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What to Serve With Corned Beef: 15 Best Side Dishes

Enhance your corned beef feast with sides like tender cabbage, offering a rich and slightly sweet contrast to the savory meat. Pairing with velvety potatoes provides a comforting, luxurious touch, while naturally sweet carrots add vibrant color and delightful flavor. Colcannon, a traditional Irish dish, combines creamy mashed potatoes with cabbage for a hearty, comforting choice. Soda bread brings a slightly sweet and tangy flavor, perfect for mopping up juices. Additionally, pickles, sauerkraut, rye bread, and coleslaw make fantastic accompaniments. To discover more delightful side dish ideas that complement corned beef, continue the journey here.

Cabbage

cabbage healthy and versatile

Complementing corned beef with cabbage creates a classic pairing that enhances the meal’s overall flavor and texture.

Cabbage rolls, filled with rice and meat, offer a savory delight, while braised cabbage, cooked until tender, provides a rich, slightly sweet counterpart.

These dishes balance the saltiness of corned beef, ensuring a satisfying and well-rounded culinary experience for any table.

Potatoes

versatile starchy nutrient dense vegetable

Potatoes, in their myriad preparations, serve as an indispensable side dish that perfectly accompanies the robust flavors of corned beef.

Potato gratin, with its creamy layers and golden crust, offers a luxurious contrast to the savory meat. Meanwhile, mashed potatoes provide a comforting, velvety texture that balances the boldness of corned beef.

These classic potato dishes elevate the meal, creating a harmonious dining experience.

Carrots

orange crunchy healthy snack

Carrots, with their natural sweetness and vibrant color, provide a delightful contrast to the savory notes of corned beef.

Glazed carrots, when cooked with a hint of honey or brown sugar, enhance this sweetness and add a glossy finish.

Alternatively, roasted carrots bring out a deeper, caramelized flavor.

Both preparations are simple yet elevate the meal, making them an excellent choice.

Colcannon

irish mashed potato dish

As a traditional Irish dish, colcannon combines creamy mashed potatoes with cabbage or kale, offering a comforting and hearty side for corned beef.

This beloved blend of Irish comfort food enhances the meal with its rich, smooth texture and subtle vegetable flavors.

Perfectly seasoned, colcannon complements the savory notes of corned beef, making it an ideal choice for a well-rounded and satisfying meal.

Soda Bread

irish traditional homemade loaf

A classic accompaniment to corned beef, soda bread offers a slightly sweet and tangy flavor that balances the savory richness of the meat.

For the best results, follow baking tips like using cold butter and not over-mixing the dough.

Flavor variations can include adding raisins or caraway seeds, allowing you to tailor the bread to your preferences and enhance your meal.

Green Beans

crisp vegetable side dish

Green beans provide a crisp and vibrant contrast to the hearty corned beef, making them an excellent choice for a balanced meal.

Tossed in garlic butter and topped with almond slivers, these green beans offer a delightful mixture of flavors and textures.

The nutty crunch of almond slivers enhances the tender green beans, creating a side dish that’s both simple and elegant.

Roasted Root Vegetables

deliciously seasoned oven baked roots

Roasted root vegetables, with their earthy flavors and caramelized edges, make a perfect companion to corned beef. Using seasonal flavors like carrots, parsnips, and sweet potatoes, these veggies bring out the richness of the meat.

Employing simple cooking techniques, such as roasting with olive oil and herbs, guarantees a delicious side dish that enhances the overall dining experience.

Brussels Sprouts

roasted with garlic butter

Brussels sprouts, with their slightly bitter yet nutty flavor, provide a delightful contrast to the savory richness of corned beef.

Rich in nutrients, Brussels sprouts nutrition includes vitamins C and K, fiber, and antioxidants.

Simple Brussels sprouts recipes, such as roasting with olive oil and garlic, highlight these health benefits while complementing the main dish, making them a perfect side choice.

Creamed Spinach

rich and flavorful side dish

Creamed spinach, with its velvety texture and rich flavor, offers a luxurious complement to the hearty taste of corned beef. This side dish not only enhances the meal but also provides nutritious benefits, being packed with vitamins and minerals.

For a best result, use fresh spinach and a touch of nutmeg during preparation for a delightful, creamy finish.

Mustard Sauce

tangy mustard sauce recipe

A tangy mustard sauce provides the perfect counterbalance to the richness of both creamed spinach and corned beef, adding a zesty kick to the meal.

Combining spicy mustard and Dijon mustard, this sauce enhances the flavor profile, offering a delightful blend of heat and sharpness.

It’s simple to make and elevates each bite, making your corned beef dinner truly unforgettable.

Apple Sauce

apple sauce and recipes

Nothing complements the savory flavor of corned beef quite like the natural sweetness of a well-prepared apple sauce. This delightful flavor pairing balances the saltiness of the beef with the fresh, fruity notes of apples.

Opt for apple varieties like Honeycrisp or Granny Smith to achieve a perfect blend of tart and sweet, enhancing the overall taste experience of your meal.

Pickles

sour cucumbers in brine

Pickles, with their tangy and invigorating bite, serve as an excellent counterbalance to the rich, hearty flavors of corned beef.

Fermented pickles, with their probiotic benefits, add a zesty punch, while dill pickles bring a fresh, herbal note.

Both types enhance the meal, creating a delightful contrast that makes each bite of corned beef even more enjoyable.

Sauerkraut

fermented cabbage dish popular in germany

Sauerkraut, with its tangy and complex flavors, provides a perfect acidic counterpoint to the savory richness of corned beef. Created through a fermentation process, sauerkraut offers numerous health benefits, including probiotics that aid digestion.

Its crunchy texture and zesty taste elevate the meal, making it a delightful and nutritious choice.

This classic pairing guarantees a balanced and flavorful dining experience.

Rye Bread

four word phrase traditional dutch rye bread

Rye bread, with its hearty texture and distinct flavor, guarantees an excellent accompaniment to corned beef. Its unique flavor enhances the savory taste of the meat, making it an ideal sandwich filling.

The robust nature of rye bread ensures it holds up well to the juicy corned beef, creating a delightful culinary experience that is both satisfying and delicious.

Can the Same Side Dishes Accompany Both Corned Beef and Beef Tartare?

When it comes to serving both corned beef and beef tartare, the best side dishes for beef tartare might not necessarily work for corned beef. While beef tartare pairs well with crispy crostinis and tangy pickles, corned beef is better complemented by buttery cabbage and hearty potatoes. Choose your sides wisely.

Coleslaw

crunchy cabbage and carrots

Coleslaw, with its crisp texture and tangy flavor, offers a revitalizing contrast to the rich taste of corned beef.

This versatile side dish can be made in numerous coleslaw variations, from creamy to vinegar-based. Dressing options include classic mayonnaise, zesty vinaigrette, or even a spicy kick with mustard.

Each choice brings out unique flavors that complement the savory notes of corned beef.