If you’re looking for the perfect dinner for entertaining guests on Saint Patrick’s Day, you’ve come to the right place for the best traditional dishes and Irish dinner recipes!
From pies to stews, fish cakes to corned beef, soup to traditional Irish potato cakes. You’re sure to find a traditional Irish dish to suit every taste!
Table of Contents
What is a Traditional Irish Dinner?
One of the most traditional Irish dinners is Irish stew. It’s commonly made with tender chunks of beef, although lamb is popular too.
Carrots, potatoes, celery, and onions join the meat in a rich, hearty broth. Guinness beer is often used for an authentic Irish taste, too!
What is a Famous Irish Meat Dish?
Meat is often used in Irish cooking, and one of the most famous meat dishes must be corned beef!
Corned beef consists of a brisket that is cured in salt before cooking. The term “corned” derives from using large grains of rock salt called “corns” used in the process.
Once the beef is cured, it’s cooked in liquid until tender and juicy. Again, Guinness beer is a popular choice for cooking!
Best Irish Dinner Recipes
The best Irish dinner recipes are below – from pies to stews to homemade Irish brown bread. These are the most wonderful Irish recipes to celebrate Irish heritage!
1. Beef and Stout Pie
Source: nourishedkitchen.com
A rich stew infused with Irish stout sits below a crisp, golden pastry crust.
Simmer pieces of beef for a texture that melts in your mouth. Yellow onion and fresh thyme provide an earthy, aromatic base for your stew.
Carrots, parsnips, and celeriac add a hint of sweetness alongside the savory taste of your pie. Beef broth and Guinness (stout) deliver a rich depth of flavor.
Cover your beef and stout stew with a buttery homemade pie crust! Pair your main meal with some traditional Irish soda bread to wow your taste buds.
2. Irish Lobster Mac and Cheese Pie
Source: all-thats-jas.com
Every mouthful of this Irish pie provides a tasty combination. Think of cheesy sauce, meaty lobster, and crisp pastry!
Your gooey cheese base packs flavor from tangy horseradish and fresh dill. Smoked cheddar adds a beautiful depth of flavor. Mix your sauce with tender cooked macaroni and lobster meat.
Cook your pie in small ramekins to make individual servings. Top your pie with a circle of puff pastry and bake until golden and crispy!
3. Instant Pot Chicken Stew
Source: organicallyaddison.com
This hearty stew is warming and cozy with a creamy broth and tender chicken. It’s perfect for those colder months!
Chunks of carrots and potatoes add texture to your stew, and tender chicken melts in your mouth! A delicious depth of flavor comes from garlic powder, oregano, onion powder, and dried thyme.
Use a cornstarch slurry to thicken your stew and produce a silky mouthfeel!
You will love this tasty fall chicken recipe for a cool autumn evening!
4. Corned Beef and Cabbage
Source: keepinglifesane.com
Make this tender corned beef and cabbage dish with simple ingredients!
Cook your beef brisket in a couple of bottles of dark beer, along with the seasoning packet. The taste this imparts is delicious! Add wedges of white cabbage towards the end of the cooking time.
5. Guinness Beef Stew
Source: whatagirleats.com
This hearty beef Guinness stew is packed with chunks of tender beef and veggies in a rich broth. Cooking it in your slow cooker makes the delicious flavors meld perfectly!
Potatoes, turnips, and carrots accompany the texture of beef in your stew. Diced onion provides an aromatic base.
Guinness adds a deep Irish taste to the broth. Tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, and Dijon mustard add to the rich depth of flavor. Fresh thyme, rosemary, and parsley go well, too!
6. Shepherds Pie
Source: numstheword.com
This tasty shepherd’s pie is a great way to get extra veggies into your diet. It’s great for kids, too!
Although it’s called a pie, there is no crust. Instead, your meat and veggies are buried under creamy mashed potatoes.
Mix yellow onion, carrots, sweet corn, and peas with ground beef for the base of your pie. Tomato paste and Worcestershire add a rich depth of flavor to your sauce.
Add a layer of shredded cheese between your ground beef mixture and mashed potato topping!
7. Irish Tacos with Potatoes Corned Beef Cabbage and Onions
Source: xoxobella.com
A clever twist on one of your favorite meals, this fusion of Irish and Mexican is delicious!
Slices of tender corned beef are the star of your tacos. Cheesy mashed potatoes, soft sliced onions, and cabbage are the perfect extras.
Coat tortilla wraps in Thousand Island dressing before toasting in a skillet. Layer your filling inside the tortillas, and fry your folded tacos until golden brown!
8. Pub Cheese
Source: keepinglifesane.com
This tasty pub cheese dip with Guinness is the ideal appetizer for your Irish-themed party!
Pepperjack and cheddar cheese are the perfect combination for this dip. Minced garlic, Worcestershire sauce, Guinness, and hot sauce offer a flavor fusion.
Pub cheese is effortless to make. Add your ingredients to a blender and blitz until they’re well combined!
9. Guinness Steak Pie
Source: cookingwithcurls.com
Rich, hearty, and comforting steak pie with Guinness is the ultimate Irish comfort food!
Chunks of tender beef are the highlight of your pie. Yellow onions, celery, and carrots are the best veggies for a traditional Irish taste.
Diced tomatoes and Guinness stout form the rich gravy. Use rosemary, thyme, and a bay leaf for added flavor. Top your pie with a buttery, flaky puff pastry crust!
10. Bangers and Mash
Source: christinascucina.com
Classic Irish bangers and mash are tasty, easy, and perfectly comforting!
Bangers are Irish sausages that pop or “bang” as they cook. Other sausages (such as Italian) won’t work for this dish! Slowly cook your bangers in a skillet while you boil the potatoes.
Mix your potatoes with butter and heavy cream for a lovely, smooth texture. Bisto gravy granules provide an authentic British taste to go with your bangers and mash!
11. Corned Venison
Source: peaktoplate.com
Corned venison braised in beer is a delicious twist on classic Irish corned beef.
Cure a venison brisket for a few days before braising until it’s soft and tender. Amber ale, yellow onion, and pickling spice impart a beautiful flavor.
Combine whole-grain mustard, honey, and whiskey to make a glaze. Baste your cooked venison and pop it in the oven until it’s lightly brown and bubbling.
Serve your corned venison with tender potatoes, carrots, and cabbage for an authentic Irish feel!
12. Slow Cooker Beef and Ale Pie
Source: recipethis.com
This slow-cooker beef and ale pie is an excellent way to use leftover stew. As you’re using leftovers, it requires little prep!
Throw in frozen peas and sweet corn to bulk your pie filling. Potatoes work well, too. Reheat your stew in the slow cooker before adding your crust.
Add a layer of puff pastry on top of your beef and ale stew. Brush it with a beaten egg so it turns golden and crispy!
13. Conwy Mussels
Source: recipezazz.com
These shellfish are packed with flavor from simple ingredients. They don’t take long to cook, either!
Steam your mussels in a large pot with white wine, shallots, and minced garlic. Add butter and fresh parsley, and shake the pot until the butter melts.
Spoon your mussels into bowls, pour the juices over them, and serve immediately!
14. Irish Rarebit
Source: christinascucina.com
Irish rarebit is a tasty twist on classic Welsh rarebit. However, this version has no beer!
Make your gooey, cheesy topping by melting Irish cheddar with milk and butter. Add extra flavor with white vinegar, English mustard, and black pepper.
The secret ingredient in your rarebit topping is chopped cornichons! Divide your cheesy mixture between four pieces of toast, and broil until golden and bubbling.
15. American Irish Beef Stew
Source: mommyevolution.com
Add wholesome root veggies to make a tasty American version of classic Irish beef stew.
Carrots, parsnips, and potatoes join tender chunks of beef in a flavorsome broth. Minced garlic, onions, and leeks offer an aromatic taste. Stir in fresh rosemary for a delicate herb flavor.
16. Irish Cod Fish Cakes
Source: irishamericanmom.com
These tasty Irish cod fish cakes are soft on the inside and golden and crunchy on the outside.
Poach your cod fillets in milk infused with onions and peppercorns. Shred them into flakes before mixing them with mashed potatoes. For flavor, stir in minced garlic, fresh parsley, salt, and pepper.
Coat your fish patties with flour, beaten egg, and breadcrumbs to form a crust. Fry your fish cakes in a skillet until they’re crispy and golden brown!
17. Crockpot Corned Beef and Cabbage
Source: recipezazz.com
This delicious Irish dish is easy to prep and delivers tender beef, cabbage, and potatoes.
Cook your corned beef brisket, potatoes, and cabbage in your crockpot. Water, apple cider vinegar, sugar, and ground pepper from your cooking liquid.
Add wedges of yellow onion to the pot to impart extra flavor. Spoon some of the “broth” over your beef before serving!
18. Irish Soda Bread
Source: thefreshcooky.com
This traditional, crusty Irish soda bread is quick and easy to make with four simple ingredients!
Baking soda is an essential ingredient in your bread – it’s your leavening agent! It reacts with the buttermilk to make your bread rise. All-purpose flour is your other ingredient.
Kosher salt helps your bread rise, too, and brings out the best flavor. Score your dough with a cross before baking, then serve it warm with Irish butter for spreading!
19. Creamy Chicken and Mushroom Stuffed Boxty
Source: irishamericanmom.com
Irish boxty is traditionally a thick flour potato pancake. This recipe combines a thin pancake with a savory chicken and mushroom filling.
Mashed potato and shredded raw potato are the primary ingredients for your pancake. Baking soda reacts with buttermilk to make a light and fluffy batter.
Pieces of cooked chicken, bacon, and mushrooms form the chunky texture for your filling. Garlic adds a beautiful flavor!
Make a creamy sauce with butter, milk, and heavy cream. Irish cheddar offers a sharp, tangy taste that is perfect in this dish. Spoon your filling onto your pancake, and fold it like a soft taco!
You might also enjoy this creamy tomato chicken skillet for dinner one night!
20. Boxty with Smoked Salmon Mustard Creme Fraiche
Source: jamjarkitchen.com
You’ll make a traditional thick boxty for this delicious recipe. It makes an ideal Irish lunch or snack!
Combine raw shredded potato, mashed potato, all-purpose flour, milk, and eggs for your batter. Chopped green onions, salt, and pepper add flavor. Fry your pancakes until golden and crispy!
Combine crème fraiche with wholegrain mustard and fresh chives for your creamy topping. Spoon it onto your warm boxtys and top it with fresh smoked salmon!
Vegetarian Irish Dinner Recipes
These are the best Irish dinner recipes to try if you follow a vegetarian diet in the best ways!
21. Vegan Irish Potato Pie
Source: thiswifecooks.com
This recipe takes a traditional Irish potato pie and makes it veggie-friendly! It’s hearty, filling, and delicious.
Mashed potatoes form the bulk of your pie. Mix your potatoes with vegan Parmesan, dried oregano, garlic, and ground black pepper for flavor. Use a vegan egg replacer to bind your pie mixture.
A layer of cornmeal on the bottom of your potato pie forms a crunchy crust!
This is one of the best meatless dinner ideas!
22. Potato Cakes
Source: thiswifecooks.com
A crunchy coating surrounds a soft and fluffy mashed potato filling!
Minced garlic and scallions add a delicious flavor to your buttery mashed potatoes. Add shredded cheddar for a gooey cheesy center!
Use panko for the best texture on the outside of your potato cakes. Fry them until they’re golden and crispy!
23. Irish Potatoes
Source: simplystacie.net
Hearty Irish potatoes are known traditionally as colcannon. You’ll never want to eat regular mashed potatoes again!
Potatoes and cabbage are the stars of this dish. Cook them with minced garlic and chicken bouillon cubes for a delicious depth of flavor.
A combination of cream cheese, butter, milk, and sour cream delivers the most creamy consistency!
24. Potato Soup
Source: brokebankvegan.com
This Irish potato soup is vegan as well as veggie-friendly. This Irish meal is rich, smooth, and creamy, with only four ingredients!
Yellow onions and celery add robust flavors to your potato soup. Blend your veggies to a smooth consistency when they’re soft.
Stir in homemade cashew cream to make your soup silky smooth. Green onions and shredded (vegan) cheddar are excellent garnishes!
25. Boiled Vegetables Dinner
Source: strengthandsunshine.com
This is a simple yet hearty veggie dinner of tender carrots, green cabbage, and red potatoes.
Boil your veggies with pickling spice and bay leaves to impart a delicious flavor! Use vegan beef-less stock for even more.
26. Irish Potato Pancakes
Source: veggiedesserts.com
Another Boxty recipe with savory Irish potato pancakes, but veggie-friendly. They’re fluffy on the inside and crisp on the outside!
Mashed potato and raw shredded potato form the bulk of your pancakes. Baking soda reacts with the buttermilk to create a light and fluffy texture.
Fry spoonfuls of your boxty batter until they’re cooked through, crisp, and golden!
27. Farmhouse Vegetable Soup
Source: cookathomemom.com
Creamy, delicious farmhouse-style soup is full of hearty veggies and lots of flavor.
The perfect veggies are carrots, onions, leeks, and celery. Potatoes add traditional Irish flavor and also thicken your soup.
Garlic, rosemary, thyme, and vegetable broth add a delicate depth of flavor. Blend your soup until creamy, or leave a few small chunks for a rustic texture!
28. Colcannon Irish Potatoes
Source: veggiedesserts.com
This traditional Irish colcannon combines creamy mashed potatoes with nutritious greens.
Mix your creamy mashed potatoes with scallion-infused milk. This adds a subtle onion flavor to your colcannon! Tender kale or green cabbage adds color and makes it an authentic dish.
29. Potato Farls
Source: veggiedesserts.com
Potato farls are great for using leftover mashed potatoes! However, making them for this recipe doesn’t require much effort.
Mix your mashed potatoes with all-purpose flour to form a farl dough. Baking powder produces a fluffy texture on the inside.
Fry your farls until they’re cooked in the center and golden on the outside!
30. Irish Vegetable Soup
Source: cookingchatfood.com
This Irish soup is comforting, creamy, and packed with wholesome veggies.
The ideal veggies for your soup are leeks, yellow onions, carrots, and potatoes. Add flavor with minced garlic, vegetable broth, dried rosemary, and parsley.
Sprinkle shredded Irish cheddar on your blended soup for a gooey topping!
31. Plant-Based Irish Stew
Source: thiswifecooks.com
Make this flavorsome Irish stew with simple ingredients and a Guinness beer broth.
Yellow onion, baby potatoes, and carrots deliver a chunky texture to your stew. A rich taste comes from Guinness, tomato paste, and vegan Worcestershire sauce.
Garlic, dried thyme, salt, and black pepper add extra flavor. Garnish your stew with fresh chopped parsley before serving.
32. Vegan Shepherds Pie
Source: bestservedvegan.com
Traditional shepherd’s pie gets a vegan twist with a meaty texture from Beyond Beef!
Hearty ingredients in your shepherd’s pie include Yukon gold potatoes, yellow onion, and carrots. Throw in some frozen peas, too! These all go well with Beyond Beef.
A rich base flavor comes from minced garlic, Worcestershire sauce, and tomato paste.
Irish Christmas Dinner Ideas
Enjoy the festive season in the Irish way with these Christmas dinner ideas!
33. Corned Beef Hash Au Gratin
Source: xoxobella.com
Layers of tender corned beef and potatoes make this comforting, cheesy casserole.
Sliced yellow onion and pickling spice add an extra layer of flavor to your gratin. Layer your ingredients with shredded pepper jack cheese for a gooey, chewy texture!
Canned mushroom soup, hot sauce, and Worcestershire sauce meld to deliver a creamy texture and rich flavor. Garnish with fresh herbs before serving!
34. Air Fryer Corned Beef
Source: carefreemermaid.com
Corned beef cooked in the air fryer is flavorsome, juicy, and tender. It’s also ready in only one hour!
Glaze your beef brisket with Dijon, apple cider vinegar, and garlic powder. Brown sugar offers sweetness and aids the caramelization of the beef!
Sprinkle pickling spice over the glazed brisket and air fry until cooked throughout. Traditional cabbage is the perfect pairing for this Irish corned beef!
This is one of the best meat recipes for dinner and is sure to become a family favorite!
35. Fishermans Pie
Source: cookingwithcurls.com
Tender poached white fish pie is hearty, delicious, and full of different tastes and textures.
Cod is ideal for fisherman’s pie. However, haddock or halibut work well, too. To infuse flavor, poach your fish in the oven with white wine and dried dill.
Add a second layer to your pie with sautéed mushrooms and shrimp. Use your poaching liquid to create a flavorsome sauce – heavy cream delivers a velvety consistency!
Top your fish pie with mashed potato and bake until golden brown and turning crispy on top.
Love seafood? Check out these other yummy shrimp recipes for dinner!
36. Guinness Braised Short Ribs
Source: chezlalonde.com
Beef short ribs are braised in Irish beer for a texture that melts in your mouth!
Your ribs have a long prep and cook time, but the result is worth the wait! Dry brine your short ribs with salt before cooking. Leave them overnight for the best result.
Yellow onion, minced garlic, shallot, carrot, and celery provide the base for the sauce. Guinness adds a rich depth of flavor and authentic Irish taste. Add liquid smoke to take your ribs to the next level!
37. Irish Cottage Pie
Source: askchefdennis.com
Cottage pie is a variation of traditional shepherd’s pie. Instead, you’ll use ground beef rather than lamb for your rich, meaty filling.
Carrots and peas are the most common veggies for cottage pie. However, you can use veggies to your taste. Mushrooms, spinach, or sweet corn are great choices.
Minced garlic and yellow onion offer an aromatic flavor to your pie. Complement these with fresh parsley, thyme, and rosemary. Tomato paste and Worcestershire sauce add richness, too.
Your cottage pie is complete with creamy mashed potatoes and melted cheddar!
38. Irish Charcuterie Board
Source: thepurplepumpkinblog.co.uk
This hearty and delicious charcuterie board is a great dinner table centerpiece. It’s full of traditional Irish food and green color!
The perfect meaty elements for your board are corned beef and Irish sausages. Serve your sausages on a bed of creamy mashed potatoes and onion gravy. There you have bangers and mash!
Green peas, roasted baby potatoes, pickled cabbage, and crunchy baby carrots are ideal veggies. Add sliced English cucumber and cornichons, too.
A savory charcuterie board isn’t complete without a bread element. Soft pretzels are the perfect choice! Finish your board with a pot of Dijon mustard for dipping all the yummy food!
39. Crockpot Beef Stew
Source: acedarspoon.com
Tender veggies join melt-in-the-mouth pieces of beef in this rich and hearty dish.
An aromatic combination of onions, celery, and garlic form the base of your stew. Canned tomatoes add richness to beef broth, while mustard powder adds a kick of heat.
Dried thyme, fresh rosemary, and bay leaves provide a delicate herb flavor. Paprika offers a smoky taste that works well with beef.
40. Lamb Stew
Source: ifoodreal.com
Rustic lamb stew has chunks of tender meat and hearty vegetables in a delicious broth.
Lamb’s shoulder is the best cut for this stew. It has lots of fat, resulting in tender and juicy meat after slow cooking! Baby potatoes, celery, carrots, onions, and mushrooms are ideal veggies.
Aromatic dried oregano, thyme, and bay leaves offer a delicate herb taste. Tomato paste, red wine, and Worcestershire sauce add a rich depth of flavor to your broth.
41. Crockpot Corned Beef
Source: whatagirleats.com
Whiskey-glazed tender corned beef is the perfect centerpiece for your Irish Christmas dinner!
Cook your corned beef in a crockpot with the pickling spices and some water. Make a glaze with brown sugar, Dijon, molasses, and Irish whiskey.
Once finished in the slow cooker, brush on the glaze and cook briefly in the oven to infuse the meat!