If youre eating corned beef this St. Patrick’s Day, you likely already know which side you’ll be serving. Like burgers and fries or rice and beans, corned beef and cabbage seem inseparable because they complement one another so well. Its such an established tradition in the U. S. that it almost feels sacrilegious to separate this pairing.
As you may be aware, corned beef and cabbage is not a dish that is typically served in Ireland. People there typically eat lamb or bacon on St. Patrick’s Day, but Irish Americans began consuming corned beef because it was more affordable in the US. That doesn’t make it any less “authentic,” but it should serve as a reminder that customs can always be reinterpreted and that no food combination is infallible.
While we don’t want to stop you from making cabbage, your sides shouldn’t end there. The well-balanced, slightly sour flavor of corned beef goes well with a variety of sides. One obvious choice is potatoes, and there are many delicious options for sides incorporating the spud.
To replace the cabbage and add some much-needed color, you can also choose from a variety of sautéed and roasted greens. There are no wrong choices, of course. These sides can add some variety, texture, and balance to your next corned beef dinner, whether they are a replacement for or a supplement to what you had already planned to prepare.
- Crispy Smashed Baby Potatoes. …
- Southern Squash Casserole. …
- Roasted Russet Potatoes. …
- Parmesan Roasted Green Beans. …
- Slow Cooker Bacon Mac and Cheese. …
- Classic Green Bean Casserole. …
- Slow Cooker Sweet Potatoes With Bacon. …
- Slow Cooker Au Gratin Potatoes.
Best Corned Beef Side Dishes
St. Patrick’s Day is one of the cheeriest and most enjoyable holidays that we observe, no matter our ethnic background. Who can resist parades, rainbows, shamrocks, Leprechauns, and “green beer”?!.
The beloved corned beef, which I have featured here along with 19 Irish-inspired dishes and some non-traditional recipes that will go well with the tried and true, is most frequently seen on the family table. Tasty, tender corned beef is the ideal main dish to build an amazing Irish-themed menu around or just enjoy any night of the week as a family dinner. Choose your favorites and take your tastebuds on a culinary adventure!
What To Serve with Corned Beef
Never overlook how inexpensive corned beef and cabbage is to prepare at any time of the year. No special occasions needed! .
Try my homemade corned beef seasoning if you’re not a fan of the pre-made seasoning mixes for corned beef like I am.
For your corned beef dinner, you can also view all of my menu recommendations as a web story.
Great Appetizers for Corned Beef Dinners
These starters are a great way to get ready for your fantastic dinner, whether you’re fully embracing an Irish-theme for the festive holiday or just enjoying a big family meal.
This crispy potato nacho, which is garnished with your choice of pico, green onions or chives, olives, and jalapenos, is the ideal way to begin your meal. A good bottle (or 2) of Guinness stout will help you feel festive right away!
This tangy dill pickle snack, which is air-fried, is surprisingly tasty and extra crunchy. The appetizer’s sour pickle flavor is the ideal counterbalance to the corned beef’s saltiness.
Serve your fried pickles with your favorite dipping sauce. My go-to is always ranch dressing!.
When served hot and bubbling from the oven with a creamy cheese mixture, spinach, and artichokes, you can enjoy it with chips, bread, or crostini. This crowd-pleasing appetizer is simple to make and a wonderful way to get more vegetables.
Make bite-sized cheese-filled morsels of your favorite macaroni and cheese by baking it. Crispy on the outside, tender, cheesy, and moist inside!.
The perfect finger food, they’re also incredibly simple to make and a hit with both kids and adults.
You’ll love how simple it is to make, and your guests will love the delicious flavor of this tangy, creamy dill pickle dip, which is a crowd favorite party dip that disappears quickly.
Best Bread that Goes with Corned Beef
Stick with the traditional Irish soda bread or choose incredibly tender potato rolls for some great options. Who doesn’t love some soft bread to clean their plate after enjoying some rich, hearty dinner?
This bread, a mainstay of Irish cuisine, is a great option for beginning bakers because it doesn’t require yeast, making it quick and simple to make. Combine, shape the dough into a loaf, place it in a baking pan, and bake.
Irish soda bread has a golden crust and is the ideal amount of light, fluffy, and tasty. A perfect partner for the hearty corned beef.
*Aside: Most Irish families lacked ovens by the middle of the nineteenth century. Instead, they used a bastible, a contraption akin to a Dutch oven, to bake their bread over an open fire.
Without a roll in your hand, no meal is complete, and these fluffy, light potato rolls are unquestionably among the best you will ever bake. These rolls are especially soft thanks to the mashed potatoes, which also make the dough easier to work with.
If there are any leftovers (is that even possible? ), they can be used to make corned beef sliders or simply frozen for up to a month and then heated to perfection.
Best Vegetable Sides That Go With Corned Beef
Though potatoes, root vegetables, and cabbage are traditional side dishes for corned beef, there are many other delicious options that are equally well suited to your meal. Think outside the box and get ready to experience some wonderful flavor contrasts!
The flavors of the bacon and onion are infused into the cabbage as it slowly cooks to perfection, making cooking cabbage in your slow cooker the easiest method there is. It will be prepared to serve in just a few stress-free hours.
The carrot will add some color to the table when served as a side dish with corned beef, and the sugar will balance the savory meat. Using a skillet to prepare glazed carrots is by far the quickest and simplest method.
Your family will love these carrots once you add some butter and brown sugar to them!
These garlicky green beans with bacon and buttery goodness are one of the most adaptable vegetables and will make a delicious side dish. They are the ideal addition to your corned beef dinner because of their vivid color and robust flavor.
These oven-roasted Brussel sprouts will be a flavorful match for your corned beef dinner because they are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. When something is roasted, the flavor is slightly smoky, sweet, and nutty, and the bitterness that results from other cooking techniques is completely eliminated.
These delicious treats are so simple to make that your family and guests will be requesting second helpings!
This dish’s delicious tanginess will bring out the flavor of your corned beef and make your meal even more amazing. Sautéing fresh asparagus enhances the vegetable’s natural earthy flavor while adding cherry tomatoes gives this dish a little extra tang.
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Potato Side Dishes for Corned Beef
Potatoes cooked in a variety of ways will all be a great starchy side to serve with your corned beef dinner, as there is nothing better to pair with corned beef!
Without potatoes, what meal would be complete? And what better way to serve them than mashed, with roasted garlic raising the bar for perfection?
When you serve this creamy delicious mash, your family’s meat and potato lovers will be singing your praises!
*Sidenote: Mashed potatoes are jokingly referred to as “Irish Guac Omole” because mashed potatoes are a staple at every meal in an Irish household. ( You can read the Reddit-originated discussion about the nickname at Irish Central. )
Another way to improve the flavor of your mashed potatoes is to top them with a mixture of bread crumbs rich in Parmesan and bake them until perfectly crispy and golden. It doesn’t take away from the flavor of your flavorful corned beef, but the texture of the creamy potatoes with crunch cheese topping is out of this world!
Easy to prepare and a traditional potato side dish for so many proteins, scalloped potatoes are a dish made to pair with any beef dinner.
Make this tasty variation of mashed potatoes to keep with the Irish theme and serve it for St. Patrick’s Day. Lots of butter and tender cabbage combine with your favorite mashed potatoes to make a fabulous potato dish. Paddys Day!.
This St. Patrick’s Day, serve these delectable potatoes as a super-rich and tasty potato side dish with your dinner. Your entire family will love this traditional holiday side dish on St. Patrick’s Day!
Perfect Desserts to Serve with Corned Beef
Try my apple blackberry crumble if you’d like to indulge in a common fruit dessert enjoyed by the Irish. Like our American apple pie, a great Irish apple cake is a special treat, and serving it with my rich custard makes it even better!
The Irish oatmeal cake is simple, but tender and moist. Its absolutely perfect for an anytime dessert!.
And finally, I’m sure you’ll enjoy some rainbow rice krispies treats, which are the same crispy, gooey, marshmallow goodness that we all grew up with but in festive fun colors, just for fun or to let your kids make their own dessert.
No matter how full you feel after a hearty dinner, there is always room for this irresistible dessert thanks to the sweet apples and tart blackberries that make this crumble a true family favorite.
The smooth, creamy custard sauce might be the key to this cake’s success. 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.
While the oat-based cake is incredible and tasty all on its own, topping it with my simple caramel pecan frosting will enhance the flavors even more!
My disclaimer is that I’m not responsible for any sticky fingerprints left over from this incredibly simple no-bake dessert. .
I’d love to know what you love to make for St. Patrick’s Day or your favorite dishes to serve with corned beef. Patrick’s Day, please let me know in the comments section below!
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What To Serve with Corned Beef: 20+ Amazing Recipes To Make!
- ▢ Irish Soda Bread
- ▢ Potato Rolls
- Choose the side dishes, bread, and appetizers to complete your menu for a corned beef dinner.
- Prepare your selected dishes while your corned beef is cooking.
- Serve with corned beef for a delicious meal. Enjoy!
Canned Corned Beef Recipes and Corned Beef Pickle Dip
FAQ
What are the traditional side dishes?
Some common side dishes include:Asparagus. Baked beans. Baked potatoes. Broccoli. Cabbage. Cauliflower. Coleslaw. Dinner rolls or other breads.
What do the Irish eat with corned beef?
Since cabbage was one of the least expensive vegetables available to Irish immigrants, it was served alongside the corned beef.
Which side up for corned beef?
Put the vegetables on a plate, top with the corned beef, fat side up, and sprinkle with pickling spice. Add enough water to almost cover the meat (4 to 6 cups). Corned beef should be covered and cooked on high for 4 1/4 hours (or 8 1/2 hours on low).
What to have on the side of corned beef hash?
Fried eggs, toasted sourdough bread, scotch eggs, bagel bites, crispy green beans, shakshuka, grilled tomatoes, baked beans, coleslaw, sautéed mushrooms, green salad, and hash browns are the ideal side dishes to serve with corned beef hash.