Corned beef, the traditional meat served at this holiday, is made of beef brisket cured in a salt brine that can include spices like peppercorns and bay leaf. The meat stays red even after it is cooked because of the ingredients used to cure it, like sodium nitrate. Home-cured corned beef will not have this characteristic color. Long ago in Ireland, the meal of corned beef and cabbage was eaten as an Easter lunch after the long meatless days of Lent because the preserved meat lasted through the winter. The dish is now more commonly served in the United States than in Ireland, where it is considered too ordinary to be served at a special meal!
None of these recipes claim to be authentically Irish - just delicious, many combining corned beef (or pork, in one case) and cabbage in fun ways. Remember to wear some green on March 17 and celebrate the day. If you want traditional recipes, see Classic St. Patrick's Day recipes, and especially my well-loved Crockpot Corned Beef and Cabbage recipe. And don't forget that many of these recipes are fabulous ways to use up leftover corned beef!
St. Patrick's Day Recipes With a Twist
- Corned Beef and Slaw Sandwiches
The combination of crunchy slaw, warm and tender beef, and tangy melted cheese on rye bread makes these sandwiches a treat any time of the year! - Corned Beef and Cabbage Quiche
I came up with the idea of this recipe when I was starting into the fridge at the leftover corned beef and cabbage next to eggs and a refrigerated pie crust. Voila! What a success. - Irish Soda Drop Biscuits
Instead of making a large loaf of Irish Soda Bread, make biscuits instead! These are great for breakfast or a snack too. To warm them, microwave each biscuit on high power for 10 seconds. Serve with softened butter and strawberry jam. Yum. - Crockpot Pork with Cabbage
Okay, this isn't corned beef and it isn't even green, but I can't have a collection of cabbage recipes and not include this fabulous one. - Corned Beef and Cabbage Dip
If you don't want to serve corned beef and cabbage as a main dish, try this wonderful appetizer recipe served in a hollowed out cabbage! - Glazed Corned Beef
The sweet, tangy flavor of apricot preserves beautifully complements the salty flavor of corned beef. - Chocolate Chip Irish Soda Bread
My husband had the idea for this bread, but then he always suggests chocolate chips in place of raisins in recipes. He feels cheated by having once been given what he thought was a chocolate chip cookie and it turned out to be a raisin cookie. But in this case, he's right! The chips are delicious in this sweet and soft bread with a crunchy crust. - Corned Beef and Cabbage Chowder
A hot soup is always appropriate on blustery late winter days. This combination of corned beef with cabbage and vegetables, thickened with cheese and cream, is a real winner. - Reuben Casserole
Sauerkraut is simply preserved cabbage! This easy five ingredient recipe also uses apples and Havarti cheese to make a delicious and easy casserole dinner. - Corned Beef and Cabbage Tarts
I love this recipe. It's rich with sauteed cabbage and onions, all folded into an easy savory pie crust. A bit of chopped corned beef turns these tarts into a hearty meal. - Corned Beef Stuffed Cabbage
My old favorite recipe for stuffed cabbage uses ground beef. Substituting corned beef adds a wonderful spicy flavor. - Corned Beef and Potato Casserole
This easy casserole uses simple ingredients combined together in a delicious main dish. - Creamy Corned Beef and Noodles
If you don't like cabbage, make this delicious recipe that uses tender egg noodles and creamy soup to make a rich casserole. - Tomato Cabbage Bisque
Add some cooked, chopped corned beef to this delicious soup recipe when you add the cream cheese. This savory and sweet soup is very easy to make. - Chocolate Mint Cake
A rich chocolate cake is dressed up with chopped chocolate mint candies. And a minty cream cheese frosting, topped with more chopped candies, is the perfect finishing touch. - Reuben Hot Dish
All of the ingredients of a Reuben Sandwich combine to form a creamy, crunchy, cheesy hot dish to celebrate the holiday. - Corned Beef and Cabbage Packets
Grill your St. Patrick's Day dinner! Substitute cooked corned beef pieces for the polish sausage in this recipe. These easy packets combine all the traditional ingredients of an Irish dinner into easy to serve individual packets.
