11 Irish Recipes to Make for St. Patrick's Day

wooden bowl filled with colcannon with butter in it, on a lace tablecloth with flowers to the side — Serious Eats / Hannah Hufman

I have some Irish heritage on my mom's side— the "O" in my byline stands for O'Niell, her maiden name—and I have a soft spot for St. Patrick's Day and Irish culture in general. The holiday is a great excuse to have a pint of Irish stout and eat some of my favorite Irish foods, including colcannon and soda bread, and it's also a fun excuse to make some Ireland–inspired creations, such as Shamrock shakes and Guinness-chocolate cake. This year, I'll be following my usual tradition for the holiday and cooking my St. Patrick's Day feast at home—because no way in hell am I going out into the drunken hoards packing the pubs in NYC, where I live. If you're planning to stay home to celebrate as well, check out the 11 ideas for the holiday below.

Corned Beef Brisket, Potatoes, Cabbage, and Carrots

Serious Eats / J. Kenji Lopez-Alt

For the best corned beef, cure your brisket with a mix of curing salt and spices, which gives the dish its characteristic flavor. Cooking the beef low and slow ensures it won't dry out or get tough, and allowing it to rest overnight guarantees you'll be able to carve thin, presentable slices.

Corned Beef Brisket, Potatoes, Cabbage, and Carrots
Corned Beef Hash

Serious Eats / Amanda Suarez

Crispy potatoes, onions, and shredded corn beef make for a wonderfully satisfying breakfast. Cutting up and frying the corned beef fat by itself before adding the other ingredients allows the corned beef flavor to permeate every element of the hash, making each deeply savory.

Corned Beef Hash
Real Irish Soda Bread

Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik

Soda bread was traditionally baked over coals in a covered skillet, producing a wonderfully crusty loaf of bread—a setup anyone can re-create in a Dutch oven. This loaf is chewy but tender, with a fluffy crumb and a subtle pretzel-like flavor.

Irish Soda Bread
Boxty (Irish Potato Pancakes)

Serious Eats / Two Bites

These Irish potato pancakes are wonderful for breakfast, lunch, or dinner: They have crisp, lacy edges with a perfectly tender, fluffy interior. They're also super simple to whip up, and their savory potato flavor goes well with just about any topping you can dream up.

Crispy Outside, Fluffy Inside—for the Best Potato Pancakes, Make Them the Irish Way

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Irish Colcannon

Serious Eats / Hannah Hufman

Colcannon is a great partner for sausages and a pint of beer, but also just as good at the family dinner as a side for corned beef or baked ham; crowned with a fried egg or some smoked salmon; or even alongside a simple green salad to complete a filling meal.

If You Like Creamy Mashed Potatoes, You’ll Love This Irish Potato and Cabbage Recipe
Guinness-Chocolate Sheet Cake

Serious Eats / Hannah Hufham

This Guinness-chocolate sheet cake is moist and rich, with delightfully bittersweet and malty undertones. Brushing the cake with a Guinness syrup keeps it moist and amplifies the stour flavor, while malted milk powder brings savory depth to the vanilla frosting.

For the Best St. Patrick's Day, You Can Drink Your Guinness and Eat It Too (As Cake!)
Guinness Beef Stew With Potatoes

Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik

This hearty stew is a staple at Irish pubs. Here, strong coffee and bittersweet chocolate reinforce Guinness stout's roasted flavors, ensuring they don't disappear during cooking.

Rich and Flavorful Guinness Beef Stew With Potatoes
Shamrock Shake

Serious Eats / Amanda Suarez

Don't feel like heading to McD's for a Shamrock Shake? Make your own at home with some vanilla ice cream, peppermint extract, and green food coloring.

Copycat Shamrock Shake

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Shepherd's Pie

Vicky Wasik

Extra creamy mashed potatoes and a hearty meat sauce studded with carrots and peas make shepherd's pie a crowd favorite. Ingredients like red wine, tomato paste, and Parmesan cheese may be unconventional, but give the dish depth and complexity.

Classic, Savory Shepherd's Pie (With Beef and/or Lamb)
Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go (Fernet-Spiked Irish Coffee With Lemon Cream)

Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik

For those who love the minty-bitter flavor of Fernet Branca, this riff on a classic Irish coffee is sure to knock your socks off.

Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go (Fernet-Spiked Irish Coffee With Lemon Cream) Recipe
Creamy Irish-Style Oatmeal

Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik

A foolproof recipe for the creamiest porridge around.

Creamy Irish-Style Oatmeal With Brown Sugar Recipe

11 Irish Recipes to Make for St. Patrick's Day

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