what do people eat on st patrick's day
People typically eat hearty Irish mains like bacon and cabbage or corned beef and cabbage, plus stews, potatoes, soda bread, and some green‑themed treats on St. Patrick’s Day.
Classic “Irish” mains
These are the dishes most people associate with what do people eat on St Patrick’s Day , especially in Ireland and in Irish‑American homes.
- Bacon and cabbage with potatoes and parsley sauce (very traditional in Ireland).
- Corned beef and cabbage (more Irish‑American than Irish, but hugely popular on March 17).
- Lamb or beef stew, sometimes Guinness stew, with potatoes, carrots, and onions.
- Shepherd’s pie or cottage pie: minced lamb or beef with veg, topped with mashed potatoes and baked.
- Roast lamb or pot roast with potatoes and vegetables for a Sunday‑roast‑style celebration.
A lot of Irish posters online say their families just cook a good roast or stew and treat it like a slightly special Sunday dinner, not an over‑the‑top themed menu.
Potato dishes and sides
If you ask forums what do people eat on St Patrick’s Day , potatoes come up constantly in different forms.
- Colcannon: mashed potatoes with cabbage or kale, lots of butter and sometimes scallions.
- Champ: mashed potatoes with scallions and butter.
- Boxty: traditional Irish potato cakes or pancakes.
- Boiled or roasted potatoes alongside bacon, cabbage, or stews.
- Cabbage (often with bacon), carrots, peas and other simple veg as sides.
In some threads, people also mention more old‑school dishes like crubeens (pig’s feet) or tripe and drisheen, but usually as “this exists, but most people don’t actually eat it anymore.”
Breakfast, bread, and snacks
Many Irish people say the day starts with a big fry or fresh bread rather than a themed green brunch.
- Full Irish breakfast: rashers (bacon), sausages, black and white pudding, fried eggs, tomatoes, potatoes, soda bread, and plenty of tea.
- Soda bread or brown bread served all day with butter, soup, or stew.
- Scones, apple tarts, and simple home baking as everyday‑style treats rather than novelty desserts.
A typical example from forum comments: someone has a full Irish breakfast, a walk or parade, then a roast or stew in the evening.
American & party‑style St. Patrick’s food
In the U.S. and at parties worldwide, the answer to what do people eat on St Patrick’s Day gets a lot more themed and “green.”
- Corned beef and cabbage with potatoes and sometimes carrots — the default St. Patrick’s Day dinner in many American households.
- Guinness beef stew, Guinness‑marinated meats, or beef and Guinness pies.
- Shepherd’s pie as a main, plus sliders, dips, or nachos with “Irish” branding for parties.
- Green desserts and snacks: green‑tinted cupcakes, cookies, jello, shamrock‑shaped sweets, mint brownies, rainbow‑and‑gold chocolate setups.
- Bar food plus drinks: people mention pints of Guinness, Irish stout, and sometimes green‑dyed beer, especially in U.S. bar celebrations.
Some recent lists also note a trend of mixing in totally non‑Irish dishes (like carne asada or spaghetti) that are just served on the day for fun rather than tradition.
Quick HTML table of common foods
| Category | Typical dishes people eat on St. Patrick's Day | Where it's most common |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional mains | Bacon and cabbage; lamb or beef stew; roast lamb or pot roast; shepherd's pie/cottage pie. | [5][7][9][3]Mostly Ireland and Irish homes worldwide. | [7][9][3]
| Irish-American mains | Corned beef and cabbage, often with potatoes and carrots. | [5][8][7]United States, Irish-American communities. | [8][5][7]
| Potato & cabbage dishes | Colcannon, champ, boxty, boiled or roasted potatoes, cabbage sides. | [1][3][7]Ireland; Irish-inspired menus internationally. | [1][3][7]
| Breakfast & bread | Full Irish breakfast; soda bread and brown bread; scones, apple tarts. | [9][3][5]Especially Ireland and UK. | [3][9]
| Party & bar food | Guinness beef stew or pie; sliders and snacks; green-themed cupcakes, cookies, and other desserts; bar snacks with pints. | [6][7][8]Bars, parties, U.S. celebrations. | [6][7][8]
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.