Corned Beef and Cabbage with Horseradish Cream Sauce

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Take your corned beef and cabbage to a whole new level by swapping the traditional boiling method for oven roasting—it’s a total game changer!

corned beef and cabbage in bowl with horseradish cream sauce on side

A beloved St. Patrick’s Day tradition, corned beef and cabbage is a cherished Irish-American dish, typically featuring corned beef—a brisket cured with salt and spices—and assorted vegetables like cabbage, potatoes, and carrots. While traditionally these components are boiled together in a big pot, I’ve found that slow-roasting the meat and vegetables separately yields a far more delicious outcome. My personal twist? Adding a horseradish-spiked butter sauce to the vegetables before roasting—it makes all the difference!

No corned beef and cabbage meal would be complete without a creamy horseradish cream sauce. Its cool, tangy, and slightly spicy flavor beautifully complements the rich, salty taste of the beef. To round off this traditional Irish-American meal, serve the corned beef and cabbage with my cheddar soda bread.

“My goodness this corned beef and cabbage with horseradish cream sauce is definitely taking it up a notch! I will never boil corned beef again!”

Bonnie

What You’ll Need To Make Corned Beef & Cabbage

For the Corned Beef and Vegetables

ingredients for corned beef and cabbage
  • Corned Beef with Seasoning Packet: Named for the large “corns” or grains of salt used for curing, corned beef has a distinctive salty and savory flavor. Opt for a flat-cut brisket for even cooking and slicing. To ensure juiciness, do not trim the fat before cooking; it’s best to remove it after. Most corned beef packages come with a seasoning packet—essential for adding flavor with spices like peppercorns, bay leaves, and mustard seeds. If missing, refer to FAQs for a homemade substitute.
  • Butter: The base of the roasting mixture, butter adds richness while assisting in the browning and caramelization of the vegetables in the oven.
  • Prepared Horseradish: Combined with butter, this condiment adds a sharp, tangy flavor to the roasted vegetables. This spicy condiment is made from grated horseradish root mixed with vinegar and salt, and can typically be found in the refrigerated section of the supermarket.
  • Carrots, Small Gold Potatoes, and Green Cabbage: Roasted together in the butter and horseradish mixture, these vegetables contribute variety of textures and flavors. The carrots introduce sweetness and color; the potatoes, a creamy texture; and the cabbage, a crunchy and slightly bitter balance.
  • Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements

For the Horseradish Cream Sauce

ingredients for horseradish cream sauce.
  • Sour Cream: Forms the creamy base of the sauce, offering a rich texture and a slight tanginess.
  • Prepared Horseradish: Provides the sauce’s signature spicy, pungent flavor. Start with a recommended amount and adjust according to taste for more of a kick.
  • Dijon Mustard: Adds depth and a mild heat, enhancing the complexity of the sauce while meshing well with the horseradish.
  • White Wine Vinegar: Introduces a bright acidity, balancing the creaminess of the sour cream and the spiciness of the horseradish.
  • Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements

Step-By-Step Instructions

Begin by rinsing the meat under cold running water. This will rid the meat of some of the saltiness. Place the corned beef fat side up in a large roasting pan.

making corned beef and cabbage - corn beef in roasting pan with a little water

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.

making corned beef and cabbage - roasting pan covered with foil

Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the melted butter, horseradish, salt, and pepper.

making corned beef and cabbage - combining butter, horseradish, salt and pepper in mixing bowl

Mix well.

making corned beef and cabbage - horseradish butter mixed in bowl

Place the carrots, potatoes and cabbage side by side on a rimmed baking sheet (do not line the pan with foil; the potatoes will stick). Drizzle the horseradish-butter mixture over the veggies.

making corned beef and cabbage - drizzling horseradish butter over the carrots, potatoes and cabbage

Toss with a spatula to coat all of the vegetables evenly, keeping the vegetables separate. Turn the potatoes so that they are cut side down (they’ll get much crispier that way).

making corned beef and cabbage - vegetables evenly tossed with the horseradish butter

After the corned beef has roasted for 1 hour and 30 minutes, place the pan of vegetables on the bottom rack of the oven. Roast the vegetables and continue cooking the corned beef for 1 hour and 30 minutes more, until both the meat and vegetables are tender. Check on the veggies occasionally to be sure they are browning evenly.

making corned beef and cabbage - bronzed vegetables fresh out of the oven

Remove the meat from the oven and transfer to a cutting board. Let cool slightly, until cool enough to handle.

making corned beef and cabbage - roasted corned beef fresh out of the oven

Cut off the layer of fat on top of the corned beef and discard. Slice the meat against, or perpendicular to, the grain into 1/4-inch slices.

making corned beef and cabbage - slicing corned beef on cutting board

Simply combine all of the ingredients in a small bowl, and season to taste.

horseradish sauce ingredients mixed together in mixing bowl

Arrange the meat and roasted vegetables on a platter and sprinkle with parsley, if desired. Serve with the horseradish cream sauce on the side.

corned beef and cabbage on serving plate

Frequently Asked Questions

My corned beef did not come with a seasoning packet—can I make my own?

Yes, you can create your own seasoning mix for the corned beef. Combine equal parts of mustard seeds, coriander seeds, and allspice berries to make about one teaspoon in total. I would also include a bay leaf for added flavor. Feel free to adjust the mix based on the spices you have available.

Can I make corned beef and cabbage ahead of time?

The corned beef can be roasted up to 3 days ahead of time and reheated. However, for best results, roast the vegetables just before serving to maintain their crispiness. The horseradish cream sauce can be prepared up to two days in advance and stored in the fridge.

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Corned Beef and Cabbage with Horseradish Cream Sauce

Take your corned beef and cabbage to a whole new level by swapping the traditional boiling method for oven roasting—it’s a total game changer!

Servings: 6 - 8
Prep Time: 20 Minutes
Cook Time: 3 Hours
Total Time: 3 Hours 20 Minutes

Ingredients

For the Corned Beef and Vegetables

  • 1 (4-lb) flat-cut corned beef with seasoning packet (do not trim the fat)
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 tablespoons prepared horseradish
  • 1½ teaspoons salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 6 medium carrots, cut into 2-in chunks
  • 1¼ lb small gold potatoes (about 2.5" in diameter), halved
  • 1 very small green cabbage, cored and cut into ½-inch-thick slices (see note)
  • 2 tablespoons chopped Italian parsley, for garnish (optional)

For the Horseradish Cream Sauce

  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 2 tablespoons prepared horseradish, plus more to taste
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon sugar

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven the 325°F. Set one oven rack in the middle position and another in the bottom position.
  2. Rinse the corned beef several times under running cold water. (No need to dry it.)
  3. Place the corned beef fat side up in a large roasting pan (you'll trim the fat after the meat is cooked). Pour about ⅛ inch water around the meat. Sprinkle the contents of the seasoning packet into the water around the corned beef. Cover the pan tightly with heavy-duty aluminum foil and roast on the middle rack for 3 hours.
  4. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix together the melted butter, horseradish, salt and pepper.
  5. Place the carrots, potatoes and cabbage side by side on a rimmed baking sheet (do not line the pan with foil; the potatoes will stick). Drizzle the horseradish-butter mixture over the veggies and toss with a spatula to coat all of the vegetables evenly, keeping the vegetables separate. Turn the potatoes so that they are cut side down (they'll get crispier that way).
  6. After the corned beef has roasted for 1 hour and 30 minutes, place the pan of vegetables on the bottom rack of the oven. Roast the vegetables and continue cooking the corned beef for 1 hour and 30 minutes more, until both the meat and vegetables are tender. Check on the veggies occasionally to be sure they are browning evenly. (The cabbage will brown first, so give it a toss when the bottom pieces look golden. The potatoes and carrots may need to be turned, but only if they are nicely browned on the bottom before the cook time is up.)
  7. Transfer the corned beef to a cutting board and let sit until cool enough to handle, about 5 minutes. Cut off the layer of fat on top of the corned beef and discard. Slice the meat against (or perpendicular to) the grain into ¼-inch slices. Arrange the meat on a platter with the roasted vegetables and sprinkle with parsley, if desired. Serve with the horseradish cream sauce.

For the Horseradish Cream Sauce

  1. Combine all of the ingredients in a small bowl and stir to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning, adding more horseradish to taste, if desired.
  2. Note: You won't use the whole head of cabbage; just use enough to cover ⅓ of the sheet pan.
  3. Note: The nutritional information does not include the horseradish cream sauce.

Pair with

Nutrition Information

Powered by Edamam

  • Per serving (8 servings)
  • Calories: 577
  • Fat: 40 g
  • Saturated fat: 14 g
  • Carbohydrates: 18 g
  • Sugar: 3 g
  • Fiber: 3 g
  • Protein: 35 g
  • Sodium: 2813 mg
  • Cholesterol: 138 mg

This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.

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Comments

  • Hi Jenn, I have a question that I didn’t see answered. How can you tell when the corned beef is done? The only size I could snag at the grocery store is a 3 lb piece. Do I check internal temp? I don’t want to it get tough and overcooked. Looking forward to trying this- have never cooked with this type of meat before!

    • — Heather E on March 13, 2023
    • Reply
    • Hi Heather, I’d just stick with the timing in the recipe for a 3-pound corned beef. You’ll know it’s done when it’s fork-tender. Hope you enjoy!

      • — Jenn on March 14, 2023
      • Reply
  • Hi there, I cannot seem to find the corned beef with a seasoning packet. The corned beef I found has been cured in brine but does not come with the seasoning packet. I am wondering if you can help me out by letting me know what is in the seasoning packet exactly and the quantity? Thank you!

    • — Becca on March 13, 2023
    • Reply
    • Hi Becca, I would discard the brine and then just cook the meat in the water as specified in the recipe. It should already be seasoned due to the brine. Hope you enjoy!

      • — Jenn on March 13, 2023
      • Reply
  • My last post I neglected to rate with stars. Sorry but here’s your rating!!!

    • — Deborah W on March 13, 2023
    • Reply
  • This is by far the best way to cook corned beef. You’re recipe is spot on!! I made 2 flat cuts 4lb & 3.5lb in large roasting pan. After washing off corned beef I topped with Maille whole grain mustard and sprinkled with brown sugar. Instead of adding water or broth I added a bottle of Guinness beer. Covered tightly with foil for 3 hrs. Our guests were in heaven. OMG is all I have to say.

    • — Deborah Wilm on March 13, 2023
    • Reply
    • BRILLIANT!!!! I’M DOING THIS!!!

      • — Gigi win on March 17, 2023
      • Reply
  • Can I use my large Dutch oven for this recipe?

    • — Kim K on March 13, 2023
    • Reply
    • Sure!

      • — Jenn on March 13, 2023
      • Reply
    • I made it exactly the same way as Deborah above. 2 briskets about the same size and a bottle of Guinness instead of water. So, so good! Everything was excellent and our house smelled divine. The Spotify St. Patrick’s Day playlist was the perfect soundtrack!!

      • — Gigiwin on March 18, 2023
      • Reply
  • This recipe was so easy and so good! I am not a horseradish fan, but I am now. I had a flat and a point, both turned out great. Definitely serve with the cream – good with anything. Doubled the recipe, tossed each veggie separately in a bowl with the butter/horseradish then transferred to the pan for cooking. Grandkids to great grandparents – a hit. Made the Cheddar Soda Bread too, another yummy and easy creation.

    • — Domine on March 13, 2023
    • Reply
  • This is without a doubt my favorite way to cook corned beef dinner! I have been making it this way for several years now and it is a hit with all! It is so much easier and more importantly tastier to make it this way! Crispy cabbage yum! I do make a pot of additional steamed cabbage, onions and additional carrots just because we like a lot of veggies. The horseradish sauce is delicious and we continue to use it the rest of the week with leftovers and in sandwiches. The presentation is fabulous too!

    • — Pepper on March 12, 2023
    • Reply
  • This looks wonderful! Can I make it a day ahead of time and take it to a friends home for dinner? Thank you for all your wonderful recipes!

    • — joan on March 12, 2023
    • Reply
    • Hi Joan, yes, it can be made a day ahead. After cooking it, I’d remove the fat and slice it cold, then reheat it in the roasting liquid, covered, in a 325°F oven. Hope everyone enjoys it!

      • — Jenn on March 13, 2023
      • Reply
  • I didn’t see oven temperature anywhere, but I assume it’s 325?

    • — Liz K on March 12, 2023
    • Reply
    • Hi Liz, 325°F is correct. Hope you enjoy!

      • — Jenn on March 13, 2023
      • Reply
  • Hi!
    My family is not a mustard or horseradish fan. Should I just stick with salt and pepper or do you have another suggestion for a seasoning sauce?

    I’m looking forward to trying it.

    Thank you!

    • — Gina on March 12, 2023
    • Reply
    • Hi Gina, I’d just toss the veggies with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. For the sauce, you can omit the horseradish and mustard. The sauce will taste different, but should still be good. Hope you enjoy!

      • — Jenn on March 15, 2023
      • Reply

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