13 Easy Irish Pub Recipes for St. Patrick's Day

From savory beef and lamb stews to colcannon and Irish boxty, these 13 pub-style recipes are perfect for St. Patrick's day and beyond.

By
Devan Grimsrud
Devan Grimsrud
Devan Grimsrud

Devan Grimsrud is a Berlin-based writer, editor, and recipe developer originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota. After working in television production with James Beard Award-winning chef Andrew Zimmern, she relocated to Berlin and became the managing editor at Kitchen Stories, an international digital cooking platform with millions of active users. 

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Published March 12, 2025
Devan Grimsrud
A casserole dish with a piece of shepherd's pie removed.

Simply Recipes / Cambrea Gordon

Whether you're a staunch celebrator of St. Patrick's day or just like the excuse to grab a pint and wear some green, these 13 Irish recipes are here to bring that authentic feeling, no matter where you are. From beef (or lamb!) stew to get-your-greens colcannon, enjoy these recipes and happy St. Paddy's Day!

  • Irish Beef Stew

    Irish Beef Stew
    Irish Beef Stew.

    "I thickened the sauce a little bit by grating in a small potato when putting in the other potato pieces. It turned out perfect - so much better than other stew recipes that use starch! We will definitely be using this recipe again, thank you so much!" —Barbara, Simply Recipes Reader

  • Colcannon

    Colcannon Irish Potatoes with Melted Butted in Serving Dish
    Elise Bauer

    "For a variation, sub out half of the potatoes with parsnips. Can add chives, leeks, or bacon too." —Elise

  • Irish Brown Bread

    Irish Brown Bread
    Sally Vargas

    "Don't skip the final step of turning the loaf out of the pan and setting it directly on the oven rack to bake for a few minutes longer. This ensures you will obtain the characteristic thick crust that is the hallmark of this bread." —Sally Vargas, Simply Recipes Contributor

  • Classic Corned Beef and Cabbage

    Best Boiled Corned Beef and Cabbage Recipe - platter of sliced corned beef, carrots, potatoes, and cabbage sprinkled with herbs
    Sally Vargas

    "Corned beef often comes with a spice packet. For this version, I discard the packaged spices, and instead make my own blend for a more flavorful, satisfying brisket." —Sally

    Continue to 5 of 13 below

  • Irish Boxty

    Overhead view of a plate of three potato pancakes with one topped with butter next to a fork holding a bite all on a stone countertop

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Julia Gartland / Food Styling by Pearl Jones

    "To lean into the savory side and give more flavor to your potato pancakes, add some sliced scallions and/or grated cheddar cheese to the batter." —Devan Grimsrud, Simply Recipes Contributor

  • Potato Cheddar Guinness Soup

    Potato Cheddar Guinness Soup
    Elise Bauer

    "Ireland produces some of the best sharp cheddar cheeses out there. So if you have access to Irish sharp cheddar, by all means use it! You might not need to use as much as is called for in this recipe. Maybe 4 ounces instead of 6." —Elise

  • Irish Soda Bread

    Irish Soda Bread

    Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas

    "There are only a few ingredients in this soda bread recipe, so it's best if made with real buttermilk. However, there are a few buttermilk substitutions that work well and will still react with the baking soda to make the bread rise. Kefir works especially well, or you can thin yogurt to the consistency of buttermilk using plain milk." —Elise

  • Irish Lamb Stew with Bacon

    Irish-style lamb stew with vegetables.
    The Spruce

    "Cook the lamb pieces bone-in for better flavor, especially if using water instead of lamb stock. If you want, remove the bones before serving." —Elise Bauer, Simply Recipes Founder

    Continue to 9 of 13 below

  • Corned Beef and Cabbage

    Corned beef and cabbage on a plate, ready to eat
    Elise Bauer

    "when buying corned beef you have a choice between "flat cut" and "point cut." Either cut will work with these methods." —Elise

  • Slow Cooker Guinness Beef Stew

    Single serving of Slow Cooker Guinness Stew with chunky potatoes, carrots and beef
    Elise Bauer

    "Like many stews, this one is actually better the second day (and even better the third day). Leftovers can be stored for up to five days or so, and can be gently reheated on the stovetop over medium heat or in the microwave." —Elise

  • Colcannon Cakes

    A plate of colcannon cakes, ready to eat
    Elise Bauer

    "You can also add some chopped fresh parsley to the colcannon mix." —Elise

  • Caraway Soda Bread

    A plate with a loaf of caraway soda bread
    Elise Bauer

    "They key to a tender loaf? Just work the dough barely enough to bring it together. It looks like a sheep-doggy shaggy mess, but it bakes up beautifully." —Elise

    Continue to 13 of 13 below

  • Easy Shepherd's Pie

    A slice of shepherd's pie on a plate with a fork.

    Simply Recipes / Cambrea Gordon

    "For a cheesy version, sprinkle grated cheddar cheese over the top of the mashed potatoes before baking." —Elise

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