Best Corned Beef And Cabbage Recipe - The Pioneer Woman

Before I tell you how to make this scrumptious meal for St. Patrick's Day, I have a funny and touching corned beef story to share with you. Early in my marriage, I decided I wanted to try to make my mom's classic beef brisket, which is marinated in all sorts of savory (salty) ingredients. So I sauntered down to the grocery store, bought one of those brisket things, took it home, and marinated it in things like beef consommé and soy sauce for a good 18 hours before putting in the oven for another seven. And when my husband and I took our first bite of that lovely, tender meat, well… we spit it out and gagged.

Turns out, I'd bought a corned beef brisket instead.

Note to self: Corned beef brisket does not need to be marinated in savory ingredients.

Awwww... wasn't that a sweet story?

Anyway, corned beef and cabbage is one of the most traditional Irish-American foods in existence. But you know what? For a traditional holiday dish, there sure are a lot of different ways to spin it. The corned beef can be shredded, shaved, or sliced. The cabbage can be shredded, wedged, or chunked. The brisket can be boiled, braised, or roasted. The beef and cabbage can be slow cooked together, or they can be kept separate. Anyway, here's my favorite way to make it! It's abundantly delicious, and the cabbage is sort of green, if you're into St. Patrick's Day traditions. If you're looking for an extremely hands-off version of this recipe, try this slow cooker corned beef and cabbage.

What kind of beer is best for corned beef and cabbage?

I like using Guinness. Not only is it on-theme for a St. Paddy's Day feast, but it adds tons of flavor to the cabbage. That being said, you can really use any beer. Any light beer or lager would work just fine.

How do you know when corned beef is done?

Once the meat is fork-tender, it's done. Important: If the brisket is not fork-tender and you're met with any sort of resistance when you stick a fork in it, it is NOT done. In that case, stick it back in the oven for 30 minutes, or 45 minutes, or even an hour. You can start checking it at 30 minutes and go from there. The meat should be exceedingly tender—almost falling apart—when it's ready to eat.

How long does cooked corned beef last in the fridge?

It will stay good for up to three days as long as it's stored in an airtight container and refrigerated. Keep reading for all the delicious ways to use it!

What can you do with leftover corned beef?

Corned beef should never go to waste! There are tons of ways to use it. This corned beef sandwich on rye is so wonderful. You can even stick a cabbage wedge on one. I also love this classic reuben (which is also a corned beef sandwich, but with a fancy name). If you're not sandwich-obsessed, you can use it to make this corned beef hash for breakfast, or this reuben casserole for dinner another night.