Air Fryer Corned Beef

When air fryer corned beef turns out so tender and delicious, you may find yourself wanting to make this St. Patrick’s Day classic all year round!

Do you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day where you’re from? While it seems to be more popular in the northern part of the country, I still think this air fryer corned beef recipe is one everyone needs to try!

The meat turns out so tender, juicy, and delicious, I just know I’m going to be craving it all year round. And thanks to the air fryer, prep couldn’t be easier! Can you believe the hands-on time for this recipe is only about 10 minutes?

Here’s what I’m going to teach you in this post:

• How to cook corned beef in the air fryer without drying it out
• The best way to cut corned beef
• What to serve with this dish
• How to reheat corned beef brisket in the air fryer

Whether you make corned beef brisket every year for St. Patrick’s Day or this is your first time giving it a try, I think you’re going to love this recipe. It’s amazing how delicious corned beef is when you don’t dry it out! I truly look forward to this dish all year.

And if you love corned beef, try our Dutch Oven Corned Beef and Cabbage and Ninja Foodi Corned Beef recipes!

How to Make Air Fryer Corned Beef Brisket

A full printable version of this recipe with ingredient measurements is available at the bottom of this post.

STEP ONE: Mix the contents of the pickling packet with the mustard and apple cider vinegar to form a paste.

STEP TWO: Lightly spray a large sheet of aluminum foil with cooking oil, then set the brisket on top.

STEP THREE: Brush ⅔ of the mustard paste over the whole brisket, reserving the rest, then fold the foil around the brisket.

STEP FOUR: Place the wrapped brisket in the air fryer basket.

STEP FIVE: Cook for 1 hour at 360 degrees F.

STEP SIX: When the timer goes off, pull back the foil and baste the brisket with the remaining mustard paste.

STEP SEVEN: Cover again and cook for another 40 minutes.

STEP EIGHT: Pull back the foil and cook for 5 minutes at 400 degrees to get a nice crust on top.

What is Corned Beef?

This term refers to beef brisket that has been cured in a salt solution. This brining process helps break down the tougher cut of meat as well as preserve it.

Many people think of corned beef and cabbage as a classic St. Patrick’s Day meal, but this tradition actually started in America. Back in Ireland in the 1800s, beef was more expensive, so the Irish would eat pork products like bacon or ham to celebrate St. Paddy’s Day.

When the Irish began immigrating to America, however, corned beef was often less expensive than pork. The Irish Americans started eating it for St. Patrick’s Day instead, and that’s how the tradition came to us today!

How to Cut Corned Beef

You always want to cut corned beef against the grain. When slicing, look for the thin lines of muscle fiber running through the meat, then slice perpendicular to them.

Cutting against the grain shortens the muscle fibers, which will make the meat easier to chew. Thinner slices will also be more tender than thicker ones.

What to Serve with Corned Beef

• Irish Soda Bread with no Buttermilk
• Air Fryer Baby Potatoes
• Air Fryer Sweet and Spicy Brussels Sprouts
• Best Air Fryer Green Tomatoes
• Instant Pot Glazed Carrots (or Air Fryer Carrots)
• Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes

How Do You Know When a Corned Beef is Done?

Corned beef should be cooked to at least a medium level of doneness, which means you want the internal temperature to reach 145 degrees F minimum.

However, cooking it longer will help make the meat more tender. I like to cook mine for 1 hour and 45 minutes in the air fryer.

How to Store Leftover Air Fryer Corned Beef

If you have any extra corned beef brisket, store it in a shallow airtight container in the refrigerator. The meat should be eaten within three or four days. 

I love cooking with corned beef leftovers. I recommend serving with eggs and potatoes for a delicious breakfast hash, or you can stack a few slices on rye bread with sauerkraut and Russian dressing for a traditional Reuben sandwich!

Can You Make Corned Beef in a Ninja Foodi Instead?

Absolutely! To make Ninja Foodi corned beef, follow the same instructions listed above, but use your Ninja Foodi on the air crisp function.

I’ve made corned beef and even cornish hen in both my Ninja Foodi and my Cosori basket air fryer and both have cooked perfectly with the directions included!

How to Cook Frozen Corned Beef in the Air Fryer

Starting with frozen corned beef? No problem! Just add 20 minutes of cook time after the mid-cook basting. Here are the full step-by-step instructions:

1. Preheat your air fryer to 360 degrees F.
2. Mix the contents of the pickling packet with the mustard and apple cider vinegar to form a paste.
3. Lightly spray a large sheet of aluminum foil with cooking oil, then set the frozen brisket on top.
4. Brush ⅔ of the mustard paste over the whole brisket, reserving the rest, then fold the foil around the brisket.
5. Place the wrapped brisket in the air fryer basket.
6. Cook for 1 hour.
7. When the timer goes off, pull back the foil and baste the brisket with the remaining mustard paste.
8. Cover again and cook for 1 hour.
9. Pull back the foil and cook for 5 minutes at 400 degrees to get a nice crust on top.

How to Reheat Corned Beef in the Air Fryer

1. Place an unsliced hunk of corned beef in the air fryer basket.
2. Cook at 360 degrees F for 8 minutes, until warmed through. 

If you’re reheating slices, they will only take 1-2 minutes to warm.

Other Air Fryer Beef Recipes You’ll Love:

• Air Fryer Steak
• Air Fryer Roast Beef
• Short Ribs in the Air Fryer
• Air Fryer Hamburgers
• Air Fryer Prime Rib
• Air Fryer Flank Steak
• Air Fryer London Broil
• Air Fryer Meatloaf
• Air Fryer Meatballs
• Air Fryer Chicken Fried Steak

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