Searching for the best St. Patrick’s Day food? This St. Patrick’s Day recipe collection has everything from classic Irish dinners like corned beef and cabbage to hearty sides, festive desserts, and fun drinks. Whether you want traditional Irish food or a creative twist, these easy recipes will help you celebrate at home!
The Best St. Patrick’s Day Recipes
I am excited to bring you a collection of more than 55 traditional and non-traditional Irish recipes, perfect for celebrating St. Patrick’s Day.
St. Patrick’s Day is always celebrated on March 17th, and if there’s one place that knows how to go all out, it’s Chicago—dyeing the river green must be an incredible sight! One day, I’d love to see it in person.
I may not be Irish, but I love all things meat, sausage, Irish stew, and the Irish soda bread recipe (slathered with Irish butter, of course!). I also love beef stew, and I wash it all down with a Guinness! I’ll take any excuse to whip up a hearty, comforting meal. While traditional Irish dishes like corned beef and cabbage or shepherd’s pie with creamy mashed potatoes are always a hit, sometimes it’s fun to switch things up.
Take this Crockpot London Broil—not exactly an Irish classic, but trust me, it’s rich, flavorful, and slow-cooked to perfection. Whether keeping things traditional or putting your spin on the menu, St. Patrick’s Day is all about great food and good company! 🍀
Best St. Patty’s Day Appetizers
Here are some of the most popular St. Patrick’s Day appetizers to kick off your celebration:
- Irish Soda Bread with Butter or Cheese – A classic, slightly sweet bread that pairs perfectly with Irish butter or sharp cheese.
- Reuben Sliders – Mini sandwiches with corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and Thousand Island dressing on rye rolls.
- Guinness Cheese Dip – A creamy, beer-infused dip served with pretzels or crusty bread.
- Potato Skins with Bacon and Cheese – Crispy potato halves topped with cheddar, bacon, and green onions.
- Boxty (Irish Potato Pancakes) – Golden, crispy potato pancakes, perfect with sour cream or chive butter.
- Colcannon Bites – Mini mashed potato and cabbage bites, fried until crispy.
- Irish Deviled Eggs – Loaded with all your Irish favorite flavors!
Savory Main Dish Recipes for St Patrick’s Day
It all starts with a scrumptious main dish! I know you will love these tried and true recipes. Whether it’s the classic tender Baked Corned Beef and cabbage or the insane flavors of a Dublin Coddle, traditional fish and chips, or a simple beef brisket — you are in the right place.
Traditional St. Patrick's Main Dishes
Best Baked Corned Beef and Cabbage Recipe
Tender inside, crispy outside, this slow-baked corned beef and cabbage recipe is the way to go!
Bangers and Mash with Milk Stout Gravy {Sausage and Mashed Potatoes}
A quick traditional Irish St. Patrick's day dinner, bangers and mash -- translated to sausage and mashed potatoes! Use traditional bangers (usually available during the month of March) or use another favorite sausage. Made with a delicious stout gravy with caramelized onions, this will become a favorite!
Skillet Shepherd's Pie (No Bake Shepherd's Pie)
Rich and thick Skillet Shepherd's pie is also called Cottage pie when made with ground beef. A savory pie that you can finish completely on the stovetop (no bake) or crisp up those mashed potatoes by placing in the oven.
Beef Pot Pie
While the pictures are old, this recipe is so simple, easy and delicious. Use leftover Irish stew for this beef pot pie!
Dutch Oven Beef Stew {or Slow Cooker}
Beer Beef Stew is the best during St. Patty's day celebrations!
Creamy Corned Beef & Cabbage Soup
Use your leftover corned beef to make this creamy soup!
Dublin Coddle (One Pot Irish Potato, Sausage & Onion Stew)
Fun, traditional and so easy!
Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner in the Crock Pot
Prefer to make your corned beef in the crock-pot? Give this recipe a try!
Irish Colcannon - Casserole
Rich, easy and filled with amazing flavor.
Cottage Pie {low Carb}
Rich and delicious, this low carb cottage pie will wow everyone at the table.
Irish Side Dishes, Classics like Colcannon
Irish sides are excellent, potatoes being a staple in Ireland, but you will find many other ideas below. Perhaps some mushy peas, or go with buttered carrots, minted peas, or anything with an Irish potato! Your favorite potato and veggies recipes here!
Irish Side Dishes
Potato Pancakes for St. Patrick's Day or anytime of the year!
Delicious potato pancakes are the perfect side dish!
Minted New Potatoes
A delicious potato side dish that will perfectly compliment your Irish main dish!
Sauteed Cabbage with Mustard
A classic cabbage side dish, with great flavors!
Colcannon Potatoes Recipe
A traditional and delicious Irish side dish!
Vegetarian Cornish Pasties
Don't these look simply delectable! Not vegetarian, toss in some cooked rotisserie or leftover chicken, pork, ham or turkey!
Roasted Cabbage and Carrots with Apple
Roasting cabbage brings out the sweetness, then adding sweet carrots and apples adds to the flavor explosion!
Oven Roasted Carrots with Orange Glaze
When you roast carrots it caramelizes them bring out their sweetness!
Bread Recipes for St. Patty’s Day
Gather up the buttermilk and beer, because every Irish celebration must have a loaf of bread, like this traditional Irish Brown Bread, a quick bread perfect for sopping up the deliciousness from a cottage pie (made with ground lamb) or bangers and mash with onion gravy.
St. Patrick's Day Bread Recipes
4 Ingredient Irish Soda Bread + Gluten Free Option
An Irish bread classic, 4 ingredient Irish Soda bread is an old fashioned, skillet bread baked in a hot oven using just a few simple ingredients, but yielding a crusty and delicious loaf of bread.
Potato Scones for St. Patrick's Day made with leftover mashed potatoes
A delicious use of leftover mashed potatoes!
Vegan Irish Stout Brown Bread
A whole grain, Guinness Stout quick bread!
Traditional Irish Boxty are not just for St Patrick's Day!
Traditional boxty bread, you have got to check this out!
Red Lobster Cheddar Biscuits (biscuits & skillet bread)
Okay, so not very traditional, but these cheddar biscuits would be delicious with any meal you choose to make this St. Patty's day! And they use sharp cheddar, use Irish cheddar!
Oatmeal Dinner Rolls
Oats are a staple in the United Kingdom and these Oatmeal Yeast Dinner rolls are so soft, chewy and have amazing flavor!
Real Irish Scones from Dublin
Check out these unique, delicious Irish scones, the story behind the recipe is worth the read.
Easy 4 Ingredient Beer Bread
Another 4 ingredient bread, toss a few ingredients together in this no yeast bread and watch everyone fight over the last slice.
Sweet Molasses Brown Bread Rolls
Tender, soft, just like the rolls from Outback and Cheesecake Factory, these Sweet Molasses brown bread rolls are the best!
Cheddar Beer Popovers
A fun twist on the traditional beer bread, these beer cheese popovers are done in a fraction of the time and everyone gets their own tasty morsel!
Dutch Oven Irish Soda Bread Recipe with Cherries
A fun Irish soda bread classic with cherries vs. currents! Make this delicious bread in your Dutch oven.
Mashed Potato (Boxty) Bread
Boxty bread is a wonderful and delicious traditional bread to make, using mashed potatoes! So make a double batch to go with your shepherd's pie or bangers and mash and create this soft and tasty bread too!
Traditional Irish Brown Bread
Clean and delicious, a brown bread that is rustic and yummy!
Easy St. Patrick’s Day Drinks
What about something to “wet your whistle”? Below are some traditional and not-so-traditional drinks! Think green beer, Irish coffee, mint shakes, Irish whiskey, and Irish cream–you get the idea!
St. Patrick's Day Drinks
Traditional and simple Irish coffee cocktail recipe.
While not traditional, this is a delicious hot beverage to serve on St. Patrick's day.
Loaded with smokey bourbon or whiskey, this Irish mule is a great way to kick off your holiday celebrations.
Again, while not super traditional, this is a delicious and refreshing bourbon beverage!
Clean, crisp and full of zip!
Fresh and fun, filled with minty coolness!
Always welcome in our home, this maple whiskey sour has just the right amount of sweet to tart ratio!
St. Patrick’s Day Snacks (and Desserts!)
Saving the best for last!! From fancy to fun and a wee bit ‘o everything in between! Whether you are looking for something green or Leprechaun-approved, I’ve got you!
If you can’t find something that you like here, pop over to my Sweets Archive; you find one you will enjoy!
St. Patrick's Day Snacks & Sweets
Guinness Chocolate Cake with Irish Buttercream
A rich, moist and decadent chocolate cake made with Guinness stout and topped with a light and fluffy Irish Cream Buttercream frosting.
Red Velvet Donuts
Use green food coloring instead of red, in these yummy and simple one bowl donuts, topped with Irish Cream Cheese Glaze.
Mint Chocolate Brownies
The hit of every party, super fudgy brownie base, with a creme de menthe buttercream and topped with chocolate ganache.
Milk Stout Fudge Brownies with Irish Cream Buttercream
Thick, rich, and fudgy, these milk stout brownies are the bomb!
Sticky Toffee Pudding Cake with Toffee Sauce
Nothing as fun as sticky toffee pudding cake with toffee sauce!
Decadent Chocolate Caramel Baileys Mini Cheesecakes Recipe
Make these decadent little mini Bailey's cheesecake bites!
Irish Apple Cake with Warm Custard Sauce
For breakfast, enjoy this Irish Apple cake with a warm custard sauce.
Chocolate Cupcakes with Mint Filling
Loaded with mint, these chocolate cupcakes are the best!
St. Patrick's Day Lucky Chow
Puppy chow is the best, but LUCKY CHOW, even better!!
Bourbon Apple Pecan Bread Pudding
Another fabulous bread pudding dessert!
Irish Cream Cheesecake
Irish cream cheesecake, yes cheese, I mean please!
If you want to read more about some of the traditions or find more traditional St. Patrick’s day food recipes, check out these resources below:
- St. Patrick’s Day History, Traditions and Activities – a great book for kids!
- Real Irish Food | Oh my there are a lot of drool worthy recipes in this book!
- The Complete Irish Pub Cookbook | The public house is where it all happens, you are guaranteed to find some delicious recipes in this cookbook!
Leftover Ingredients and what to do with them?
Everyone typically has leftover corned beef and some of us even make extra just so we can enjoy leftovers! One of my favorites is making this delicious corned beef hash — pop a fried egg on top, and it’s breakfast!
Or maybe you are more of a sandwich kinda person; try this Corned Beef Sandwich, butter than a Reuben (in my humble opinion), but if you are a huge Rueben fan, then make my Reuben sliders!
St. Paddy’s Day FAQs
For a simple yet festive St. Patrick’s Day menu, start with Irish Soda Bread appetizer, a quick and easy bread with a golden crust. For the main dish, go classic with Corned Beef and Cabbage, slow-cooked to tender perfection. Pair it with Colcannon, a creamy mashed potato dish mixed with cabbage and butter. For dessert, Guinness Chocolate Cake is a rich, moist treat that’s always a crowd-pleaser. And to wash it all down, enjoy a warm Irish Coffee, made with hot coffee, Irish whiskey, and a creamy topping. Simple, delicious, and perfect for celebrating at home!
Eating corned beef and cabbage is considered good luck, symbolizing prosperity and comfort. Irish soda bread is another lucky food, as its cross-shaped scoring was traditionally believed to ward off evil spirits. Potatoes, a staple in Irish cuisine, represent nourishment and resilience. And for a sweet treat, anything made with Baileys Irish Cream or Guinness adds a festive touch to the celebration!
The most traditional foods include corned beef and cabbage, a hearty dish popular in Irish-American celebrations. In Ireland, dishes like Irish stew (made with lamb, potatoes, and root vegetables), colcannon (mashed potatoes with cabbage or kale), and boxty (potato pancakes) are more common. Irish soda bread is also a staple, often served alongside meals. For dessert, Guinness cake or a simple apple tart adds a sweet finish to the feast!
Cynthia | What A Girl Eats
Thank you for including me! Pinned, yummed and tweeted.
Thank you for your great recipe! Thanks for sharing!
Christina
Great collection of recipes! Want to try so many of these!
Thanks so much for your contribution Christina! So many delicious recipes aren’t there!
Tasia ~ two sugar bugs
I am reading this post before I’ve had breakfast and now I’m SO hungry!! So many delicious items on this St. Patrick’s Day list. Thanks for sharing Kathleen! Praying you and your family are safe and healthy. xoxo
Thank you Tasia! HA, you aren’t supposed to read before breakfast! Praying you and your sweet family are well too! Kathleen