Beef and cabbage is a combination that many like to eat at home on special occasions. If you do not know what to serve with it, you could choose the wrong side dish. Try making one of the dishes below and see how they complement your meal!
Keep on reading to see what to eat with corned beef and cabbage for dinner. You could elevate your meal to the next level with these dishes!
What Is Corned Beef and Cabbage?
Corned beef is a cut of beef that you cure in salt brine. Usually, the cut of beef is brisket, and it comes with a side of steamed cabbage. The dish is very common in the United States, and it was adopted by Irish immigrants.
The story behind corned beef and cabbage dates back to St. Patrick’s day because Irish immigrants lived near Jewish food delis and butchers. They would buy corned beef to celebrate this holiday, and the dish became a tradition. In most cases, corned beef is cured somewhere between five to seven days.
You can make corned beef at home by slow-cooking brisket in salt and spices, such as garlic, coriander, mustard seed, peppercorn, and bay leaf. After the curing process is over, some people cook this meat in low heat, roast it, or smoke it. The meat is almost always pink because of the curing salt that manufacturers use.
While you can eat corned beef on its own, you will likely see it served with cabbage, on bread, with potato salad, and more. One famous recipe with corned beef is a corned beef hash, which involves cubed potatoes and corned beef hash. You can also use corned beef as deli meat for lunch meals.
Nutrition Facts
One thick slice of corned beef (63 g) has the following nutritional content (*):
158 calories
11.5 g protein
12 g fat
0.296 g carbohydrate
0 g fiber
0 g sugar
5.04 mg calcium
1.17 mg iron
7.56 mg magnesium
78.8 mg phosphorus
91.4 mg potassium
613 mg sodium
20.7 µg selenium
61.7 mg cholesterol
Corned beef and cabbage make a healthy dish because cabbage has a ton of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. However, corned beef can be high in sodium due to the curing process it undergoes before serving. You can choose what to use in the curing process at home and cook it more healthily too.
What Goes With Corned Beef and Cabbage
Below are some corned beef and cabbage side dishes that you can serve at any time!
#1. Potato Gratin
A potato gratin is not just delicious; it is delicate and complex. Serving it with your corned beef and cabbage can make your meal much tastier and more filling.
Ingredients:
8 Russet potatoes
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 yellow onion, diced
2 cups heavy cream
1 teaspoon thyme
½ cup Gruyere cheese
½ cup Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon oregano
Salt and pepper to taste
Follow these steps to prepare your potato gratin:
Preheat the oven to 350 °F.
Wash and clean your potatoes. Slice them very thinly using a mandoline or with a sharp knife.
Add the olive oil to a saucepan. Once warm, add the garlic and diced onion—Cook for 5 minutes.
Pout the cream and bring it to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer for 15 minutes, and add the salt, pepper, thyme, and oregano.
Turn off the heat and allow the mix to cool down, then transfer it to a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth.
Butter a baking dish. Arrange your cut potatoes and pour the cream mixture on top.
Bake for 45 to 60 minutes or until the potatoes are tender.
Pour the cheese on top and continue baking for 10 more minutes or until the cheese is brown and gold on top.
Allow the potato gratin to cool down for a few minutes, and serve warm next to corned beef and cabbage.
#2. Roasted Carrots and Turnips
When you want some crunch to go with your cabbage, this is a good choice for you. Add other ingredients if you want, like onions, leeks, or potatoes.
Ingredients:
Bunch of carrots
2 turnips
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon oregano
1 tablespoon rosemary
1 teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon paprika
Salt and pepper to taste
Follow these steps to prepare your roasted carrots and turnips:
Preheat the oven to 375 °F.
Wash and clean your carrots and turnips.
Cut off the ends, and halve them.
Line a baking sheet with tin foil.
Spread the vegetables over the tin foil. Drizzle with olive oil and toss.
Season with salt, pepper, oregano, rosemary, garlic powder, and paprika. Toss once more.
Roast your vegetables for 25 to 30 minutes, turning them halfway.
Serve your roasted carrots and turnips hot with corned beef and cabbage on the side.
#3. Sauerkraut Salad
This cold sauerkraut salad is a perfect addition to any dish with corned beef. It happens to mix well with the cabbage, but you can also use it to make this dish.
Ingredients:
1 can or 1 cup of sauerkraut with liquid
1 red bell pepper
1 medium onion
1 celery, diced
⅓ cup sugar
½ cup apple cider vinegar
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon peppercorn
Salt and pepper to taste
Follow these steps to prepare your sauerkraut salad:
Wash and clean your vegetables. Chop the bell pepper, onion, and celery. Set them aside in a large bowl.
Remove the sauerkraut from the can or container. Add it to the bowl, and mix well.
Add the sugar, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, peppercorn, salt, and pepper. Toss well.
Cover the bowl and refrigerate it for at least one hour.
Serve your sauerkraut salad cold with corned beef and cabbage on the side or without the cabbage.
Tip: If using the already cooked cabbage, let it cool down entirely and shred it into smaller pieces. You can also increase the amount of vinegar and sugar to your liking.
#4. Deviled Eggs
Deviled eggs are a classic anywhere you go! While many make these for special occasions only, why not try them next time you make corned beef and cabbage?
Ingredients:
4 eggs
4 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 teaspoon white vinegar
1 teaspoon yellow mustard
1 teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon garlic powder
Salt and pepper to taste
Follow these steps to prepare your deviled eggs:
Place the eggs in a saucepan. Add water until it covers the surface of the eggs.
Allow water to boil, cover the saucepan, and reduce to low—Cook for about 12 to 14 minutes.
Remove from heat and rinse the eggs under cold water.
With the water running, begin to crack and peel the shell off.
Cut the eggs in half going lengthwise. Remove the egg yolks using a spoon and place them aside in a bowl.
Place the egg whites aside for later.
Use a fork to mash the egg yolks.
Add the mayonnaise, vinegar, mustard, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
Using the same fork, or a spoon, mix well.
Using a teaspoon, place equal amounts of the egg yolk mixture onto each of the egg whites.
Finish off by adding a bit of paprika on top of each egg.
Refrigerate your deviled eggs if not eating them immediately. Otherwise, serve them cold.
Using a teaspoon, place equal amounts of the egg yolk mixture onto each of the egg whites.
Finish off by adding a bit of paprika on top of each egg.
Refrigerate your deviled eggs if not eating them immediately. Otherwise, serve them cold.
#5. Homemade Dinner Rolls
What better way to complete your meal than dinner rolls? This recipe is easy to follow and makes for the fluffiest, most delicious dinner rolls.
Ingredients:
1 cup milk
1 packet of instant yeast
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 egg
4 tablespoons butter
2 ½ cup bread flour
Salt and pepper to taste
Follow these steps to prepare your homemade dinner rolls:
Preheat the oven to 375 °F.
Begin by warming up the milk in the microwave for about one minute.
Remove the butter from the refrigerator until it gets to room temperature.
Add the milk to a bowl along with the yeast and half of the sugar. Use a wooden spoon to whisk everything for a couple of minutes.
Once the time is up, add the rest of the sugar, egg, soft butter, half the flour, salt, and pepper.
Using a hand mixer, beat the flour for a couple of minutes. Add the remaining flour and beat it for a few more minutes.
Flour a flat surface and knead the dough until it turns elastic and softer. The process should take about 10 minutes.
Cover the dough and let it rest for a few more minutes.
Divide the dough and make small balls. Place them into a greased pan.
Cover the pan and let the dough rise for half an hour.
Bake dough for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden on top.
Serve your dinner rolls warm on the side of corned beef and cabbage.
#6. Black-Eyed Peas Salad
For those that want vegetables but also some protein, this is the right choice. The black-eyed peas salad is full of flavor and can be very different and tasty.
Ingredients:
2 cans of black-eyed peas, drained
2 cups cherry tomatoes
1 red onion, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 lemon, juiced
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon parsley, chopped
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
½ teaspoon garlic powder
Salt and pepper to taste
Follow these steps to prepare your green salad with black-eyed peas:
Wash and clean the vegetables. Chop them and place them in a large bowl.
Mix the lemon juice, sugar, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
Drain the cans of black-eyed peas and place them in the large bowl with the vegetables.
Pour the dressing on top and toss well.
Cover the bowl and place it in the refrigerator for one hour or more.
Serve your black-eyed peas salad cold with corned beef and cabbage on the side.
#7. Spicy Honey Mustard Sauce
If you want your corned beef to have a kick to it, this spicy honey mustard sauce is a great choice. You can make it as hot as you like or none at all!
Ingredients:
⅓ cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon yellow mustard
½ tablespoon white vinegar
2 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon hot sauce
Salt and pepper to taste
Follow these steps to prepare your spicy honey mustard sauce:
Add the mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, and yellow mustard to a medium bowl.
Pour the white vinegar on top and mix continuously.
Stir in the honey and hot sauce and mix some more.
Finish by adding the garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix more.
Serve your spicy honey mustard sauce next to the corned beef and store it in the refrigerator for a couple of days.
How Can I Pick The Perfect Corned Beef and Cabbage Sides?
Corned beef and cabbage is a traditional Irish and Jewish dish, but it is now also common everywhere. If you like making it at home for a special occasion, you will surely want to know what to serve with it. These recipes can work on their own or together.
If you want to make sure your corned beef and cabbage shine on their own, then you should try something more classic. The homemade dinner rolls are a great option that goes well with any corned beef meal. You can also serve the roasted carrots and turnips, which are crunchy yet simpler.
For a more decadent dish that makes your meal more complete, you can try something that is a bit more complex. Go with the potato gratin, which is not just cheesy and delicious, but also very satisfying. The sauerkraut salad is another good option, and you can use the cooked cabbage too.
In all other cases, you can go with a recipe that compliments the meat itself, like the spicy honey mustard sauce. The deviled eggs are a fan-favorite that your guests will always want more. You can also serve the black-eyed peas salad for a crunchy and different type of side dish.
Conclusion
As you can see, corned beef and cabbage do not have to be just that, but they can be more of a complete meal with these options. Go with one or two at a time, and make your meat and cabbage stand out. You can also save some of these for another meal.
Juliana has a BA in Journalism and Creative Writing as well as a M.S. in Nutrition, Dietetics, and Sensory Sciences. She loves traveling, trying new foods, and cooking. When she isn’t busy working, you can find her running with her dog Milo or reading a book in the sun.
