30 BEST Irish Recipes (Traditional + Modern) (2024)

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Whether you're looking for the BEST Irish recipes for Saint Patrick's Day, because you have a little bit of Irish blood in you, or you just enjoy comfort food, you'll LOVE our list of traditional Irish recipes!

We mix in mostly traditional recipes from Ireland but also some modern-day twists like adaptions made in an Instant Pot or air fryer. It's a WHOLE LOTTA YUM!

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Recipes for Irish Food

My family's last two trips to Ireland were canceled due to COVID, so apart from being part Irish, we decided we'd be celebrating no matter what at home! We're all foodies, love to try new drinks and dishes, and enjoy Irish traditions.

This week my brother is off to Ireland for a school program, so between his future new experiences and these recipes, we like to enjoy the Irish inspiration when we're craving comfort food or for St Patrick's Day, of course.

Whether you're looking for a quick and easy meal to make that's Irish comfort food or you're searching for Irish food recipes for St Patrick's Day, we've got ya covered.

Our post of the BEST Irish food recipes include tasty snacks or side dishes, something to please a sweet tooth, a hearty meal for the family, or just want to try a new Irish tradition, these are all the Irish recipes you want to know about! We didn't forget about breakfast either or a good glass of homemade Bailey's coffee. Have a tasty, satisfying, hassle-free holiday!

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30 Traditional Irish Recipes

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Instant Pot Guinness Beef Stew

An EASY Instant Pot Guinness beef stew simplified yet not skimping in flavor. You'll love this stout beef stew recipe using minimal steps so you can get back to celebrating St Patrick's Day! Serve with mashed potatoes.

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Irish Bangers and Mash Sausage Recipe with Onion Gravy

Traditional Irish bangers sausage with mashed potatoes and an onion stout gravy. Bangers and mash makes for the ultimate comfort food! Serve with a green vegetable on the side.

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Instant Pot Colcannon with Bacon

Another traditional Irish recipe adapted to a pressure cooker. Making colcannon mashed potatoes with either cabbage or kale is as easy as can be in your Instant Pot! Fun fact...In Ireland colcannon is served at Halloween, not on St Patrick's Day 😉

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Crockpot Cabbage and Bacon

When you're looking for crockpot cabbage recipes, be sure to give this easy slow cooker cabbage recipe a try! Make it as a savory side dish or make it main dish by adding protein like ham or kielbasa and potatoes.

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Gluten Free Irish Soda Bread Recipe

A gluten free soda bread recipe that uses Bob's Red Mill gluten-free 1:1 flour. You can add the raisins or leave them out! The gf Irish soda bread tastes so amazing you'll eat it year-round and not just for Saint Patrick's Day! If you're looking for a traditional Irish recipe for soda bread, simply swap the gluten-free flour for all-purpose!

Traditional Irish Boxty is a unique and super tasty breakfast or dinner side dish for St Patrick's Day that is made of mashed and raw potatoes with buttermilk.

If you haven't had it before and you are a potato lover, you are in for a treat!

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Photo Credit:www.curiouscuisiniere.com

Northern Ireland Farl (Soda Bread)

If you're a fan of Irish Soda Bread, you have to try this version for soda Farl's from Northern Ireland.

This recipe is quick and easy and perfect for when you want to serve something fast but want a hearty bread for dinner! It's yummy and a great side.

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Photo Credit:aseasyasapplepie.com

Homemade Baileys Irish Cream

If you want to make a good homemade Baileys Irish Cream this is a fabulous recipe!

This recipes includes, whiskey, vanilla, chocolate, and coffee combine with sweetened condensed milk for a rich and creamy alternative to store-bought Irish cream. It's easy and you will never need to buy Baileys because yours is better!

The BEST cinnamon raisin bread! This traditional Irish sweetened bread called Barmbrack is enjoyed all year round in Ireland and will become your new favorite.

Sliced, buttered, and served, you will be in heaven. Whether it be for breakfast, a snack, or treat, this makes for one of the best go to Irish recipes.

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Photo Credit:ethnicspoon.com

Scailtin - Irish Whiskey Milk Punch

This Scailtin (Irish Whiskey Milk Punch) dates back to the 1700's and is a truly tasty co*cktail recipe!

Sweetened with honey, and flavored with cinnamon and ginger, with a mix of Jameson, this is a great beverage for a cold night in. An Irish co*cktail with milk but has been served in a punch bowl, make sense?

For the ultimate comfort food dish around the holidays, you have to try this Dublin Coddle Recipe. Basically, an Irish version of beef stew but uses sausage as the protein instead of beef or lamb.

Some say it's better than the traditional corned beef and cabbage... there's only one way to find out!

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Photo Credit:www.askchefdennis.com

Irish Cottage Pie

Irish Cottage Pie aka Shepard's Pie is a delicious traditional Irish dish.

The beef version of this Irish Classic is called Cottage Pie, while Shepard's Pie calls for ground lamb. This will become a family favorite and one of your favorite Irish recipes!

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Photo Credit:www.karenskitchenstories.com

Irish Champ Potatoes

This is a traditional Irish potato dish that is perfect to serve for St Patrick's Day. Made with mashed potatoes. scallions, chives, and lots and lots of melted butter, you will love this recipe and be wanting to make it again!

The difference between Irish Champ and Irish Colcannon is that champ mixes in green onions whereas colcannon uses cabbage or kale.

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Photo Credit:themccallumsshamrockpatch.com

Dublin Lawyer

This rich and flavorful recipe is great for lobster lovers! Combining butter-sauteed lobster meat with Irish Whiskey and rich, heavy cream, you will love this.

Traditionally Dublin Lawyer is placed back in the lobster tail, but that is of your choosing, however you'd like to eat it.

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Photo Credit:www.irishamericanmom.com

Irish Cod Fish Cakes

Not only do they look amazing, but they also taste amazing. Have extra potatoes? This recipe will need them!

Traditionally, Irish Cod Fish cakes are fare at its very best. Simply combine mashed potatoes, flaked cooked fish and herbs, and form into individual cakes, coated with breadcrumbs. They are delicious and make for fantastic Irish recipes to serve.

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Photo Credit:www.bbc.co.uk

Steak and Irish stout pie recipe

An Irish treat! This Steak and Irish stout pie recipe is amazing for St Patrick's Day or anytime you're looking for comfort food.

This pastry classic steak pie uses stout to make a rich gravy and ready-rolled pastry for ease.You can't go wrong with a good pie recipe like this. Dessert recipes make for the best Irish recipes!

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Photo Credit:cookingwithcurls.com

Irish Nachos

Your new favorite nacho dish, Irish nachos! This is a fun alternative to your tradition nachos because instead of tortilla chips, you have thin slices of potatoes, with all the best toppings. You'll find this potato based version in some of the pubs in Ireland.

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Photo Credit:ethnicspoon.com

Irish Potato Leek Soup

This is an Irish favorite. In just 30 minutes you can make this simple recipe and is perfect for any cold night.

All you need is butter, leeks, potatoes, salt, pepper and stock (vegetable or chicken). It's a great excuse to try a new soup, stay warm, and keep an Irish tradition going.

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Photo Credit:www.irishamericanmom.com

Buttermilk Pancakes

Buttermilk Pancakes are a must in Ireland and a dish that everyone will appreciate. Light and fluffy, and oozing with buttermilk and buttery flavor and goodness, these make for one of the best breakfast dishes and easiest Irish recipes!

This is a twist on the traditional Irish bread pudding and highly recommended!

Bread pudding is a very popular Irish dessert dish, and this hassle-free, simple recipe is equally amazing.

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Photo Credit:www.mybakingaddiction.com

Baileys Cheesecake

In three steps you can make this amazing Baileys Cheesecake. If you like cheesecake, you will love this recipe!

With an Oreo cookie crust (instead of graham cracker crust), a Baileys-infused cheesecake filling, and Baileys-spiked chocolate ganache topping, you will be serving one of the best Irish dishes in no time.

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Photo Credit:www.oliviascuisine.com

Traditional Irish Porter Cake Recipe

This traditional Irish Porter Cake recipe is all you need to cure your sweet tooth craving on St. Patrick’s Day!

Using dried fruit, hearty spices and porter beer, this cake is traditionally served during the holidays and is easily a good treat whenever you're in the mood for something sweet.

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Photo Credit:cookieandkate.com

Best Irish Coffee

Time to warm up with a classic Irish coffee! These Irish recipes are great, simple and delicious for any day and a fun way to wake up on St Patrick's Day.

Made with just four ingredients, hot coffee, Irish whiskey, sugar and whipped cream, you will want to make this every morning or as a dessert.

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Photo Credit:www.justapinch.com

Irish Split Pea Soup

If you and your family love Split Pea Soup this is a fabulous recipe to make for St Patrick's Day or whenever you're in the mood for a filling, healthy, delicious soup!

This is a great, easy recipe that will keep you warm and happy and may just become a go-to for holidays.

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Photo Credit:www.irishamericanmom.com

Irish Potato Cakes

If you have any leftover mashed potatoes, this is a must-try recipe! Potato cakes are a great Irish side dish.

You almost HAVE to have extra mashed potatoes because once you make these you will want more! They are easy and delicious.

If you want an easy Irish dish to make, this Trout Fillets with Streaky Bacon and Flaked Almonds recipe is the move. It's a taste of Ireland in a quick dish and the yummiest combination!

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Photo Credit:recipesformen.com

Irish Seafood Chowder

An Irish Seafood Chowder, I'm hungry just thinking about it. Irish seafood chowder is a very popular meal in local pubs and restaurants and great as a homemade meal!

If you love soups and chowders, you will love this recipe.

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Photo Credit:www.thespruceeats.com

Classic Irish Guinness Rarebit Recipe

In just 10 minutes you can make this Classic Irish Guinness Rarebit recipe! There's debate on whether the rarebit is welsh or Irish, but we're especially fond of the Irish version.

Even though it's made of just cheese and toast, it is in fact an Irish dish with Guinness included.

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Photo Credit:www.allrecipes.com

Irish Lamb Stew

Hearty and traditional, we love a good Irish Lamb Stew. Simple and easy, this is a great recipe for lunch or dinner! It's best to refrigerate the stew overnight and heat and serve the next day for eating.

Beef could be substituted if you prefer.

Be sure to pin the Irish Recipes Post to Pinterest so you can find it again later!

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30 BEST Irish Recipes (Bangers & Mash + More!)

Yield: 6 servings

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

Traditional Irish bangers sausage with mashed potatoes and an onion stout gravy makes for the ultimate comfort food dinner. You'll never eat corned beef and cabbage again! Be sure to check out our whole post of the BEST recipes in Ireland you can find!

Ingredients

  • 1 lb Irish Bangers sausages (6 per pack)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • MASHED POTATOES
  • 3 lb Russet potatoes
  • 4 tablespoon butter
  • ⅔-3/4 cup whole milk or half & half
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • ONION GRAVY
  • 3 tablespoon butter
  • 1 ½ large sweet onions, thinly sliced
  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups beef broth
  • ½ cup Guinness stout beer
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon Worchestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1`/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions

To make bangers and mash you first sear the sausages, and then while you're caramelizing the onions for the gravy, you'll start making the mashed potatoes. The sausage gets added to the gravy to finish cooking, and they get served over the mashed potatoes.


Bangers Sausage

  1. Heat 1 Tablespoon of olive oil to a cast skillet and sear the bangers over medium heat on both sides to brown the sausage. Set them aside but leave 1 tablespoon of grease in the skillet for making the gravy.


Onion Stout Gravy

  1. Add 3 Tablespoons of butter to the pan and stir until melted. Add the sliced onions and cook them for 10 minutes or until they are very soft. Turn the heat down to low and put the lid on the pan, continue cooking for 10 more minutes. Add the flour, combine with the onions, and cook for 1 minute. Start on the mashed potatoes while the onions are simmering.
  2. Add the beef broth, stout beer, and Worchestershire sauce to the pan. Cook over medium-high heat until the gravy starts to bubble. Add the bangers Irish sausage back to the skillet. Turn the sauce down to medium-low and simmer for 15 minutes until the gravy is reduced, starts to thicken, and the sausages are cooked through. Add salt and pepper to taste.


Mashed Potatoes

  1. Add water to a pot for the mashed potatoes and bring the water to a boil over high heat.
  2. Add the potato cubes and cook the potatoes for 12-15 minutes or until fork-tender.
  3. Drain the potatoes and put them in a medium-sized bowl. Mash the potatoes with a fork or a potato masher. Add the butter and stir the potatoes until the butter is melted. Microwave the milk or half & half for 30 seconds so you aren't adding cold milk to the potatoes, which will cool them down. Add the milk (or half & half) to the potatoes and combine well. Add salt and pepper to taste.
  4. Serve the Irish bangers with stout onion gravy over the top of the mashed potatoes. Enjoy!

    Notes

    You can omit the beer if you don't want to use it, the onion gravy will still taste amazing! Red wine is a great substitute for the beer.

    Did you make this recipe?

    Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

    30 BEST Irish Recipes (Traditional + Modern) (2024)

    FAQs

    What are the 14 most well known Irish main dishes? ›

    • Beef and guinness pie. [Beef and guinness pie] ...
    • Shepherd's pie. Shepherd's pie. ...
    • Boxty. Boxty. ...
    • Irish stew. Irish stew. ...
    • Irish soda bread rolls. Irish soda bread rolls. ...
    • Potato and leek soup. Creamy potato and leek soup.
    • Smoked cod and cheddar pie. Smoked cod and cheddar pie.
    • Slow-cooked lamb shank pie. Slow-cooked lamb shank pie.
    Mar 15, 2022

    What is the most traditional Irish food? ›

    Here are the 8 traditional Irish foods you must definitely try:
    • Irish soda bread. Soda bread is loved by a lot of people who try it, and it's easy to know why. ...
    • Smoked Salmon. ...
    • Corned Beef And Cabbage. ...
    • Irish Stew. ...
    • Traditional Irish Breakfast. ...
    • Irish Coffee. ...
    • Irish Brown Bread. ...
    • Potato pancake.
    Feb 27, 2023

    What are some traditional foods that are still enjoyed today in Ireland? ›

    Top 10 Irish foods to try...
    • Soda bread. Every family in Ireland has its own recipe for soda bread, hand-written on flour-crusted note paper and wedged in among the cookery books. ...
    • Shellfish. ...
    • Irish stew. ...
    • Colcannon and champ. ...
    • Boxty. ...
    • Boiled bacon and cabbage. ...
    • Smoked salmon. ...
    • Black and white pudding.

    What is a true Irish dinner? ›

    Food. We eat traditional Irish food: cabbage, bacon, potatoes - actually a delicious dinner when accompanied by white sauce. Sausages, black pudding, white pudding (neither of these are desserts), turnips, parsnips, carrots, fish, chicken, duck etc etc. Fish & chips.

    What is Ireland's signature dish? ›

    Believed to have been a staple of Irish cuisine since around the year 1800, heart-warming homemade stew remains a firm favourite to this day. To many across the country, Irish stew is the national dish of Ireland. The methods and flavour of an Irish stew vary from person to person and have evolved over the years.

    What foods are uniquely Irish? ›

    Representative dishes include Irish stew, bacon and cabbage, boxty, brown bread (as it is referred to in the South) or soda bread (predominantly used in Ulster), coddle, and colcannon.

    What is the most eaten vegetable in Ireland? ›

    You may be surprised to hear that the carrot has been victorious in claiming the title of Ireland's favourite vegetable, even though you thought it might have been the potato!

    What is Ireland's national drink? ›

    Over the last three centuries, Guinness has become a legendary part of Irish culture, celebrated as Ireland's national drink. And with over 8,000 years still left on the original St. James Gate brewery lease, there's still a lot more of 'the black stuff' to make and enjoy.

    What is the most popular drink in Ireland? ›

    Guinness. We know, we know… We couldn't start without highlighting Ireland's most famous export, Guinness. The famous “pint of black” has become a national icon and you can almost guarantee that you'll be served a pint of Guinness in any bar in the world, if you ask nicely enough.

    What is Ireland's favorite meal? ›

    One of the most popular and iconic Irish foods is undoubtedly the traditional Irish stew. This hearty dish typically consists of tender chunks of meat (such as lamb or beef), potatoes, onions, carrots, and sometimes other vegetables like celery or parsnips.

    What are the top 10 Irish foods? ›

    10 Jaw-Dropping Irish Dishes You Need to Try
    • Soda Bread & Jam. ...
    • Irish Porridge. ...
    • Shepherd's Pie. ...
    • Irish Beef Stew. ...
    • Coddle. ...
    • Colcannon. Colcannon is another potato-based dish you would combine with kale, cabbage, butter, cream, or onions. ...
    • Boxty. Here's one last potato item. ...
    • Scotch Egg. Who said eggs are only for breakfast?
    Sep 16, 2022

    What do Irish eat for breakfast? ›

    All full Irish breakfasts include some or all of the following: Bacon, sausages, baked beans, eggs, mushrooms, grilled tomatoes, and perhaps some cooked leftover potatoes made into a hash or a bubble and squeak. There will also be toast, butter, marmalade, and lots of tea to drink.

    What is Ireland's Christmas dinner? ›

    For an Irish family Christmas, the traditional dinner is key and getting it right is a real art. Roast turkey and stuffing, clove-studded baked ham, crispy goose fat potatoes, steamed Brussels sprouts, buttery sweet carrots, crispy parsnips, cranberry sauce, bread sauce, gravy, phew, there's a lot to think of!

    What is an Irish dish for leftovers? ›

    Coddle (sometimes Dublin coddle; Irish: cadal) is an Irish dish which is often made to use up leftovers. It most commonly consists of layers of roughly sliced pork sausages and rashers (thinly sliced, somewhat-fatty back bacon) with chunky potatoes, sliced onion, salt, pepper, and herbs (parsley or chives).

    What is the best food to eat in Ireland? ›

    1. 31 Irish Food and Drink You Must Try. Rabbie. ...
    2. Colcannon. cookieandkate. ...
    3. Champ. Potatoes are still a staple in the Irish diet. ...
    4. Irish Stew. simplyrecipesVerified. ...
    5. Lamb. Ireland is full of lush green pastures which are perfect for sheep-breeding. ...
    6. Full Irish Breakfast. ...
    7. Potato Farl/Potato Cake/Potato Bread. ...
    8. Black and White Pudding.
    Sep 25, 2019

    What is a stereotypical Irish meal? ›

    Representative Irish dishes include Irish stew, bacon and cabbage, boxty, coddle, and colcannon.

    What is a typical Irish menu? ›

    Think slow-cooked roasts, stews, delectable shellfish, grass-fed beef, sausage, potatoes, cabbage, homemade cheese and dense breads slathered with homemade butter.

    What is the most important meal of the day in Ireland? ›

    78.77% of Irish consumers agree that breakfast is the most important meal in their day.

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