Air Fryer Corned Beef

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This Air Fryer Corned Beef Brisket is incredibly tender and flavorful. This easy recipe is everything you’d expect from corned beef but cooked in waaaay less time, thanks to the incredible power of the air fryer.  

Corned beef and cabbage is a traditional Irish-American meal that is typically served for St. Patrick’s Day celebration.

But when you make corned beef in air fryer, it’s ready in under 2 hours. That means it’s easy to serve up this tasty, hearty, and satisfying main dish meal any time of year. Serve this with Air Fryer Cabbage and this Instant Pot Colcannon for a great meal.

And I happen to think that the very best part of making corned beef in air fryer is having leftovers!

Seriously, nothing beats a classic reuben sandwich like this Air Fryer Reuben Sandwich that’s chock full of delicious leftover corned beef and sauerkraut!

What Is Corned Beef Brisket?

Corned beef is a beef brisket that has been cured in a brine or salt solution. Beef brisket can be tough, so the brine and slow cooking process give tender beef that is flavorful. 

For this recipe, look for a flat-cut section of corned beef. You can usually find it in a vacuum-sealed package in the grocery store’s meat department. This often come with pickling spices.

Delicious Corned beef is generally readily available during late February and into March as people prepare to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. 

Why Make This Recipe

• Affordable – Beef brisket is usually a tough cut of meat and is, therefore, less expensive than other cuts. The corning process makes tender meat that is juicy and flavorful with a nice crust. 
• Traditional – Even though air frying corned beef is a non-traditional cooking method,  corned beef was so affordable it became one of the favorite traditional recipes meal for Irish-Americans. 
• Fast – Corned beef in air fryer cook time is under 2 hours which is still considerably quicker than more conventional cooking methods like the crock pot. Plus, you’ll only have about 10 minutes of hands-on cooking. 

Ingredient Notes

• Corned Beef – Corned beef is trimmed and vacuum-sealed with a salt solution. You can find it in the grocery store’s meat section or ask a butcher. 

Ready to make corned beef air fryer style? Then gather your ingredients and I will show you…

How To Cook Corned Beef Brisket in An Air Fryer

Get the complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.

1. Preheat an air fryer to 360 degrees F or 180 degrees C. 
2. Rinse corned beef under running water to remove any excess salty brine, then pat dry with paper towels. If desired, you can use the pickling seasoning packet that comes with it to season the meat.
3. Wrap the corned beef in aluminum foil and place wrapped brisket inside the air fryer basket.
4. Air fry corned beef for 1 hour, then open the basket, open the foil, and baste the brisket with juices from meat.
5. Close up and cook corned beef for about another 40 minutes (or until the internal temperature reaches at least 145 degrees F or 63 degrees C.)
6. If you want to brown the meat before serving, simply open the foil and air fry for about 5 minutes.
7. Remove from the air fryer basket and allow the corned beef to rest for 20 minutes before slicing.

Always check for doneness using a meat thermometer. The internal temperature should be a minimum of 145 degrees F or 63 degrees C when inserted into the thickest part of the meat.

Expert Tips 

• Rinse the corned beef well to remove any excess brine.
• Feel free to use the pickling packet that typically comes with corned beef. 
• Wrap the meat tightly with foil so you can catch the juices and baste the meat during cooking. 
• To avoid foil sticking make sure to get some non stick foil.
• Preheat air fryer for at least 3 minutes, even if your brand does not normally recommend it. 
• Slice across the grain for making sandwiches (I happen to like thicker slices).
• Buy a larger brisket than you need as it shrinks a bit, and you’ll love leftovers.
• Always check meat for doneness with a meat thermometer. The temperature should reach at least 145 degrees F or 63 degrees C before serving.

Delicious Variations

• Make A Glaze – Combine honey, dijon mustard, and apple cider vinegar to make a glaze for the brisket. Rub the honey mustard mixture onto the meat before wrapping in foil.
• Feel free to sprinkle on some brown sugar on your tasty meat.

Prep And Storage

• Prep Ahead – Rinse the beef well to remove the excess brine and pat dry. 
• Store – Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container or freezer bags in the fridge for up to 3 days. 
• Uncooked corned beef – buy from the store, especially during sales, make sure it is well drained and well wrapped and freeze for up to 2 months.
• Freeze – Cooked corned beef can be frozen in freezer bags for up to 3 months. 
• Thaw – in a refrigerator overnight.

FAQs

Serving Suggestions

Need a fantastic side dish to go with this then try

• Easy Air Fryer Cabbage. The perfect pairing
• Instant Pot Buttered Cabbage. Buttery and perfect.
• Irish Soda Bread. Great to make leftover sandwiches.
• Shamrock Shake – McDonald’s copycat. Nice and sweet drink.

More Recipes You May Like

• Easy Instant Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage. You will love this just as much
• Air Fryer Turkey Breast. Easy to make and full of flavor.
• Air Fryer Pork Steak. So, so, so good.

Want More Air Fryer Beef Recipes?

• Air Fryer Beef Tenderloin. Perfectly cooked meat every single time.
• Juicy Air Fry Steak – Great for everyday and special occasions.
• Easy Air Fryer Steak Bites – These are so easy to make with pantry staples.
• How To Reheat Steak In Air Fryer. Great way to reheat your meat.

Best Equipment To Use

• The Best Air Fryer. For real.
• Awesome Air Fryer Accessories.
• Handy thermometer.

Thank you for reading my corned beef air fryer recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue to slice, dice, and dream up affordable Air Fryer recipes, Instant Pot Recipes, Southern Recipes, and more. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, food blog.

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