25 Perfect St. Patrick's Day Recipes

By Angela Law
Updated February 20, 2020
Deck yourself out in green and celebrate everything Irish with our best St. Patrick's Day dinner, dessert, and drink recipes.
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Kirsten Francis

A classic St. Patrick's Day feast involves corned beef and cabbage—and maybe a swig or two of beer—but there are many other delicious recipes that can be eaten on March 17, too. Whether your family has been observing the holiday for generations or you just love an excuse to entertain friends, a St. Patrick's Day celebration is always a good idea, and every good party needs equally good food. This collection of recipes includes a wide array of classic dishes to make for your St. Patrick's Day festivities, plus a few more unexpected options, like the Stout Shandy pictured here.

If you're looking for an authentically Irish meal, you might be surprised to hear that corned beef is actually the least popular choice for a St. Patrick's Day meal in Ireland. According to a historical account from Smithsonian Magazine, pork and bacon were far more popular (and less expensive) in Ireland until the late 18th century, when English farmers flooded the country with cattle and a newfound taste for beef. Beef has since become a staple in St. Patrick's Day recipes stateside, with everything from Irish Stew to corned beef earning their spots on holiday tables. We even have a recipe for Instant Pot Corned Beef, which is perfect for those who like their Irish feast faster.

Whether you choose to focus on a hearty main or serve a bunch of appetizers, we're walking you through our best recipes for St. Patrick's Day. Ahead, 25 of our best recipes for the holiday, including everything from a fun spin on classic Irish soda bread to tasty, unexpected St. Patrick's Day cocktails. And because we know that no feast is complete without a sweet treat, we've also included a handful of our very best St. Patrick's Day desserts, too.

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Colcannon Shepherd's Pie

John Dolan
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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.

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Irish Soda Scones

Raymond Hom
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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.

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Chocolate-Stout Cupcakes

Chelsea Cavanaugh
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Who needs four-leaf clovers when you have these treats? Chocolate cupcakes, mixed with Guinness beer 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.

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Homemade Corned Beef with Vegetables

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

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Treacle Brown Bread

Martyna Szczesna
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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.

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Guinness Pie

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

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Bangers and Mash

Martyna Szczesna
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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.

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Cucumber-Mint Buttermilk Soup

Yuki Sugiura
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Looking for an easy, elegant St. Patrick's Day starter? Serve this no-cook, make-ahead cold soup that offers a taste of early spring.

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Scones with Pears, Irish Cheddar, and Honey

Yuki Sugiura
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Just the thing for a St. Patrick's Day brunch, slices of ripe pear and sharp Irish cheddar are sandwiched between caraway-and currant-studded buttermilk scones, and the whole thing is drizzled with honey.

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Stout-Braised Lamb

Yuki Sugiura
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The key to super flavorful lamb? Getting a nice sear on it before braising. Serve with store-bought tomato jam or fruit chutney alongside our Simple Watercress Salad and Roasted Root Vegetables and Leeks.

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Green Crudites with Green Goddess Dip

Aaron Dyer
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Lightly blanched asparagus, cauliflower, and snap peas work well with raw produce such as celery and sliced cucumbers. The green goddess dip features creamy avocado, buttermilk, and finely chopped herbs.

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Rye Soda Bread

Johnny Miller
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You only need five ingredients to put this next-level soda bread together: all-purpose flour, rye flour, salt, baking soda, and buttermilk. It makes a great canvas for everything from orange marmalade and Irish butter to smoked trout and farmhouse cheeses.

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Stout Eggnog

Bryan Gardner
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Eggnog isn't just for Christmas. Serve this stout version with freshly whipped cream and chocolate shavings as a St. Patrick's Day party treat.

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Chewy Irish-Coffee Blondies

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Here's everything you love about Irish coffee in one spectacular treat. Freshly ground coffee amps up an otherwise classic blondie batter, while whiskey adds extra oomph to the sugar glaze.

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Irish Beef and Stout Stew

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

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Irish Soda Bread

Burcu Avsar
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This traditional bread, studded with caraway seeds and raisins, makes a delicious St. Patrick's Day breakfast or a fine accompaniment to dinner. Our pre-portioned version makes sharing easy.

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Irish Coffee

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Whiskey-spiked coffee is a must for St. Patrick's Day. Be sure to serve yours with plenty of whipped cream.

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Irish Brown Soda Bread

Aaron Dyer
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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.

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Irish Coffee Cupcakes

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What's better than coffee spiked with whiskey? Espresso-infused cupcakes topped with billowy, whiskey-kissed whipped-cream frosting. Bottoms up.

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Traditional Irish Bacon, Cabbage, and Parsley Sauce

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

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Irish Beef Hand Pies

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

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Colcannon

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

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Cheddar-Topped Shepherd's Pie

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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.

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Sugar Cookies with Clovers

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

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By Angela Law