Baked Corned Beef Recipe | Life's Ambrosia (2024)

Baked Corned Beef Recipe | Life's Ambrosia (1)

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This Baked Corned Beef is hands down the best! Slathered in mustard and braised in stout beer, you’ll never make it another way.

If you’re looking for an easy, delicious way to try corned beef, you’re going to want to try this Baked Corned Beef ASAP.

Googling “corned beef recipes” always seems to lead one to boiled corned beef or slow cooker corned beef. And while those recipes yield tender, shreddable beef, I crave that crispy outer crust. If you do too, or are simply looking for a different way to prepare corned beef, then this recipe is for you.

Baked Corned Beef Recipe | Life's Ambrosia (2)

You only need a few ingredients, few hours in the oven and voilá! Some of the best corned beef you’ve ever had.

First things first, what is corned beef?

Corned beef is a beef brisket that has been cured in a salt solution. Beef brisket is naturally a tough cut of meat so it responds well to cooking techniques like braising and slow cooking. Low and slow is what is going to give you the most flavorful corned beef. If your beef isn’t tender and fall apart, chances are you haven’t cooked it long enough.

Baked Corned Beef Recipe | Life's Ambrosia (3)

What ingredients you’ll need:

CORNED BEEF BRISKET: Because we aren’t curing our own beef here, you’re going to want to buy a brisket that is already cured. It comes with a seasoning packet that you’re also going to use in this recipe.

STONE GROUND MUSTARD: Mustard pairs well with this corned beef and the mustard seeds in the stone ground mustard really take it to the next level.

GUINNESS STOUT BEER: Corned beef and Guinness are a match made in heaven so it seemed obvious to use it as the braising liquid for this recipe. You can use any stout beer that you like, though.

Baked Corned Beef Recipe | Life's Ambrosia (4)

How do you make baked corned beef?

Some people opt for slow cooker corned beef because of the ease factor, but this baked corned beef is just as easy!

  • Baked Corned Beef Recipe | Life's Ambrosia (5)
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  • Baked Corned Beef Recipe | Life's Ambrosia (8)

STEP #1: Pat the brisket dry with a paper towel. Rub both sides of the corned beef brisket with stone ground mustard.

STEP #2: Place the brisket fat side up in a 9×13 inch baking dish. Pour the beer around the corned beef. Cover tightly with aluminum foil and bake at 325 for 2 hours. Remove aluminum foil and cook f or another hour or until it reaches 145 degrees Fahrenheit.

DES’ TIP: We are cooking the brisket fat side up so that as it cooks, it helps keep the meat tender as it cooks. It will also give you that perfectly crisp topping that we are looking for.

STEP #3: Remove the brisket from the baking dish. Allow to rest 10 minutes before slicing against the grain then serve.

Baked Corned Beef Recipe | Life's Ambrosia (9)

To round out the whole Irish feel of the meal, I served this Baked Corned Beef with Colcannon and it was the perfect comfort food meal for my whole family!

And if there are any leftovers you’ve got to try these Ultimate Corned Beef Sandwiches.

Baked Corned Beef Recipe | Life's Ambrosia (10)

Baked Corned Beef

This Baked Corned Beef is hands down the best! Slathered in mustard and braised in stout beer, you'll never make it another way.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Course Main Dishes

Cuisine American

Servings 6

Calories 727 kcal

Ingredients

  • 4.50 pounds corned beef
  • 1/2 cup stoneground mustard
  • 24 ounces Guinness Beer or other stout beer

Instructions

  • Use a paper towel to pat dry the corned beef.

  • Brush both sides of the corned beef with stoneground mustard. Place corned beef in a 9 x 13inch baking dish with the fat side up. Sprinkle with seasoning packet. Pour both Guinness beers around the corned beef.

  • Cover tightly with aluminum foil and bake at 325 for 2 hours. Uncover and bake for an additional 45 minutes – 1 hour or until an internal temperature reaches 145 degrees. Remove from oven and allow to rest 10 minutes before slicing.

  • Slice against the grain and serve.

Notes

We are cooking the brisket fat side up so that as it cooks, it helps keep the meat tender as it cooks. It will also give you that perfectly crisp topping that we are looking for.

Letting the meat rest 10 minutes before slicing is essential. It allows the juices to redistribute and ensures a more tender bite.

Nutrition information for estimation purposes only.

Nutrition

Calories: 727kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 51gFat: 52gSaturated Fat: 16gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 25gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 184mgSodium: 4376mgPotassium: 1039mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 15IUVitamin C: 92mgCalcium: 36mgIron: 6mg

Tried this recipe?Mention @lifesambrosia or tag #lifesambrosia!

Keywords: beef, saint patricks day

Leave a Comment

  • Reply

    John

    March 17, 2024 at 7:30 am

    Would this be a good for making Reubens?

    • Reply

      Deseree

      March 17, 2024 at 11:01 am

      Absolutely!

  • Reply

    brigit

    March 14, 2024 at 1:24 pm

    Hi hi! I bought a 2.8lb cut before I found this recipe. Would I need to make any temp / time adjustments to account for the smaller size?

    • Reply

      Deseree

      March 14, 2024 at 4:25 pm

      Hi Brigit! You can leave the temperature the same but I would recommend cooking for about half the time. I would cook it covered for 1 hour then uncover and start checking the temperature after another 30 minutes or so. Hope this helps!!

  • Reply

    Jessica

    March 13, 2023 at 8:42 am

    Do you use flat cut or point cut?

    • Reply

      Deseree

      March 13, 2023 at 9:36 am

      Hi Jessica! You can use either in this recipe, I’ve done it with both. With the flat cut the cook time might be a little less but not by much. Hope this helps!

  • Reply

    Ron Scott

    March 14, 2022 at 10:16 am

    Thanks !

  • Reply

    Ron Scott

    March 11, 2022 at 5:43 am

    Der Des,
    the picture looks like you put this n a cooling rack in the roasting pan.
    Is this right ?

    • Reply

      Deseree

      March 11, 2022 at 11:54 am

      Hi Ron! I didn’t put it on a cooling rack. I wanted it to simmer in that Guinness. Just put it right in the baking dish! :)

    Baked Corned Beef Recipe | Life's Ambrosia (2024)

    FAQs

    What is the best way to bake a corned beef? ›

    Spread the mustard all over the top and the sides of the corned beef brisket. Wrap the brisket in foil so that it is tightly sealed. heat your oven to 350 degrees and place the corned beef in the oven. Bake one hour per pound.

    Is it better to simmer or bake corned beef? ›

    Is it better to boil or oven-bake corned beef? Boiled and baked corned beef are delicious, and both methods create a juicy, tender corned beef when done properly. Traditional recipes, like corned beef and cabbage, simmer corned beef in spiced water for about three hours.

    What temperature to-cook corned beef in the oven at 350 degrees? ›

    OVEN: Set the oven for 350 °F (or no lower than 325 °F). Place brisket fat-side up. Barely cover the meat with water—about 1 inch—and keep the container covered throughout the cooking time. Allow about one hour per pound.

    What happens if you don t rinse corned beef before cooking? ›

    1. Not Rinsing the Meat Before Cooking. If you cook the meat straight from the plastic packaging or pulled the meat right away from the brine solution in the fridge without rinsing, you just might be in for a saltier meal than you bargained for.

    Do you bake corned beef fat side up or down? ›

    Place the corned beef fat side up in a large roasting pan. Pour about 1/8 inch water around the corned beef. Sprinkle the contents of the seasoning packet into the water around the meat. Cover the pan tightly with heavy-duty aluminum foil and roast on the middle rack for 3 hours.

    Why is my baked corned beef tough? ›

    Not cooking the meat long enough.

    Brisket, the cut typically used for corned beef, is a naturally tough cut of meat. Cooking this beef is a process that can't be rushed. Even when the meat is cooked through, it needs more time to transform the chewy bite into one that's deliciously tender.

    What is the preferred method to cook corned beef? ›

    Boiling is the most common method, but you can also slow cook, bake, grill, or pan-fry your corned beef. Each method has its distinct flavor and cooking process, so it's worth trying them all to find the best fit for you. The most common method for cooking corned beef and cabbage is boiling.

    What is the secret to the best corned beef? ›

    Because corned beef comes from brisket, a tough cut of meat. You need its connective tissue to break down so you can have tender results. Some like to braise their corned beef in an all-water liquid, with various spices and salt; others add beer to the mix to further tenderize the meat.

    How do you know when baked corned beef is done? ›

    Corned beef is safe once the internal temperature has reached at least 145 °F, with a three minute rest time, but cooking it longer will make it fork-tender. Corned beef may still be pink in color after cooking. This does not mean it is not done. Nitrite is used in the curing process.

    Should you use the juice in the corned beef package? ›

    To make the corned beef, open the sealed package right over the slow cooker, because you want to include the brine in the cooking liquid. Don't discard the brine.

    Can you overcook corned beef in the oven? ›

    And while brisket can take a much higher temperature than a steak can, it too can be overcooked. If all the collagen turns to gelatin, that's good, but if all the gelatin cooks out of the corned beef, you'll just have a crumbly, dried out piece of salted beef.

    Do you cover corned beef when cooking? ›

    Pour in enough water to cover the beef, then bring the water to a boil on the stovetop. Reduce the heat to a simmer, and cover the pot. A 3-pound corned beef could take three hours or more to become perfectly tender. Check the meat occasionally, adding more water if necessary.

    Is it better to bake or boil corned beef? ›

    While boiled dinner is all well and good, I much prefer baked corned beef for its more succulent flavor and texture and its hands-off vibe. This recipe: Takes five minutes of hands-on time. Produces excellent, consistent results.

    Should corned beef be completely covered in liquid? ›

    Remove Corned Beef from package and place in crock pot and completely cover with water. Cover and cook for approximately 11 hours on low or 5 hours on high, or until firmly fork tender. Please note that crock pot cooking times may vary greatly depending upon brand and style.

    What is the red stuff in a corned beef package? ›

    These days, sodium nitrite and sodium nitrate are typically used, often in the form of “curing salt” or “pink salt,” which has been dyed pink to distinguish it from regular salt. Sodium nitrite also prevents the growth of botulism and other bacteria.

    How long does canned corned beef take to cook? ›

    Add water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and stir in corned beef; cook until heated through, 6 to 8 minutes.

    Does corned beef shrink in the oven? ›

    When ready to serve, slice cold and place into an oven safe dish. Drizzle with reserved cooking liquid or low sodium chicken stock. Reheat at 350°F until heated through. Corned beef shrinks considerably!

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