60 Irish-Inspired Recipes That'll Soak Up The Booze This St. Patrick's Day (2024)

Soak up all that booze in the most delicious way.

By Camille Lowder and Taylor Worden
60 Irish-Inspired Recipes That'll Soak Up The Booze This St. Patrick's Day (1)

If you can only think of Guinness and potatoes when you think of Irish food for St. Patrick's Day, , these recipes are here to show you all that the Ireland food scene has to offer. Hearty and veggie-packed, traditional Irish cuisine is the pinnacle of comfort food, perfect whether you're throwing a party or looking for something for a family dinner this spring. From traditional Irish dishes to creative twists on recipes inspired by Irish foods, we've got something for every occasion here, including sides, apps, mains, and desserts. These 60 ideas go way beyond completing your St. Patrick's Day spread (and they do a pretty great job of soaking up all that holiday booze too 😉).

Not into the holiday bar crawl scene? No stress—stay home and celebrate with these recipes instead! We’ve got everything from corned beef and cabbage (+ multiple ways to cook it), veggie soups, and roasted parsnips (think beyond the potato) for a multi-course sit-down affair. Or set out a spread of delicious appetizers to snack on all day long, like Reuben egg rolls or pretzel beer dip. Of course, no party is complete without refreshing drinks to watch it all down. Irish coffee and Irish mules add creative twists to classic drinks; we celebrate with these cocktails all year long.

If you want to hit the perfect middle ground of involved and hands-off, you’ve gotta go shepherd’s pie. We’ve got a number of recipes represented here, including beef, turkey, and pulled pork versions. Serving vegan or vegetarian guests? We've even got a vegan shepherd's pie so everyone can get in on this ultra-comforting dish. So pour some Guinness, call your friends, and get your tartan out—there's no better homage to the Irish than some hearty food and a laf' with your friends.

1

Corned Beef & Cabbage

60 Irish-Inspired Recipes That'll Soak Up The Booze This St. Patrick's Day (3)

A staple holiday dish, the combo of corned beef and cabbage completes any St. Patrick’s Day celebration. Simple, satisfying, and easy to make, this deserves to be celebrated more than one day a year.

Get the .

2

Beer Cheese

60 Irish-Inspired Recipes That'll Soak Up The Booze This St. Patrick's Day (4)

Warm, creamy dips are required at any party, but if you really want to start your St. Patty's Day festivities, put out a pot of beer cheese. Spiked with lager and Dijon mustard, this smooth and glossy cheese dip will be devoured by party-goers everywhere.

Get the Beer Cheese recipe.

3

Shepherd's Pie Potato Skins

60 Irish-Inspired Recipes That'll Soak Up The Booze This St. Patrick's Day (5)

We’re so obsessed with our new and improved shepherd’s pie recipe that we had to turn it into a potato skin. The saucy, red-wine spiked ground beef and vegetable mixture gets loaded into hollowed-out russet potatoes, topped with Parmesan mashed potatoes, and baked until all of the flavors mingle and meld.

Get the Shepherd's Pie Potato Skins recipe.

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4

Boxty

60 Irish-Inspired Recipes That'll Soak Up The Booze This St. Patrick's Day (6)

Can’t decide between a crispy latke and a pile of creamy mashed potatoes? Make boxty. Crunchy on the outside, soft and fluffy in the center, these Irish potato pancakes give you the best of both iconic potato dishes in a single bite.

Get the Boxty recipe.

5

Irish Sausages & Champ

60 Irish-Inspired Recipes That'll Soak Up The Booze This St. Patrick's Day (7)

What better way to celebrate than cooking traditional pub fare? Think of this like British bangers & mash, but with distinctive Irish heritage and flair. Put these flavorful sausages and mashed potatoes together with a rich onion gravy, and you’ll have one seriously satisfying meal for St. Patrick’s Day and beyond.

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6

St. Patrick's Day Cake

60 Irish-Inspired Recipes That'll Soak Up The Booze This St. Patrick's Day (8)

We think we found our pot of gold with this epic top hat-shaped rainbow cake. While it does take a bit of time to assemble, it's actually pretty straight-forward—just don’t forget to fill your cake with Lucky Charms before putting the top layer on!

Get the St. Patrick's Day Cake recipe.

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7

Irish Beef Stew

60 Irish-Inspired Recipes That'll Soak Up The Booze This St. Patrick's Day (9)

Traditionally, an Irish stew (aka Guinness Stew) is made with lamb. Our version includes beef chuck, which is cheaper and more easily found. It might be less traditional, but is certainly equal in deliciousness.

Get the Irish Beef Stew recipe.

8

Irish Brown Bread

60 Irish-Inspired Recipes That'll Soak Up The Booze This St. Patrick's Day (10)

This quick bread (meaning no yeast or rise) has a dense yet tender interior that’s as good for dipping into a creamy winter soup as it is for turning into a corned beef sandwich. Whatever you do, don't forget the Irish butter!

Get the Irish Brown Bread recipe.

9

Skillet Fudgy Brownie Pudding

60 Irish-Inspired Recipes That'll Soak Up The Booze This St. Patrick's Day (11)

This recipe has everything you love about a typical brownie, but with a fun twist: It has Baileys in the batter and in the whipped cream, making it the perfect dessert for St. Patrick's Day and all year round.

Get the Skillet Fudgy Brownie Pudding recipe.

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10

Corned Beef & Cabbage Sliders

One of the most classic pairings for corned beef is, of course, cabbage, so in honor of this iconic St. Patrick’s day duo, these corned beef sliders pack all of those festive flavors into a bite-size package. They're easy to prepare and perfect for sharing.

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11

Corned Beef Tacos

60 Irish-Inspired Recipes That'll Soak Up The Booze This St. Patrick's Day (13)

We’ve already taken the classic Reuben and repurposed it in nacho and casserole form. Next up, a taco, with a melted layer of Swiss and a lightly creamy, caraway-forward slaw. Use your St. Paddy’s Day leftover corned beef or boil a brisket for the occasion, you won't regret it.

Get the Corned Beef Tacos recipe

12

Bailey’s Chocolate Cream Pie

60 Irish-Inspired Recipes That'll Soak Up The Booze This St. Patrick's Day (14)

Who said St. Patty’s Day desserts need to be bright green? Try this delicious pie of chocolatey boozy fun instead! This no-bake twist on a classic chocolate cream pie is the perfect dessert for your holiday festivities or a clever way to use up Baileys left over from the party.

Get the Bailey’s Chocolate Cream Pie recipe.

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13

Irish Soda Bread

60 Irish-Inspired Recipes That'll Soak Up The Booze This St. Patrick's Day (15)

Best served slathered with plenty of Irish butter, Irish soda bread is the best way to start your St. Patrick’s Day festivities. Whether you’re an occasional or avid bread baker, this quick bread is simple to create too—the dough comes together in just 10 minutes.

Get the Irish Soda Bread recipe.

14

Colcannon

60 Irish-Inspired Recipes That'll Soak Up The Booze This St. Patrick's Day (16)

Colcannon is a traditional Irish dish made of creamy mashed potatoes and some green veggie. Most typically you'll find cabbage or kale, paired with some green aromatics like leeks and chives. Here, we opt for a scallion and kale combo for vibrant color and deeper, nuttier flavors.

Get the Colcannon recipe.

15

Shepherd's Pie

60 Irish-Inspired Recipes That'll Soak Up The Booze This St. Patrick's Day (17)

Filled with plenty of veggies, an irresistible beef filling, and topped with creamy mashed potatoes, this warming meal combines your sides + main all into one bowl of cozy goodness. Try any of your favorite veggie combinations here—maybe add some more greens like kale or spinach for good luck?

Get the Shepherd's Pie recipe.

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16

Irish Potato Candy

60 Irish-Inspired Recipes That'll Soak Up The Booze This St. Patrick's Day (18)

If you’re not from the Philadelphia area, you might be thinking, I don’t want potato in my candy! Don’t worry, this confection only looks like cute little potatoes, and actually contains no spuds at all.

Get the Irish Potato Candy recipe.

17

Steamed Cabbage

60 Irish-Inspired Recipes That'll Soak Up The Booze This St. Patrick's Day (19)

Because of its simple flavor profile, this low-lift, low-carb recipe pairs well with almost everything. Use it like sauerkraut and pair it with sweet and savory pork or sausage, or stick to the vegetarian route with a or mashed potatoes. You really can’t go wrong!

Get the Steamed Cabbage recipe.

18

Corned Beef & Cabbage Cheese Quesadillas

60 Irish-Inspired Recipes That'll Soak Up The Booze This St. Patrick's Day (20)

Enjoy the St. Paddy's fave meal anytime with this handheld snack version! These quesadillas feature Swiss cheese, corned beef, and cabbage wrapped up in flour tortillas. Sauerkraut and stone-ground mustard are also taking center stage in a creamy dipping sauce to serve alongside the quesadillas. Taste buds, get ready!

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19

Irish Apple Cake

60 Irish-Inspired Recipes That'll Soak Up The Booze This St. Patrick's Day (21)

This tender apple cake is jam-packed with fruit, which is why we think it's perfectly appropriate to eat a slice for breakfast. 😉 The custard sauce isn't totally necessary, but it is traditional and completely delicious.

Get the Irish Apple Cake recipe.

20

Bacon Fried Cabbage

60 Irish-Inspired Recipes That'll Soak Up The Booze This St. Patrick's Day (22)

If you want to venture into the world of cabbage that goes beyond corn beef or coleslaw, try this fried cabbage on for size. Hearty and flavorful, it only requires 5 ingredients (if you don't count the salt and pepper). Plus, one of those ingredients is bacon!

Get the Bacon Fried Cabbage recipe.

60 Irish-Inspired Recipes That'll Soak Up The Booze This St. Patrick's Day (2024)

FAQs

What is the traditional Irish meal for St Patrick's Day? ›

As a result, bacon and cabbage is technically the more traditional Irish dish; corned beef and cabbage is the Irish-American variant. Irish soda bread is a quick bread made without yeast. It rises, because, when combined, baking soda and buttermilk act as a leavening agent.

What are the 14 most well known Irish main dishes? ›

  • Beef and guinness pie. [Beef and guinness pie] ...
  • Shepherd's pie. Shepherd's pie. ...
  • Boxty. Boxty. ...
  • Irish stew. Irish stew. ...
  • Irish soda bread rolls. Irish soda bread rolls. ...
  • Potato and leek soup. Creamy potato and leek soup.
  • Smoked cod and cheddar pie. Smoked cod and cheddar pie.
  • Slow-cooked lamb shank pie. Slow-cooked lamb shank pie.
Mar 15, 2022

What is Ireland's signature dish? ›

Believed to have been a staple of Irish cuisine since around the year 1800, heart-warming homemade stew remains a firm favourite to this day. To many across the country, Irish stew is the national dish of Ireland. The methods and flavour of an Irish stew vary from person to person and have evolved over the years.

What is an Irish dish for leftovers? ›

Coddle (sometimes Dublin coddle; Irish: cadal) is an Irish dish which is often made to use up leftovers. It most commonly consists of layers of roughly sliced pork sausages and rashers (thinly sliced, somewhat-fatty back bacon) with chunky potatoes, sliced onion, salt, pepper, and herbs (parsley or chives).

What is a good menu for St. Patrick's Day? ›

The most popular St. Patrick's Day food ideas are as follows:
  • Corned beef and cabbage.
  • Authentic shepherd's pie.
  • Colcannon, which is essentially mashed potatoes with diced veggies.
  • Irish potato pancakes, or “boxty” as the Irish call it.
  • Shamrock-shaped cookies.
Feb 12, 2024

What are common Irish dishes? ›

By the 21st century, much traditional Irish cuisine was being revived. Representative dishes include Irish stew, bacon and cabbage, boxty, brown bread (as it is referred to in the South) or soda bread (predominantly used in Ulster), coddle, and colcannon.

What do Irish eat for breakfast? ›

A traditional full Irish breakfast comprises bacon, sausage, eggs, potatoes, beans, soda bread or toast, tomatoes, mushrooms, and white or black pudding. For those wondering, black pudding coagulates the pig's blood into a sausage form. The white pudding is simply a pork sausage, usually flat.

What are 5 common ingredients in Irish cuisine? ›

Dining at the Irish table: your guide to Irish flavours
  • Pork, beef and lamb. Pork-based products have long had a special place in the Irish diet, from the classic bacon and cabbage to the great breakfast fry. ...
  • Cheese and dairy. ...
  • Irish bread and baked treats. ...
  • Seaweed.

What is Ireland's national drink? ›

Over the last three centuries, Guinness has become a legendary part of Irish culture, celebrated as Ireland's national drink. And with over 8,000 years still left on the original St. James Gate brewery lease, there's still a lot more of 'the black stuff' to make and enjoy.

What is the best food to eat in Ireland? ›

  1. 31 Irish Food and Drink You Must Try. Rabbie. ...
  2. Colcannon. cookieandkate. ...
  3. Champ. Potatoes are still a staple in the Irish diet. ...
  4. Irish Stew. simplyrecipesVerified. ...
  5. Lamb. Ireland is full of lush green pastures which are perfect for sheep-breeding. ...
  6. Full Irish Breakfast. ...
  7. Potato Farl/Potato Cake/Potato Bread. ...
  8. Black and White Pudding.
Sep 25, 2019

What is the national flower of Ireland? ›

Ireland. We bet you could guess this one — the shamrock is Ireland's national flower. A three-leafed plant, the shamrock comes from an old tale of St. Patrick (it is said that he used its unique design to explain the trinity).

What did the Irish eat instead of potatoes? ›

Grains, either as bread or porridge, were the other mainstay of the pre-potato Irish diet, and the most common was the humble oat, usually made into oatcakes and griddled (ovens hadn't really taken off yet).

What do the Irish eat for lunch? ›

Lunch often consists of a bowl of hot soup alongside freshly baked soda bread, but a heartier lunch menu can be found at the local pubs, where typical Irish plates are served around the clock.

What does an Irish breakfast look like? ›

All full Irish breakfasts include some or all of the following: Bacon, sausages, baked beans, eggs, mushrooms, grilled tomatoes, and perhaps some cooked leftover potatoes made into a hash or a bubble and squeak. There will also be toast, butter, marmalade, and lots of tea to drink.

What is the name of the Irish stew? ›

Irish stew (Irish: Stobhach Gaelach) or Stobhach is a stew native to Ireland that is traditionally made with root vegetables and lamb or mutton, but also commonly with beef. As in all traditional folk dishes, the exact recipe is not consistent from time to time, or place to place.

What is Irish boiling bacon? ›

This one calls for whole loin bacon, a British Isles export which is cooked along with the cabbage, sliced before serving, and paired with a creamy parsley sauce. Unlike American bacon, Irish bacon is made from the back of the pig instead of the belly and is much leaner than streaky bacon.

Why do we eat corned beef and cabbage? ›

What has become a tradition of eating corned beef and cabbage to celebrate St. Patrick's Day likely grew out of the fact that those foods were less expensive for immigrants who came to America. They substituted beef for pork and cabbage for potatoes.

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