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A Traditional St. Patrick’s Day Meal:
Traditional Irish food for St. Patrick’s Day includes meat like lamb or bacon, leafy greens and potatoes.
Corned Beef vs. Irish Bacon:
Irish immigrants in the United States popularized corned beef as a cheaper substitute for the more classic Irish bacon.
Naturally Green Food:
Cabbage and kale add a festive green pop to St. Patrick’s Day dishes without added food coloring.
Food has always been a centerpiece of St. Patrick’s Day, dating back to its 9th- and 10th-century origins and especially after it was designated an official feast day on the Catholic liturgical calendar in the early 17th century.
However, the holiday coincides with Lent, the 40-day period of fasting, prayer and reflection before Easter. Historically, Irish Christians fasting for Lent got a reprieve on St. Patrick’s Day to eat meat on Patrick’s saint’s day. Most Catholic dioceses in the United States still do the same when St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Friday. (This isn’t an issue in 2026 when the holiday is on a Tuesday.)
While the Americanized holiday typically involves parades, green beer and shamrocks, food is still central to the celebration in Ireland. “St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland is kind of like what Fourth of July is [in the United States],” says Dublin native Colin Comer, who co-owns The Marlay House, an Irish pub in Decatur, Georgia. Comer says when he was growing up in Dublin, the day meant house parties with family and food.
Here’s a look at five traditional Irish dishes families share on St. Patrick’s Day.