Irish Colcannon Casserole Recipe (2024)

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In this post I’m sharing a delicious Irish Colcannon Casserole Recipe.

We are a few days away from St. Patrick’s Day. You may be searching for Irish recipes to add to your menu. One of the more common dishes associated with St. Patrick’s Day is Irish Colcannon.

Did you know that Colcannon was originally associated with Halloween? Today however, Colcannon is known as a festive Irish recipe to serve during St. Patrick’s Day.

So, what is Irish Colcannon and how do you make it? Colcannon is a basic potato dish, mixed with greens, and really easy to prepare. It is a filling meal and very budget friendly. Colcannon has been around for centuries so it is considered a time tested favorite meal.

Is Colcannon Irish or Scottish?

Colcannon is both Irish and Scottish. The basic recipe consists of mashed potatoes with either cabbage or kale.

Traditional Irish Colcannon:

  • Mashed Potatoes
  • Wilted Kale or Cabbage
  • Shallots or Onion
  • Butter and/or Cream
  • Salt and Pepper

I’ve decided to put a Southern twist on the Colcannon recipe and make it into a casserole. Colcannon with kale baked with a few other tasty ingredients that everyone is sure to enjoy. There may be bacon involved. Okay….there is definitely bacon!

Irish Casserole Dishes

Irish Colcannon Casserole Recipe (1)

My 6th great grandfather made the journey from Derry Ireland in the late 1700’s to the United States. Being of Irish descent, I feel it’s okay for me to put a bit of a twist on this dish. Did I mention it’s delicious? It is so delicious!

Irish Colcannon Casserole Recipe (2)

Irish Colcannon Casserole Recipe

Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Thick Sliced Bacon
  • Organic Baby Kale
  • Russet Potatoes
  • Butter, softened
  • Heavy Cream
  • Mayonnaise (such as Duke’s) or Sour Cream
  • Salt
  • Black Pepper
  • 1 bunch of Scallions
  • White Cheddar Cheese, grated

Traditional Colcannon with a Southern Twist

Irish Colcannon Casserole Recipe (3)

Preheat oven to 350°F (approximately 176°C)

Step 1: Cook bacon in a skillet until crispy. Set cooked bacon aside and reserve bacon fat from cooking. Dice the bacon.

Step 2: Next saute the baby kale in the skillet with the bacon fat until wilted. This will only take about a minute. Remove wilted baby kale and set aside.

Step 3: Add peeled and sliced potatoes to a pot and cover with water. Bring the potatoes to a boil over medium heat and cook for 10 minutes until tender. Drain and add to a mixing bowl with softened butter. Whip the potatoes with a hand mixer until creamy. Add the heavy cream and mix to combine.

Step 4:Next – Add the salt, pepper, mayonnaise (or sour cream) to the potato mixture. Mix to combine.

Step 5: Finally, add the wilted baby kale greens, half of the diced green onions, half of the diced bacon and half of the grated cheese to the potato mixture and stir to combine everything together.

Irish Colcannon Casserole Recipe (4)

What to Serve with Colcannon?

Traditional colcannon is an Irish vegetable side dish and suitable as a side for any meal. When making a colcannon dish as a casserole dish, as I’ve done here, is suitable as the complete meal.

Irish Colcannon Casserole Recipe (5)

Add the potato mixture to a casserole dish and top with the remaining shredded cheese. Bake for 20 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Garnish the top of the casserole with the remaining diced scallions and bacon.

Fun Fact: Irish mashed potatoes are called poundies or champs.

Irish Colcannon Casserole Recipe (6)

Irish Mash Casserole

Irish Colcannon Casserole Recipe (7)
Irish Colcannon Casserole Recipe (8)
Irish Colcannon Casserole Recipe (9)

Fun St. Patrick’s Day Food

Irish Colcannon Casserole Recipe (10)

Here are a few St. Patrick’s Day Facts:

  • St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated on March 17th.
  • It’s a popular day for Irish recipes, such as corned beef and cabbage, colcannon, soda bread or Irish stew.
  • In Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day is a national religious holiday with banks, stores, and businesses closing for the day.
  • St. Patrick’s Day was first celebrated in the U.S. in 1737.
  • Savannah, Georgia is well known for it’s St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.

Let’s make this Irish Colcannon Casserole Recipe!

Yield: 1 Casserole

Irish Colcannon Casserole Recipe (11)

A delicious twist on the Irish Colcannon recipe transformed into a delicious casserole.

Prep Time10 minutes

Cook Time40 minutes

Total Time50 minutes

Ingredients

  • 3 Slices of Thick Bacon
  • 5 oz Organic Baby Kale
  • 3 lbs Russet Potatoes, peeled and sliced
  • 4 tbs Butter, softened
  • 1/3 c Heavy Cream
  • 1 tbs Mayonnaise (such as Duke's) or Sour Cream
  • 1.5 tsp Salt (or to taste)
  • 1/4 tsp Black Pepper
  • 1 bunch of Scallions, diced
  • 8 oz White Cheddar Cheese, grated

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F(176°C)
  2. Cook bacon in a skillet until crispy. Set cooked bacon aside and reserve bacon fat from cooking. Dice the bacon.
  3. Next saute the baby kale in the skillet with the bacon fat until wilted. This will only take about a minute. Remove wilted baby kale and set aside.
  4. Next, add the peeled and sliced potatoes to a pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil and cook for 10 minutes until tender. Drain and add to a mixing bowl with softened butter. Whip the potatoes with a hand mixer until creamy. Add the heavy cream and mix to combine.
  5. Next - Add the salt, pepper, mayonnaise (or sour cream) to the potato mixture. Mix to combine.
  6. Finally, add the wilted baby kale greens, half of the diced green onions, half of the diced bacon and half of the grated cheese to the potato mixture and stir to combine everything together.
  7. Add the potato mixture to a casserole dish and top with the remaining shredded cheese. Bake for 20 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Garnish the top of the casserole with the remaining diced scallions and bacon.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 270Total Fat: 15gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 40mgSodium: 521mgCarbohydrates: 26gFiber: 3gSugar: 2gProtein: 9g

Shared at Meal Plan Monday and Weekend Potluck

Irish Colcannon Casserole Recipe (12)

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Irish Colcannon Casserole Recipe (13)

About Julia

Hey Y'all! I'm Julia, the cook and writer behind the recipes here at Julia's Simply Southern. I began my website so that I could share easy to follow recipes that anyone can use to put a home cooked meal on the dinner table. Thanks so much for stopping by!

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Irish Colcannon Casserole Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the Irish colcannon made of? ›

Colcannon is an Irish dish that's made of mashed potatoes, shredded cabbage or kale, green onions and tons of butter and whole milk. Sometimes crumbled bacon is added for an extra-succulent, salty flavor.

What does colcannon mean in English? ›

Colcannon is a mixture of cooked and shredded cabbage and mashed potatoes. 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.

What is the difference between Colcannon and Champ? ›

What is the difference between Colcannon and Champ? Both Irish dishes, Champ is mashed potatoes with chopped spring onions (scallions) and milk. Colcannon is Champ with the addition of cabbage and sometimes some herbs.

What is the difference between colcannon and bubble and squeak? ›

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 ...

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?

What is the Irish word for colcannon? ›

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

What is Boxty made of? ›

Boxty is a thick pancake of mashed and shredded potatoes, flour, baking soda, and buttermilk fried in butter or lard. These are traditionally formed into a circle and cut into quarters or triangles and are usually served as a side dish or appetizer. These are a great way to use up any leftover mashed potatoes.

Which country would you be in if you ended up eating colcannon and champ? ›

Colcannon and Champ

Champ: Native to Northern Ireland, Champ looks similar to Colcannon. It differs though, in that it's made with scallions (or spring onions) and creamy mashed potatoes. Champ is great on its own, served steaming hot with extra butter. It's also the perfect side dish for good-quality sausages.

What does champ mean in Ireland? ›

Champ (brúitín in Irish) is an Irish dish of mashed potatoes with scallions, butter and milk. Champ. Alternative names. Poundies.

What do they call mashed potatoes in England? ›

Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Mashed potato or mashed potatoes (American, Canadian and Australian English), colloquially known as mash (British English), is a dish made by mashing boiled or steamed potatoes, usually with added milk, butter, salt and pepper.

What do British people call potato cakes? ›

Bubble and Squeak (or Potato Cakes) is a British classic, and an easy and flexible recipe. You can make it from scratch OR use up leftover veggies. Flavorful, colorful, fluffy, creamy and so so good.

What do they call potato cakes in England? ›

It seems the Irish call them Potato bread, the English call them potato cakes (Lancashire), Scottish call them potato scones (tottie scones).

What does colcannon taste like? ›

Colcannon is full of flavor. If you like mashed potatoes, you'll most likely love this dish. The mashed potatoes get tons of flavor from the green onions and a nice texture from the chopped kale. We all love butter and milk in our potatoes, so that is also in this colcannon recipe with salt and pepper to taste!

Why do the Irish eat corned beef and cabbage? ›

So it was the Irish-American consumption of corned beef that initiated its association with Ireland and the holiday of St. Patrick's Day. And as for pairing cabbage with corned beef, it was simply one of the cheapest vegetables available to Irish immigrants, so it was a side dish that stuck.

What did the Irish eat instead of corned beef? ›

"Slow-cooked beef stews or lamb stews are probably the most popular, served with colcannon, which is butter mashed potatoes with cabbage folded through, it's real Irish soul food," she says.

Do the Irish in Ireland eat corned beef and cabbage? ›

Corned beef and cabbage isn't actually the national dish of Ireland. You wouldn't eat it on St. Patrick's Day in Dublin, nor would you be likely to find it in Cork. It's typically only eaten around the holiday here in the U.S. So how did corned beef and cabbage become synonymous with the Irish?

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