Colcannon Recipe - How to Make Irish Mashed Potatoes with Cabbage and Bacon (2024)

30 minutes mins

| 3 Comments |

4.50 from 8 votes

Jump to Recipe | Updated: | by Nora

Looking for an easy, hearty recipe for St. Patrick’s Day? Why not try Colcannon – creamy mashed potatoes with bacon and cabbage!

Colcannon Recipe - How to Make Irish Mashed Potatoes with Cabbage and Bacon (1)

If there’s one thing I absolutely love… It’s potatoes! Maybe it’s because I grew up on a farm, ha!, but I just cannot resist a good potato dish.

Colcannon is a classic Irish recipe – perfect for St. Patrick’s Day! It combines creamy mashed potatoes with cabbage (or kale!), spring onions and BACON for the perfectly hearty dish. It’s actually so hearty we often have it as a simple dinner by itself (or with a fried egg), but it goes really well with anything gravy-laden, too.

Colcannon Recipe - How to Make Irish Mashed Potatoes with Cabbage and Bacon (2)

Best of all? It’s incredibly simple to make with everyday ingredients!

Ingredients you’ll need

Here is a visual overview of the ingredients in the recipe. Scroll down to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for quantities!

Colcannon Recipe - How to Make Irish Mashed Potatoes with Cabbage and Bacon (3)

Ingredient notes

  • Potatoes: Please use starchy/floury potatoes for this recipe, NOT waxy ones. (Russet potatoes would be the perfect choice for the US, King Edward for the UK.)
  • Bacon: I used diced bacon that was pretty thick cut. If you’re using thin-cut bacon you chop up, the result will be a little different, but it works just fine! Many traditional recipes call for back bacon, but I used regular bacon because, well… I like the taste of it better here.
  • Cabbage: Savoy cabbage would be best here, use kale if you don’t have any Savoy available. White cabbage may be used if neither kale nor Savoy cabbage are available.
  • Milk: Feel free to use cream in place of the milk for extra decadence!

How to make Colcannon

1. Cook the potatoes… However you like! Boiled, steamed, in your instant pot. Just use a pot that’s large enough to mash them with the greens later.

2. Brown the bacon in butter, then

3. add the cabbage (Savoy cabbage is best, but regular cabbage or kale can be substituted) and cook for 5 minutes. Add the spring onion and cook a bit more.

Colcannon Recipe - How to Make Irish Mashed Potatoes with Cabbage and Bacon (4)

4. Add the cabbage/bacon mix to the cooked and drained potatoes. Add some milk, butter, seasoning…

5. And mash until creamy.

6. Serve with a pat of extra butter in the middle… Done!

Colcannon Recipe - How to Make Irish Mashed Potatoes with Cabbage and Bacon (5)

Recipe tips

  • Do not overcook the potatoes, and make sure to drain them very well. Else the mash will come out gloopy.
  • Cook the cabbage well enough in the skillet, otherwise the dish will be difficult to come together.
  • To me, Colcannon tastes best when eaten right away. I don’t really enjoy the taste of cooled down cabbage, so I serve it steaming hot.
  • Leftovers reheat great as Mashed Potato Pancakes!

Serving ideas

Colcannon Recipe - How to Make Irish Mashed Potatoes with Cabbage and Bacon (6)

I guess traditionally you’d put ANOTHER pat of butter in the middle to serve this, but truthfully… I only do that for the pretty photos ?

We love this most in place of regular mash when we make bangers and mash… Yeah, talk about decadent. But it’s also great all fall/winter long with something like homemade Salisbury Steak, Beef Tips or Mushroom Gravy ❤️

Watch the recipe video

PSIf you try this recipe, please leavea review in the comment section and add a star rating in the recipe card – I appreciate your feedback! Follow along onPinterest,FacebookorInstagram.

Printable recipe

Printable Recipe Card

Colcannon Recipe - How to Make Irish Mashed Potatoes with Cabbage and Bacon (7)

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Colcannon

An easy Irish recipe for St. Patrick's Day: Colcannon – creamy mashed potatoes with cabbage and bacon!

Recipe by Nora from Savory Nothings

made it? tap the stars to add your rating!

4.50 from 8 votes

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Recipe details

Prep 15 minutes mins

Cook 15 minutes mins

Total 30 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs russet potatoes peeled and cut into chunks
  • 1 tablespoon butter plus more for mashing and serving
  • 3 oz chopped bacon
  • 1 small cabbage cored and sliced (Savoy cabbage is best; use kale if not available; white cabbage may be used if neither kale nor Savoy cabbage are available)
  • 3 spring onions sliced
  • cup whole milk OR cream for extra decadence
  • salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Potatoes: Cook potatoes until fork-tender. Drain well.

  • Bacon/cabbage: While potatoes are cooking, melt butter in wide skillet over medium heat. Add bacon and cook until browned. Add cabbage and cook until wilted, about 5 minutes. Stir in spring onions and cook for another 3-4 minutes.

  • Mash: Add cabbage/bacon mix to cooked and drained potatoes. Add milk, a pat of butter, salt and pepper and mash until creamy. Serve immediately.

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Notes

Ingredient notes

  • Potatoes: Please use starchy/floury potatoes for this recipe, NOT waxy ones. (Russet potatoes would be the perfect choice for the US, King Edward for the UK.)
  • Bacon: I used diced bacon that was pretty thick cut. If you’re using thin-cut bacon you chop up, the result will be a little different, but it works just fine! Many traditional recipes call for back bacon, but I used regular bacon because, well… I like the taste of it better here.
  • Cabbage: Savoy cabbage would be best here, use kale if you don’t have any Savoy available. White cabbage may be used if neither kale nor Savoy cabbage are available.
  • Milk: Feel free to use cream in place of the milk for extra decadence!

Recipe tips

  • Do not overcook the potatoes, and make sure to drain them very well. Else the mash will come out gloopy.
  • Cook the cabbage well enough in the skillet, otherwise the dish will be difficult to come together.
  • To me, Colcannon tastes best when eaten right away. I don’t really enjoy the taste of cooled down cabbage, so I serve it steaming hot.
  • Leftovers reheat great as Mashed Potato Pancakes!

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 234kcalCarbohydrates: 34gProtein: 8gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 17mgSodium: 152mgPotassium: 886mgFiber: 4gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 925IUVitamin C: 33mgCalcium: 82mgIron: 2mg

Nutrition is an estimate.

More recipe information

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: Irish

Recipe first published on 03/02/2020. Updated with better text on 03/05/2021.

More St. Patrick’s Day recipes

  • Boxty: Irish Potato Pancakes
  • Irish Soda Bread with Raisins
  • Slow Cooker Irish Beef Stew
  • Homemade Shepherd’s Pie

Colcannon Recipe - How to Make Irish Mashed Potatoes with Cabbage and Bacon (12)
About Nora
When I got married to my professional chef husband, I realized I had to step up my game in the kitchen. Now I share my favorite foolproof family recipes here on Savory Nothings: Chef-approved, kid-vetted and easy enough for everyday home cooks like you and me! Learn more.

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Comments

  1. Catherine OHagan says

    Colcannon Recipe - How to Make Irish Mashed Potatoes with Cabbage and Bacon (15)
    I am so thrilled and happy to find a traditional recipe for Colcannonmy mom used to make it often for us. I have made it a time or two as I love it so much reminds me of home. I found another treasured recipe sofa bread with raisins or plain love both. So thank you very much. I made your Chilli recipe yesterday and tomorrow I’m ready to make your Shepherds pie. I have loved the recipes of yours that I have tried so far they are delicious.$

    Reply

  2. Laura A. Gray says

    I absolutely ❤️ love, love, love potatoes ?! Also, I totally love ❤️ cabbage as well! I like bacon ?, but rarely eat it. However, this recipe looks amazing ? and I must get all the ingredients and make this meal for my family, with the beef stroganoff! OMG!

    Reply

    • Nora says

      Oh, what a great idea to pair it with Stroganoff!

      Reply

Colcannon Recipe - How to Make Irish Mashed Potatoes with Cabbage and Bacon (2024)

FAQs

What is the Irish dish made from mashed potatoes and cabbage? ›

A St. Patrick's day favorite, colcannon is an Irish potato recipe, a mixture of creamy mashed potatoes and usually kale or cabbage.

What is the Irish dish of mashed potato and cabbage 9? ›

Colcannon is an Irish dish made from potatoes and greens. Kale or cabbage are most often used in partnership with green onions or leeks.

What is the difference between colcannon and champ potatoes? ›

What's the Difference Between Champ and Colcannon? Champ and colcannon are both favorite Irish mashed potato dishes. They're very similar, though champ recipes tend to feature spring onions (scallions) alone, while colcannon adds cabbage, kale, or leeks.

How do you keep mashed potatoes from getting gluey? ›

Thick-skinned varieties like russets will give you the fluffiest results. Steer clear of waxy red-skinned potatoes, which turn gluey when mashed. If it's too late to make the swap, change course and roast the potatoes tossed with oil, garlic and some fresh rosemary if you have it, instead of boiling them.

What is Colcannon mash made of? ›

Colcannon is a traditional Irish mashed potato side dish, made with spring onions, cabbage, cream, plenty of butter and seasoning, then topped with chives. This is the ULTIMATE comfort food, and a way to turn your usual mash into something extra (not to mention the benefit of hidden veggies!)

What is the Irish word for bacon and cabbage? ›

Bacon and cabbage (Irish: bagún agus cabáiste) is a dish traditionally associated with Ireland. The dish consists of sliced back bacon boiled with cabbage and potatoes.

Why is Colcannon important in Ireland? ›

Colcannon is a hearty dish that has been eaten on Halloween night for years. Traditionally, a ring was hidden in the dish, and whoever was to find it would be likely to marry in the upcoming year! Colcannon was even paired with a little poem: Did you ever eat Colcannon, made from lovely pickled cream?

Why do they call it Colcannon? ›

The word colcannon is derived from the Gaelic term cal ceannann, which means "white-headed cabbage" — the vegetable most commonly mixed with potatoes in this dish. It's often served alongside Irish meats, and is made by combining potatoes and greens (usually cabbage, but kale and other leafy greens are sometimes used).

What is special Colcannon mashed potatoes for Halloween? ›

Colcannon is a traditional Irish dish made of mashed potatoes, kale or cabbage with milk or cream, butter and salt and pepper. It is eaten at Halloween when the cabbage or the kale is in season, and the flavour is at its best after it gets benefits from the crisp chill of winter and light frost.

Is bubble and squeak the same as colcannon? ›

He comments that although the basic ingredients of bubble and squeak and colcannon are similar, the two are very different dishes, the former being traditionally made from left-overs and fried to give a brown crust, and the latter "a completely separate dish of potato, spring onion and cabbage, served almost as creamed ...

What is colcannon in English? ›

Colcannon (Irish: cál ceannann, meaning "white-headed cabbage") is a traditional Irish dish of mashed potatoes with cabbage.

Who invented colcannon? ›

The name comes from the Gaelic phrase “cal ceannan,” which means “white-headed cabbage”. One of the earliest written references to colcannon comes from the diary of William Bulkeley, who wrote on October 31, 1735 while on a visit to Dublin: “Dined at Coz. Wm.

Why did my mashed potatoes turn gummy? ›

You could be using the wrong potatoes. Potatoes are generally considered "waxy" or "starchy." Waxy potatoes (like white potatoes and red potatoes) are more prone to gumminess when mashed, as opposed to starchy potatoes (like Yukon Golds and russets). Choose starchy potatoes or a mixture of waxy and starchy potatoes.

How do you make mashed potatoes fluffy without gummy? ›

Ricer or Colander

Start as you would any mashed potato recipe—by boiling the potatoes until tender—then allow them to cool before adding them to a ricer. "If you rice them right away, you're not allowing excess moisture to evaporate off the potatoes," Greg says. Skipping this step can lead to dense, gluey potatoes.

Which potato is best for mashed potatoes? ›

The best potatoes for mashed potatoes are a starchy varieties like russet, Idaho or Yukon gold. Starchy potatoes are best for mashed potatoes because they have a fluffy, almost airy texture that breaks down easily.

Why is it called clapshot? ›

No-one is certain where the name clapshot comes from but some think it is a nod to the noise of the masher in the saucepan being reminiscent of gunfire. The name started in Orkney and then spread through the Highlands.

What is the tradition of Colcannon? ›

Colcannon is a hearty dish that has been eaten on Halloween night for years. Traditionally, a ring was hidden in the dish, and whoever was to find it would be likely to marry in the upcoming year! Colcannon was even paired with a little poem: Did you ever eat Colcannon, made from lovely pickled cream?

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