What to Serve with Corned Beef: 17 Delicious Side Dishes

Have you ever wondered what to serve with corned beef? If your answer is yes, then you have come to the right place!

We have found the best side dishes to serve with corned beef. From traditional Irish soda bread to delicious mashed potatoes, we have something on our list for everyone.

Take a look and see what you want to try next to a slice of tender corned beef.

Best Side Dishes for Corned Beef

Corned beef has a soft and tender texture. The flavor can be described as a combination of salty, sweet, sour, spicy, and meaty.

All of these things are important to keep in mind when picking the best side dish. We definitely considered all of these components when choosing what to serve with corned beef.

1. Simple Sautéed Brussels Sprouts

Sauteed Brussels sprouts go well with meaty corned beef. It is always a good idea to serve a vegetable alongside a meaty corned beef brisket.

Our sauteed brussels sprouts are simply seasoned with coconut oil, red pepper flakes, lime juice, and some salt and petter. The bold, salty and sour flavors go well with the taste of the corned beef.

Let the brussels cook on the bottom of the pan without stirring for a few minutes. This will let the sprouts get brown and crispy.

It will also help the Brussel sprouts open up slightly. When those layers of the veggie begin to open, the flavor of the other ingredients can get inside.

Skip the coconut oil and use simple olive oil or butter for a more traditional taste. Lemon juice and can also replace lime juice if needed.

2. Traditional Irish Soda Bread

Irish soda bread is a classic side dish to serve with cooked corned beef. The sweet flavor of the bread is delicious with the spicy, sour taste of juicy corned beef.

We love this recipe for orange and oat Irish soda bread from Archana’s Kitchen. It is a yummy twist on traditional Irish soda bread and is still incredible to serve with corned beef.

3. Green Beans

Perfectly cooked green beans are definitely the answer to the questions of what to serve with corned beef. Serving a vegetable alongside corned beef is a great way to make a complete, delicious meal.

This recipe for roasted green beans from Lil Luna is easy and flavorful. The green beans are lightly seasoned, tossed in oil, and then roasted until slightly crisp.

Be sure to use fresh green beans rather than frozen ones. Fresh green beans are much crispier.

You can really tell the difference between a fresh, crunchy bean and one previously frozen. You want your side dishes to be as fresh as possible!

4. Cabbage

Cooking corned beef and cabbage is the most common way to prepare and serve corned beef. This recipe from Spend with Pennies shows you how to cook corned beef and cabbage together in a slow cooker.

Cooking the corned beef and cabbage simultaneously, using the same flavorful liquid, will make both the meat and the vegetable tender and flavorful. The cabbage cooks soft and juicy.

Anyone who makes corned beef for an Irish household knows how important a perfectly roasted corned beef and cabbage can be!

Making corned beef and cabbage in the slow cooker is very easy. It is a great way to prepare this classic meal.

5. Horseradish Sauce

Creamy horseradish sauce adds an amazing, spicy taste to your juicy corned beef. This easy recipe for sauce from Simply Recipes only takes about 5 minutes to make.

Sour cream, honey mustard, mayonnaise, and fresh horseradish are blended together. A few simple spices go into the mix as well.

Spread this homemade horseradish sauce over your corned beef, and you will have a delicious meal. Keep this sauce in mind when you have leftover corned beef, too.

You can make a fantastic Ruben sandwich using this tasty sauce and a few thin slices of corned beef. Add a green beer to the table, and you have a perfect St. Patrick’s Day leftover dinner!

6. Scalloped Potatoes

Scalloped potatoes are a fantastic side dish to serve with corned beef. They are hearty, flavorful, and look super impressive.

Thinly sliced potatoes are layered in a casserole dish. The potatoes are covered in a creamy cheese sauce and baked until golden brown.

This classic recipe for scalloped potatoes from Natasha’s Kitchen will help you make a perfect corned beef side dish.

Scalloped potatoes have a rich, cheesy taste. The crunchy top layer of potatoes is beautiful and irresistible.

Make scalloped potatoes ahead of time and bake the dish completely. When you are ready to serve your corned beef dinner, simply pop the potatoes back into the oven to reheat for about 10 minutes.

Scalloped potatoes will stay fresh in the fridge for up to a week. You can also freeze a tray of scalloped potatoes, taking it out to enjoy later on.

This is the best way to get ahead on your St. Patrick’s day cooking!

7. Mashed Potatoes

Still wondering what to serve with corned beef? A big bowl of creamy mashed potatoes may be the best side dish for corned beef and cabbage.

Buttery mashed potatoes pair perfectly with the salty, sour taste of corned beef. Making mashed potatoes is surprisingly easy.

Roast the potatoes first, cooking them in the oven or boiling them in a pot of water. Add your favorite potato seasonings, some heavy cream, butter, and a lot of salt.

Salt is key to good, irresistible mashed potatoes! Try this recipe for soft, fluffy mashed potatoes from Gimme Some Oven.

Pour some of the corned beef juice over the mashed potatoes as gravy. Corned beef, cabbage, and mashed potatoes are sure to be a crowd favorite.

8. Homemade Rye Bread

Rye bread is a traditional side dish to serve with corned beef. The sweet molasses taste paired with the herby caraway seeds is a perfect flavor combination.

We love this recipe from Nourished Kitchen for homemade rye bread. The bread may take a little time to prepare, but the end result is incredible.

Try baking your rye bread in a Dutch oven. Place the pot in the oven to preheat. Add the dough to the bowl and cover. Place the Dutch oven with the rye bread inside into your real, big oven.

Baking the bread like this will help the bread get a nice, crispy crust.

Uncover the pot about halfway through the baking time so the bread doesn’t get too soggy from the steam. Your loaf will be perfect!

Toss your favorite corned beef and cabbage recipe into your slow cooker, and then start making bread! Your own corned beef complete meal will be amazing!

9. Roasted Red Potatoes

Any potato side dish is the answer to what to serve with corned beef. Potatoes are a classic Irish side dish that will always go well with a classic Irish corned beef!

Try this recipe for oven-roasted red potatoes from Dinner then Dessert. The creamy potatoes have a crispy outside.

The garlic flavor goes well with the spices on the corned beef. Roasted red potatoes are a delicious side dish for sure!

10. Arugula Salad

A fresh salad is a great side for corned beef. We love this easy arugula salad recipe from A Couple Cooks that’s simple yet very flavorful.

Fresh arugula is tossed with a simple lemon juice vinaigrette. A little shredded parmesan tops the salad.

Feel free to add your favorite chopped veggies to the salad. Chopped onion, fresh cherry tomatoes, or even fresh asparagus goes well in this arugula salad recipe.

Almost any fresh salad will be tasty alongside corned beef. Use this recipe as a guide and get creative, making your own unique salad.

Try replacing the arugula with baby mixed greens. A thousand island dressing will also taste great and mimic the flavors of a Rueben sandwich. The possibilities are endless!

11. Fried Pickles

Fried pickles are a tasty, exciting side dish to serve with corned beef. They are a great appetizer to your favorite St. Patrick’s Day dinner.

This recipe from Sugar Spun Run is easy to follow and makes delicious fried pickles. We especially love the zesty dressing for dipping.

You do not need a deep fryer to make these tasty pickles. The pickles are fried in a pan in just a little olive oil. They are a little bit healthier than the deep-fried version of this tasty side dish.

Try making the fried pickle side in your air fryer. The air fryer is an even healthier way to fry food. You only need to use a tiny bit of oil to make crispy, crunchy fried pickles!

12. Baked Mac and Cheese

Baked mac and cheese goes with just about everything. It is definitely the answer to what to serve with corned beef.

This recipe from Recipe Tin Eats is so cheesy and amazing that you may want to eat more of the side dish than the main meal!

Baked mac and cheese is made with shredded sharp cheddar cheese, gruyere cheese, and mozzarella. The combination of cheeses has so much amazing flavor.

The cheesy taste goes well with the salty, sour taste of cooked corned beef.

The mac and cheese is spread in a baking dish and topped with a breadcrumb and butter crumble. The mac and cheese is baked until golden brown.

Top the baked mac and cheese with some chopped green onions, or just enjoy a big scoop straight out of the oven.

A scoop of baked mac and cheese and corned beef and cabbage sounds like quite a hearty meal!

This is definitely one of our favorite side dishes on this list of what to serve with corned beef. Everyone in your entire family will love all this cheesy goodness.

13. Corn on the Cob

Oven-roasted corn on the cob is a perfect side dish to serve with corned beef. The bright yellow vegetable also looks great on the plate with the juicy red meat.

We like this corn-on-the-cob recipe from The Chunky Chef. The ears of corn are roasted in the oven until perfectly cooked.

Slather garlic butter over the hot corn and sprinkle the ears with a little chopped parsley. The corn will look and taste amazing. Corned beef sides like this are surprisingly easy to make!

We like to serve the garlicky corn while still on the cob. However, feel free to cut the kernels off the cob and serve the small pieces of corn next to your main beef course.

14. Cole Slaw

Corned beef and cabbage are a classic combination. Try serving coleslaw with your corned beef as a new twist on the traditional, tender cabbage side.

This coleslaw recipe from Cooking Classy is creamy and crunchy. The creamy flavors complement the sweet and sour beef perfectly.

One of the best parts is that you can make this delicious coleslaw in about 10 minutes!

This may be one of the nontraditional recipes to serve with corned beef, but it is one of our favorite recipe ideas for sure!

A big plate of corned beef, creamy coleslaw, and a Guinness stout on the dinner table sounds like a great meal to us!

15. Glazed Carrots

Bright orange glazed carrots and corned beef make a fantastic, beautiful main dish. The brown sugar in the glazed carrots compliments the sour taste of corned beef.

Try this recipe for glazed carrots from Dinner at the Zoo. Flat-cut carrots are steamed to soften. Then, the carrots are sauteed in butter, brown sugar, and salt.

A little chopped parsley adds the perfect finishing touch. Serve the carrots while they are warm, so the syrupy coating stays soft.

Everyone is sure to love these super sweet carrots alongside their sliced corned beef or Rueben sandwich dinner. There are so many amazing ways to enjoy corned beef!

16. Soft Dinner Rolls

Soft dinner rolls may be one of our favorite side dishes to pair with corned beef.

This recipe for tender dinner rolls from Sally’s Baking Addiction is buttery, warm, and mouthwatering. They are also very versatile!

Pop a soft dinner roll right off the baking sheet and use it to soak up some extra corned beef juice. Use the rolls to make corned beef Reuben sandwiches.

Some grainy mustard, thousand island dressing, or just a slice of swiss cheese on the roll makes a perfect main dish.

These dinner rolls will stay fresh after baking for about three days. Store them in an airtight container, so they remain soft.

Pop the rolls back into the oven for about 2-3 minutes to freshen them up. A good dinner roll is always a fantastic side!

17. Deviled Eggs

Deviled eggs may seem like a funny side to pair with corned beef, but it is actually delicious. The cream texture of deviled eggs is quite tasty, next to the chewy beef. We love these eggs from Chelsea’s Messy Apron.

The filling for the eggs is made using cooked egg yolks, salt, black pepper, Worcestershire sauce, honey mustard (or dijon mustard), lemon juice, sugar, and a little cayenne pepper.

Add more black pepper for spicier eggs, or skip the cayenne for a more mild taste.

Serve these pretty eggs as an appetizer to your corned beef dinner. They are also delicious on the dinner table alongside the preserved meat meal.

A few eggs and a Reuben sandwich sound like a great lunch idea, too!

Amazing Sides to Pair with Tender Corned Beef

There are so many delicious side dishes that you can serve with your favorite corned beef recipe.

From leftover corned beef to juicy corned beef from the magical slow cooker, these sides go with all kinds of tender corned beef.

Give one or all of these side dishes a try, and let us know your favorite. You will never wonder what to serve with corned beef ever again!