheddar, and seasonings. Serve with crackers or chips.

Flatbreads, Pizza, Tacos

Put leftover corned beef to work on topped breads, pizzas, and tacos. Pile shredded meat on flatbreads or fold it into quesadillas with cheese.

For pizza, add diced corned beef as a fun topping along with cheese, veggies, and a drizzle of mustard sauce. You can fill tacos with shredded corned beef, cabbage, and cheese too.

Turn It Into Hash

If you don’t have specific recipes in mind, chop or shred the corned beef and mix it with potatoes and onions. Cook the hash until browned and crispy, and serve it topped with a fried egg for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Things to Keep in Mind

• Refrigerate corned beef within 2 hours of cooking and use within 3-4 days. The salty brine helps preserve it.

• Corned beef pairs well with cabbage, potatoes, Swiss cheese, mustard, and rye bread.

• Add chopped or shredded corned beef to soups, salads, casseroles, pasta, pizza, tacos, and more.

• Fry or roast diced corned beef with potatoes and onions for an easy hash.

With a little creativity, you can give leftover holiday corned beef new life in lots of delicious ways. Try out some of these recipes, and see just how far your corned beef can go!