How to Serve Corned Beef: 15 Tasty Ways to Enjoy This Classic Meat

Corned beef is a salt-cured brisket that has long been a staple ingredient 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.

This article 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 any time 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.

Keywords: boiled, cabbage, carrots, potatoes, broth, slice across grain, mustard

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.

Keywords: rye bread, Swiss cheese, Thousand Island dressing, sauerkraut, pickles, kettle chips

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.

Keywords: dice, potatoes, skillet, spices, fried egg

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.

Keywords: rye bread, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, Russian dressing, grill

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.

Keywords: dice, shred, cabbage slaw, Swiss cheese, Russian dressing, corn tortillas

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.

Keywords: pizza dough, sauerkraut, caramelized onions, Thousand Island dressing, Swiss cheese

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.

Keywords: egg roll wrappers, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, Russian dressing, Thousand Island dressing

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.

Keywords: rye bread, sauerkraut, Thousand Island dressing, Swiss cheese

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.

Keywords: cube, carrots, potatoes, onions, 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.

*Keywords: tortilla chips, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, Thousand Island dressing, jalapeños *

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.

Keywords: sauté, cabbage, tortilla, Swiss cheese, Russian dressing

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.

Keywords: chop, shred, potatoes, cabbage, carrots, Thousand Island dressing, soft boiled egg

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.

Keywords: dice, broth, potatoes, cabbage, carrots, heavy cream, 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.

Keywords: shred, hash browns, skillet, fried egg

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.

Keywords: chop, potatoes, carrots, cabbage, pie dough, hand pies

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.

Keywords: dice, potatoes, cabbage, eggs, peas, soy sauce

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.