17 St. Patrick’s Day Recipes

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Slow Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage

Over 31 million Americans claim some Irish ancestry. And while St. Patrick’s Day is a celebrated holiday in Ireland, it’s actually celebrated on a larger scale in the U.S. The day celebrates St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, who lived and died in the 5th century. The holiday has an inclusive feel about it, a sense that you don’t need to be Irish to celebrate. In fact, the holiday has been embraced as a moment to be heritage-proud, and there is a popular saying, “Everyone’s a little Irish on St. Patty’s Day.”

And, of course, when there is a cultural/national holiday, there are always the foods that go with it. When St. Patrick’s Day approaches, you can find many of the Irish staples piled high in the markets and often on sale. Look for cabbages, potatoes, and corned beef, in particular. I’m not Irish, but I know a good holiday — and a great food holiday — when I see it. Here is a smattering of delicious recipes geared toward St. Patrick’s Day or any time you have a yearning for any one of these Irish classics. 

Plate of Corned Beef and Cabbage.
Slow Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage

Traditional St. Patrick’s Day Recipes

These are but a few of the greatest hits! Irish Soda Bread is so easy to pull together: no yeast, no kneading. Flaky scones would be perfect for breakfast or maybe a little tea break later in the day. And you can’t go wrong with Shepherd’s Pie or Corned Beef and Cabbage, two classic Irish dinners. And speaking of cabbage, that’s kind of a non-negotiable St. Patrick’s Day offering. Below, find a number of choices for preparing this versatile, inexpensive, hardy, and downright delicious vegetable.

Can’t decide? Me neither. So, I may have to work my way through the list over the next week.


17 Easy St. Patrick’s Day Recipes

Slices of Irish Soda Bread on a wooden board.
5 from 6 votes

Irish Soda Bread

Traditional Irish soda bread is a yeast-free quick bread, and it's a great companion to all kinds of meals and soups. This recipe has body, richness, and a hint of sweetness.
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Irish scones with smoked salmon on a plate.
5 from 2 votes

Irish Scones with Smoked Salmon

I originally developed this flaky Irish scone recipe for the Associated Press for St. Patrick's Day. It's perfect for breakfast, a snack, or tea time. If you can find Irish smoked salmon, it will feel even more authentic!
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Woman scooping Irish Lamb Stew from cooking pot into bowl.
5 from 5 votes

Irish Lamb Stew

This comforting lamb stew is very traditional in Irish cooking and perfect for St. Patty's day.
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Roasted Cabbage Wedges on a baking sheet.
5 from 3 votes

Roasted Cabbage Wedges

You will be amazed at how a few seasonings and some time in a hot oven transform wedges of simple cabbage into something special.
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Shepherd’s Pie / Carrie Crow / Katie Workman / themom100.com
5 from 7 votes

Shepherd’s Pie

Shepherd's Pie is the ultimate Irish comfort food. In this recipe, a savory ground lamb and vegetable filling is topped with cheesy mashed potatoes for even more flavor.
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Slow Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage
5 from 12 votes

Slow Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage

This popular Irish dish takes so well to the slow cooker. Adding the cabbage towards the end allows it to become tender but still have some nice texture, while the corned beef becomes super tender and moist.
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Beer-Braised Cabbage in Dutch Oven
5 from 3 votes

Simple Beer-Braised Cabbage

A bit of smoky bacon adds wonderful flavor to cabbage cooked until soft and tender.
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Mound of Colcannon topped with melted butter on a white plate.
5 from 33 votes

Colcannon

In this traditional Irish dish, fluffy, creamy potatoes are mashed with sautéed cabbage and kale (or use whichever greens you like best!). I could eat this as a main course!
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Cheesy Mashed Potatoes / Sarah Crowder / Katie Workman / themom100.com
5 from 2 votes

Cheesy Mashed Potatoes

Adding melty cheeses to fluffy mashed potatoes makes the perfect comfort food even more comforting.
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Spicy Braised Radicchio and Red Cabbage with Citrus / Katie Workman / themom100.com / Photo by Mia
5 from 4 votes

Braised Red Cabbage

Most Irish cabbage dishes are made with green cabbage, but this braised red cabbage dish also adds a nice color to a holiday table!
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Molasses Cornbread / Carrie Crow / Katie Workman / themom100.com
5 from 1 vote

Molasses Cornbread

A bit of molasses adds a nice flavor and deep color to tender, crumbly cornbread.
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Lamb Stew with White Wine, Orange and Fennel
5 from 3 votes

Lamb Stew with White Wine, Orange, and Fennel

Another lamb stew, one of the traditional dishes of Ireland. This recipe is made with white wine and fennel for a lighter take on a classic stew.
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Fried Eggs and Smoked Salmon over Polenta Cakes
5 from 1 vote

Fried Eggs and Smoked Salmon over Polenta Cakes

This would be a great way to kick off St. Patty's Day!
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Slow Cooker Fall-Apart Braised Pork with Cabbage and Apples
5 from 10 votes

Slow Cooker Fall-Apart Braised Pork with Cabbage and Apples

Another slow-cooked meat and cabbage dish, this one sweetened naturally with the addition of apples.
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Simple Beef Stew
5 from 1 vote

Simple Beef Stew

Most traditional Irish stews are made with lamb, but this classic beef version is also very St. Patrick's Day-friendly!
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Piece of Gingerbread Cake topped with whipped cream on a plate.
5 from 5 votes

Gingerbread Cake

Gingerbread is a dessert commonly served for St. Patrick's Day. The tender cake and the warm spices are a great way to end a meal!
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Cottage Pie in a blue-green bowl.
5 from 1 vote

Cottage Pie

While Shepherd's Pie made with lamb is more commonly served in Ireland, this British cousin made with beef is another great St Patrick's Day main course.
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About Katie Workman

Katie Workman is a cook, a writer, a mother of two, an activist in hunger issues, and an enthusiastic advocate for family meals, which is the inspiration behind her two beloved cookbooks, Dinner Solved! and The Mom 100 Cookbook.

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