Tasty colcannon is a traditional Irish potato dish that is a hearty combination of mashed potatoes, kale or cabbage, and rich butter! Add some bacon bits and chives for garnish and you've got an amazing potato side dish that's wonderfully suited for any day of the year! Be sure to grab some extra potatoes and whip this classic recipe up for St. Patrick's Day festivities too!
Traditional Irish Colcannon Recipe
Serving this colcannon is bound to be a new St. Patrick's day tradition in your home! It is rich, satisfying, and loaded up with tons and tons of butter and cream!
If you enjoy mashed potatoes in any way shape or form, then preparing this Irish mashed potato recipe really needs to be the next thing on your to-do list! While it is perfect for celebrating St. Paddy's day, you can easily enjoy it year-round!
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Take a look at all of these tasty and fun St. Patrick's Day recipes to help you celebrate!
🌎 Origin
Colcannon is a traditional Irish potato dish made from mashed potatoes as well as cabbage or kale. Its exact origin is not known, but it is believed to have originated in Ireland, where it has been a popular dish for many years.
The name "colcannon" comes from the Gaelic term "cal ceannann," which means "white-headed cabbage." Traditionally, the dish was associated with Halloween, and a ring or other trinket was often hidden in the dish, with the person who found it thought to have good luck.
🥘 Colcannon Ingredients
This recipe uses standard mashed potato ingredients, with the addition of some kale or cabbage! I enjoy using heavy cream for some extra depth and flavor, but milk will work as well!
- Potatoes - 2 pounds of potatoes that have been peeled and then quartered. Go ahead and use your favorite kind, or take a look at my post on the best potatoes for mashed potatoes!
- Butter - 4 tablespoons of butter, unsalted.
- Milk - ½ cup of whole milk. For a richer flavor, use heavy cream instead of milk! On the other hand, you can lighten up the dish by opting for low-fat milk.
- Salt & Pepper - 1 teaspoon of salt & pepper, adjusted to taste.
- Kale - 4 cups of chopped kale or cabbage.
- Green Onions (optional) - 4 green onions that have been thinly sliced. Alternatively, you can use chives.
- Bacon (optional) - ¼ cup of bacon that has been crisped and crumbled.
*Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!*
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🔪 How To Make Colcannon
If you've ever made mashed potatoes before, this recipe isn't much different! You will need a pot for both your potatoes and kale as well as a knife and your measuring cups!
This recipe is for 6 servings of colcannon, so it is perfect for a tasty family dinner or enjoying some leftovers!
- Boil potatoes. Boil 2 pounds of peeled and quartered potatoes in a large pot of salted water until they are soft and easily mashed, about 15-20 minutes. Drain the potatoes and return them to the pot.
- Mash. Add 4 tablespoons of butter and ½ cup of milk or cream to the pot and mash the potatoes until they are smooth and creamy. Season with 1 teaspoon of salt and pepper to taste.
- Blanch. While the potatoes are cooking, blanch 4 cups of kale or cabbage in boiling salted water for 3-5 minutes, until tender. Drain the kale or cabbage well.
- Mix. Mix the kale or cabbage into the mashed potatoes and add the 4 sliced green onions or chives, if using.
- Serve. Serve hot with additional butter along with the optional chopped green onions or chives and ¼ cup of crisped bacon (or bacon bits), if desired.
Serve your colcannon alongside some Instant Pot corned beef for a truly Irish experience! Then whip up some Irish soda bread pudding for dessert! Enjoy!
💭 Angela's Tips & Recipe Notes
- For a richer flavor, use heavy cream instead of milk.
- To save time, you can use pre-washed and chopped kale or cabbage.
- For a healthier version, use low-fat milk or half-and-half instead of heavy cream.
- To add more flavor, you can sauté some diced bacon, ham, or (yellow or white) onion in a separate pan and add it to the colcannon before serving.
- For a fun twist on the traditional recipe, try adding some grated cheddar cheese or mustard to the mashed potatoes.
🥡 Storing & Reheating
Place any leftovers into an airtight container and then store them in the fridge for 3-5 days.
Reheating Colcannon
Individual servings can be reheated in the microwave. For a larger amount, place the leftovers into a baking dish and cover it with aluminum foil. Bake in the oven at 350°F (175°C) until hot. In fact, go ahead and check out my post on how to reheat mashed potatoes for more methods and tips.
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❓ FAQ
Nope! They do both contain mashed potatoes and vegetables, though. Bubble and squeak is a type of British potato cake that is resemblant to fried vegetable pancakes. Mashed potatoes act as a glue to the veggies and then the mixture is formed into a patty and pan-fried.
Champ is a dish composed of mashed potatoes, milk, and scallions. Colcannon, on the other hand, is the same as champ but with the addition of kale or cabbage.
Colcannon is a traditional Irish potato dish that is made up of mashed potatoes and cabbage (or kale). You will often find additional ingredients such as green onions, too!
🍀 More Irish Recipes
- Irish Coffee - A simple and delicious cocktail that features coffee, brown sugar, heavy cream, and Irish whiskey!
- Irish Lamb Stew - Tender pieces of lamb and savory veggies in a warm and delicious broth!
- Irish Apple Cake - A moist cake that is loaded with apples and topped with vanilla custard!
- Irish Oatmeal Cake - A sweet oatmeal-based cake that is topped with caramel pecan frosting!
- Irish Soda Bread - A 4-ingredient bread recipe that doesn't need any yeast!
- Irish Nachos - Thinly sliced potatoes are layered with cheese and nacho toppings!
📋 Recipe
Colcannon
Ingredients
Instructions
- Boil the potatoes in a large pot of salted water until they are soft and easily mashed, about 15-20 minutes. Drain the potatoes and return them to the pot.2 lbs Potatoes
- Add the butter and milk (or cream) to the pot and mash the potatoes until they are smooth and creamy. Season with salt and pepper to taste.4 tablespoon butter, ½ cup milk, 1 teaspoon each, salt & pepper
- While the potatoes are cooking, blanch the kale (or cabbage) in boiling salted water for 3-5 minutes, until tender. Drain the kale (or cabbage) well.4 cups kale
- Mix the kale (or cabbage) into the mashed potatoes and add the green onions or chives, if using.4 green onions
- Serve hot with additional butter along with the optional chopped green onions or chives and crisped bacon (or bacon bits), if desired.¼ cup bacon
Equipment You May Need
Notes
- For a richer flavor, use heavy cream instead of milk.
- To save time, you can use pre-washed and chopped kale or cabbage.
- For a healthier version, use low-fat milk or half-and-half instead of heavy cream.
- To add more flavor, you can sauté some diced bacon, ham, or (yellow or white) onion in a separate pan and add it to the colcannon before serving.
- For a fun twist on the traditional recipe, try adding some grated cheddar cheese or mustard to the mashed potatoes.
- To store: Place any leftovers into an airtight container and store it in the fridge for 3-5 days.
- To reheat: Individual servings can be reheated in the microwave. For a larger amount, place the leftovers into a baking dish and cover it with aluminum foil. Bake in the oven at 350°F (175°C) until hot. Check out my post on how to reheat mashed potatoes for more methods and tips.
Nutrition
Angela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma's kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love!
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