Wonder what to serve with corned beef no more with this perfect collection of amazing recipes to round out your St. Patrick's Day! Since I need no excuse to cook up a BIG batch of corned beef and cabbage, I always have plenty of favorite side dishes, breads, appetizers, and desserts ready as an answer!
If you're dishing up a holiday meal this March, see my St. Patrick's Day recipes, Irish recipes, and shamrock recipes for St. Patrick's Day.
Jump to:
- 21 Ideas for What To Serve with Corned Beef
- Great Appetizers for Corned Beef Dinners
- 1. Irish Nachos
- 2. Fried Pickles
- 3. Spinach Artichoke Dip
- 4. Macaroni and Cheese Bites
- 5. Dill Pickle Dip
- Best Bread that Goes with Corned Beef
- 6. Irish Soda Bread
- 7. Potato Rolls
- Best Vegetable Sides That Go With Corned Beef
- 8. Crockpot Cabbage
- 9. Skillet Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots
- 10. Garlic Green Beans
- 11. Roasted Brussel Sprouts
- 12. Sautéed Asparagus & Cherry Tomatoes
- Potato Side Dishes for Corned Beef
- 13. Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
- 14. Parmesan Roasted Mashed Potatoes
- 15. Scalloped Potatoes
- 16. Colcannon
- 17. Potatoes Dauphinoise
- 18. Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes
- Perfect Desserts to Serve with Corned Beef
- 19. Apple & Blackberry Crumble
- 20. Irish Apple Cake with Vanilla Custard Sauce
- 21. Irish Oatmeal Cake with Caramel Pecan Frosting
- 22. Rainbow Rice Krispies Treats
- 23. Irish Potato Candy
- 📖 Recipe Card
- What To Serve with Corned Beef: 23+ Amazing Recipes To Make For Dinner & St. Patricks Day!
- 💬 Comments & Reviews
St. Patrick’s Day is one of the most lighthearted and fun holidays we celebrate, regardless of our heritage. Who can resist parades, rainbows, shamrocks, Leprechauns, and “green beer”?!
The most commonly seen foods on my family table are the beloved corned beef, Irish-inspired dishes, and some non-traditional recipes that pair well with the tried and true St. Paddy's Day fare.
Choose your favorites and take your tastebuds on a culinary adventure!
21 Ideas for What To Serve with Corned Beef
Don't forget that corned beef and cabbage are GREAT economical meals at any time of the year. No special occasions are needed! 😋
Are you like me and don't love the packaged seasoning mixes with corned beef? Try my homemade corned beef packet seasoning instead!
Great Appetizers for Corned Beef Dinners
Whether you're fully going with an Irish theme for the festive holiday or just enjoying a large family meal, I have everything you need here! These starters are a great way to prepare for your fantastic dinner!
1. Irish Nachos
The perfect way to start your feast is this crispy potato nacho piled high with gooey cheese and bacon and garnished with pico, green onions or chives, olives, and jalapenos. A good bottle (or 2) of Guinness stout will quickly put you in the holiday spirit!
2. Fried Pickles
Prepared in an air fryer, this tangy dill pickle snack is extra crunchy and surprisingly delicious. The sour pickle flavor is the perfect appetizer to offset the salt of the corned beef.
Serve your fried pickles with your favorite dipping sauce. My go-to is always ranch dressing!
3. Spinach Artichoke Dip
A creamy blend of cheeses, loaded with spinach and artichokes, and served hot and bubbly from the oven - add chips, fresh bread, or crostini to enjoy. This crowd-pleasing appetizer is easy to assemble and a great way to sneak in extra veggies!
4. Macaroni and Cheese Bites
Bake your favorite macaroni and cheese into bite-size morsels of cheesy goodness. Crispy on the outside, tender, cheesy, and moist inside!
Finger food at its finest! Plus, they're super easy to make and a big hit with both kids and adults.
5. Dill Pickle Dip
Tangy, creamy dill pickle dip is a crowd-favorite party dip that disappears fast! You'll love how easy it is to make, and your visitors will love the tasty flavor!
Best Bread that Goes with Corned Beef
Who doesn't love soft bread to clean up your plate after enjoying a rich, satisfying dinner?! Stick with the traditional Irish soda bread, or go with amazingly tender potato rolls for great options!
6. Irish Soda Bread
A staple of traditional Irish meals, this bread is an excellent choice for novice bread-makers as it contains no yeast, making it quick and easy to prepare. Mix and form the dough into your loaf shape, drop it into a baking pan, and bake.
Irish soda bread is light, fluffy, and tasty with a golden crust. It's a perfect partner for hearty corned beef.
*Sidenote: In the mid-1800s, most Irish families did not own ovens. Instead, their bread was baked over an open fire in a 'bastible', which is similar to a Dutch oven.
7. Potato Rolls
No dinner is complete without a roll in your hand, and these light, fluffy potato rolls are undoubtedly one of the best you will ever bake. The mashed potatoes make these rolls extra soft and make the dough easier to work with.
Leftovers (is that possible?) can be used for corned beef sliders or frozen for up to a month and then re-heated to their original perfection.
Best Vegetable Sides That Go With Corned Beef
When it comes to corned beef, a wide variety of vegetables are wonderfully suited to making for your dinner! Potatoes, root vegetables, and cabbage are classics, but think outside the box and get ready to enjoy some great flavor contrasts!
8. Crockpot Cabbage
There is nothing easier than cooking cabbage in your slow cooker! The bacon and onion flavors are infused into the cabbage as it slowly cooks its way to perfection. In just a few worry-free hours, it will be ready to serve.
9. Skillet Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots
Served as a side with corned beef, the carrot will add a splash of color to the table, and the sugar will offset the savory meat. Preparing glazed carrots in a skillet is the quickest and easiest method.
A little brown sugar and butter will turn these carrots into your family’s favorite vegetable!
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10. Garlic Green Beans
Perhaps the most versatile of vegetables, these garlic green beans with bacon and buttery goodness will make a delicious side dish. Their bright color and bold flavor make them a perfect addition to your corned beef dinner!
11. Roasted Brussel Sprouts
Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, these oven-roasted Brussels sprouts will be a flavorful match for your corned beef dinner.
Roasting brings out a slightly smoky, sweet, nutty flavor and leaves no trace of the bitterness that can be found in other cooking methods.
Your family and guests will ask for second helpings of these gems, and you will love how easy they are to prepare!
12. Sautéed Asparagus & Cherry Tomatoes
Sautéing fresh asparagus enhances the natural, earthy flavor, while adding cherry tomatoes gives this dish a little extra tang!
This delicious tanginess will bring out the flavor of your corned beef and make your meal that much more amazing!
Potato Side Dishes for Corned Beef
There's nothing more suited to serve with corned beef than potatoes! Potatoes cooked in different methods will all be a great starchy side to serve with your corned beef dinner!
13. Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
What meal is complete without potatoes?! And what better way to serve them than mashed, with roasted garlic kicking them up a notch on the perfection scale?
All the meat and potato lovers in your family will sing your praises when you serve this creamy, delicious 'mash.' See my guide to making mashed potatoes for great tips!
*Sidenote: Mashed potatoes are jokingly referred to as “Irish Guac O'mole” because mashed potatoes are a staple at every meal in an Irish household. (You can read the Reddit-originated discussion about the nickname at Irish Central.)
14. Parmesan Roasted Mashed Potatoes
Another flavor-boosting enhancement for your mashed potatoes is to top them with a Parmesan-rich bread crumb mixture and bake them until golden brown and crispy to perfection.
The texture of the creamy potatoes with crunch cheesy topping is out of this world, yet it won’t detract from your flavorful corned beef!
15. Scalloped Potatoes
Super creamy, tender scalloped potatoes are an ideal dish to pair with any beef dinner! They're easy to make and a classic potato side dish for many proteins.
16. Colcannon
Stick with the Irish theme and make this tasty variation to mashed potatoes! Combine lots of butter and tender cabbage with your favorite mashed potatoes to make a fabulous potato dish to serve for St. Paddy's Day!
>>>>See All Of My Recipes Here<<<<
17. Potatoes Dauphinoise
These delicious potatoes are a super-rich and tasty potato side dish for your dinner this St. Patrick's Day! Your whole family is sure to love this holiday side dish staple!
18. Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes
My creamy cream cheese mashed potatoes are a great potato side dish that can hold up to the flavor of corned beef. The richness of this mash is amazing when paired with your beef.
Perfect Desserts to Serve with Corned Beef
If you'd love to enjoy a popular fruit dessert enjoyed by the Irish, try my apple blackberry crumble! Like our American apple pie, a great Irish apple cake is a special treat, and you can't get any better than serving it with my rich custard!
The Irish oatmeal cake is simple but tender and moist. It's perfect for an anytime dessert!
And then, just for fun or to let your kids make their dessert, I'm sure you'll enjoy some rainbow rice krispies treats! Crispy, gooey, marshmallow goodness that we all grew up with but in festive fun colors!
19. Apple & Blackberry Crumble
The sweetness of the apples and the tartness of the blackberries make this crumble an absolute family favorite! No matter how full you feel after dinner is enjoyed, there is always room for this irresistible dessert!
20. Irish Apple Cake with Vanilla Custard Sauce
Apples have always been a mainstay of bakers, and this not-too-sweet Irish Apple Cake will be the perfect dessert to serve after your savory corned beef main dish! The smooth, creamy custard sauce may be the secret to why this cake is a winner!
21. Irish Oatmeal Cake with Caramel Pecan Frosting
A staple in every Irish household, oats are the basis of this cake recipe. Warm baking spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg give this cake a wonderful fragrance as it bakes.
It is not a pretty cake, but it makes up for its homely appearance by being super moist and flavorful! While the oat-based cake is incredible and tasty all on its own, topping it with my easy caramel pecan frosting will enhance the flavors even more!
22. Rainbow Rice Krispies Treats
This super easy no-bake dessert will surely please everyone, young and old! My disclaimer here is that I'm not responsible for any sticky fingerprints. 🙂
23. Irish Potato Candy
Grab the kids to make these fun no-bake treats! With a little mixing, you can roll your coconut filling in cinnamon for a look-alike candy everyone will rave about.
I'd love to hear about your favorite dishes to serve with corned beef or what you love making for St. Patrick's Day! Leave me a comment below and let me know!
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📖 Recipe Card
What To Serve with Corned Beef: 23+ Amazing Recipes To Make For Dinner & St. Patricks Day!
Ingredients
Breads
- Irish Soda Bread
- Potato Rolls
Vegetable Sides
Potato Side Dishes
- Creamy Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
- Parmesan Roasted Mashed Potatoes
- Scalloped Potatoes
- Colcannon
(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)
Instructions
- Select the appetizers, bread, and side dishes to complete your corned beef dinner menu.
- Prepare your selected dishes while your corned beef is cooking.
- Serve with corned beef for a delicious meal. Enjoy!
Wendy P says
Fantastic recipe ideas for corned beef dinner, I love the desserts btw!