Tender Glazed Corned Beef

Cooking corned beef in the oven is easy with this hands off braising method. A simple brown sugar, mustard and horseradish blend makes a sweet, tangy spicy lacquer for the best glazed corned beef. Perfect for St. Patrick’s Day celebrating or anytime you’re craving a hearty braised corned beef with vegetables. It’s SO good!

Braised corned beef is more than a once a year Irish treat on St. Patrick’s Day — or, it SHOULD be. I’m such a fan that I have actually brined my own corned beef from scratch to enjoy it braised with traditional cabbage and potato sides. Leftovers go into this breakfast hash with shaved brussels sprouts or this more traditional corned beef hash. And you MUST try one of my favorite reuben sandwiches.

You don’t have to brine your brisket from scratch, though. Pick up a package of corned beef with the pickling spice and use it to make a traditional glazed corned beef in the oven with just a handful of ingredients.

What you’ll need for braised & glazed corned beef

What is braising?

Braising is a method of cooking that uses both dry and moist heat cooking at the same time. It’s typically used with tougher cuts (like briskets) to break down the tough fibers and leave you with a tender, juicy cut.

There are multiple ways to braise proteins like a corned beef. I like to use a Dutch oven as they’re heavy enameled cast iron which maintains a very even temperature and seals in the moisture and steam.

Another method is to use a roasting pan with high sides (to hold in the liquid) and a tight wrap of aluminum foil to braise your corned beef in the oven, which is what I did for this one, because my Dutch oven was otherwise occupied at the time.

How to braise corned beef in the oven

1. Remove the corned beef from the package and pat dry with paper towels. Transfer the beef brisket to a roasting pan.
2. Add carrots and onions to the pan, then add water until it reaches about halfway up the sides.
3. Sprinkle the pickling spice packet into the water (not on the meat itself) and cover the pan very tightly with aluminum foil.
4. Transfer the corned beef to the oven (set at 325° F) and braise for 3-4 hours or until the meat is very tender.

While the corned beef is braising in the oven, assemble the simple, but flavorful glaze.

How to glaze the corned beef

1. In a small saucepan, combine the horseradish, dijon mustard, whole grain mustard and brown sugar.
2. Heat the ingredients over medium high heat, stirring constantly until the sugar dissolves in the glaze.
3. Remove the braised corned beef from the oven and turn up the temperature to 375°F.
4. Once the brisket is cooked, transfer the meat, carrots and onions to a shallow roasting pan.
5. Score the fat cap on the brisket with a sharp knife and spread the glaze liberally over the corned beef and vegetables.
6. Cook the glazed corned beef in the hot oven for about 15 minutes to lacquer the surface.
7. Slice into 1/4″ thick slices and serve with carrots and onions on the side.

Other ways to braise corned beef

If you’d rather use another method to braise the beef instead of the oven, here are some options. Keep in mind, that you’ll still want to use the oven to set the glaze on the beef and vegetables.

Slow-Cooker

Slow cookers (a.k.a. Crock Pots) are wonderful for braising and you can certainly use one to braise your corned beef for this recipe. Just follow the same basic instructions for braising and set your slow cooker to low. Braise the corned beef for about 8 hours until tender.

Instant Pot

To braise the corned beef in the Instant Pot, use about 4 cups of water and cook on high pressure for about 85 minutes with a 20 minute natural release.

Stove-Top

For cooking corned beef on the stovetop, I strongly recommend a Dutch Oven. Assemble the dish as instructed and cover tightly with the lid. Bring the liquid to a boil, then turn the heat down to a low simmer (medium-low heat) and simmer for 3-4 hours until the meat is tender.

What the tasters said

My tasters loved this tender brisket. It’s firm enough to still have a good chew without completely falling apart and the double mustard, brown sugar and horseradish glaze gives it a tangy, spicy, sweet flavor that kept them coming back for another bite.

I added a little of the leftover glaze to the carrots and onions (’cause, why not?) and it was delicious.

FAQ’s

What to serve with glazed corned beef

Any of these easy traditional sides would be welcome with the mustard and brown sugar glazed corned beef.

Because this braised corned beef is such a simple, homey recipe, an effortless side dish like boiled potatoes with butter and parsley works well and let’s the flavors of the brisket shine. Another uncomplicated go-with would be lightly buttered egg noodles or the traditional Irish boiled cabbage and potatoes.

For something a bit more interesting, try some of these easy side dish recipes:

• Browned Butter Mashed Potatoes
• Roasted Garlic Mashed Cauliflower
• Garlic Rosemary Mustard Roasted Potatoes
• Brussel Apple Fennel Slaw
• Cheddar Chive Popovers
• Duck Fat Roasted Potatoes
• Black Pepper Parmesan Buttermilk Biscuits

More St. Patrick’s Day recipes you’ll love:

• Irish Stout Braised Chicken Thighs
• Bangers and Mash Recipe
• Irish Colcannon
• Soused Irish Whiskey Orange Bundt Cake
• Irish Banger Skillet
• Colcannon Potato Cakes
• Extra Stout Beef Carbonnade
• Irish Stout Lamb Stew
• Easy Irish Oatmeal
• Irish Soda Bread
• Bailey’s Chocolate Irish Cream Cookies