Corned Beef is the most delicious and flavorful entree, perfect served alongside potatoes and cabbage (or for making a delicious Reuben Sandwich)!
If you’ve never had it before, St. Patrick’s Day is the perfect opportunity to try corned beef. A brined beef brisket is simmered with seasonings (and a bit of Guinness) until fork tender. This classic Irish staple couldn’t be more delicious!
Serve it next to mashed potatoes, egg noodles, or roasted root vegetables for a comforting meal that everyone will love!
Corned Beef
What is Corned Beef? It is a brine-and-spice-cured beef brisket. The curing process is what gives corned beef its characteristic pink color. The word “corned” refers to the large chunks or rock salt, called “corns” that are used in brining.
Typical spice mixes used for corned beef brining recipes include bay leaves, pepper corns and allspice. Some mixes may also include ginger, cinnamon or other warming spices. Nowadays, corned beef most often comes with a spice packet for you to use while cooking (and if yours doesn’t have the spice packet, pickling spices is a great substitution).
Brisket is a flavorful, though tough cut of meat that comes from the breast section of the animal. You can find corned beef in an oblong shape, but more commonly, it is triangular.
Corned beef typically has a thin layer of fat on one side. Don’t trim that off! It makes for better flavor. An oblong corned beef is a little nicer for making even slices. But whatever shape you choose, corned beef is easy comfort cooking.
How to Cook Corned Beef
Corned beef should be simmered until it is fork tender. To make corned beef:
- Place the corned beef a stock pot. Add the spice packet, a bottle of dark beer and enough water to cover the corned beef completely.
- Bring it to a boil and cover, cooking on a low simmer for 2 1/2 – 3 1/2 hours. This cooking time will vary depending on the size and shape of the corned beef.
- Suggested cook time is 45-50 minutes per pound. Ensure it is a low simmer. Check a small piece and ensure it’s tender.
- Once fork tender, remove the corned beef from the liquid and rest for at least 20 minutes.
While the meat is resting, add the vegetables to the corned beef water and simmer about 25 minutes. The water has tons of delicious flavor perfect for potatoes, carrots and cabbage. Toss them in butter, salt and pepper, and fresh parsley.
IMPORTANT TIP:
Corned Beef must always be cut across the grain. Look at the beef and you can see the direction of the fibers of the meat, you’ll want to cut the opposite way the fibers run for the most tender meat!
Instant Pot Corned Beef: You can also make Instant Pot Corned Beef using the same ingredients. Simply place the corned beef, 1 bottle of beer and 2 cups of water in the Instant Pot. A 3.5-4lb corned beef will need about 90 minutes (with 15 minutes natural release).
What To Serve with Corned Beef
Corned beef only needs the simplest side dishes to make your meal complete. To keep the traditional Irish theme going, serve it with cabbage, colcannon, or mashed potatoes.
More Recipes You’ll Love
- Corned Beef and Cabbage Slow Cooker Recipe (Video) – another easy way to make this meal!
- Corned Beef Hash (video) – just in case you have leftovers
- Boozy Shamrock Shake – perfect for St. Patrick’s Day
- Reuben Dip – my favorite dip
- Shepherd’s Pie – classic!
Corned Beef (Stove Top)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 to 4 pounds corned beef brisket uncooked, with spice packet
- 2 bay leaves
- 12 ounces dark beer 1 bottle, optional
- 1 ½ pounds baby potatoes halved
- 3 large carrots cut into 2-inch pieces
- ½ head green cabbage cut into wedges
- 3 tablespoons salted butter or to taste
- salt and black pepper
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Place the corned beef in a large stock pot. Add spice packet if your corned beef came with one (see note if you don't have one).
- Add one bottle of beer (optional) over corned beef and enough water to cover completely.
- Bring to a boil, reduce heat and cover. Simmer 45-50 minutes per pound (until meat is fork tender). Approximately 2 ½ -3 ½ hours.
- Once tender, remove meat from the pot and cover (reserve the cooking liquid, this will flavor your vegetables). Place corned beef in a 250°F oven to keep warm.
- Bring the corned beef water back up to a boil. Add in vegetables and cook an additional 20-30 minutes or until tender.
- Place vegetables in a large bowl and toss with butter. Add parsley.
- Slice the corned beef against the grain.
Video
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Beef, Entree, Main Course
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Lovely recipe! Thanks
Best corned beef recipe. So easy & so delicious.
oh dear. I wanted my cabbage to have extra corned seasoning while I cooked it separately. Good thing it was separate because PICKLING SPICE is the WRONG thing!
That is the spice used for making sweet pickles. The McCormick brand has cinnamon allspice, ginger, cloves, coriander, and anise in it.
The cabbage, and the juices are ruined.
The rest of it was really good though.
Great recipe! Thank you, Holly. I’m enjoying this very much.
So glad you loved it Calissa!
why is it stringy is it suppose to be that way?
If it seems stringy after slicing, it may have not been cut across the grain. You will see long fibers along the meat, you’ll want to cut across the fibers so you don’t have long strands in the slices of meat.
Another recipe that does not say whether to drain it or use the brine!
I discard any liquid in the package but do not rinse the corned beef.
When do you use the bay leaves?
If using them, like to add bay leaves with the water/beer.
Hi! I’ve never made a corned beef brisket that looked this good & lean; you must have used flat cut! I’ll never again buy point cut; it’s fatty and half the height of yours! Next time, I’ll use THIS recipe – I love using Guinness stout in recipes but never thought to use it for corned beef. Thank you for the recipe!
I did use a flat cut in the photos! Enjoy the recipe Mich!