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Here’s a roundup of all the best Irish recipes for St. Patrick’s Day, from dinner to dessert.Â
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St. Patrick’s Day may be best known for leprechauns and green beer. But St. Paddy’s Day also is a big food holiday: an opportunity to indulge in honest, hearty home cooking with lots of fun, old-world nostalgia. From soda bread to shepherd’s pie, potatoes and Guinness stout cake, here are some essential Irish recipes for St. Patrick’s Day — each one a winner.
Irish Recipes for St. Patrick’s Day: Dinner and Sides
Traditional Irish Colcannon
Irish potatoes with bonus color, texture, and nutrition from cooked kale or cabbage. This is homey, satisfying, and great for St. Patrick’s Day or year ’round.
Beef and Mushroom Shepherd’s Pie
One of the homiest, heartiest dinners of all time. This thick and satisfying skillet shepherd’s pie makes one of the best St. Patrick’s Day dinners around. This is a recipe you’ll turn to again and again.
Fresh Spring Pea Soup
Green is the official color of St. Patrick’s Day (and spring!), so what better recipe to make than this beautiful fresh pea soup, with mint and chives. This easy soup recipe takes no time to make.
Simple Boiled Potatoes With Fresh Herbs
You can’t have an Irish feast without potatoes. This potato side dish may be simple, but it also tastes wonderful. Soft boiled potatoes layered with flavor from olive oil and tons of fresh herbs like dill and scallions.
Irish Recipes for St. Patrick’s Day: Baking + Dessert
Traditional Irish Brown Bread
Irish recipes on St. Patrick’s Day would not be complete without a loaf of hearty, rustic soda bread. Brown soda bread is the most authentic Irish soda bread, and this one comes folded with millet and raisins for a little extra oomph.
Irish Soda Bread (Spotted Dog)
Most people make Irish soda bread with raisins around St. Patrick’s Day. But in truth, this bread should be baked all year ’round. This recipes makes a crusty, tender risen loaf that is still satisfyingly dense, yet not at all heavy. This Irish soda bread is my absolute favorite.
Chocolate Guinness Stout Layer Cake
Chocolate layer cake may not have all the St. Patrick’s Day renown as, say, Irish soda bread or shepherd’s pie. But it certainly tastes good — especially with Guinness as the special ingredient. This chocolate Guinness stout cake has all the moist, classic flavor of a great chocolate layer cake, but with an added “something.”
Philly Irish Potatoes
Irish potatoes are neither Irish nor potatoes. And yet, this sweet no-bake confection of coconut, cream cheese, butter, and powdered sugar (all rolled in cinnamon) make one of the Philadelphia area’s most beloved St. Patrick’s Day food traditions.
What recipes will you be making this St. Patrick’s Day? Share in the comments, below.
Originally published March 14, 2024. Updated March 9, 2025.
