If you’re in search of a St. Patrick’s Day recipe to help you celebrate the holiday, you’ve come to the right place! Today I have gathered our favorite and most popular main courses, side dishes, desserts, breads and other recipes, that we rely on annually for our March 17th festivities.
From native born Irish recipes that have stood the test of time, to American-Irish inspired recipes that are now popular all over the world, I have included all of our favorites. Hearty Irish stews, corned beef recipes, and bangers and mash are the stars of the main dish options. But don’t forget about the potato side dishes and of course, Guinness stout inspired recipes that you will want to make over and over again.
So, whether you’re hosting a festive gathering or simply looking to make something special in your own kitchen I am sure you will find something that you like. From classic dishes that have stood the test of time to modern interpretations that add a creative twist, these recipes promise to make your St. Patrick’s Day celebration unforgettable.
St. Patrick’s Day Main Dish Recipes
Although St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated throughout the world, the preferred meal in Ireland may surprise you. In America, corned beef and cabbage is the dinner of choice to consume on March 17th.
However, in Ireland, you will most likely find a hearty stew being served to celebrate the holiday with the family. I have included several recipes for both dishes below and a few extra main dishes for you to choose from.
Corned Beef Recipes:
Oven Roasted Corned Beef and Cabbage – Although this dish is an American-Irish tradition, and not one found in Ireland itself, many Americans prefer to make this recipe on St. Patrick’s Day. This recipe uses the oven to turn corned beef brisket into fall apart tender meat. Add cabbage, potatoes and carrots to complete the meal.
Slow Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage – Want to make corned beef and cabbage the easy way? Add the brisket, potatoes and carrots to your slow cooker and cook it for 7 hours. Then add the cabbage and within the hour dinner will be ready!
Fried Corned Beef and Cabbage – This recipe is ready to eat in under 20 minutes! Use cooked or deli corned beef and fry it with cabbage. Although if you want a more traditional Irish recipe, use bacon instead of corned beef. Then serve it with colcannon (recipe below).
Air Fryer Corned Beef – Let modern technology help you get your St. Patrick’s Day recipe on the table with very little effort. This recipe skips the standard seasoning packet that comes with the brisket. Instead, use a homemade seasoning that is out of this world delicious!
Instant Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage – Step by step guide on how to make corned beef and cabbage in a pressure cooker. Although it involves a few steps to get fall apart tender meat and vegetables, it requires less hands on time than other cooking methods.
Beef or Lamb Stew:
Crock Pot Irish Beef Stew – This is a rich and hearty stew that is bursting with flavor. Every bite is full of tender, fall apart pieces of beef or lamb that literally melt in your mouth. The meat is coated in a thick and rich sauce. Cooked along with vegetables in a slow cooker for an easy dinner recipe that the entire family will love.
Irish Beef Stew (Without Wine) – Thick and hearty beef chunks mixed with carrots, potatoes and onions. They are coated in a rich gravy sauce made without wine that is perfect to serve as a stand alone meal or over mashed potatoes.
Instant Pot Irish Beef Stew – Take the flavor of beef stew to the next level by adding a little Guinness stout. As the alcohol cooks off, you are left with a concentrated flavor that will remind you of the classic flavors of the Emerald Isle.
Other Main Dish Recipes:
Bangers and Mash – This classic dish is made up of large sausage links served with mashed potatoes and then topped with a thick onion gravy. A true comfort food meal that is found in both Great Britain and Ireland. And of course, it is popular during the month of March in restaurants across America.
Easy Shepherd’s Pie – This casserole is a crowd favorite. A baked meat pie traditionally made by tossing minced lamb with small vegetables and then cooking it in a thick sauce. Then the mixture gets put in a baking dish and topped with mashed potatoes. Once baked the potatoes get a little brown and crispy which is the perfect contrast to the warm filling below.
Easy Cottage Pie: Using the same recipe as Shepherd’s Pie, but instead of using lamb, the meat that is used in this St. Patrick’s Day recipe is ground beef.
Side Dish Recipes
In Ireland, just about any potato recipe is considered a classic side dish. However, you can also serve carrots, parsnips and cabbage in just about any form as part of dinner. Here are a few favorite recipes that we like to serve as part of our St. Patrick’s Day spread:
Colcannon (Irish Mashed Potatoes) – Mashed potatoes mixed with greens, onions, garlic and leeks. Then add a dollop of Irish butter in the center and you have a delicious side dish recipe that is served throughout the year in Ireland.
Irish Boxty – Boxty is a traditional Irish potato pancake that contains a mixture of mashed and grated potatoes. When cooked it has a unique texture that’s part pancake, part hash brown.
Oven Roasted Honey Glazed Carrots – One of the easiest, yet most elegant side dishes that you can make. Long slender sections of carrots drizzled with both olive oil and honey and then baked until just tender.
St. Patrick’s Day Dessert Recipes
Guinness Chocolate Cupcakes With Bailey’s Irish Cream Frosting – Enough said! The ultimate St. Patrick’s Day Dessert recipe.
Bailey’s Ice Cream Cheesecake – Cheesecake made with a chocolate cookie crust and a creamy filling flavored with Bailey’s Irish Cream. And just to top it off, a homemade chocolate ganache, also flavored with Bailey’s gets drizzled on top!
Irish Apple Cake – I have to admit, this has become my new favorite dessert to make any day of the year. Picture a coffee cake and Dutch apple pie being combined together in one simple and easy to make dessert. Drizzle a little custard on top and you have a classic Irish dessert that your friends and family will love!
Breads
Irish Brown Bread – Irish brown bread is an irresistible staple food item in many homes and restaurants across Ireland. This homemade bread recipe comes together with just a few ingredients and it does not require any yeast.
Irish Soda Bread – Although not a special occasion bread, this classic everyday Irish bread recipe requires only 5 ingredients and is simple and easy to make.
The Most Famous Irish Drink
Irish Coffee – Irish coffee is a common drink found in nearly all Irish restaurants, pubs and homes. However, it is not only served on St. Patrick’s Day. In fact, it is served during all hours of the day, every day of the year.
Bonus- St. Patrick’s Day Leftover Recipes
When it comes to having leftovers, you can simply reheat them to enjoy the next day. Or turn them into something new and exciting. Because you may have leftover corned beef, I have included 4 bonus recipes below:
The Best Reuben Sandwich – Thinly sliced corned beef, Swiss cheese, and sauerkraut piled on top of toasted rye bread and then slathered with Russian or Thousand Island dressing. YUM!!!
Corned Beef Hash Recipe – You can never go wrong with turning leftover corned beef into breakfast the next day. Dice some potatoes and fry them along with the corned beef and then top them with two over easy eggs to start your day off right!
Slow Cooker Reuben Dip – If you love the taste of the classic sandwich, you will love this easy to make dip recipe. Once combined, it is the perfect appetizer to share with family and friends.
Easy Reuben Casserole – Use your leftover corned beef to make dinner that contains all the flavors of the classic sandwich but into an easy to make casserole.
There you have it! 24 recipes to help you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day! I am sure that you will find at least one of them to share with your family and friends this year.
Enjoy!
Mary and Jim
Jim and Mary Competti have been writing gardening, DIY and recipe articles and books for over 15 years from their 46 acre Ohio farm. The two are frequent speakers on all things gardening and love to travel in their spare time.
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