Corned beef is known for being the dish of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. Which may lead you to wonder, what do I serve with corned beef?
Corned beef is unique in its flavor and texture due to the slightly sour taste it has. Some fantastic and tasty dishes can bring out the corned beef’s flavors and make it a delicious, healthy dinner for you.
Each of these seventeen side dishes will help you add flavor and contrast to your dish, helping you to have the best-corned beef dinner. Read on to learn about 17 tasty side dishes you can have with corned beef.
Contents
17 Side Dishes to Serve With Corned Beef
These various dishes complement corned beef’s flavors because they add a rich flavor and create a well-balanced meal.
1. Cabbage
Cabbage is a popular side dish that people serve with corned beef. Cabbage can be a unique vegetable because the flavors of cabbage can be a bit bitter and soak up the flavors of corned beef.
Cabbage is typically cooked with corned beef because it takes a longer time to wilt. It also gives the cabbage enough time to soak up the flavor and lose its naturally bitter taste.
2. Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes are another popular side dish for corned beef. The creaminess of the potatoes plays nicely with the sourness of the corned beef.
The great thing about mashed potatoes is that they are so versatile. You can add so many ingredients to the potatoes like cheese that can elevate the flavor level and cover some of corned beef’s sourness.
3. Boiled Potatoes
Just like mashed potatoes, boiled potatoes are a similar addition to any St. Patrick’s Day feast. They usually soak up the flavor of the ingredients they are cooked with, and in this case, it is usually cabbage and corned beef.
Bodied potatoes have a much crisper texture than mashed potatoes because their skin is left attached. They tend to be something that helps sop up the flavor and provide a crunch to your corned beef dinner.
4. Peas
Peas are a very versatile vegetable. Peas are prepared in a variety of different ways. They can either be fresh, frozen, or even canned.
These peas can then be sauteed with spices and oils, adding unique flavors of other things. With corned beef, peas can add freshness and be an excellent vegetable option for corned beef.
5. Irish Soda Bread
Irish soda bread is one of the best side dishes for your corned beef. The flavors of soda bread are pretty light because of the carbonation found in the bread. This is an excellent combination of the sourness of corned beef.
You can also use Irish soda bread as a mop for the corned beef’s added juices. This will help make the crust soft but also add flavor to the bread.
6. Green Beans
Green beans are another vegetable that is great with corned beef. Green beans are another versatile vegetable like peas and cabbage. They soak up the flavors of the things they are cooked with.
The crunchiness of fresh green beans offers a nice contrast to the corned beef’s less stiff fall apart meat. Frozen and canned green beans can be mixed with other flavors and be a complement to corned beef.
7. Irish Nachos
You can use the corned beef as a topper on this one! The cheesy, chip, and pico combo adds a spicy creaminess that is missing from the corned beef.
Nachos are a great side dish to nearly any meat dish. Adding corned beef to the nachos helps bring the Irish flavor and sourness into the nachos’ cheesiness.
8. Beer Bread
Beer bread is another excellent addition to corned beef. Beer is known for being one of the drinks readily served with corned beef. If you place that beer flavor in the bread, it will complement the corned beef nicely.
When making beer bread, the alcohol cooks off, but the flavor remains. The earthy flavor of the beer cuts through the beef and creates a good combination in your mouth.
9. Gratin Potatoes
Scalloped potatoes, otherwise known as gratin potatoes, are a great side dish to corned beef. The thin slices of potatoes mixed with cheese and a creamy soup make this a smooth complement to the sometimes tough meat.
When making these potatoes, you can add different soups to add various flavors or even textures to the dish. But primarily, the creamy slices of potato are a perfect bite.
10. Maple Glazed Carrots
Carrots are a great root vegetable to go with corned beef. The root vegetable soaks up flavors while also providing a crunch that might not have been there before.
Adding a maple glaze to carrots provides a sweetness otherwise forgotten by the corned beef. Cooking the carrots in this glaze will allow the sugars in the carrots to caramelize and connect with the sourness of the beef.
11. Roasted Vegetables
Roasted vegetables bring a rich earthy sweetness to your dinner. When roasting the vegetables, you add a caramelized flavor that brings out the sweetness of the meat.
The best thing about roasted vegetables is that there is a lot of variety. Root vegetables are mainly roasted and sometimes provide a crunchiness absent from the cooked meat.
12. Brussel Sprouts
Brussel sprouts are another great vegetable as a side dish. They are known for being earthy and can be sour like cabbage.
Brussel sprouts soak up the flavors of the corned beef just like cabbage. This is an excellent complement to corned beef because of the caramelization they typically get when sauteed.
13. Macaroni and Cheese
Macaroni and cheese are an excellent complement to any meat dish. The creamy flavor in mac and cheese allows the cheese to soak into the corned beef.
Macaroni and cheese can be infused with different flavors like bacon or garlic that add a different flavor to the dish while cutting through the meat’s sourness.
14. Cold Salads
Any kind of macaroni or potato salad will go well with corned beef. These things are typically made with fresh condiments and crunchy pickles.
These salads’ flavors help bring brightness to the corned beef, and they are typically light making the meal feel less heavy.
15. Rolls
Just like any other bread, rolls are always a good option for a side dish. They are a perfect sponge for juice and provide the best cleaning of the plate ability you have.
Rolls can also become infused with other flavors like cheese or herbs that add to the creamy richness of the dish.
16. Asparagus
Asparagus is another vegetable that, when in season, is a good complement to your St. Patrick’s Day Dinner. The bold, assertive flavors of the asparagus match that of the corned beef, making it a good complement.
It also adds a texture of crunchiness to your dinner, which enhances the corned beef’s softness.
17. Beer
Beer is one of the best side ‘dishes’ to corned beef. Most of the time, people drink a beer when they are eating food like corned beef.
Beer not only washes down the meat but provides an intense assertive flavor that can enhance the flavors found in the meat.
Wrap Up
Corned beef can be eaten in so many ways, either on a sandwich, plain or even on top of nachos. If you have a good side dish for your meal, you can enjoy all the flavors the corned beef has to offer.
Now that you know the best ways to serve corned beef, you can make a fantastic spread of these delicious tasty side dishes.
What To Serve With Corned Beef
Ingredients
- Cabbage
- Mashed Potatoes
- Boiled Potatoes
- Peas
- Irish Soda Bread
- Green Beans
- Irish Nachos
- Beer Bread
- Gratin Potatoes
- Maple Glazed Carrots
- Roasted Vegetables
- Brussel Sprouts
- Macaroni and Cheese
- Cold Salads
- Rolls
- Asparagus
- Beer
Instructions
- Select your favorite recipe from the list above.
- Organize all the required ingredients.
- Prepare and enjoy in 30 minutes or less!
