50 St. Patrick's Day Recipes You'll Want to Make Year-Round
Celebrate with comforting classics like corned beef and cabbage, colcannon, Irish soda bread and more.
Our Best Ideas for St. Patrick's Day
If you’re a fan of hearty fare like potatoes and stew then you probably look forward to March 17th as much as we do. Sure, it's fun to participate in the American version of the holiday by starting your meal with green appetizers or treating yourself to a festive St. Patrick’s Day dessert, but the best part of this day is digging into a plate piled high with dishes that celebrate Irish cuisine. For some of us, that means cooking up inspired classics like corned beef and cabbage or shepherd’s pie. For others, it’s all about sticking to tradition and making colcannon or boxty. However you choose to pay tribute to the food and cooking of the Emerald Isle, we’re sure these recipes will come in handy. We’ve rounded up everything from cute, shamrock-shaped scones to Irish coddle — and we’re sure you’re going to love each and every recipe. A must-make no matter how you celebrate? This 5-star corned beef and cabbage. It requires a bit of time and effort but the leftover corned beef makes for excellent hash the next day.
Photo By: Renee Comet
Irish Coddle
Like many traditional dishes, the recipe for Irish coddle (also known as Dublin coddle) varies widely from family to family. Born in 1700s inner-city Dublin tenements, it’s a grab-what-you-have kind of stew that simmers low and slow to peak deliciousness. The building blocks of the dish (bacon, sausage, onions, potatoes and plenty of parsley and black pepper) add up to more than the sum of their parts, creating a dark, flavorful broth and an incredibly warm bowl of nourishment. Serving with slices of soda bread is a must and adding a splash of Ireland’s favorite beer, while optional, is very highly recommended!
Photo By: Teri Lyn Fisher
Irish Potato Candies
The name of this candy is misleading: There are no potatoes included in the dish. Instead, it’s a beloved sweet treat meant to resemble adorable little potatoes. Irish potato candies are traditional seasonal confections found at candy stores and groceries around St. Patrick’s Day, particularly in the Philadelphia area. The Philly version consists of a smooth, sweet mixture studded with shredded coconut and then rolled in ground cinnamon for a two-bite treat that looks just like a mini potato.
Photo By: Matt Armendariz
Full Irish Breakfast
When the Irish call this a full breakfast, they’re not kidding. We’ve given you all the traditional components here, but if you’re looking for a smaller meal, feel free to mix and match. Irish bacon is leaner than American-style bacon, so Canadian bacon is the closest substitute. If you’re feeling ambitious, you can also bake a loaf of soda bread to stand in for your toast.
Irish Cream Chocolate Tart
One slice of this tart will put you in the St. Patty's day mood! A crunchy chocolate cookie base holds a smooth Irish cream filling with just enough of a boozy kick to get the party started. A topping of pastel-green whipped cream and gold sugar pearls adds festive Irish-inspired flair!
Boiled Cabbage
This simple, but deeply flavorful side is the perfect accompaniment to roasted pork or chicken, sausages or your St. Patty’s Day corned beef. The crinkly leaves of savoy cabbage hold up well to this cooking method and the buttery sauce readily clings to them, but you could use regular green cabbage, too.
Guinness Brownies
Guinness® stout is a very dark beer that boasts notes of coffee and caramel, two ingredients that pair naturally well with chocolate. For this recipe, the Guinness is reduced to a syrup to intensify the flavors and really make the chocolate stand out. The brownies are a nice marriage of fudgy and cakey and are intensely chocolatey, thanks to the bittersweet chocolate and cocoa powder.
Photo By: Teri Lyn Fisher
Half and Half
Half dark stout beer and half pale ale, there is a reason the half and half has remained a classic order in Irish bars around the world. The crisp ale goes in first, but it’s the smooth stout (carefully poured in after so it stays on top) that really makes the drink so visually special.
Photo By: Teri Lyn Fisher
Tipperary
The legend goes that this drink is named for “It’s a Long Road to Tipperary,” a song that was a popular anthem of Irish soldiers in World War I aching to return home to the Irish countryside. Perhaps it’s not as well-known as other classic cocktails, but the mix of Irish whiskey, herbaceous Chartreuse, sweet vermouth and just a hint of orange will have you humming after just one sip.
Photo By: Teri Lyn Fisher
St. Patrick's Day Lime Poke Cake
This beloved dessert is made of not-too-sweet buttermilk cake and very lightly sweetened whipped cream. The cake tastes best just lightly chilled, so let it warm up a bit after removing it from the refrigerator.
Photo By: Matt Armendariz ©2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved
St. Patrick's Day Mint Schnapps Shakes
A grown-up milkshake, this pale green delight is perfect as a midday treat or after-dinner dessert. It's only as good as the ice cream that goes into it, so splurge on a really high-quality one.
Photo By: Matt Armendariz ©2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved
Irish Whiskey Mule
Known for its biting ginger flavor and copper mug presentation, a mule is a great drink year-round. Unlike its cousin the Moscow mule, which is made with vodka, this one has crisp Irish whiskey as its base. The ice and lime make it refreshing for spring and summer, while the spice of the whiskey and ginger gives it a kick that will warm any winter night. Enjoy it on St. Patrick's Day — or any day!
Photo By: Teri Lyn Fisher
St. Patrick's Day Mint Shakes
Milkshakes, like other simple concoctions, are only as good as their ingredients, so use high-quality ice cream and vanilla extract. Combining peppermint extract and vanilla ice cream gives the drink an extra-refreshing, minty flavor you wouldn't get from using regular mint chip ice cream.
Photo By: Matt Armendariz ©2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved
Gluten-Free Irish Soda Bread
Soda bread takes only a few moments to make. It requires no yeast, so no worrying that your yeast is old or your kitchen too hot. You simply throw some flours in a bowl, add rolled oats, baking soda and salt and stir in some buttermilk. Slide it into a hot oven and you have crusty, warm bread in under an hour.
