Our collection of St. Patrick’s Day recipes showcases classic Irish flavors and ingredients like lamb, potatoes, cabbage, and Guinness stout.

Corned beef and cabbage, Irish soda bread, shepherd's pie, Dubliner cheese dip

Whether you’re of Irish descent or simply looking to explore the rich tapestry of flavors in Ireland’s traditional dishes and modern cuisine, St. Patrick’s Day (also known as the Feast of St. Patrick) is a wonderful time to celebrate that heritage with food and drink!

What to cook for St. Patrick’s Day

When we think of traditional recipes for this holiday, Corned Beef and Cabbage is the first thing that comes to mind, but it might interest you to know that bacon, not corned beef was the original ingredient used in this dish.

When Irish immigrants in America found that beef was less expensive than pork, they replaced the bacon with corned beef, and a new, Irish-American tradition was born.

Here are a few more classic Irish-American dishes you might want to try:

Or, if you’re looking to try something less traditional, try a dish that preserves classic Irish flavors in new and different ways:

A little holiday history

St. Patrick was born in Britain around 390 A.D. and is credited for bringing Christianity to Ireland, and was thus named its patron saint.

Originally, St. Patrick’s Day was strictly a religious holiday where people went to church in the morning and celebrated in the afternoon and evening. It wasn’t until the early 1900s that it became a rather somber public holiday in Ireland, celebrated with a military parade.

During the mid-1960s St. Patrick’s Day gradually became a more festive event, eventually growing into a four-day celebration filled with food, drink, and entertainment. This transformation was largely fueled by the way the holiday was celebrated here in the U.S.

Irish-Americans began celebrating their Catholicism as far back as the 1700s, and their proud heritage has given rise to a national tradition of parades and celebrations that transcend ethnic and religious backgrounds.

St. Patrick's Day Recipes

Corned Beef and Cabbage

Our New England Boiled Dinner (aka Corned Beef and Cabbage) recipe is a classic version made with corned beef brisket, potatoes, cabbage, carrots, turnips, and pearl onions.

Easy Irish Soda Bread

This recipe for an old-fashioned Irish Soda Bread makes a moist, dense bread with a hint of sweetness and a delicious, chewy crust.

Guinness Shepherd's Pie

Our version of this classic, one-dish dinner combines ground lamb with leeks, carrots, fresh thyme and a bit of Guinness stout for added flavor.

Glazed Lamb Loin with Red Onion Jam

This unique lamb loin recipe pairs a quick-to-fix red onion jam with tender, pan-seared lamb and a subtle, Guinness-based glaze.

Colcannon

Colcannon is a classic Irish side dish that combines creamy mashed potatoes with sautéed greens like kale, cabbage or leeks.

Smoked Fish and Dubliner Cheese Dip

Served with lightly-toasted rounds of baguette, this creamy blend of smooth-melting Dubliner cheese and smoked fish (haddock, cod, trout or salmon) makes a uniquely delicious appetizer.

Irish Lamb Stew

This is an easy, full-flavored recipe for a hearty Irish Lamb Stew made with boneless lamb, potatoes, carrots and pearl onions.

Bailey's Milkshake

Easy, rich and delicious, this adults-only milkshake is made with vanilla ice cream, Bailey's Irish Cream Liqueur and butterscotch schnapps.