Our St. Patrick's Day Recipes Will Help You Build the Perfect Menu for March 17 (2024)

Deck yourself out in green and celebrate with our absolute favorite St. Patrick's Day recipes for brunch and dinner. That might mean corned beef and cabbage, the standout dish stateside, or a lamb or beef stew—the entrées those in the Emerald Isle are most likely to eat on March 17.

Perhaps you'd prefer bangers and mash or a Guinness pie packed with beef? Create your St. Patrick's Day menu from our selection of appetizers and main courses. Whatever you do, be sure to bake a loaf of soda bread for the table—and end the meal on a sweet note with one of our dessert recipes just right for the holiday.

All About Traditional Irish Soda Bread—and the Best Way to Enjoy It

01of 25

Corned-Beef Egg Cups

Our St. Patrick's Day Recipes Will Help You Build the Perfect Menu for March 17 (1)

For the cutest, most delicious start to St. Patrick's Day, make these five-ingredient egg cups that start with sandwich bread. They only take 10 minutes to put together and bake for just 20.

View Recipe

02of 25

Martha's Quick-Brined Corned Beef and Vegetables

Our St. Patrick's Day Recipes Will Help You Build the Perfect Menu for March 17 (2)

This is Martha's go-to corned beef recipe. She developed the recipe so the meat cures in about a third of the time that most other recipes take.

Quick-Brined Corned Beef and Vegetables

03of 25

Martha's Soda Bread With Rye and Currants

Our St. Patrick's Day Recipes Will Help You Build the Perfect Menu for March 17 (3)

Adding rye flour to soda bread is Martha's way to give this St. Patrick's Day favorite a flavorful twist.

Martha's Soda Bread with Rye and Currants

04of 25

End-of-the-Rainbow Cookies

Our St. Patrick's Day Recipes Will Help You Build the Perfect Menu for March 17 (4)

These slice-and-bake rainbow cookies are beloved by leprechauns and anyone with a sweet tooth and a sense of fun. Mini peanut butter cups form the pots of gold.

View Recipe

05of 25

Roasted Cabbage Wedges

Our St. Patrick's Day Recipes Will Help You Build the Perfect Menu for March 17 (5)

A vegetable side with wide appeal, these cabbage wedges have a crispy exterior and a tender interior. They're easy to make, all you need is the cabbage, olive oil, and salt, plus either caraway or fennel seeds.

View Recipe

06of 25

Sticky Toffee Pudding With Toffee Sauce

Our St. Patrick's Day Recipes Will Help You Build the Perfect Menu for March 17 (6)

A rich, moist date cake is teamed with caramel sauce in this irresistible sticky toffee pudding. It's the perfect sweet ending for a St. Patrick's Day dinner.

View Recipe

07of 25

Irish Beef and Stout Stew

Our St. Patrick's Day Recipes Will Help You Build the Perfect Menu for March 17 (7)

This comforting stew is made festive by a pop of green peas and a generous glug of stout. Make a double batch and freeze for a rainy spring day.

View Recipe

08of 25

Instant Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage

Our St. Patrick's Day Recipes Will Help You Build the Perfect Menu for March 17 (8)

Quicker, easier, and (dare we say) more delicious than the original, this Instant Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage just might become your go-to recipe.

View Recipe

09of 25

Irish Soda Scones

Our St. Patrick's Day Recipes Will Help You Build the Perfect Menu for March 17 (9)

We've translated the flavors of Irish soda bread into irresistible drop scones chock-full of dried currants and caraway seeds. The best part? They're quick and easy enough to bake on a weekday morning.

View Recipe

10of 25

Maple Irish Coffee

Our St. Patrick's Day Recipes Will Help You Build the Perfect Menu for March 17 (10)

Whiskey-spiked coffee is a must for St. Patrick's Day. We like this version that's sweetened with maple syrup.

View Recipe

11of 25

Bangers and Mash

Our St. Patrick's Day Recipes Will Help You Build the Perfect Menu for March 17 (11)

Why not serve this classic comfort food from across the pond on St. Patrick's Day? An umami-packed onion gravy rounds out the flavors of the juicy sausages and cheesy mashed potatoes.

View Recipe

12of 25

Irish Brown Soda Bread

Our St. Patrick's Day Recipes Will Help You Build the Perfect Menu for March 17 (12)

We've tried quite a few soda bread recipes over the years. This version, made with sour cream and topped with rolled oats, ranks among the best.

View Recipe

13of 25

Irish Cream

Our St. Patrick's Day Recipes Will Help You Build the Perfect Menu for March 17 (13)

A truly decadent way to end your St. Patrick's Day meal, this cream liqueur takes just five minutes to make, but will be the topic of conversation for weeks to come. It layers an Irish whiskey base with delicious flavorings, including cocoa powder, espresso powder, and vanilla.

View Recipe

14of 25

Guinness Pie

Our St. Patrick's Day Recipes Will Help You Build the Perfect Menu for March 17 (14)

Dark stout deepens the flavor of the rich beef-and-vegetable stew filling in this special savory pie. It's topped with a flaky, golden Irish cheddar crust.

View Recipe

15of 25

Colcannon Shepherd's Pie

Our St. Patrick's Day Recipes Will Help You Build the Perfect Menu for March 17 (15)

Two Irish favorites come together in this hybrid comfort food. The mashed potato-and-cabbage dish known as colcannon tops a traditional shepherd's pie filling of ground lamb and plenty of peas and carrots.

View Recipe

16of 25

Green Crudités with Green Goddess Dip

Our St. Patrick's Day Recipes Will Help You Build the Perfect Menu for March 17 (16)

Add some green crunch to the table with a selection of lightly blanched asparagus, cauliflower, and snap peas, as well as raw produce such as celery and sliced cucumbers. The green goddess dip features creamy avocado, buttermilk, and finely chopped herbs.

View Recipe

17of 25

Treacle Brown Bread

Our St. Patrick's Day Recipes Will Help You Build the Perfect Menu for March 17 (17)

Molasses, hard cider, and wholemeal flour set this bakery-worthy yeast bread apart. Slather slices with good Irish butter and sprinkle with sea salt to really make it shine.

View Recipe

18of 25

Potato, Broccoli, and Cheddar Soup

Our St. Patrick's Day Recipes Will Help You Build the Perfect Menu for March 17 (18)

A cozy bowl of soup is just the thing for lunch or dinner on St. Patrick's Day. Potatoes give this soup a smooth, creamy feel. There's also broccoli in the soup and roasted broccoli as a garnish.

View Recipe

19of 25

Chocolate-Stout Cupcakes

Our St. Patrick's Day Recipes Will Help You Build the Perfect Menu for March 17 (19)

Who needs four-leaf clovers when you have these treats? Chocolate cupcakes mixed with Guinness and topped with four-leaf clovers (heart-shaped almond candies, plus a sliver of sugared lime zest) fulfill their sweet promise: Take a bite, and you'll feel supremely fortunate.

View Recipe

20of 25

Traditional Irish Bacon, Cabbage, and Parsley Sauce

Our St. Patrick's Day Recipes Will Help You Build the Perfect Menu for March 17 (20)

No, it's not the crispy, pan-fried strips you're used to, but one bite of this porky dinner will have you hooked.

View Recipe

21of 25

Homemade Corned Beef With Vegetables

Our St. Patrick's Day Recipes Will Help You Build the Perfect Menu for March 17 (21)

A corned beef supper makes a glorious Irish feast. This one calls on turnips, potatoes, and carrots to round out the meal.

View Recipe

22of 25

Colcannon

Our St. Patrick's Day Recipes Will Help You Build the Perfect Menu for March 17 (22)

This traditional side marries mashed potatoes with fall-apart-tender cabbage and leeks. Prepare to battle it out for the broiled, buttery crust.

View Recipe

23of 25

Irish Beef Hand Pies

Our St. Patrick's Day Recipes Will Help You Build the Perfect Menu for March 17 (23)

Beef, be it corned, stewed, or roasted, is an Irish menu mainstay. These hand pies give it a playful, portable, and altogether delicious twist.

View Recipe

24of 25

Cheddar-Topped Shepherd's Pie

Our St. Patrick's Day Recipes Will Help You Build the Perfect Menu for March 17 (24)

You don't need your own flock to appreciate this traditional pub favorite. Even better: Both the filling and the topping can be made ahead. Use ground lamb to make it a true shepherd's pie; using beef turns it into a cottage pie.

View Recipe

25of 25

Sugar Cookies with Clovers

Our St. Patrick's Day Recipes Will Help You Build the Perfect Menu for March 17 (25)

For a St. Patrick's Day-themed treat, sprinkle a little luck on your sugar cookies.

View Recipe

Our St. Patrick's Day Recipes Will Help You Build the Perfect Menu for March 17 (2024)

FAQs

What food are you supposed to eat on St. Patrick's Day? ›

St. Patrick's Day Foods
  • Colcannon. Colcannon, or Irish mashed potatoes, is a traditional Irish dish that has been consumed in the country for generations. ...
  • Irish Soda Bread. ...
  • Fried Cabbage. ...
  • Corned Beef and Cabbage. ...
  • Shepherd's Pie. ...
  • Irish Stew. ...
  • Irish Apple Tart. ...
  • Barmbrack.

What popular dish is served on St. Patrick's Day? ›

When it comes to dinner on St. Patrick's Day, the most popular meal is corned beef and cabbage—often accompanied by a green beer or two. The boiled dinner and its liquid accompaniment dominate the menu of Irish bars and restaurants up and down the country on March 17, and many home cooks serve the dish, too.

Which of these meals is often eaten in America on St. Patrick's Day? ›

The traditions of St. Patrick's Day in America are well known. We wear green, attend parades, and eat corned beef and cabbage.

What ancient Irish symbol is often seen on St. Patrick's Day? ›

Shamrock: The Three-Leaved Clover

Patrick used the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity to the Irish people. The three leaves of the shamrock represent the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The shamrock has been a symbol of Ireland for centuries, and it is often worn on St. Patrick's Day as a sign of Irish pride.

When was St. Patrick born? ›

There are many legends and stories of St. Patrick, but this is his story. Patrick was born around 385 in Scotland, probably Kilpatrick. His parents were Calpurnius and Conchessa, who were Romans living in Britain in charge of the colonies.

What does leprechaun like to eat? ›

Well, turns out Leprechauns eat different types of wild- flowers, nuts, potatoes, and mushrooms. They also enjoy fancy homemade beverages and on given occasions, they take dandelion tea. Since they live in a forest in Ireland, most of the leprechaun's diet is comprised of wild foods.

What do Irish eat on St. Patrick's? ›

As a result, bacon and cabbage is technically the more traditional Irish dish; corned beef and cabbage is the Irish-American variant. Irish soda bread is a quick bread made without yeast. It rises, because, when combined, baking soda and buttermilk act as a leavening agent.

Where was St. Patrick born? ›

St. Patrick was born Maewyn Succat around 385 in Kilpatrick, Scotland. At the age of 14 he was captured during a raid of his hometown and taken to Ireland to work as a slave, herding sheep. At the time he was captured Ireland was inhabited predominantly by Druids and pagans.

What color was originally associated with St. Patrick? ›

GOING GREEN

But the color that people originally associated with St. Patrick was blue! (Some ancient Irish flags even sport this color.)

Which is the biggest holiday in Ireland? ›

Patrick's Day. St. Patrick's Day commemorates Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland, and is arguably the most popular holiday in Ireland among both locals and tourists.

Was St. Patrick's a Scottish or Italian? ›

Saint Patrick, whose real name was Maewyin Succat, had Italian roots. His father, from the Irish Calphurnius, was a military officer, a decurio. His mother was Conchessa Succat. Both of Saint Patrick's parents were Italian, but they lived on a British estate, so technically they were living on British territory.

What is the pagan name for St. Patrick's day? ›

The holiday on March 17th was not always Christian. In fact, it was previously a pagan holiday, Ostara, or the Spring Equinox, celebrating nature's rebirth and balance of the universe, both night and day of equal length. During the fifth century, Saint Patrick, born in Roman Britain, was brought to Ireland as a slave.

Why is St. Patrick's day associated with alcohol? ›

Patrick's Day has become synonymous with drinking has to do with the date on which the holiday falls. St. Patrick is said to have died on March 17, 461. This date conveniently falls within the Christian season of Lent, which is a time of abstaining from certain food and drink, including alcohol.

Do you eat meat on St Patrick's Day? ›

In the United States, Catholics are obliged to skip meat only on the Fridays during Lent. Any other day, eating meat is fine. Unless the rule is changed, St. Patrick's Day does not excuse from the no-meat rule if the holiday falls on a Friday.

What is the national dish of Ireland? ›

The National Dishes of Ireland

Irish Stew is a thick, hearty dish of mutton, potatoes, and onions and undisputedly the national dish of Ireland.

Why do we eat corned beef and cabbage at St. Patty's Day? ›

So it was the Irish-American consumption of corned beef that initiated its association with Ireland and the holiday of St. Patrick's Day. And as for pairing cabbage with corned beef, it was simply one of the cheapest vegetables available to Irish immigrants, so it was a side dish that stuck.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Corie Satterfield

Last Updated:

Views: 6453

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (62 voted)

Reviews: 85% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Corie Satterfield

Birthday: 1992-08-19

Address: 850 Benjamin Bridge, Dickinsonchester, CO 68572-0542

Phone: +26813599986666

Job: Sales Manager

Hobby: Table tennis, Soapmaking, Flower arranging, amateur radio, Rock climbing, scrapbook, Horseback riding

Introduction: My name is Corie Satterfield, I am a fancy, perfect, spotless, quaint, fantastic, funny, lucky person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.