Puerto Rican Corned Beef – a quick and delicious hash using canned corned beef, sofrito and potatoes served over rice. Try one of the customizations below for a really delicious breakfast or dinner!

Puerto Rican-style corned beef is cooked like a picadillo—meat simmered with potatoes—except it starts with corned beef in a can versus fresh ground beef.

Canned Corned Beef

Canned meat is especially popular on islands where weather can be inclement and resources limited.

Another favorite potted meat is SPAM, or canned ham, used in sandwich de mezcla.

They come with an old fashioned key to cut open the can which is a real pain!

I always ditch the key and use a regular can opener although it can be tricky to go around the narrow corners.

If you have any tips, comment below!

Canned corned beef used to be an economical option compared to fresh meat.

Recently, prices have really gone up on corned beef!

This could be due to the fact that most of it is imported, which increases price, and demand has gone down.

While it’s no longer a “poor man’s food,” the flavor still brings back nostalgia for a lot of people.

It’s so quick and easy with bomb flavors and there are many ways to customize it.

How to cook canned corned beef

1. Sauté the sofrito
2. Add tomato sauce, spices and olives
3. Mix in corned beef along with any other additions listed below
4. Simmer until potatoes are soft and cooked through
5. Serve over rice and any of the sides listed below

What to serve with corned beef:

All of these options are delicious either mixed into the hash or served on the side.

They’ll stretch your meal further.

You’ll get a little more bang for your buck and it makes it more filling.

• White rice – corned beef and rice. Is there any other way to eat it?
• Fried egg – this takes it next level!
• Corn – the burst of sweetness is the perfect savory contrast!
• Fried yellow plantains (maduros) – same concept as the corn. You could also use sweet plantain instead of potatoes
• French fries – a quick and easy hack instead of peeling and dicing potatoes is to use frozen French fries. Fry them before you start the sofrito if you want them browned.
• Green beans – my favorite vegetable to mix in
• Avocado – a side salad with tomato is also a tasty, fresh option

I never add extra salt to this dish since canned corned beef is very high in sodium (including the reduced sodium versions!). The olives are salty as well.

Try to use adobo seasoning without salt to make it healthier.

If you try this canned corned beef recipe, let me know your favorite ingredient to add in a comment below!