Though we know a lot of homes will be having corned beef for their St Patrick’s Day dinner, there are plenty of people (like me) who would rather make something (anything) else to serve on the 17th.
So, my fellow corned-beef avoiders: Here are over 12 ideas for your St. Patrick’s Day dinner table! These recipes incorporate the flavors of the Emerald Isle with tips and variations if you’re feeding picky kids too. We’ve even thrown in a couple of “just for fun” dinner ideas for St. Patrick’s Day that go beyond simply adding large amounts of green food coloring to the dish.
Top photos: Guinness Beef Stew from Recipe Tin Eats and Pesto-covered Shamrock pizza from Fork and Beans.
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Irish soups and stews for St. Patrick’s Day
It’s still pretty cold for many of us, so a bowl of this rich Guinness Beef Stew from Recipe Tin Eats would definitely hit the spot (shown in top photo). Made on the stove or in the crockpot, we’d serve this with Irish soda bread or over creamy mashed potatoes, as shown above. And, don’t worry, the alcohol in the Guinness beer cooks away, leaving only flavor behind.
Not a meat eater? The vegan Irish stew from It Doesn’t Taste Like Chicken combines the richness of Guinness beer with veggies and spices. Check out the tips for making the stew a little sweeter if your kids prefer it that way.
Related: No magic required: 6 fun Lucky Charms treats for St. Patrick’s Day
Ireland has access to amazing seafood, and this authentic–and kid approved!–“Best of Ireland” seafood chowder from Baby Led Feeding incorporates a mix of seafood in a creamy broth. We would love to serve it dressed up for the holiday in this avocado-hued Dutch oven from Lodge (available on Amazon).
If your family prefers chicken, this Guinness Chicken Stew from Dizzy Busy and Hungry simmers in a crockpot all day so that you only have to scoop and serve at dinnertime. Love all the shortcuts listed in case you want to shave off a few minutes of prep time.
And this Dublin Coddle, a stew made with Irish bangers, bacon, potatoes, and onions, from Irish American Mom, varies a bit from the traditional by browning the sausages slightly first. We approve.
Baked Irish dinners for St. Patrick’s Day
Irish cheddar mashed potatoes top this Easy Rustic Shepherd’s Pie from Little Spice Jar which uses ground lamb for a traditional base, though ground beef will work well too.
For non-meat eaters, we think the Vegetarian Shepherds Pie from Well Plated looks so flavorful and filling. With just a few tweaks, you can easily make this vegan.
Kids and adults will gobble up these “leprechaun-sized” Mini Shepherd Pies from Foxes Love Lemons which fit a whole lot of flavor into a little bite. These would also be a great finger-food for any St. Patrick’s Day party you may be throwing or attending. Sláinte!
Save me a spot at the table for a plate of this Irish Fish Pie from Lana’s Cooking; The combination of salmon and cod in a cheese sauce topped with mashed potatoes sounds incredible. Be sure to check out the tips to save yourself some prep time or for variations that your family may love.
Potato-centered side dishes for St. Patrick’s Day
Colcannon is traditionally made with cabbage though we love the vibrant green addition of kale in this Kale Colcannon recipe from Cookie and Kate. Serve alongside Irish “bangers” for a traditional bangers-and-mash meal, or with chicken nuggets if that is really what your kids will eat. We understand.
A combo of mashed and grated potatoes become this flavorful potato pancake with this Boxty recipe from Seasons and Suppers. Create little pancakes that kids can stack into a tower on their plate, or fry up one large Boxty in your cast iron skillet and cut in wedges as shown above.
Just-for-fun St. Patrick’s Day dinners
Eat, drink, and be merry with this St. Patrick’s Day Snack Board from The BakerMama. Packed with Irish sausages, cheeses like Kerrygold Dubliner, and Irish soda bread, the real star is that cheesy green clover in the middle of the board. Visit the post for an entire shopping list as well as step-by-step directions for how to get your board to look as amazing as the one above. No, luck of the Irish needed.
Related: Easy ways to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with the kids.
Absolutely not a traditional Irish meal, but we couldn’t resist this this pesto-covered Shamrock pizza that shows off a rainbow of veggies (shown in top photo). Follow the recipe exactly as written on Fork and Beans, or customize with toppings you know your entire family will eat.
