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. I always use this corned beef seasoning to make smoked pastrami; it's such a hit!
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If you've come here to learn how to make corned beef spices for corned beef and cabbage, welcome! I'm proud to say that I was the first to post a corned beef spice recipe years ago; many others have followed since.
You'll want to keep this recipe handy the next time you make an Instant Pot corned beef and smoked corned beef brisket, or when you run out of pickling spices. Yes, you can use this mix for making pickles too!
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🔖 Ingredients You'll Need
My original spice mix includes exactly what you'd find in the spice packet that usually comes with your corned beef, but now you can make more of it and use as much as you'd like! My recipe includes the following ingredients found in those tiny packets:
- coriander
- peppercorns
- mustard seeds
- anise
- crushed red pepper
- crushed bay leaves
🧂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.
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 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.
What Readers Are Saying
Just wanted to thank you for an AMAZING PASTRAMI seasoning mix! I made pastrami for the first time in my smoker( very intimidating ), and it was SOOOO DAMN DELICIOUS !! This seasoning mix was absolutely on POINT! And now I don't have to be disappointed in going to 'The best pastrami in the world', wherever that is. 😁
You won't be disappointed, I promise!!
-Ria
👩🏼🍳 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 the leftover spice mix in an airtight spice jar.
- If you decide to make extra 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, Lebkuchen Gewürz (German gingerbread spice), and shawarma spice recipe.
☘️ More St. Patrick's Day Recipes
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📖 Recipe
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Corned Beef Spice Packet Seasoning Recipe
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- 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.
Nutrition
Video
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.
Amber Lane says
Awesome flavor in my corned beef. The allspice was an extra. Yummy yummy
Heidi says
How many ounces are in a spice packet?
Hilda Sterner says
I've never weighed the spice packet, but I weighed an approximate amount of my corned beef spices and it weighed 1/2 an ounce. It might be even less. This is why I make my own and am generous with it.
Heidi says
Thank you! So more spice is better - this is my first time making corned beef and would like my family to love it. 😉
Ray says
Excellent prep notes, releasing the herb oils is
essential !
Ed Steenhorst says
Hi, can I use a mortar and pestle instead of an electric grinder?
TIA
Hilda Sterner says
Definitely!
Brenda Randall says
This is great -especially if the corned beef you find is not seasoned ! you can make your own and brine for a couple days ahead or you can grind these into a powder and rub the brisket down and let soak in a day ahead if possible then cook as needed- in pressure cooker in beef broth.
Hilda Sterner says
Thank you Brenda, I really appreciate your review. Enjoy & Happy St. Patrick's Day! ☘️
Rob says
Great recipe. I like to take my corned beef a step farther after boiling by slathering with honey mustard and broiling till a nice crust develops....yum!
Hilda Sterner says
That actually sounds amazing! I'm going to have to give that a try!
Jan says
We spread a real maple syrup and prepared mustard mix on top and caramelize it under a carefully watched broiler setting. Same idea. Definitely the best part of the meal!
Spice recipe sounds great. Making it now!
Hilda Sterner says
That sounds amazing! I hope you the spices take it over the top!
Jan says
Can you use star anise pods chopped up rather than anise seeds? I have pods left from Christmas apple cider but no seeds. The chopped anise is smelling very strong and I wonder if the seeds are a much more mild flavor. One pod is making 1 teaspoon chopped.
Hilda Sterner says
I wouldn't do since star anise has such a hard outer shell. I'd just leave it out.
Gloria says
Can I also use dill seasoning or dill pickle juice with the packet?
Hilda Sterner says
Although I've never tried it, I imagine dill would go great with any corned beef recipe. I'd love to hear how it goes!
Patty Hickman says
Can the packet of spices be used for anything other than pickling or the corned beef?
HildaSterner says
Hi Patty,
Yes, I've used it to pickle vegetables before and they came out great.
Liya says
I came across Hilda’s blog while browsing for a great corned beef recipe. I have always wanted to make homemade corned beef but never had the time coz work has been so demandingly busy ( always a great excuse). After moving to a new home last Christmas, I have discovered that I have a slow cooker that has been sitting in the garage for a long time. I have decided to make corned beef and tried the spice recipe of Hilda and oh my gosh!!!!! It was the best home made corned beef I ever had. My husband liked it so much that he even asked me to make it again. Thanks again Hilda for sharing your recipe.
HildaSterner says
Hi Liya,
Thank you so much for coming back and rating/reviewing the recipe. I really appreciate it and I'm glad that both you and your husband like the recipe so much. See you on Instagram! 🤗
Jennifer says
I'm making a corned beef today and I measured the spice packet. 1/2 tbsp. I like a bit more spiciness to my beef, so I always added a few extra peppercorns and whole cloves to it. This recipe sounds great. A side note: if you don't want to purchase the ingredients separately, Ball (the canning people) makes a pickling spice that's identical to the packet. I found it in the canning section at Walmart.
HildaSterner says
Thanks, Jennifer! I hope you enjoy your corned beef. Which reminds me that I still have one somewhere deep in my freezer. I might have to dig it up today. Take care and stay safe!