25 Best Irish Side Dishes to Complete Your St. Patrick's Day Feast
Potatoes and cabbage are just the beginning.
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When you think of a traditional Irish meal, the first thing that comes to mind might be corned beef—and for good reason! The classic main course is a salty, savory, tender delight! It also happens to make a mean corned beef sandwich. But just as delicious as corned beef are the many Irish side dishes that you can enjoy alongside it.
On the traditional side of things, there's colcannon (a creamy mashed potato dish that's loaded with greens). Otherwise, you can opt for something a little more out-of-the-box, like Irish-inspired nachos or the homemade scones topped with Irish cheddar. There's also plenty of green-colored foods like Ree Drummond's childhood recipe for pea salad! It's also a fun way to re-introduce those spring vegetables to your kitchen.
Of course, it wouldn't be St. Patrick's Day without a few potato side dishes. Here, you'll find them baked, mashed, and even air fried. Or try the Irish potato pancakes (also known as Boxty) for another crispy option. Along with potatoes, many Irish recipes are made with cabbage like crispy fried cabbage and bacon, homemade sauerkraut, and easy roasted cabbage wedges. Whether you serve them up with slow cooker corned beef, chicken, or fish, you'll feel lucky to have these Irish side dishes on the table.
Irish Brown Bread
There's hardly a side more versatile than a loaf of Irish brown bread. Slather a few slices in butter, toast it with some Irish cheddar, or dunk your piece in a bowl of stew to sop up so much flavor. Either way, your feast won't be complete without it.
Get Ree's Irish Brown Bread recipe.
Potato Skins
So many potato recipes to plate up on St. Patrick's Day! This one takes potato skins, then loads them up with toppings such as cheddar cheese, bacon, sour cream, and green onion. But really, you can add whatever you want!
Get Ree's Potato Skins recipe.
Cabbage Soup
Packed with healthy and flavorful veggies like onions, carrots, garlic, several cans of white beans, and, of course, cabbage, you'll want to slurp this soup right up.
Get the Cabbage Soup recipe.
Reuben Egg Rolls
Everything you love about the Reuben sandwich comes together in these crispy egg rolls! Tender corned beef, tangy sauerkraut, and melty Swiss cheese all fried up, then complete with a Russian dressing for dipping.
Get the Reuben Egg Rolls recipe.
Fried Cabbage
Bacon is the secret to making this fried cabbage simply irresistible. Not only does thick-cut bacon give the side dish some crispy texture, but the cabbage is actually cooked in the bacon drippings to really add more of that bacon flavor.
Get the Fried Cabbage recipe.
Mashed Potato Pancakes
Smooth and cheesy on the inside and crispy on the outside, these potato pancakes are similar to Boxty, and a feast for the senses! You can serve them up with smoked salmon, corned beef, or simply a bowl of sour cream for dipping.
Get the Mashed Potato Pancakes recipe.
Creamed Peas
You only need 15 minutes to whip up this classic creamy dish. Just grab a can of those crispy fried onions from the supermarket and your whole family will be doing an Irish jig!
Get the Creamed Peas recipe.
Cabbage and Sausage
Smoked sausage meets tender cabbage in this comforting dish. We love the idea of adding a dollop of grainy mustard or sour cream (or both) to bring the whole skillet together.
Get the Cabbage and Sausage recipe.
Candied Carrots
With spring right around the corner, these bright orange carrots will be a sweet reminder of what's to come! Add lots of fresh chopped parsley leaves on top to give the dish another burst of flavor and a pop of green!
Get the Candied Carrots recipe.
Potato Rolls
Irish potatoes take on a whole new meaning when baked into these buttery, soft dinner rolls. If you have any extras, you can use them to make corned beef sliders the next day.
Get the Potato Rolls recipe.
Crock-Pot Scalloped Potatoes
Potatoes are comforting on their own, but add a cream, Gruyère, and sharp white Cheddar sauce and they become a decadent delight! Making them in a slow cooker means you can spend more time celebrating with friends and family.
Get the Crock-Pot Scalloped Potatoes recipe.
Jalapeño-Cheddar Scones
This recipe takes traditional Irish foods, like scones and Cheddar, and adds a spicy kick with an unexpected ingredient: jalapeño peppers! It would be perfect alongside an Irish beef stew.
Get Ree's Jalapeño-Cheddar Scones recipe.
Colcannon
Mashed potato fans, this one's for you! The traditional Irish dish combines creamy mashed potatoes with tender, buttery cabbage or kale and green onions for a pop of flavor.
Get the Colcannon recipe.
Pea Salad
Ree says this dish "will forever be etched in my comfort food memory" and it's easy to see why. It's creamy, fresh, and loaded with bacon and cheese.
Get Ree's Pea Salad recipe.
Irish Soda Bread
This quick bread has a mild, tangy flavor, similar to biscuits. So it's just as delicious as a side dish for dinner as it is for breakfast or dessert. In fact, it would be perfect alongside a hearty beef stew.
Get the Irish Soda Bread recipe.
Air Fryer Potatoes
These crispy potatoes go with just about any main course, whether it's beef, chicken, or pork. Plus, they take less than 30 minutes to make!
Get the Air Fryer Potatoes recipe.
Edna Mae's Escalloped Cabbage
This creamy cabbage casserole is cheesy and satisfying with a hint of spice thanks to the green jalapeño peppers. It makes a good amount of cheese sauce so you might want to have some bread for dipping.
Get the Edna Mae's Escalloped Cabbage recipe.
Beer Bread
You only need 4 ingredients to make this fluffy, tender bread! The beer gives it a malty, yeasty flavor that's not overly strong.
Get the Beer Bread recipe.
Cheddar Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes
There are tons of easy melting cheeses that you can use for mashed potatoes, but on St. Patrick's Day, look for a sharp white Irish Cheddar.
Get Ree's Cheddar Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes recipe.
Irish Nachos
While it might not be traditional, this Irish potato recipe is delicious nonetheless. And it's a fun addition to any St. Paddy's Day party.
Get the Irish Nachos recipe.
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