This corned beef spices recipe will come in handy the next time you are cooking corned beef and find that it's missing a corned beef spice packet. You can also use this corned beef seasoning to make the BEST smoked pastrami!
If you've come here to learn how to make corned beef spices for corned beef and cabbage, welcome! My corned beef seasoning includes coriander, peppercorns, mustard seeds, and other herbs and spices to add amazing flavor to your tender corned beef brisket and so many other dishes!
Or maybe like me, you just want to add more corned beef seasoning to your brisket than the tiny little corned beef spice packet that's included with your roast. I mean really, why is that spice packet so tiny? What part of the brisket are you supposed to season with it?
Either way, you'll want to keep this corned beef spices recipe handy the next time you make an Instant Pot corned beef or run out of pickling spices, yes, it's good for that too!
So, whether you cook your corned beef in a Dutch oven with cabbage, carrots, and potatoes, or smoke a smoked corned beef brisket on your pellet grill, be sure to use my corned beef seasoning mix to make it extra delectable!
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😍 Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Making your own corned beef seasoning couldn't be simpler, so why would you use that tiny spice packet included with your roast?
- When you make your own corned beef spice blend, you can use as much of it as you want, and the flavor is fantastic!
- This corned beef spice mix can be prepared ahead of time so you always have it on hand when you need it.
🛒 What You Need For This Recipe
🔖 Ingredients & Substitutions
- Coriander Seeds: Be sure to use coriander seeds and not coriander powder.
- Peppercorns: Peppercorns come in various colors, I used black peppercorns.
- Mustard Seeds: You'll need mustard seeds, don't substitute mustard powder.
- Anise Seeds: Anise can be bought whole in the form of star anise or as anise seeds. For this recipe, you'll need anise seeds. Don't confuse anise seeds with fennel seeds. Fennel seeds are larger and taste more savory and earthy, while anise seeds are tiny and have a sweet taste similar to licorice.
- Crushed Red Pepper: Crushed red pepper adds a little spice to the mix. It can be left out if you prefer mild flavors.
- Bay Leaves: Bay leaves come crushed and whole. I used whole leaves and ground them in my spice mill with the other spices. If you decide to use crushed bay leaves, just add them to the ground spices.
*A full list of ingredients can be found in the recipe card.
🔪 Helpful Tools
- cast-iron skillet
- spice grinder or a small food processor
- spice jar
- funnel
🧂How To Make Corned Beef Seasoning
Step 1: Toast coriander seeds, mustard seeds, peppercorns, and anise seeds in a hot cast-iron skillet over medium heat for 2 - 3 minutes, or until fragrant.
Step 2: Add bay leaves and red pepper flakes during the last 30 seconds. You basically want to wake up their flavors.
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Pro Tip: Keep a close eye on the corned beef spices because they can easily burn.
Step 3: Pour the corned beef seasoning into a spice mill, coffee grinder, or a Ninja blender. Pulse a few times, just enough to crush the spices and release their flavor.
Pro Tip: Don't over-blend the spices into a powder. You should still be able to distinguish the ingredients in your corned beef spices.
Step 4: Store the corned beef seasoning in an airtight container until needed. Use as much of the corned beef spices as you'd like to season your corned beef before cooking it.
🥩 Corned Beef Spices
Besides the spices listed in the recipe, there are other spices that you can add to your corned beef spice mix if you're feeling a little adventurous. Any of the following spices would go great in a corned beef spices mix:
- whole cloves
- allspice berries
- cardamom pods
- cinnamon stick
- fennel seeds
- juniper berries
- mace
If you do decide to add the spices mentioned above, I would caution you to go easy at first. This is one of those cases where less is more.
Many of these spices have intense flavors, so start off with small amounts and adjust the quantity if necessary. I would start with no more than a ¼ teaspoon of each.
🤷🏻♀️ Recipe FAQs
Corned beef spices are made with a mixture of spices including crushed bay leaf, mustard seeds, coriander seeds, peppercorns, and anise seeds.
You can easily make your own corned beef spice packet by combining any of the following spices: black peppercorns, crushed bay leaves, mustard seeds, coriander seeds, dill seeds, cloves, and crushed red pepper flakes.
If you don’t have all these spices, you can also use pickling spices which already have most of these spices!
Most store-bought corned beef comes either pre-seasoned or with a tiny corned beef spice packet. If it comes pre-seasoned, you don’t need to add anything else to the water.
When a corned beef spice packet is included, use it to either season the corned beef or sprinkle it into the cooking liquid. If your corned beef did not come with a spice packet, you can make your own or add pickling spices which contain many of the same ingredients used in corned beef spices.
If corned beef isn't rinsed before cooking, it may turn out overly salty because of the brine used to cure (corn) the brisket. To avoid this, it's best to rinse the corned beef under cold water before cooking. This step helps create a less salty and more flavorful brisket.
👩🏼🍳 Pro Tips
- This recipe makes enough corned beef seasoning to fill a regular-sized spice jar. You will not use the entire amount to season your corned beef recipe.
- Store leftover corned beef spices in an air-tight spice jar.
- If you decide to make extra corned beef seasoning, you can freeze what you don't plan on using right away.
- If you prefer milder recipes, you can reduce the amount of red pepper flakes in this corned beef seasoning, or leave it out entirely.
- If you don't have the spices mentioned above, you can use pickling spices to season your corned beef brisket.
🍋 More Spice Recipes
If you enjoy making your own spices and seasonings, you may be interested in learning how to make your own everything but the bagel seasoning, biryani spice, pork butt rub, and shawarma spice recipe.
Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟rating in the recipe card below & a review in the comments section further down the page.
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📖 Recipe
Corned Beef Spice Packet Seasoning
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon coriander seeds
- 1 tablespoon mustard seeds
- 2 teaspoon peppercorns
- 1 teaspoon anise seeds (not star anise)
- 4 large bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Toast coriander seeds, mustard seeds, peppercorns, and anise seeds in a hot cast-iron skillet over medium heat for 2 - 3 minutes, or until fragrant.
- Add bay leaves and red pepper flakes during the last 30 seconds. You basically want to wake up their flavors.
- Pour the corned beef seasoning into a spice mill, coffee grinder, or a Ninja blender. Pulse a few times, just enough to crush the spices and release their flavor.
- Store the corned beef seasoning in an airtight container until needed. Use as much of the corned beef spices as you'd like to season your corned beef before cooking it.
Notes
-
- Keep a close eye on the corned beef spices because they can easily burn.
- Don't over-blend the spices into a powder. You should still be able to distinguish the ingredients in your corned beef spices.
- This recipe makes enough corned beef seasoning to fill a regular-sized spice jar. You will not use the entire amount to season your corned beef recipe.
- Store leftover corned beef spices in an air-tight spice jar.
- If you decide to make extra corned beef seasoning, you can freeze what you don't plan on using right away.
- If you prefer milder recipes, you can reduce the amount of red pepper flakes in this corned beef seasoning, or leave it out entirely.
- If you don't have the spices mentioned above, you can use pickling spices to season your corned beef brisket.
JP says
Love the clear explanations
Hilda Sterner says
Thanks, Jp, enjoy!
Christopher A Laramore says
Just the recipe I was looking for. Great great great! Thanks so much
Hilda Sterner says
Hi Christopher, I'm so excited that you found the recipe and enjoyed it. Happy St. Patrick's Day!🍀
Diane Conroy says
Hi Hilda!
I am so happy that I found your site! I prefer to make my mixed blended spices by hand if possible. Just made the corned beef spice. Now to use it! What I do not see is what amount of your spice mixed would be considered to be the equivalent of a "spice packet"?
Happy St. Paddy's Day!
Diane
Hilda Sterner says
Hi Diane, Thank you so much for your comment! I left that part out on purpose since the packets have such a tiny amount, I like it use more. But if you wanted to keep it around the same, I'd estimate it's around 1 teaspoon. I end up using closer to 1 tablespoon when I make my corned beef. It comes down to a matte of preference. Good luck!
Marianne says
Wonderful post, Hilda! Great recipe for the once-a-year corned beef recipe that I always forget come St. Patrick's Day. I particularly value your advice on spices. Thank you!
Hilda Sterner says
Thank you, Marianne, I really appreciate the feedback, Happy St. Patrick's Day! 🍀
Heather Marquette says
Thank you!
Can't wait to make this tomorrow.
Hilda Sterner says
Thank you, Heather, enjoy!