Why should you cook air fryer corned beef? Using the air fryer to cook meat saves you time and means you don't need to turn on a hot oven! This easy recipe for corned beef brisket in the air fryer takes just minutes to prepare and comes out perfectly juicy on the inside with nice crisp edges on the top.
Corned beef brisket is most famous for St. Patrick's Day when it's served up with cabbage and potatoes, but you can actually eat it any time of the year!
I love the simple seasoning and preparation of air fryer corned beef and it cooks up so tender that it almost melts in your mouth.
Corned Beef in the Air Fryer
This recipe was inspired by my other corned beef recipe on Kitchen Divas, and pairs well with this simple side dish recipe.
If you like cooking in the air fryer, you might also like Air Fryer Frozen Meatballs or Air Fryer Rib Eye Steak. It's also great to cook up easy sides for dinner such as brussels sprouts or an easy crumble for dessert.
Ingredients
This easy corned beef recipe is made with corned beef brisket and a few pantry staple ingredients.
- Corned beef brisket
- Apple cider vinegar
- Dijon mustard
- Brown sugar
- Garlic powder
- Pickling seasoning packet
See the recipe card further down on the page for the exact quantities of each ingredient.
How to Cook Corned Beef in the Air Fryer
It takes a few quick steps to prepare the brisket for cooking while the air fryer does most of the work.
Step 1: Preheat the Air Fryer
Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees F. When hot, remove the basket and line it with a large piece of foil.
Step 2: Prepare the Brisket
Remove the brisket from the packaging and set aside the pickling seasoning packet.
In a medium mixing bowl combine the apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, brown sugar, and garlic powder.
Place the brisket into the foil-lined air fryer basket.
Pour the mixture over top of the brisket, making sure to fully cover it.
Open the seasoning packet and sprinkle that over the top of the brisket evenly.
Step 3: Cook the Brisket
Place the marinated brisket into the air fryer and set the timer for 40 minutes.
When the timer goes off check the brisket. Use a spoon to collect the juices at the bottom of the foil spooning them on top of the meat. You can also use a teaspoon or two of water as well if needed.
Set the air fryer timer for an additional 15-20 minutes.
When it's done cooking, check the temperature of the meat using a meat thermometer. The internal temp should be at 145 degrees.
Allow the brisket to rest for ten to fifteen minutes before slicing and serving it up.
Hint: Using a meat thermometer is one of the best ways to test meat for doneness and prevent overcooking. Make sure you check the temperature of the meat in the thickest part of the meat.
Substitutions
Don't have the correct ingredients on hand? Or want to change something up? Here are some helpful tips for you to change this air fryer corned beef recipe.
- Pickling spice packet - If your brisket doesn't come with a spice packet, you can make your own by combining caraway seeds, black peppercorn, whole mustard seeds, coriander seeds, and dried thyme.
- Garlic powder - Swap out the garlic powder with ⅓-1/2 cup minced fresh garlic.
- Apple cider vinegar - White wine vinegar will have the closest acidity to apple cider vinegar.
How to Cut Corned Beef Brisket
Is there a right or wrong way to cut corned beef brisket? Yes, for the absolute best results there are a few important tips to follow.
- It's essential to allow the corn beef brisket to rest after you remove it from the air fryer before carving it up. This keeps the juices inside the meat which means when you cut it, the meat will be juicy and delicious.
- Cut the corned beef against the grain. You can see above what that looks like. Cutting it in this way will lead to perfectly tender and succulent slices of corned beef brisket.
If you love recipes like this, you may also enjoy cooking Instant Pot Corned Beef.
Equipment
You don't need a ton of equipment to make air fryer corned beef but it does require a few key tools.
- Air fryer
- Meat thermometer
- Carving knife and fork
- Cutting board
- Aluminum foil
Storage
Store any leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for 2-3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
How to Reheat Corned Beef Brisket
It's tricky to reheat meat and avoid overcooking it or drying it out. The trick here is to consider a couple things.
- Is the corned beef sliced or whole?
- What method do you want to use to reheat?
Sliced vs. Whole
The method will be the same for cooking whether it's sliced or whole, but if the brisket is already sliced, it will need less time to cook.
Place the sliced or whole corned beef into a pan and pour over enough beef broth or water so that it covers the bottom of the pan. Cover the pan with foil and then choose your method for reheating.
Heating Method
My preferred method to reheat cooked corned beef is the oven. I simply feel it allows the most control over all the components that produce the best results.
- Oven: Place the pan of corned beef in the oven at 325° F and heat until the meat is heated through. Check frequently and add more broth or liquid as needed. For sliced meat it will take 15-20 minutes and a whole piece will take longer.
- Air Fryer: Instead of a pan, line the air fryer basket with foil and add the meat and liquid as mentioned above. Heat on 300° F for 5 minutes and then check and cook longer as needed. The main drawback to the air fryer is that it uses circulating air which is naturally drying. Plus, in the air fryer you can't really cook the meat covered which also leads to more extensive drying out.
- Microwave: My least favorite method, especially for reheating a whole piece of brisket. Make sure you use a microwave safe container and plastic covering to heat. Cook on half power in 2 minute intervals, turning the meat and adding more liquid as needed in between.
HINT: Use a smaller pan that will fit only the meat you want to reheat. This will allow the broth you add to stay close to the meat and not spread out and evaporate as quickly while it cooks.
More Ways to Use Leftover Corned Beef Brisket
Leftover corned beef makes a delicious addition to recipes:
- Reuban Crescent Rings
- Reuben Sliders
- Reuben Sandwich
- Corned Beef Stew
- Corned Beef Hash
What to Serve with Corned Beef Brisket
Traditionally corned beef is served with cabbage, sauerkraut, and Irish soda bread.
But, it’s also delicious with fried potatoes, mashed potatoes, potato salad, or a variety of vegetables!
Get more ideas on the full list of what to serve with corned beef. And, if you want even more options...even though this recipe doesn't have cabbage in it, check out this list of sides that we've created for your dining pleasure. You'll be glad you did!
Do you want your guests or family members to be running back for more? To find the perfect side dish, check out What to Serve With Beef Bourguignon.
Tips
Here are my top tips to make sure corned beef brisket in the air fryer comes out perfectly.
- For perfectly juicy slices of meat keep adding liquid as needed while the meat cooks.
- Cut the meat across the grain for the most tender results.
- After cooking, let the meat sit before slicing into it.
- Choose a piece of brisket that will fit in your air fryer. Smaller air fryers may make it difficult to cook even the smallest brisket and may require cutting it into smaller portions.
More Main Dish Air Fryer Recipes
Do you like making meals in the air fryer? Here are some recipes you may also like to try:
FAQ
Do you have questions about how to make corned beef in the air fryer? Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about this recipe.
Yes, it works great to make advance to save you some time during the week. After cooking, leave the corned beef intact and follow the instructions above for reheating the whole corned beef above. For best results, don't slice the corned beef until you're ready to serve.
Corned beef is actually a beef brisket that's been marinated in a brine for a period of time. Since the brine contains salt, it's a good idea to drain off any excess liquid and quickly rinse the beef with cold water before cooking.
You will need a large air fryer, at least 8 quarts in size, to cook a larger, 5-pound brisket. If you have a smaller air fryer, such as a 4 quart or similar, you can choose a 2-3 pound brisket and cut the recipe in half. If you have a small air fryer, less than 4 quarts, you can first check to see if the meat will fit or cut it into small pieces and cook in batches.
Air Fryer Corned Beef
Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.
Air Fryer Corned Beef
Equipment
- Sharp knife and carving fork
- Meat Thermometer
Ingredients
- 5 lb corned beef brisket
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar -
- ⅓ cup dijon mustard
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 pickling seasoning packet with corned beef brisket
Instructions
- Gather the ingredients to make this recipe.
- Preheat air fryer to 350 degrees and line the basket with a large piece of foil.
- Remove the brisket from the packaging and set the pickling seasoning packet aside.
- In a medium bowl combine the apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, brown sugar, and garlic powder.
- Place the brisket into the foil lined basket.
- Pour the mixture over top of the brisket, making sure to fully cover it.
- Open the seasoning packet and sprinkle that over the top of the brisket evenly.
- Place brisket into the air fryer and set the timer for 40 minutes.
- When timer goes off check brisket. Use a spoon to collect the juices at the bottom of the foil spooning them on top of the meat. You can use a teaspoon or two of water if needed.
- Set timer for an additional 15-20 minutes.
- When done, check temperature of the meat using a meat thermometer. The internal temp should be at 145 degrees. If it's ready remove from the air fryer. If not, continue cooking in short intervals until ready.
- Allow the meat to rest for ten to fifteen minutes.
- Then slice brisket against the grain for tender results!
- Serve it up with your favorite sides!
- Enjoy every bite!
Notes
- For perfectly juicy slices of meat keep adding liquid as needed while the meat cooks.
- Cut the meat across the grain for the most tender results.
- After cooking, let the meat sit before slicing into it.
- Choose a piece of brisket that will fit in your air fryer. Smaller air fryers may make it difficult to cook even the smallest brisket and may require cutting it into smaller portions.
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