If you are looking for the best, easiest way to make baked corned beef, you have come to the right place. For years I couldn't figure out how to make corned beef just the way I liked it to taste, but as it turns out, it's really simple: I now know how to cook corned beef in the oven!
Before we get into all the specifics of how to cook corned beef in the oven, let's start with the basics:
What is corned beef?
At the most basic, corned beef is a piece of beef brisket that has been cured in rock ( "corn" ) salt and usually something else that you don't really want to know about, like delicious, delicious nitrates and nitrites.
Look, in seriousness, I don't love nitrates and nitrites either, but once a year ... well I make an exception.
Because corned beef is delicious.
Now that you know what corned beef is, let's move on to the how of it all. If you'd rather watch how it's done, check out this video:
How to cook corned beef in the oven:
- Rinse the corned beef off with water and pat dry
- Rub the corned beef in your favorite mustard ( dijon for me )
- Sprinkle whatever magic seasoning was provided to you in the package of corned beef on the top ( fat side up )
- Wrap tightly in foil and place on an ovenproof pan with high sides so the moisture released during cooking doesn't overflow
- BAKE!
How long to cook corned beef in the oven?
The time to bake corned beef in the oven until it is tender, juicy, but still sliceable, is really simple to remember! Bake it for one hour per pound, and if your corned beef isn't a "perfect", even weight, round up to the quarter pound for times. For instance, a 2.65 lb corned beef should cook for the same time as a 2.75 lb corned beef: 2 hours and 45 minutes.
Here's some common times to spare you any math:
- 1 lb corned beef : bake 1 hour
- 2 lb corned beef: bake 2 hours
- 2.25 lb corned beef: bake 2 hours 15 minutes
- 2.5 lb corned beef: bake 2 hours 30 minutes
- 2.75 lb corned beef: bake 2 hours 45 minutes
- 3 lb corned beef: bake 3 hours
- 3.5 lb corned beef: bake 3 hours 30 minutes
- ... you get the idea!
Don't forget, once you take the corned beef out of the oven, it needs to REST before you slice into it, otherwise it will end up dry.
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I love to have oven baked corned beef and cabbage!
So make sure to make some sautéed cabbage to go with your corned beef. It's a great vegetable side dish for St Patrick's Day!
Baked Corned Beef in the Oven
Ingredients
- 1 package corned beef seasoning packet included
- ¼ cup dijon mustard
- 1 sheet foil heavy duty preferred
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and place a large piece of aluminum foil in an oven-proof dish with high sides like a Pyrex dish.Remove the corned beef from the package. Set the spice packet aside. Throw out any other packaging. Rinse the corned beef with cold water, pat dry, and set it on the foil in the dish, with the fatty side on the top.
- Rub ¼ cup of mustard all over the corned beef ( top, bottoms, sides )
- Open the seasoning packet, and sprinkle the seasoning on top of the mustard-rubbed corned beef. The seasoning only needs to go on the top of the meat, not all over.
- Tightly wrap the corned beef with the foil it's resting on. Place pan with the foil wrapped corned beef into the oven. Bake for 1 hour per pound of corned beef.
- Once the beef has cooked, remove it from the oven and open the foil. Optional: Broil the corned beef for 5 minutes, or until the top begins to crisp. After all cooking ( broiling or not ) has completed, let the corned beef rest for 10 minutes before transferring it to a cutting board. Slice the meat against the grain and serve with sautéed cabbage.
Trish says
I will try this tomorrow. Only question is how do you boil carrots, potatoes and cabbage without the “seasoned” water and make them tasty?
Nancy Carroll says
In my many years of cooking corned beef this is without a doubt the absolute best. I made it fir St Pats Day and then ran to the store to buy extra for the freezer. We had it again tonight and it was again absolutely delicious. I made some O'gratin poyatiesand brussel sprouts with it. My husband says you shoukd be sainted for that recipe.
Marianne says
What wonderful praise! Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know how much you all loved it and for leaving a rating. I really appreciate it!
Vincenza says
Made this for me and my fiance and father in law. They loved it and there was never any leftovers. I also boil my cabbage in salt water and sprinkle with a little salt and pepper once it's done. Got my corned beef in the oven now and this is like my 4th time making it. Best recipe I found for sure. Flavor is incredible and I just use either spicy brown mustard or regular (whichever I have on hand ). Never tried it but curious how it would taste covered in ketchup instead of mustard. Might have to experiment someday.
Marianne says
Ohhh I've never had it with ketchup either but I'd be interested to know too. Please let me know if you give it a try! Thank you for taking the time to leave a review!
Robert Pinet says
Ketchup? Ketchup.
Cretin.
Annie says
Corned Beef and cabbage is literally my FAVORITE meal! Growing up, my parents always cooked it in a pressure cooker. the thought has always made me nervous as an adult so this is my favorite way to do them! I think I’ll mix up the mustards also, like mentioned in a comment! I’m actually making one today to make corned beef and cabbage tacos tonight! 😋
Marianne says
Whoa corned beef and cabbage tacos sound amazinggggg!
Marcelle says
I've always baked corn beef brisket but it's been a while since I've done it and I couldn't remember how long to bake it per pound.
Thank you so much for the reminder.
I'm cooking two four pounders for Sunday dinner. Can't wait for Sunday to get here!
John Greenway says
Trying this for the 2nd time today, it was incredible the first time. There were skeptics in the family about baking corned beef but they're believers now. I used a mix of equal parts of honey mustard, yellow mustard and spicy brown mustard on mine.
Marianne says
Great idea to mix up the mustards - I'm going to try that next time myself! Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment/rating and sharing your mustard blend! Sounds awesome
Britt Bateman says
I've always done Corned Beef in a crock pot and it's always turned out okay... but following this oven recipe my Corned Beef had so much more flavor! I'm actually making this recipe for the 3rd time today, it's such a winner.