The music, the dancing, the food — what isn’t there to love about the Irish? And if you’re looking for St. Patrick’s Day food recipes to celebrate the day in the Irish way, you’ve come to the right place.
But what exactly do you eat on St. Patrick’s day? Below we’ll point you towards some authentic Irish dishes from appetizers to desserts, so you can plan a full menu.
St. Patrick’s Day Apps & Snacks
Any host knows appetizers are the perfect way to kick off a get-together. Plus, these Irish appetizers will buy you time in the kitchen and keep your guests satisfied until the meal is served.
1. Irish Soda Bread with Raisins
Unlike regular bread, this special treat is made with sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) instead of yeast to help it rise. And best of all, you probably already have the ingredients to make it in your pantry.
And while the raisins are optional, we think they give it the perfect flavor. If you’re serving it as an appetizer, make sure to give your guests some bread, homemade jams and preserves, or cheese to pair with it.
view Irish soda bread recipe here
2. Colcannon Puffs
A twist on the famous Colcannon dish (that recipe to follow below), these puffs are the perfect appetizer. Made from potatoes and kale with added spices and preserved herbs, these tasty puffs are a great precursor to a meal. This recipe also happens to be vegan.
view colcannon puffs recipe here
3. Crisp Sambo Finger Sandwiches
Looking for St. Patrick’s Day food recipes that are unique and fun? Look no further than this truly authentic (albeit more modern) Irish treat — crisp sambos! These finger sandwiches are simple to make and offer a quirky way to start your celebration.
Simply grab some bread, butter, and chips (Tayto Cheese and Onion Crisps if you can find them) and you’re ready.
4. Reuben Dips with Corned Beef
Perhaps you’re familiar with the Irish-American-inspired corned beef hash dish. If so, this appetizer is a great way to serve something different from what your guests are expecting.
Any leftover corned beef is perfect for making this tasty treat. Plus, it pairs well with Ritz crackers, fresh veggies from your local market (like cucumbers, celery, or carrots), and even kettle chips.
5. Irish Sausage Rolls
Popular in pubs and bakeries in Ireland, these rolls are great for parties. (Think of them as a cousin to pig in a blanket appetizers in the US.)
Made with pork, breadcrumbs, and finely ground herbs, this tasty sausage is wrapped in a pastry puff and then baked to perfection. Plus, they freeze well if you want to make them ahead of hosting. That way you can focus on prepping the rest of your meal.
view Irish sausage roll recipe here
Side Dishes for St. Patrick’s Day
Whether you’re looking for some green food for St. Patrick’s Day or some authentic sides, we’ve got you covered. Here are some of our favorite authentic sides perfect for your feast.
6. Colcannon (Irish Mashed Potato Recipe)
If you’ve never heard of colcannon, think of it as an Irish mashed potato casserole of sorts. Above we covered puffs, but colcannon itself has a few more ingredients.
This tasty dish combines potatoes, cabbage, ham, and scallions to create a satisfying side. We recommend adding butter on top when you serve it, for extra goodness.
7. Boxty
Another fun St. Patrick’s Day food recipe, boxty is perfect to serve with brunch or to add alongside a salad. It’s also quite simple to make. Boxty is a combination of mashed and raw potato with buttermilk with a few other add-ins. From there you simply fry and enjoy!
8. Mashed Peas
If you’ve been looking for green food for St. Patrick’s day, this Irish side is a perfect fit. Usually popular alongside fish and chips or roasted lamb, you can’t knock this side until you try it.
It’s a simple mix of fresh peas, butter, whipping cream, and then some added seasoning, all mashed together. For added flair, you can even mix in some mint and lemon juice.
9. Cabbage & Bacon
Another simple side dish, this 5-ingredient recipe is an easy crowd pleaser. If you’re looking to make a truly authentic version, shop pork from your local butcher and see if they have Irish bacon.
Irish bacon is taken from the back of the pig instead of its stomach, which is where American bacon comes from. As a result, Irish bacon has a slightly different flavor and thickness. If you wish, you can also substitute in corned beef instead of bacon.
view Irish cabbage and bacon recipe here
10. Roasted Root Vegetables
If you’re making a pork- or beef-based entree, this simple side will add some lovely color to your table. A mix of carrots, parsnips, sweet and red potatoes, and red onions, roasted root vegetables are a great healthy side.
view roasted root vegetable recipe here
St. Patrick’s Day Food Recipes: The Entrees
Hosting a stress-free holiday requires careful planning, from what you’re serving to how much. And the pinnacle of your meal comes in the middle — the entree. Below are some of our favorite authentic St. Patrick’s Day food recipes you can use to wow the crowd.
11. Shepherd’s Pie
Again in a more traditional vein, shepherd’s pie is a delicious pub favorite. This simple mix of minced lamb, potatoes, cheese, and a few vegetables is sure to satisfy hungry guests. If obtaining lamb is difficult, you can substitute ground beef to make cottage pie instead.
view shepherd’s pie recipe here
12. Roasted Leg of Lamb
Since sheep farming is still a popular industry in Ireland, serving up some roasted lamb is a great way to celebrate. This tasty dish involves slowly roasting lamb along with garlic and rosemary to pull out savory flavors. Here’s one of our favorite recipes with an added mint sauce to give it a special touch.
view roasted leg of lamb recipe here
13. Guinness Beef Sliders
If you’re hosting a more laid-back St. Patrick’s day meal or have some picky eaters, these Guinness beef sliders are sure to please! Simply shop for quality beef and braise it in stout beer. From there, add all the special fixings (including Guinness cheese sauce) and enjoy this tender treat.
view Guinness beef slider recipe here
14. Irish Beef & Guinness Stew
Looking for hearty St. Patrick’s Day food recipes? Irish beef stew is a perfect choice.
It does require time to cook slowly, so just make sure you give yourself ample time to prepare it. And we recommend making more Irish soda bread (without the raisins) to share alongside it.
view Irish beef stew recipe here
15. Dublin Coddle Recipe with Cider
Another traditional Irish dish, Dublin Coddle includes sausages, bacon, potatoes, and onions that are lightly fried and then stewed over a period of time. Here’s our favorite Irish version complete with cider.
view Dublin coddle recipe with cider here
Desserts for St. Patrick’s Day
Nothing ends a party on a sweeter note than dessert. Here are some Irish recipes you can use to continue your theme throughout your entire St. Patrick’s Day celebration.
16. Baileys Irish Cream Cheesecake
What better way is there to finish your St. Patrick’s Day festivities than with an Irish cream cheesecake? With its creamy Bailey’s Irish cream filling and chocolate ganache topping, this dessert will leave everyone feeling full and happy.
view Irish cream cheesecake recipe here
17. Soda Bread Pudding
Made too much soda bread? This dessert is a great way to ensure none of it goes to waste. Plus, topped with Bailey’s Irish cream anglaise (instructions to make that included in this recipe), we think it’s even better!
view soda bread pudding recipe here
18. Irish Tea Cake
A simple yet tasty cake made with ordinary baking ingredients you probably already have on hand, we’d be remiss to not mention this favorite. If you’re serving a heavy meal, this is the perfect follow-up.
It pairs nicely with tea and coffee. And to add a sweet touch, you can serve it with fresh fruit, drizzled icing, or fresh whipped cream.
view Irish tea cake recipe here
19. Porter Cake
Another authentic dessert option worth trying is porter cake, a traditional Irish fruit cake that incorporates porter ale. It is a surprisingly rich and moist cake to serve, with a delightful blend of spice and fruit. And it may just make you change your mind about fruit cake.
20. Chocolate Guinness Cake
For the chocolate-lovers, dessert doesn’t get better than this chocolate cake. The added stout beer keeps it moist and rich, while the cream cheese icing takes it to a whole new level. We’re pretty sure there won’t be much of this left when your St. Patrick’s Day celebration is done.
view chocolate Guinness cake recipe here
21. Cast Iron Irish Apple Cake
To top everything off, we’ll end this blog with one of Ireland’s most beloved traditional desserts — Irish apple cake.
It has a pleasing blend of spice and everything nice and is even better with fresh Granny Smith apples. It’s not too sweet and is a perfect chaser for your meal along with a cup of tea or coffee.
