Introduction
Irish holiday cooking is all about comfort, tradition, and sharing food that feels familiar and grounding. These recipes have been passed down through generations, showing up on tables during Christmas, Easter, and family gatherings throughout the year. From hearty mains to simple bakes and classic sweets, this collection brings together dishes that are practical, filling, and full of warmth. Each recipe is worth saving for celebrations both big and small.
1. Traditional Irish Soda Bread
Irish soda bread is simple, sturdy, and deeply tied to holiday tables. It relies on basic pantry ingredients and comes together quickly without yeast. The crust bakes crisp while the inside stays soft and tender. It pairs well with both sweet and savory dishes. A timeless staple for any Irish celebration.
Ingredients
- All-purpose flour: 450 g
- Baking soda: 1 tsp
- Salt: 1 tsp
- Buttermilk: 360 ml
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 200°C (400°F).
- Mix dry ingredients in a bowl.
- Stir in buttermilk until dough forms.
- Shape into round loaf.
- Bake 35–40 minutes.
How to Serve It
Slice thick while warm.
Serve with butter.
Pair with soups or stews.
Wrap leftovers tightly.
Best eaten within two days.
2. Irish Beef and Guinness Stew
This stew is slow-cooked and deeply comforting. Guinness adds richness and depth without bitterness. The beef becomes tender while vegetables soak up flavor. It’s a centerpiece dish during colder holidays. Always better the next day.
Ingredients
- Beef chuck: 900 g
- Guinness stout: 500 ml
- Potatoes: 500 g
- Carrots: 300 g
- Onion: 1 large
Instructions
- Brown beef in pot.
- Add vegetables and stout.
- Simmer gently for 2½ hours.
- Stir occasionally.
- Season before serving.
How to Serve It
Serve hot in deep bowls.
Add soda bread on side.
Garnish with parsley.
Good for leftovers.
Ideal for winter meals.
3. Colcannon
Colcannon is a comforting mash traditionally served at holidays. Potatoes and greens come together with butter for a rich side dish. It’s filling without being heavy. Often served with meats or sausages. Simple and deeply familiar.
Ingredients
- Potatoes: 1 kg
- Cabbage: 300 g
- Butter: 120 g
- Milk: 180 ml
Instructions
- Boil potatoes until tender.
- Cook cabbage until soft.
- Mash potatoes with butter and milk.
- Stir in cabbage.
- Season and serve warm.
How to Serve It
Make a butter well on top.
Serve with sausages.
Good with roasts.
Keep warm before serving.
Comforting holiday side.
4. Boxty (Irish Potato Pancakes)
Boxty combines mashed and grated potatoes into crisp pancakes. The outside browns beautifully while the inside stays soft. Often served during festive breakfasts. Works as both main and side. A classic Irish potato dish.
Ingredients
- Potatoes, grated: 500 g
- Potatoes, mashed: 250 g
- Flour: 120 g
- Milk: 180 ml
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients.
- Heat skillet over medium.
- Spoon batter into pan.
- Cook until golden both sides.
- Serve hot.
How to Serve It
Serve with butter.
Add sour cream if liked.
Great for brunch.
Best fresh from pan.
Pairs with smoked salmon.
5. Irish Roast Chicken with Herbs
A simple roast chicken anchors many Irish holiday meals. Herbs and butter keep the meat juicy and flavorful. The skin roasts crisp and golden. Easy to prepare and widely loved. A reliable celebration dish.
Ingredients
- Whole chicken: 1.8 kg
- Butter: 100 g
- Fresh herbs: 2 tbsp
- Potatoes: 600 g
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 190°C (375°F).
- Rub chicken with butter and herbs.
- Roast 1 hour 30 minutes.
- Rest before carving.
- Serve hot.
How to Serve It
Serve with roast potatoes.
Use pan juices as gravy.
Slice at table.
Great for family meals.
Save leftovers for sandwiches.
6. Champ
Champ is mashed potatoes enriched with milk and scallions. It’s smooth, mild, and comforting. Often served during festive dinners. Works with meats and stews alike. Simple and familiar.
Ingredients
- Potatoes: 1 kg
- Scallions: 6
- Milk: 240 ml
- Butter: 80 g
Instructions
- Boil potatoes until tender.
- Warm milk with scallions.
- Mash potatoes with butter.
- Stir in milk mixture.
- Serve warm.
How to Serve It
Add butter on top.
Serve with sausages.
Keep warm until serving.
Comforting side dish.
Good for leftovers.
7. Irish Barmbrack
Barmbrack is a lightly sweet fruit bread tied to Irish holidays. It’s soaked in tea and baked into a dense loaf. Often sliced and buttered. Traditionally enjoyed with tea. A festive baking classic.
Ingredients
- Mixed dried fruit: 300 g
- Strong tea: 300 ml
- Flour: 450 g
- Sugar: 100 g
Instructions
- Soak fruit in tea overnight.
- Preheat oven to 170°C (340°F).
- Mix all ingredients.
- Bake 75 minutes.
- Cool before slicing.
How to Serve It
Slice thick.
Spread with butter.
Serve with tea.
Wrap tightly to store.
Improves after one day.
8. Irish Sausages and Mash
This dish is hearty and filling. Sausages are browned and served over mash. Gravy ties everything together. Common at holiday dinners. Simple and satisfying.
Ingredients
- Irish sausages: 8
- Potatoes: 1 kg
- Onion gravy: 400 ml
Instructions
- Cook sausages until browned.
- Prepare mashed potatoes.
- Heat gravy.
- Assemble plates.
- Serve hot.
How to Serve It
Pour gravy generously.
Add peas if desired.
Serve immediately.
Great cold-weather meal.
Easy crowd-pleaser.
9. Irish Lamb Stew
Irish lamb stew is slow-cooked and comforting, often served during holidays and family gatherings. The lamb becomes tender while vegetables absorb the savory broth. It’s simple, filling, and deeply traditional. Best enjoyed on cold days. A staple of Irish home cooking.
Ingredients
- Lamb shoulder, cubed: 1 kg
- Potatoes: 600 g
- Carrots: 300 g
- Onion: 1 large
- Water or stock: 1 liter
Instructions
- Brown lamb in large pot.
- Add vegetables and liquid.
- Bring to gentle boil.
- Simmer 2 hours until tender.
- Season before serving.
How to Serve It
Serve hot in bowls.
Add soda bread on side.
Garnish with parsley.
Great for leftovers.
Comforting winter meal.
10. Irish Brown Bread
Irish brown bread is denser than soda bread and slightly nutty. It’s made with wholemeal flour and buttermilk. Often served during holidays with butter. Keeps well for several days. A daily staple on Irish tables.
Ingredients
- Wholemeal flour: 450 g
- Baking soda: 1 tsp
- Salt: 1 tsp
- Buttermilk: 360 ml
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 200°C (400°F).
- Mix dry ingredients.
- Stir in buttermilk.
- Shape loaf.
- Bake 40 minutes.
How to Serve It
Slice thick.
Serve with butter.
Pair with soups.
Wrap to store.
Great toasted next day.
11. Corned Beef and Cabbage
This dish is often served during Irish holidays abroad and family gatherings. The beef cooks until tender and salty. Cabbage absorbs flavor beautifully. Simple and filling. A familiar celebration meal.
Ingredients
- Corned beef brisket: 1.2 kg
- Cabbage: 1 large
- Potatoes: 600 g
Instructions
- Simmer beef 2½ hours.
- Add potatoes last 30 minutes.
- Add cabbage final 15 minutes.
- Rest beef before slicing.
- Serve warm.
How to Serve It
Slice across grain.
Serve with mustard.
Add buttered cabbage.
Best served hot.
Classic holiday plate.
12. Shepherd’s Pie
Shepherd’s pie layers minced lamb and vegetables beneath mashed potatoes. It’s baked until golden and comforting. Often made ahead for holidays. Easy to serve to a crowd. Deeply familiar and filling.
Ingredients
- Minced lamb: 750 g
- Onion: 1
- Carrots: 200 g
- Mashed potatoes: 1 kg
Instructions
- Cook lamb with vegetables.
- Spread in baking dish.
- Top with mashed potatoes.
- Bake at 190°C for 35 minutes.
- Rest before serving.
How to Serve It
Serve hot from dish.
Add gravy if desired.
Great for families.
Keeps well.
Good reheated.
13. Irish Potato Farls
Potato farls are pan-fried and lightly crisp. Made from mashed potatoes and flour. Common during festive breakfasts. Simple and comforting. Best served warm.
Ingredients
- Mashed potatoes: 500 g
- Flour: 150 g
- Butter: 40 g
Instructions
- Mix potatoes and flour.
- Roll and cut into triangles.
- Fry in butter until golden.
- Flip once.
- Serve hot.
How to Serve It
Serve with butter.
Add eggs if desired.
Great for breakfast.
Eat immediately.
Traditional morning dish.
14. Irish Ham with Parsley Sauce
This dish is often served at Christmas and Easter. The ham is gently boiled and sliced. Parsley sauce adds freshness. Simple but festive. A long-standing holiday favorite.
Ingredients
- Cured ham: 1.5 kg
- Milk: 500 ml
- Butter: 50 g
- Parsley: 3 tbsp
Instructions
- Boil ham gently 2 hours.
- Rest and slice.
- Prepare parsley sauce separately.
- Heat gently.
- Serve warm.
How to Serve It
Slice thick.
Pour sauce on top.
Serve with potatoes.
Good cold next day.
Holiday centerpiece.
15. Dublin Coddle
Dublin coddle is a slow-simmered dish traditionally eaten on holidays. Sausages and bacon cook gently with potatoes. Mild and comforting. Best enjoyed warm. A regional classic.
Ingredients
- Pork sausages: 6
- Bacon rashers: 200 g
- Potatoes: 700 g
- Onion: 2
Instructions
- Layer ingredients in pot.
- Add water to cover.
- Simmer gently 2 hours.
- Do not boil hard.
- Serve hot.
How to Serve It
Serve with soda bread.
Eat from deep bowls.
Comforting meal.
Good reheated.
Best on cold days.
16. Irish Oat Porridge
Irish porridge is simple and filling. Made with oats and water or milk. Often served during holiday mornings. Comforting and hearty. Keeps you full for hours.
Ingredients
- Steel-cut oats: 100 g
- Water: 750 ml
- Salt: pinch
Instructions
- Bring water to boil.
- Add oats and salt.
- Simmer 25 minutes.
- Stir often.
- Serve hot.
How to Serve It
Add butter on top.
Sweeten if desired.
Serve warm.
Good winter breakfast.
Very filling.
17. Irish Apple Cake
Irish apple cake is lightly sweet and spiced. Apples keep it moist. Often served with custard. A popular holiday dessert. Simple and comforting.
Ingredients
- Apples, sliced: 600 g
- Flour: 300 g
- Sugar: 180 g
- Butter: 150 g
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180°C.
- Mix batter.
- Fold in apples.
- Bake 50 minutes.
- Cool slightly.
How to Serve It
Serve warm.
Add custard.
Dust with sugar.
Great with tea.
Stores well.
18. Irish Custard Sauce
Custard sauce is often served with Irish desserts. Smooth and rich. Adds warmth and sweetness. Simple to prepare. A holiday essential.
Ingredients
- Milk: 500 ml
- Egg yolks: 4
- Sugar: 80 g
- Vanilla: 1 tsp
Instructions
- Heat milk gently.
- Whisk yolks and sugar.
- Combine slowly.
- Cook until thick.
- Do not boil.
How to Serve It
Serve warm.
Pour over cakes.
Stir gently.
Best fresh.
Holiday dessert staple.
19. Irish Shortbread
Irish shortbread is buttery and crumbly. Often baked for holidays. Uses few ingredients. Keeps well. Great with tea.
Ingredients
- Butter: 250 g
- Flour: 350 g
- Sugar: 100 g
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 160°C.
- Cream butter and sugar.
- Mix in flour.
- Bake 40 minutes.
- Cool fully.
How to Serve It
Serve with tea.
Cut into fingers.
Store airtight.
Great gift bake.
Classic treat.
20. Irish Tea Brack
Tea brack is soaked in tea and baked. Dense and lightly sweet. Served during holidays. Often buttered. A traditional favorite.
Ingredients
- Dried fruit: 300 g
- Hot tea: 300 ml
- Flour: 450 g
- Sugar: 100 g
Instructions
- Soak fruit overnight.
- Mix all ingredients.
- Bake at 170°C for 70 minutes.
- Cool fully.
- Slice thick.
How to Serve It
Butter slices.
Serve with tea.
Wrap to store.
Better next day.
Holiday classic.
21. Irish Cream Chocolate Cake
This cake is rich and moist. Often baked for celebrations. Chocolate flavor stands out. Simple but festive. Loved by guests.
Ingredients
- Flour: 300 g
- Cocoa powder: 60 g
- Sugar: 250 g
- Eggs: 3
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180°C.
- Mix batter.
- Bake 45 minutes.
- Cool before frosting.
- Slice to serve.
How to Serve It
Add chocolate frosting.
Serve with cream.
Good for parties.
Keeps well.
Rich dessert.
22. Irish Boiled Bacon and Cabbage
A traditional meal served at holidays. Bacon is simmered slowly. Cabbage absorbs flavor. Simple and filling. A classic table dish.
Ingredients
- Bacon joint: 1.3 kg
- Cabbage: 1
- Potatoes: 700 g
Instructions
- Boil bacon gently 2 hours.
- Add vegetables near end.
- Rest meat.
- Slice thick.
- Serve hot.
How to Serve It
Add parsley sauce.
Serve warm.
Classic pairing.
Good leftovers.
Comfort food.
23. Irish Christmas Pudding
This pudding is rich and dense. Packed with fruit and spices. Traditionally steamed. Served during Christmas. Deeply traditional.
Ingredients
- Mixed dried fruit: 500 g
- Flour: 150 g
- Sugar: 150 g
- Eggs: 2
Instructions
- Mix ingredients.
- Steam 4 hours.
- Cool and store.
- Reheat to serve.
- Slice carefully.
How to Serve It
Serve warm.
Add custard.
Holiday dessert.
Rich flavor.
Small portions.
24. Irish Roast Potatoes
Roast potatoes appear at every holiday meal. Crisp outside, soft inside. Simple seasoning. Always popular. Easy to prepare.
Ingredients
- Potatoes: 1.2 kg
- Oil: 4 tbsp
- Salt: to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 200°C.
- Parboil potatoes.
- Roast 45 minutes.
- Turn once.
- Season well.
How to Serve It
Serve hot.
Add gravy.
Pair with roasts.
Crisp texture.
Holiday essential.
25. Irish Seafood Chowder
Seafood chowder is rich and comforting. Often served during holidays near the coast. Creamy but balanced. Filling and warm.
Ingredients
- Mixed seafood: 600 g
- Potatoes: 400 g
- Milk: 500 ml
- Cream: 200 ml
Instructions
- Cook potatoes until soft.
- Add seafood.
- Pour in milk and cream.
- Simmer gently.
- Serve hot.
How to Serve It
Serve with brown bread.
Add herbs.
Eat fresh.
Comforting meal.
Best warm.
26. Irish Oat Cookies
These cookies are simple and hearty. Oats add texture. Often baked for holidays. Easy to store. Good with tea.
Ingredients
- Oats: 200 g
- Flour: 150 g
- Butter: 120 g
- Sugar: 120 g
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180°C.
- Mix dough.
- Scoop onto tray.
- Bake 15 minutes.
- Cool fully.
How to Serve It
Serve with tea.
Store airtight.
Good snack.
Easy bake.
Family favorite.
27. Irish Rice Pudding
Rice pudding is soft and comforting. Often served warm. Lightly sweet. Popular during holidays. Simple ingredients.
Ingredients
- Rice: 100 g
- Milk: 1 liter
- Sugar: 80 g
Instructions
- Simmer rice and milk slowly.
- Stir often.
- Cook 40 minutes.
- Sweeten.
- Serve warm.
How to Serve It
Sprinkle cinnamon.
Serve warm.
Comfort dessert.
Good for kids.
Simple treat.
28. Irish Buttered Carrots
Buttered carrots are a classic side dish. Simple and lightly sweet. Served with roasts. Easy and reliable.
Ingredients
- Carrots: 600 g
- Butter: 60 g
- Salt: pinch
Instructions
- Boil carrots until tender.
- Drain well.
- Toss with butter.
- Season lightly.
- Serve warm.
How to Serve It
Serve alongside roasts.
Keep warm.
Simple side.
Bright color.
Holiday plate staple.
29. Irish Tea and Biscuit Plate
Ending a holiday meal with tea and biscuits is traditional. Simple and comforting. Encourages conversation. A familiar close to celebrations.
Ingredients
- Assorted biscuits: 1 plate
- Hot tea: as needed
Instructions
- Brew tea.
- Arrange biscuits.
- Serve immediately.
How to Serve It
Serve warm tea.
Offer variety of biscuits.
Relaxed ending.
Perfect after meals.
Classic Irish tradition.
Conclusion
These 29 traditional Irish holiday recipes reflect the heart of Irish home cooking. From hearty stews and roasts to simple breads and desserts, each dish brings warmth and familiarity to the table. Save the recipes that speak to you, share them with family, and enjoy keeping these traditions alive through every holiday season.
