16 Irish-Inspired Dinners That Go Way Beyond Corned Beef

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Corned beef gets all the attention on St. Patrick’s Day, but there’s a lot more to Irish cooking. Irish-inspired dinners can be hearty, comforting, and full of rich flavors that go well beyond the usual holiday staple. From rustic stews to simple, homey meals, there are plenty of ways to bring a little Irish influence to the table. A good recipe should be easy enough for a weeknight but still feel like something special. If you’re looking to mix things up, these ideas are a great place to start.

Vegan Irish Stew

A pot of vegetable stew with mushrooms, potatoes, tofu, carrots, and bell peppers in a rich broth on a marble surface.
Vegan Irish Stew. Photo credit: Food, Wine, and Love.

Just because it’s meatless doesn’t mean it’s missing anything. This stew keeps all the hearty, comforting vibes of the original while swapping in plant-based goodness—proof that an Irish-inspired dinner can be just as rich without the lamb.
Get the Recipe: Vegan Irish Stew

Mini Shepherd’s Pie

A wooden board with mini shepherd's pies topped with mashed potatoes, surrounded by grapes, pretzels, cheese cubes, and slices of bread.
Mini Shepherd’s Pie. Photo credit: Foxes Love Lemons.

Who says comfort food can’t be cute? These handheld versions of the classic dish pack all the rich, meaty, mashed-potato goodness into bite-sized form. Perfect for an Irish-inspired dinner that feels just fancy enough to impress without the extra effort.
Get the Recipe: Mini Shepherd’s Pie

Beer Braised Chicken Thighs

A cooked chicken thigh with crispy skin is served on a plate alongside mashed potatoes garnished with green onions.
Beer Braised Chicken Thighs. Photo credit: Three Olives Branch.

If slow-simmered chicken in a rich, beer-infused sauce sounds like something you need, you’d be correct. This dish brings big, bold flavors with minimal effort, making it an easy win for an Irish-inspired dinner that feels anything but basic.
Get the Recipe: Beer Braised Chicken Thighs

Bangers and Mash

Two grilled sausages on mashed potatoes with gravy in a skillet, garnished with a sprig of parsley.
Bangers and Mash. Photo credit: Christina’s Cucina.

Simple, satisfying, and the reason pubs keep serving it. Juicy sausages over buttery mashed potatoes, all smothered in rich gravy—it’s the kind of Irish-inspired dinner that needs nothing fancy, just a fork and maybe a second helping.
Get the Recipe: Bangers and Mash

Dutch Oven Shepherd’s Pie

Shepherd's pie with ground meat, vegetables, and mashed potato topping in a circular baking dish, partially served.
Dutch Oven Shepherd’s Pie. Photo credit: Quiche My Grits.

Ground lamb, veggies, and a mountain of mashed potatoes, all baked until golden—it doesn’t get more Irish than this. A great way to turn simple ingredients into a stick-to-your-ribs meal that deserves a spot in your regular rotation.
Get the Recipe: Dutch Oven Shepherd’s Pie

Irish Guinness Beef Stew

A bowl of beef stew with potatoes, carrots, and celery, garnished with parsley and rosemary. A fork and knife are placed beside the bowl.
Irish Guinness Beef Stew. Photo credit: Chew Out Loud.

A slow-simmered stew with Guinness means two things: deep flavor and the kind of meal that makes you forget the weather outside. The beef gets impossibly tender, the broth turns rich, and it’s exactly what an Irish-inspired dinner should be—bold, comforting, and worth the wait.
Get the Recipe: Irish Guinness Beef Stew

Dublin Coddle with Irish Bangers

Sausages and potatoes simmering in a pot with herbs and broth.
Dublin Coddle with Irish Bangers. Photo credit: Carne Diem.

If there were an official dish for cozy nights in, this would be it. Layers of sausage, potatoes, and onions simmer down into something rich and hearty—ideal for an Irish-inspired dinner that practically cooks itself. Just add crusty bread and pretend you’re in a Dublin pub.
Get the Recipe: Dublin Coddle with Irish Bangers

Guinness Shepherd’s Pie

Close-up of a shepherd's pie with ground meat, peas, and carrots under a layer of mashed potatoes, shown with a spoon.
Guinness Shepherd’s Pie. Photo credit: Three Olives Branch.

The secret ingredient? A generous pour of Guinness, which turns this traditional dish into something even more flavorful. A layer of mashed potatoes seals in all that meaty goodness, making it the ultimate Irish-inspired dinner that tastes like home, even if you’re miles away.
Get the Recipe: Guinness Shepherd’s Pie

Irish Soda Bread

Sliced raisin bread on a board, surrounded by bowls of jam, butter, and mixed dried fruits, next to a pot of tea.
Irish Soda Bread. Photo credit: Cheerful Cook.

No yeast, no kneading, no fuss—just a golden-crusted loaf that’s ready in no time. A must-have with any Irish-inspired dinner, especially when slathered in good butter.
Get the Recipe: Irish Soda Bread

Crockpot Beef Stew

A spoonful of beef stew with chunks of beef, carrots, peas, and garnished with herbs in a thick, brown sauce.
Crockpot Beef Stew. Photo credit: Cheerful Cook.

Toss everything in, walk away, and come back to a rich, beefy stew that tastes like you spent all day on it. A perfect pick for an Irish-inspired dinner that’s both effortless and completely worth the wait.
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Beef Stew

Rustic Shepherd’s Pie with The Cheesiest Mashed Potatoes

A close-up of shepherd's pie in a dish, featuring mashed potatoes, peas, carrots, and ground meat. A wooden spoon is scooping a portion from the cooked surface.
Rustic Shepherd’s Pie with The Cheesiest Mashed Potatoes. Photo credit: Little Spice Jar.

A shepherd’s pie with mashed potatoes so cheesy they deserve their own spotlight. The rich, meaty filling meets a golden, gooey topping, making it a no-brainer for an Irish-inspired dinner that doesn’t mess around.
Get the Recipe: Rustic Shepherd’s Pie with The Cheesiest Mashed Potatoes

Slow Cooker Irish Beef Stew

A wooden spoon holds a portion of beef stew with vegetables over a slow cooker filled with more stew.
Slow Cooker Irish Beef Stew. Photo credit: Fox and Briar.

A slow cooker does all the heavy lifting here, turning beef, potatoes, and Guinness into a rich, melt-in-your-mouth meal. The best part? Your kitchen will smell incredible while you sit back and let dinner make itself.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Irish Beef Stew

Colcannon

Close-up of mashed potatoes mixed with bacon bits and garnished with chopped parsley in a white bowl.
Colcannon. Photo credit: Life’s Ambrosia.

Mashed potatoes get an upgrade with buttery cabbage and crispy bacon, making this a side dish that steals the show. It’s the kind of Irish-inspired comfort food that’s so good, you might just skip the main course entirely.
Get the Recipe: Colcannon

Guinness Beef Stew Boxty

A plate with a folded crepe filled with cubes of beef, carrots, and garnished with a sprig of parsley.
Guinness Beef Stew Boxty. Photo credit: Good Grief Cook.

Take everything you love about a hearty Irish stew, then wrap it in a crispy potato pancake—because why not? This dish doubles down on comfort, making it a fun, filling option for an Irish-inspired dinner that knows how to do potatoes right.
Get the Recipe: Guinness Beef Stew Boxty

Vegan Irish Stew with Guinness

A bowl of beef stew with carrots and mashed potatoes, garnished with herbs. A green cloth napkin is beside the bowl.
Vegan Irish Stew with Guinness. Photo credit: Six Hungry Feet.

All the depth of an Irish stew, none of the meat. This plant-based version still brings that dark, malty Guinness flavor to the party, making it a solid choice for an Irish-inspired dinner—because comfort food shouldn’t come with a rulebook.
Get the Recipe: Vegan Irish Stew with Guinness

Guinness Pot Roast

A pot of beef stew with carrots, red cabbage, onions, and rosemary in a rich broth.
Guinness Pot Roast. Photo credit: Quiche My Grits.

When Guinness meets slow-cooked beef, the result is nothing short of magic. This pot roast falls apart at the touch of a fork, with layers of rich, malty flavor that make it perfect for an Irish-inspired dinner. Go ahead, grab an extra loaf of bread for soaking up every last drop.
Get the Recipe: Guinness Pot Roast

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Sarita Harbour has been stretching her food dollars to feed her family for over 30 years. As a former banker and current freelance writer, she's written boatloads of articles about budgeting, homesteading, gardening, personal finance and more. Her food-related articles have been widely syndicated through AP and MSN. Look for her food features at NBC, The Seattle Times, Yahoo! Life, Chowhound, Tasting Table and MSN.