Homemade Corned Beef
A weeknight-friendly beef built around corned beef brisket, guinness beer and carrots — roughly 65 minutes start to finish, and rated medium to make. Below: the ingredients split into pantry staples and a quick shopping list, a built-in serving scaler, and the method in 7 steps.
You'll mainly reach for large pot and saucepan. At medium difficulty across 7 steps, it's manageable with a little attention.
What you'll need
Shopping list (5)
Pantry staples (you likely have these)
Diet: contains meat, based on every ingredient listed below.
Contains: none of the major allergens we track from the ingredients listed.
Allergen labels are informational and may not cover cross-contact; verify every package and consult a qualified professional for medical dietary needs. Diet labels are derived from the ingredient list on this page — how we verify diet and allergen labels.
Food-safety and allergen information is general, not medical advice. Follow current guidance from your local food-safety authority, verify product labels, and seek qualified advice for allergies or health conditions.
How to make it
- Rinse the corned beef under cold water to remove surface brine, then place it fat side up in a large heavy pot.
- Pour in the stout and enough water to cover the meat by about an inch, then add the quartered onions, smashed garlic, bay leaves, pickling spice, allspice and peppercorns.
- Bring to a boil, then immediately reduce the heat to a bare simmer, cover, and cook gently for about 2.5 to 3 hours until the beef is fork-tender.
- Peel the carrots and cut them into large chunks, then add them to the pot for the final 30 minutes of cooking so they soften but hold their shape.
- Check doneness by sliding a fork into the thickest part: it should pull apart easily with almost no resistance, which for this cut means an internal temperature around 200°F where the connective tissue has fully broken down; if it is still tough, continue simmering and check every 20 minutes.
- Transfer the corned beef to a board, tent loosely with foil and rest for 10 minutes so the juices settle.
- Slice the beef thinly across the grain and serve with the carrots and a few spoonfuls of the cooking broth.
You'll use: Large pot · Saucepan
Tips & common questions
How long does Homemade Corned Beef take to make?
About 65 minutes from start to finish — an estimate based on the 7 steps and 10 ingredients. Times vary with your kitchen and how much prep you do ahead.
Can I scale this recipe up or down?
Yes — use the servings control above the ingredients and every quantity rescales automatically (fractions included). Cooking times stay roughly the same; very large batches may need a little longer.
How should I store leftovers?
Cool leftovers quickly, refrigerate in an airtight container, and eat within 3 days. Reheat until piping hot throughout.
Related recipes
Adapted recipe — rewritten in our own wording from an open-licensed community cookbook, not yet independently kitchen-tested by Consomee. How we source, test & correct recipes.
Homemade Corned Beef is adapted by Consomee from the Wikibooks Cookbook, rewritten in our own wording and used under CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo: Cooked corned beef.JPG by BrokenSphere, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons. We add the serving scaler, ingredient tools, timing and structure — how we source recipes.