Home » Recipes » Irish

40 Irish Pub Recipes

ByStephanie Wilson Updated on
2 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

These Irish pub recipes bring the warmth and comfort of a cozy local into your own kitchen. From classic mains and hearty soups to traditional breads and simple sides, this collection is perfect for celebrating St. Patrick's Day or anytime you're craving comforting Irish-inspired fare. Whether you're planning a full pub-style dinner or just one special dish, these recipes are easy to make and meant to be shared.

Left image: A person holds a bowl of cooked mussels with herbs. Middle image: A traditional Irish pub with hanging flower baskets and a bench outside, reminiscent of classic Irish pub recipes. Right image: A casserole dish with sausages, sliced potatoes, and herbs.

Start with a traditional Irish soda bread recipe with buttermilk, then serve with honey butter. For a main dish, try this one pot corned beef and cabbage or this Irish Cottage Pie.

From hearty casseroles and Irish stews to pub classics like Dublin Coddle or Irish Seafood Chowder, these are delicious dishes we come back to again and again.

Traditional Irish Food

Of course, every list like this is subjective-because we all have our favorites. If someone asked what the must-eat Seattle food might be, I'm sure you'd discover differing opinions on my street alone.

That being said, this is a list of the most recommended must-eat foods while in Ireland. What are your thoughts?

What Is Traditional Irish Pub Food?

Irish Pub for Irish Pub Recipes

Rick Steves, long known for his travel advice, put together a list of foods you can expect to find in an Irish Pub.

And just in case you're wondering what traditional Irish pubs are all about, he says,

Pubs are a basic part of the Irish social scene, and whether you're a teetotaler or a beer-guzzler, they should be a part of your travel here. Whether in rural villages or busy Dublin, a pub (short for "public house") is an extended living room where... you can feel the pulse of Ireland.

Pub menus consist of a hearty assortment of traditional dishes, such as…

  • Irish stew (mutton with mashed potatoes, onions, carrots, and herbs)
  • Soups and chowders
  • Coddle (bacon, pork sausages, potatoes, and onions stewed in layers)
  • Fish-and-chips
  • Irish Collar and cabbage (cured pork collar, similar to bacon, served with cabbage)
  • Boxty (potato pancake filled with fish, meat, or vegetables)
  • Champ (potato mashed with milk and onions)
  • Soda Bread

You may also want to check out our post on Emerald Isle Comfort Food.

Irish Pub Recipes

These recipes are especially popular around St. Patrick's Day, but they're the kind of comforting pub classics you'll come back to all year long.

1
Person in a plaid shirt holding a light blue bowl filled with cooked mussels garnished with herbs and diced tomatoes, inspired by classic Irish pub recipes.
donalskehan.com
Spiced Mussels with Chorizo & Irish Cider
"A big bowl of steaming mussels is my idea of heaven especially when it involves high quality ingredients like Gubeen chorizo and Longueville House Irish cider."
Go to Recipe
2
A rustic baking dish filled with sausages, sliced potatoes, and herbs, reminiscent of Irish pub recipes, rests on a wooden table with a checkered cloth and serving spoon nearby. The dish is beautifully garnished with parsley.
donalskehan.com
Dublin Coddle with Pearl Barley
"Traditional Irish food is all about comfort and now proves this more than Dublin coddle. Purists will have to excuse the frying of the sausages, but I'm sorry I can't bear a nude sausage sitting in my coddle. Do seek the best butchers sausages and streaky bacon you can get your hands on, for a simple dish like this one it makes all the difference."
Go to Recipe
3
Golden brown chicken pot pie, reminiscent of classic Irish pub recipes, boasts a flaky crust in a rectangular dish. A slice is missing, revealing tender chicken and carrots inside. The dish sits on a green checkered cloth beside a bowl of peas and a spoon.
donalskehan.com
Braised Rabbit Pie
"A brilliant traditional pie recipe."
Go to Recipe
4
A round baking dish with a partially served casserole, topped with browned mashed potatoes, sits next to a serving spoon and a bowl of the same dish on a blue checkered cloth-comfort food inspired by classic Irish pub recipes.
donalskehan.com
Colcannon Ham & Cabbage Pies
"The ideal rib sticking pie you may require for dark Autumn evenings with a not so subtle nod to traditional Irish fare."
Go to Recipe
5
Irish Seafood Chowder in a white bowl with shrimp, smoked salmon and mussels garnishing the top.
Irish Seafood Chowder
Irish Seafood Chowder is delicious and filling comfort food… and is common fare in Irish pubs and restaurants. Serve with Irish Soda Bread for an authentic and delicious meal in 30 minutes or less!
Get the Recipe
6
A grilled sandwich with coleslaw and pickles on a plate, served with a small cup of mustard; inspired by Irish pub recipes, with extra pickles, coleslaw, and mustard on the side.
donalskehan.com
Corned Beef Sandwiches with Irish Cheddar and Pickles
"Crispy rye bread, tender corned beef, melty Irish cheddar, sharp mustard and a cabbage slaw come together to make the ultimate sandwich for St. Patrick's day."
Go to Recipe
7
Raw pork tenderloin is spread with a green herb mixture on a wooden surface; next to it are tied, stuffed pork fillets ready for cooking, inspired by classic Irish pub recipes.
www.foodandwine.com
Skillet-Roasted Lamb Loins with Herbs Recipe
"This easy recipe from Dublin-born chef Cathal Armstrong results in succulent, delicately flavored meat."
Go to Recipe
8
A rustic, earthenware bowl brims with colcannon, where creamy mashed potatoes meet finely shredded cabbage. Topped with more cabbage and a sprinkle of black pepper, this classic dish invites comfort in every bite.
Traditional Irish Colcannon Recipe
"Colcannon is a traditional Irish mashed potato dish, and is a hearty and comfort food classic in Ireland."
Go to Recipe
9
Side view of Irish Cottage Pie in a white oval casserole dish with fresh parsley.
Easy Irish Cottage Pie
This Irish Cottage Pie recipe is an easy and tasty comfort food meal everyone loves. This family favorite is made with ground beef (mince) and vegetables baked in a delicious gravy filling topped with pastry and baked until perfectly golden brown.
Go to Recipe
10
A bowl of creamy seafood chowder with mussels, carrots, and herbs-an Irish pub recipes classic-sits next to a spoon, chopped herbs in a small dish, and sliced bread on a wooden board.
donalskehan.com
Howth Head Seafood Chowder
"My home town of Howth is famous throughout Ireland for its fish. Along the west pier there are plenty of fishmongers to choose some of the freshest fish for supper. This wonderfully creamy seafood chowder always reminds me of home and with a few slices of brown bread with Irish salted butter, I'm there in an instant."
Go to Recipe
11
Side view of tender pieces of corned beef with red potatoes and small carrots in a white bowl ready for serving.
Easy One Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage
Recipes for Corned Beef and Cabbage are often considered a quintessential Irish fare for St. Patrick's Day. A moist, tender and intensely, beautifully flavored brisket with comfort food favorites of potatoes, carrots, and cabbage.
Go to Recipe
12
Deliciously Irish: A Potato Topped Shepherd's Pie Recipe | 31Daily.com
Potato Topped Shepherd's Pie Recipe: Deliciously Irish
An easy comfort food, this Shepherd's Pie recipe is a delicious potato-topped ground lamb or beef casserole. Which is steeped in a flavorful sauce with vegetables that will bring to mind the beauty of Ireland.
Go to Recipe
13
veggiedesserts.com
Boxty - Irish Potato Pancakes
"Boxty are tasty, fluffy Irish potato cakes that are pan-fried like pancakes and served at breakfast. This is my family's traditional recipe. Perfect for St. Patrick's Day, or any day."
Go to Recipe
14
Closeup up of 3 Beef Pot Pies with Fresh Parsley
Pub-Style Beef Pot Pies in Muffin Tins
Pub Style Beef Pot Pies in Muffins Tins is a celebration in every bite. Simple to make, utterly delicious, fun to serve, and perfect as an appetizer or the main event.
Go to Recipe
15
A plate with a sunny side up egg, two strips of bacon, and two golden-brown hash browns, inspired by classic Irish pub recipes, with a fork and a blue napkin nearby.
donalskehan.com
Boxty Irish Potato Pancakes
"Boxty potato pancakes are a traditional Irish recipe and they come with a great little rhyme that we were taught growing up: 'Boxty on the griddle, boxty on the pan, if you can't bake boxty, sure you'll never get a man.'. The traditional recipe varies from region to region, but they all use grated raw potato. This is the version that my family makes and they are great with a full Irish breakfast."
Go to Recipe
16
Squares of Potato Bread
www.saveur.com
Irish Potato Bread
"These squares of crispy potato flatbread are similar to potato farls, the fried potato bread that's a traditional part of the Northern Irish breakfast known as an Ulster Fry."
Go to Recipe
17
donalskehan.com
Irish Cheddar Potato Rolls
"These are the lightest and most delicious rolls I have ever tasted. They are a nice change from soda bread & they freeze very well too. Delicious served up with Irish Stew or just covered in a thick layer of Irish butter."
Go to Recipe
18
A bowl of creamy potato soup garnished with crispy bacon, chopped chives, and fried onions, placed on a napkin with a spoon beside it.
Perfect Comfort Food: Cream of Potato Soup
Easy to prepare in under 30 minutes, this warm Cream of Potato Soup is just like my Grandma O'Hara used to make. A perfect antidote for cold, wintry nights, brisk fall afternoons, rainy spring days… or any other day as well.
Go to Recipe
19
Bowl of Irish Vegetable Potato Leek Soup with Country Potato Bread
Irish Potato Leek Soup
Irish Vegetable Potato Leek Soup is a hearty bowl of delicious comfort. Perfect for brisk days, it's a healthy soup that will warm your toes.
Go to Recipe
20
www.irishcentral.com
Hearty Irish seafood chowder recipe
"It's not surprising that chowder is an Irish menu staple. Seen as a "poor man's food" the hearty soup made with cream and seafood is right down Ireland's alley when it comes to wholesome local produce."
Go to Recipe
21
A bowl of green soup inspired by Irish pub recipes, topped with sliced scallops, shredded cheese, and a poached egg, garnished with black pepper.
www.greatbritishchefs.com
Nettle Soup Recipe
"More commonly associated with stings and childhood tears, nettles are in fact a hugely underrated ingredient. This traditional nettle soup recipe from Richard Corrigan includes thinly sliced scallops (lightly cured by salt and gently cooked by the soup below) and horseradish crème fraîche - a refreshing combination for a warm day."
Go to Recipe
22
Beef Oyster Pie for Irish Pub Recipes
www.greatbritishchefs.com
Beef, Stout and Oyster Pie Recipe
"This pie is wonderfully succulent, once a poor man's dinner it now graces our tables with elegance."
Go to Recipe
23
Slices of toasted bread topped with cream cheese, smoked salmon, and fresh dill are arranged on a baking sheet-an appetizer inspired by classic Irish pub recipes, with extra dill on the side.
www.foodandwine.com
Smoked Salmon Toasts with Mustard Butter Recipe
"Sour cream or cream cheese may be the usual spread with salty smoked salmon, but chef David Tanis thinks softened butter makes a tasty alternative."
Go to Recipe
24
Irish Baked Salmon and Cream Sauce on a platter with lemon slices
Irish Salmon and Dill Cream Sauce
This Irish Baked Salmon recipe is deliciously fresh and easy to make with Irish flavorings and simply baked in a foil packet on a sheet pan. The drizzle of Dill Cream Sauce, which almost makes itself, is utterly divine and easy.
Go to Recipe
25
A stack of small, round, golden-brown meat pies-reminiscent of classic Irish pub recipes-sits on a wire rack, with a textured dark surface and a blue-checkered cloth in the background.
donalskehan.com
Individual Bacon & Cabbage Pies
"A twist on the Irish classic bacon and cabbage in the form of a pie!"
Go to Recipe
26
A wooden board with rolled-out dough, reminiscent of traditional Irish pub recipes, is partially cut into rounds on a dark surface. A rolling pin, jar of oats, metal cookie cutter, and flour shaker are nearby, surrounded by scattered flour.
www.saveur.com
Donegal Oatcakes
Made with just 5 ingredients. "Perfect with butter for breakfast or as a snack, traditional Irish oatcakes also keep for ages when stored in an air-tight tin."
Go to Recipe
27
A scone split in half with red jam and cream filling, served on a white plate with another scone and a cake stand in the background-perfectly capturing the charm of a classic Irish scones recipe.
Traditional Irish Scones for Afternoon Tea
This traditional Irish Scones recipe is a light and delicious scone made with Irish butter and buttermilk. Lightly sweet with a moist, tender texture. Perfect for afternoon tea.
Go to Recipe
28
donalskehan.com
Irish Barmbrack
"Barmbrack is a traditional Irish fruitcake, also known as Irish Tea Cake depending on the time of year that you're eating it! This recipe makes a really beautiful moist fruit loaf which is packed with flavour."
Go to Recipe
29
Closeup view of Irish Soda Bread on a White Background
Irish Soda Bread with Buttermilk and Raisins
Irish Soda Bread, a national heritage… and a Wilson family favorite. Whether it be St. Patrick's Day or any spring day. A delicious twist on the traditional Irish Soda Bread.
Go to Recipe
30
Closeup side view of Corned Beef and Cabbage Sliders for St. Patrick's Day Appetizers to Kickstart the Party
St Patrick's Day Appetizers
More delicious ideas for appetizers and party-starter recipes with Irish flair!
Get the Recipes
31
Side view of two white bowls filled with Irish Stew with fresh parsley and thyme to garnish.
Instant Pot Irish Stew (A Quicker and Easier Recipe)
A quick and easy recipe packed with fork-tender meat, root vegetables, fresh herbs, and traditional flavors. It's ready in a fraction of the time, with the pressure cooker doing nearly all of the work.
Get the Recipe
32
Top view of Irish Shepherd's Pie with Champ Mash with a portion missing
Shepherd's Pie with Champ Mash
This Irish Shepherd's Pie with Champ Mash is incredibly delicious with flavors of spring and the Emerald Isle. Topping a classic shepherd's pie with champ mash takes this oh-so-delectable favorite to a whole new level.
Get the Recipe
33
A Traditional Irish Lamb Stew | 31Daily.com
Traditional Irish Lamb Stew
A traditional Irish Stew can warm even the faintest of hearts, and the chilliest of days. It's comfort food as old as time.
Get the Recipe
34
Sliced Brown Irish Soda Bread on a Round Wood Board
Traditional Brown Irish Soda Bread
Traditional Brown Irish Soda Bread is a classic quick bread that has stood the test of time. It's simple and quick to make, perfect for Irish stew or Dublin Coddle... or daily baking. Containing only 4 ingredients, it's a healthy and authentic way to enjoy Irish food.
Get the Recipe
35
Corned Beef Hash in a Black Skillet on a wooden table.
Corned Beef and Cabbage Hash
Do you have leftover corned beef and cabbage from St. Patrick's Day? This Corned Beef Hash is a favorite way to use leftovers! Simple, easy and oh my, so delicious!
Get the Recipe
36
Top horizontal view of an Irish Apple Cake, topped with thinly sliced apples, is nestled into parchment paper and freshly baked in a black cast iron skillet.
Ireland Tradition: A Cast Iron Irish Apple Cake
"Irish Apple Cake is a traditional dessert in Ireland. Recipes for the moist and tender cast iron cake are as varied as the beautiful people who live in the Emerald Isle. This heritage recipe is a simple and tasty dessert everyone will love."
Go to Recipe
37
Side view of Baked Lemon Pudding in a white oval baking dish
Baked Lemon Pudding
This Baked Lemon Pudding is a delectable dessert with an irresistibly light and airy texture. Its wonderful taste is unforgettably lemony and delicious and one you won't want to miss! With origins tracing back to the shores of Ireland, this sweet lemon treat is effortless to prepare and perfect for all seasons.
Get the Recipe
38
An Irish apple crumble cake sits on a turquoise cake stand, its crumb topping perfectly golden, with a slice served on a white plate in the foreground.
Irish Apple Crumble Cake
This Irish Apple Crumble Cake is a moist and tender, buttery cake that's packed with fresh apples and topped with a delicious crumble. And easy? Oh my, yes. Delicious? Absolutely!
Get the Recipe
39
Closeup view of sliced Irish Brown Soda Bread with Molasses
Brown Irish Soda Bread with Molasses
Irish Brown Soda Bread with Molasses is an easy-to-make Irish Brown Bread, perfect for St. Patrick's Day or anytime you're craving a hint of the Emerald Isle. This no-yeast bread is deliciously moist and tender with a hint of sweetness.
Get the Recipe
40
Two mugs of Irish Coffee with shamrock latte art
Non Alcoholic Irish Coffee with Citrus
Synonymous with St. Patrick's Day, Irish Coffee is a sure sign of the season. This Non Alcoholic Irish Coffee recipe with Citrus is delicious and fruity. And so simple. I absolutely love it. If you're not a fan of rum extract, you'll want to try this version!
Go to Recipe

More Irish Pub Recipes You May Also Love

See more St. Patrick's Day →

Save This and Pin for Later

Make sure you don't lose track of this article by pinning it for later! If you are not already, you can follow me on Pinterest, as well as keep up with me on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Join the Sunday Morning Tradition

If you enjoyed this post, you'll love The Sunday Edit No. 5. It’s my weekly "magazine-style" digest designed to help you reset, refine, and find beauty in the everyday. From intentional kitchen resets to curated seasonal menus, it's the 31 Daily you love, delivered with a bit more soul.

Read the Latest Issue | Subscribe to the Newsletter

Stephanie Wilson

Cookbook Author, Food Writer, and Chef

Stephanie Wilson is the founder of 31Daily.com, where she shares seasonal recipes, weekly meal plans, and teatime favorites to help readers gather around the table with joy. A certified private chef, cookbook author, and longtime event planner, she brings over 20 years of experience in catering, food writing, and media production—including network television work as a producer, director, and writer. Her work has been featured by Today.com, The Kitchn, Parade, and more.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

2 Comments

  1. Looking for a Pub menu, but instead got an illustrated book (nice, informative) but no menu. And a flood of ads making seeing the page next to impossible.

    Reply