50 Must-Try St. Patrick's Day Recipes
St. Patrick's Day is the perfect time to celebrate with fun, Irish-inspired food. To help you make the most of this March 17, 2024 holiday, we've gathered 50 of our best St. Patrick's Day recipes to help spark food ideas that are sure to please everyone in your family and friends at your next Irish party. Get ready to feast on easy (and colorful) desserts, healthy shepherd's pie, kid-friendly appetizers, traditional Irish stew, Irish soda bread and an array of corned beef meals. This annual celebration, which observes the death of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, has evolved into a time to showcase the Irish culture with drinking, donning green clothing, festive parades and, of course, lots of delicious food.
Happy St. Patrick's Day, everyone! We hope you enjoy these amazing recipes.
Related: 13 Desserts Made With Baileys Irish Cream
Our 50 Best St. Patrick's Day Recipes
St. Patrick’s Day Corned Beef and Cabbage Salad
Inspired by the traditional St. Patrick’s Day meal of corned beef and cabbage and the fact that March 24 is American Diabetes Association Alert Day, here’s a chopped salad that’s fresh, light and packed with flavor. Unlike the classic one-pot boiled meal, our one-bowl delight is heavy on vegetables and light on meat. All in all, it’s a diabetes-friendly dish that’s hearty, healthy and less than 400 calories a serving.
St. Patrick's Day Guinness Lamb Stew with Vegetables
This Guinness lamb stew with vegetables is the perfect hearty Irish fare for a St. Patrick's Day feast or cozy Sunday night family dinner.
How to Make This (Deceptively Easy!) Rainbow Layer Cake
Ceri Olofson
You may not find a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow this St. Patrick's Day, but you will find this delicious recipe for a rainbow layer cake. These vibrant layers scream “let’s celebrate!” The soft buttercream frosting hints at a surprise that children and adults alike will enjoy. This is a deceptively easy cake to create—simply set aside the time to tint and bake the layers.
Related: 7 Salty & Sweet Recipes To Make With A Pint of Guinness
Irish Soda Bread
Bridget Lappert
I decided to make this delicious Irish soda bread recipe on a whim for St. Paddy’s Day. After making and enjoying it, I just had to share it! I love this recipe because it is incredibly cost-effective, delicious, and a great complement to a continental breakfast or a hearty soup.
Related: Best Irish Soda Bread Recipe
Colcannon
VegaTeam via Flickr
Growing up in Ireland, a steaming bowl of colcannon was the ultimate comfort food. Now that I live in the U.S., it still brings me just as much comfort on a cold evening. Light and fluffy mashed potatoes are whipped together with onions, kale and plenty of golden, salty butter.
St Patrick's Day Appetizers - Classic Reuben Dip
Melissa Sperka
There's nothing like a delectable holiday-themed appetizer to get your St Patrick's Day festivities started. This ooey gooey classic reuben dip is the perfect combination of Swiss cheese, corned beef and sauerkraut all smothered in a dreamy Thousand Island cream cheese sauce. It combines all of the flavors found in a classic Reuben sandwich and transforms them into a fabulously creamy dip. Your party goers will be amazed at how so few ingredients can pack such incredible flavor.
Make This Fun Rainbow and Pot of Gold Cake for St. Patrick's Day
Get the whole gang to decorate and admire—then eat!—this lucky rainbow cake that's a perfect St. Patrick's Day dessert. See how it comes together in Parade’s Sweets in Motion animation above, in which our cakes magically come to life.
Related: 8 Best Irish Beers For St. Patrick's Day
Guinness BBQ Corned Beef and White Cheddar Sliders
Dixie Chik Cooks
My very favorite part of this time of year has to be all of the corned beef recipes surrounding St. Patrick's Day. I could probably eat corned beef on a weekly basis. The Reuben is hands down my favorite sandwich. These sliders are highly, insanely addictive. The BBQ sauce is tangy and spicy and paired with the white cheese dip, it makes them off-the-charts delicious. This was my first time to make BBQ sauce with beer. I didn’t know that beer is a natural meat tenderizer because it contains alpha acids and tannins.
A Classic Irish Stew: Dublin Coddle
Melissa Sperka
Dublin coddle is a traditional bacon, sausage, potato and onion stew. It's believed to have been initially created to use-up leftovers but has evolved into a beloved Irish classic. My Irish friends tell me that every house in Ireland has their own version, with subtle variations depending on the cook's preferences. Some cooks may use ham in place of the bacon or they may add carrots for color. The stew is slowly simmered in the oven and seasoned simply with salt and black pepper. It's a dish that's perfectly suited for any day, but especially festive for a St. Patrick's Day celebration.
Happy St. Patrick's Day with Crock Pot Irish Stew
In case you haven't been paying attention, the leprechauns and green beer are about to descend upon us. That's right, St. Patrick's Day is coming! And while it isn't a major holiday in our house (with a ten-year-old, that means there are no gifts to open!) I do try to celebrate in the easiest way I know how... with food! This is a dish I first made a couple years ago, and it's become my go-to meal every March 17.
Related: 10 Irish Crock Pot Recipes for St. Patrick's Day
Quick and Easy St. Patrick's Day Candy-Coated Pretzel Rods
Here's to another fun St. Patrick's Day holiday. Every year my kids and I make up fun and yummy edible gifts to give to teachers, neighbors and family. Everyone loves receiving a green package filled with something special. We made these fun and oh, so delicious candy-coated pretzel rods. They couldn't be easier, not to mention lots of fun—and messy—to make. Add your favorite toppings for your own touch. Have a fun and safe holiday!
Rosemary Potato Bread
Adding potatoes to bread dough has a long history, notably in Ireland. Wherever wheat is scarce and expensive, potatoes have been used to stretch the flour, producing a nourishing bread. Here the potatoes are cooked in buttermilk, which adds flavor to the dough. The mashed potato produces a moist loaf with a springy texture and as a bonus, the bread keeps for several days. With its golden crust and soft center, the rosemary-scented bread makes a great sandwich loaf and is a delicious accompaniment to a bowl of tomato-based or bean soup.
4-Ingredient St. Patrick's Day Chocolate Pretzel Snaps
With only a few ingredients and a few simple steps you can whip these little snaps up in no time at all. The sweet and salty go so well together. A great combo when you are in a snacking mood. These are great for a game day too. Swap your favorite team colors with the sprinkles. Have a happy and safe St. Patrick's Day, an Irish blessing and enjoy the sweet and salty snaps!
How to Style Irish Beef Stew: Plate It Perfect
In Plate It Perfect, professional food stylist Callie Blount teaches you how to style food to look amazing on all your social media feeds. In this episode, Callie shows you how to make a delicious Irish Beef Stew. See how she styles it to get that hearty feel for the perfect photo! If you learned anything new, let us know in the comments. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more great recipes and videos.
Related: Even More Easy Irish Recipes For St. Patrick's Day and Beyond
Irish Soda Bread
If there is one taste and aroma that immediately reminds me of home, it is soda bread. There was always a loaf of brown soda bread or simply "brown bread" on the breakfast table. White fruit soda bread was more of an afternoon snack, spread with lots of butter. Soda bread is one of the simplest breads to make as it requires no yeast, proving or kneading. It is cheap to make and can be prepared in a matter of minutes. Day-old bread is great toasted with lots of melting butter and jam. The coarse Irish whole-meal flour used in brown bread can be difficult to source but the everyday ingredients in this white fruit soda bread recipe are easy to find.
Potato-Leek Soup
Looking for a traditional food for St. Patty's Day? Serve up this classic soup from the Emerald Isle.
Easy Shepherd's Pie
Nisa Burns
It's simple, easy and delicious. I put my own little spin on the dish by leaving the mashed potatoes a little chunky. And, I added a little garlic to the potatoes.
A Slice of Ireland: Kerry Pie for Saint Patrick's Day
How about a Kerry Pie instead of the usual Corned Beef and Cabbage for the St. Patrick’s Day holiday? Perhaps you haven’t heard of Kerry Pie but it’s really worth knowing about. Mutton pies made in Kerry, were served at the famous Puck Fair in Killorglin in August, and taken up the hills when men were herding sheep all day long. Traditionally they were cooked in the bastible (a pot oven over the open fire) and reheated in mutton broth, then served in a deep plate with some of the broth over the top. It sounds strange, but the old people who remember them are adamant that they were delicious. Kerry Pies are so easy to make and share with family and friends either at the table or for a picnic – Enjoy!
Related: What is Irish Butter?
Beef in Guinness
This is a traditional Irish dish of beef slowly braised in Guinness. It is a simple, hearty meal using the tough and cheap but also more flavorful cuts of meat. Top the beef with a puff pastry lid and it makes a deliciously rich beef pie. This recipe uses stewing beef, but short ribs also work very well.
St. Patrick's Day Pistachio Marshmallow Crunch Balls-Easiest Recipe Ever!
St. Patrick’s Day is March 17! I try to come up with a festive treat for all the holidays and this time, I grabbed just a few items from my pantry and voila! These were a big hit. The good thing is, they take just minutes to put together and can be made for any holiday or any occasion using different colored sprinkles or add-ins. Make a batch for your family and see how fast they disappear. They are super sweet and yummy.
Slow Cooker Irish Stew
Krista Marshall
St. Paddy's Day is one of the few holidays we don't make a big deal of in our house, but I do usually try to make something Irish-inspired to eat. And since we live in Indiana, this holiday usually falls on a either a cold and snowy day, if winter is hanging on a little longer, or a chilly and rainy day, if spring is starting to show its face. Either way, a big bowl of Irish stew is the perfect way to warm us up and put a little luck in our day!
Related: 17 St. Patrick's Day Traditions To Celebrate Irish Pride
Celebrate St. Patrick's Day With Reuben Dip
Shea Goldstein
St. Paddy's Day is just around the corner! Because I have a serious affinity for anything Reuben, I tend to find unique ways to "Reubenize" anything! This dip is a pretty straightforward recipe. I shredded corned beef that I originally made for Reuben sandwiches in my KitchenAid mixer (a favorite kitchen tip of mine), mixed it with cream cheese, homemade Thousand Island dressing, sauerkraut and Swiss cheese, and baked it for about 20 minutes. That’s it.
Meet "The Irish Burger" That's Taking Corned Beef and Cabbage to New Heights
Want to celebrate St. Patrick's Day with a burger? Taking the best parts of a classic Irish dish—corned beef and cabbage—and turning these flavors into a burger is what I did with this mouthwatering Irish burger. Enjoy and don't forget to pin this recipe to make over and over again.
Stir Up a Lucky Irish Breakfast Coffee for St. Paddy's Day
Datz
Known for creating crafty cocktails, Datz, Tampa Florida's comfort food destination, is celebrating the luck of the Irish with this Irish Breakfast special. They shared their recipe for this St. Patrick's Day libation with Parade.com. Erin go Bragh--and secure a designated driver.
Barmbrack
Lis Parsons
Barmbrack is a traditional Irish sweetened bread not dissimilar to the Welsh bara brith. In Gaelic it’s known as báirín breac or “speckled loaf” due to the way the dough is dotted with raisins. Click here to read about the traditions of Barmbrack and 3 more Irish breads
Easiest Homemade Potato Bread Ever
Potato bread made with instant potato flakes means you don’t have wait for leftover mashed potatoes to make it. If you've never worked with yeast bread before, then I recommend you start with this easy Buttery White Bread. If you've worked with yeast before, then you will have no trouble making this bread dough. I made big loaves, I made mini loaves. I made it in a loaf pan, I made it free form. This dough is very adaptable for whatever your needs are.
Super Easy Cake Mix Chocolate Stout St. Patrick's Day Cake!
Skinny Sweets Daily
If you are looking for a delicious "grown-up" dessert this St. Patrick's Day, you found it right here. This rich and decadent cake comes out perfect every time. Using a cake mix saves time and it always delivers a moist no-fail cake. Have a safe and happy holiday.
Jason O'Mara's Irish Soda Bread
iStockphoto
"This is a recipe we've been using in my family for years. To many in Ireland, giving out a recipe like this would be akin to handing out instructions on 'How To Pour A Glass Of Water'. So for what it's worth, here's how to make Irish Soda Bread. Accept no imitations!"
Corned Beef Hash
Jen Silverberg
Corned beef is torn into a merry jumble of slices, shreds and chunks in this hash recipe, which calls for just enough potato to create a starchy balance and includes caramelized onion for a sweet note.
Related: It’s Your Lucky Day! Learn All About St. Patrick’s Day: History, Facts, Trivia, and Banning Beer?!
A Big Bowl of Irish Comfort Food: Colcannon
Greetings from Ireland. Traditionally, Colcannon was one of the festive dishes eaten at Hallowe’en, when a ring and a thimble would be hidden in the fluffy green-flecked mass. The ring denoted marriage—even if you were only six, but the person who found the thimble would be a spinster for life.
Slow Cooker Cabbage Soup
Krista Marshall
I love a great vegetable soup, and this slow cooker soup has one of our favorite ingredients: cabbage. It would be perfect for your meatless Monday; just swap out the chicken broth for vegetable broth! Most of us are counting the days until spring, but in the meantime, let's chase those winter blues away with a big bowl of delicious soup!
Corned Beef and Cabbage
iStockphoto
Corned beef requires a serious dose of long, slow cooking to make the meat flavorful and tender. There are two parts to the brisket—for a traditional St. Patrick’s Day corned beef choose the flat cut, or the brisket’s “flat”. This piece is extremely lean and uniform in size and will give you nice, even slices. This classic recipe comes from The Meat House's Butcher’s Blog.
Irish Creme Brownies
Erin Schmit / Table for Seven
St Patrick’s Day is right around the corner and it’s the perfect time to break out your Irish creme… coffee creamer, that is. I added Irish creme flavor to a box of brownie mix and the frosting for this dessert. Now, you can use an Irish creme liqueur (like Bailey’s), but to make these non-alcoholic, I opted for an Irish creme coffee creamer. Use whichever you prefer. These brownies are creamy, chocolaty and a perfect addition to your St. Paddy’s Day celebration!
Bailey's Chocolate Cheesecake Squares
Parade
Bailey's cheesecake is a popular dessert on restaurant menus across Ireland. This recipe is a fun twist on the classic cheesecake, resulting in a cross between a fudgy brownie and a rich cheesecake.
Old-Fashioned Slow Cooker Corned Beef
When this home-style recipe is cooking away in the slow cooker, the house smells divine and everyone is just waiting for this to be served. This simple and easy version of corned beef is made with a handful of basic ingredients for a rich tasting meal in one. Everything you want is in the slow cooker. Just plate up and serve when done. No need to add any other side dish. This is enjoyed year round in my house. We love it and surely your family and you will too!
Related: 100 St. Patrick’s Day Quotes to Channel the Luck of the Irish This March
Cottage Pie Meets Macaroni and Cheese
Jon Ashton
Cottage pie (also called shepherd’s pie), is a comfort food favorite of sautéed ground beef and vegetables topped with mashed potatoes. Parade Chef Jon Ashton takes this cozy dish to the next level by substituting macaroni and cheese (use your own recipe or buy ready-made) in place of potatoes.
Irish Soda Bread
Sweeten St. Patrick's Day with a hearty slice o' heaven. This bread is delicious warm or at room temperature. If you have leftovers, toast the next day.
Irish Coffee
Jump-start your St. Patrick's Day celebrations with a time-honored warm cocktail. A layer of lightly whipped cream floats atop spiked coffee—brown sugar in the brew helps prevent the cream from sinking. This easy recipe comes from Stephanie Nuccitelli of the blog 52 Kitchen Adventures.
Irish Whiskey Cocktail
Irish whiskey is an underused spirit for mixing. But when you find that perfect cocktail that showcases the beautiful whiskey, you fall in love. New York's Joaquín Simó of Pouring Ribbons has created this type of drink, giving you, the drinker, an enjoyable and refreshing cocktail. Check out Fred Minnick's book, Bourbon: The Rise, Fall & Rebirth of An American Whiskey.
Classic Rainbow Mold
Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with this lucky rainbow Jell-O dish. "My version uses sweetened condensed milk rather than sour cream or yogurt because it tastes better and dissolved more smoothly ... Note: Timing is key with this mold, so get organized before you begin." This recipe comes from Victoria Belanger's book Hello, Jell-O!.
Most Decadent Copycat McDonald's Shamrock Shake
Every year around the middle of February, McDonald's brings back the delicious Shamrock Shake. It's only around up until St. Paddy's Day and then it's gone until the next year. My whole family loves this shake and I have tried many copycat versions before; but it was time for me to come up with my own version. We all think this one is right up there with the original and the best part is that we can enjoy it anytime during the year at a fraction of the cost of what we pay at the Golden Arches. Enjoy this version, it's sooo delicious. Have a happy and safe St. Patrick's Day!
Bread Pudding With Whiskey Caramel Sauce
There are more than pints being passed around at Rí Rá Irish Pub & Restaurant. The authentic Irish pub's made-to-order bread pudding is a year-round favorite, with the holiday season bringing even more fans to the table. Their chefs shared the popular recipe with Parade.com.
Related: What Does "Erin Go Bragh" Mean?
How to Make Soda Bread Like the Irish
Lis Parsons
Soda bread is the traditional bread of Ireland. It's made in just minutes, yet not everyone can manage to produce a loaf with a tender golden crust. Click on "Get the recipe" to find out the secret.
Cabbage Roll Casserole: Fast and Family-Approved!
Krista Marshall
A great casserole can be the answer to your prayers on a busy day. You want to feed your family, but don't have all the time in the world. This is when a tasty casserole can be your new best friend. This Cabbage Roll Casserole takes the classic flavors of the original cabbage roll, and puts them together in a much easier - but just as tasty - dish. It's sure to please a hungry crowd!
Low-Carb Cauliflower Shepherd’s Pie
MARK BOUGHTON PHOTOGRAPHY / STYLING BY TERESA BLACKBURN
Ground turkey replaces lamb or beef in this twist on Shepherd's Pie from Yvonne Feld of triedandtasty.com. Swapping the traditional mashed potato topping for mashed cauliflower makes it a comforting low-carb meal. The whole family is sure to enjoy this quick and easy weeknight dinner!
Festive Rainbow Cookies
Just a handful of ingredients and you have the most delectable and festive cookie that everyone loves. Try this fun and festive cookie recipe. You will love them. They taste just like the ones you know from the bakery—we think even better. Enjoy!
Irish Soda Bread
This easy recipe makes two generous loaves; you can freeze one to enjoy at another time. Soda bread is great toasted and slathered with butter and jam, with a cup of tea. You can also serve it with hearty soups or fruit and cheese.
Stir-Fried Cabbage with Crispy Bacon and Mushrooms
Bacon and cabbage is one of the most traditional of Irish dishes and still served around kitchen tables all over Ireland today. The whole joint of bacon is boiled, sliced into thick pieces and served with lots of buttered cabbage and potatoes. This dish is a modern twist on the classic and makes a great side dish for your St. Paddy's Day menu.
Cabbage, Bean and Bacon Soup
This satisfying, simple meal in a bowl adapted from Soups: Quick and Easy Soups for Every Season by Anna Helm Baxter (Hardie Grant Books), is just $2.48 per serving, and can be made ahead. Stash soup in zip top freezer bags. Thaw by dunking the bag in boiling water until liquid enough to pour in a saucepan and finish heating.
Related: St. Patrick's Day Memes
Couldn't Be Easier Corned Beef Hash
Be sure to get good quality corned beef at a nice deli—and just ask them to slice it a bit thicker than normal. Mine was about 1/8" thick, then I just diced up the slices at home. I used a 20 oz bag of ready to eat diced potatoes, and 1/2 a bag of thinly shredded coleslaw cabbage. This is really a very delicious dish to have for a weekend breakfast or brunch.
Cabbage & Beef: A One-Pot Wonder!
Everyday Mom's Meals
I think we can all use more one-pot meals. Suppers that can be on the table quick when the family is famished and it's been a long, tiring day. Meals that are as delicious as they are easy. This one is just the ticket! We love cabbage in our family. Can't get enough of the stuff. So, anytime I can find a way to utilize it in a new way, I've got some happy eaters at my house. Combine that with the added bonus of being one of these "one-pot wonders" and now we've got a happy cook too!
Roasted Cabbage Steaks
Krista Marshall
We love cabbage. Can't get enough of the stuff. I am constantly looking for new ways to fit it into dinnertime. This time, not only did I find a new way to use it, but it's also about the easiest recipe I've ever made!
