What’s more Irish than a traditional recipe for corned beef and cabbage? Serve with mustard or horseradish if desired.
If you’re looking for the best corned beef and cabbage recipe on the internet, you’ve come to the right place. You won’t believe how simple it is to make this top-rated recipe. It’s perfect for St. Patrick’s Day, but you’ll want to make it all year long.
What Is Corned Beef?
Corned beef is salt-cured beef. Before electricity paved the way for refrigeration, meat was preserved in salt. Brisket (the tender meat from the lower breast) is traditionally used to make corned beef in the United States.
Corned Beef and Cabbage Origins
So how did corned beef and cabbage become such a dynamic duo? It’s actually an American invention. Historically, cabbage was paired with pork bacon in Ireland. Irish immigrants in 19th-century New York City, who often lived in the same neighborhood as Jewish butchers, noticed flavor similarities between the corned beef of NYC delicatessens and the pork bacon of their homeland. Thus, corned beef and cabbage was born. These days, it’s commonly associated with St. Patrick’s Day.
Corned Beef vs. Pastrami
Corned beef and pastrami are both deli staples, but they’re not the same thing. Corned beef is salt-cured beef that is cooked by boiling, while pastrami is seasoned and smoked beef.
How to Make Corned Beef and Cabbage
You’ll find the full, step-by-step recipe below — but here’s a brief overview of what you can expect when you make corned beef and cabbage:
- Boil the corned beef, then simmer until the meat is tender.
- Cut the red potatoes in half, cut the cabbage into wedges, and peel and cut the carrots.
- Add the potatoes and carrots to the Dutch oven and cook until tender.
- Add the cabbage and cook for about 15 more minutes.
- Remove the meat from the Dutch oven, let rest, and slice across the grain.
- Serve with vegetables and broth.
Remove the meat from the Dutch oven and let it rest for about 15 minutes. Slice across the grain and serve with vegetables and broth.
How to Store Corned Beef and Cabbage
Store leftover corned beef and cabbage in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. Reheat in the oven until the meat reaches a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
Can You Freeze Corned Beef and Cabbage?
Yes, you can freeze cooked corned beef and cabbage. Allow the dish to cool completely, then transfer in serving-size portions to zip-top freezer bags labeled with the date. Wrap each bag in a layer of aluminum foil for added protection.
Squeeze out all the excess air and freeze for up to three months. Thaw in the fridge overnight. Reheat in the oven until the meat reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
Ingredients
1 (3 pound) corned beef brisket with spice packet
10 small red potatoes
5 medium carrots
1 large head cabbage
Directions
Gather all ingredients.
Place corned beef in a Dutch oven and cover with water. Add spice packet, cover, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until corned beef is just about fork-tender, about 2 hours. While the corned beef is simmering, cut potatoes in half. Peel carrots and cut into 3-inch pieces. Cut cabbage into small wedges.
When corned beef has cooked for 2 hours, add potatoes and carrots; cook until vegetables are almost tender and meat is fork-tender, about 10 minutes. Add cabbage and cook until tender, about 15 more minutes.
Remove meat and let rest for 15 minutes. Leave broth and vegetables in the Dutch oven.Slice meat across the grain. Serve with vegetables and broth.
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings Per Recipe 6 | |
| Calories 882 | |
| % Daily Value * | |
| Total Fat 42g | 54% |
| Saturated Fat 17g | 83% |
| Cholesterol 240mg | 80% |
| Sodium 165mg | 7% |
| Total Carbohydrate 50g | 18% |
| Dietary Fiber 6g | 21% |
| Total Sugars 6g | |
| Protein 71g | 143% |
| Vitamin C 40mg | 44% |
| Calcium 83mg | 6% |
| Iron 7mg | 41% |
| Potassium 1937mg | 41% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.
(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.
