St. Patrick’s Day is a fun whimsical day to try new things and start new traditions. One thing that we have only done the last couple of years (and my kids are excited to do again this year) is make Corned Beef and Cabbage. I was surprised at how easy it is to make and how good it tastes. We also made Irish Soda Bread because they taste so good together! I am sharing the recipes for both today so you can make this fun and easy meal with your family on St. Patrick’s Day.
Here is what you will need to make Corned Beef and Cabbage:
- Corned beef brisket with spices (2-3 lb.)
- 10 small red potatoes whole or 4 large potatoes cut into large chunks
- 1 1lb bag of baby carrots or 5-6 large carrots peeled and diced
- A large head of cabbage chopped or cut into small wedges
- 1 large onion, diced
- 2 stalks of celery, diced
You will start by putting the brisket into a ceramic Dutch oven (or large pot). Sprinkle the spices over the brisket and then add water until the meat is covered by 1 inch and bring to boil. Then you will decrease the heat, put the lid on, and cook for 2 1/2 to 3 hours.
When it is fork tender, you will add the celery, onion, potatoes, and carrots. Cook until they are almost tender (approx.. 15 min). Now you will add the cabbage and cook for about 15 more minutes.
Remove the meat and let it rest. You can leave the vegetables in the Dutch oven or put them into a different bowl. Once the meat has rested, you will cut it against the grain. You can slice it or cut it into smaller pieces. The meat is so tender you can even shred it for smaller kids. I serve this in a separate dish (as you can see below).
Irish Soda Bread
The Irish Soda Bread is so easy to make. We just used this recipe to make it. I hope this helps you have a fantastic St. Patrick’s Day dinner! Don’t forget a fun green drink like a lime sherbet punch or green Kool-Aid with pineapple punch!
St. Patrick’s Day Activities and Desserts
If your kids get anxious while they are waiting for the food to be done, you can print out these St. Patrick’s Day Hidden Pictures (free printables). They are fun and will keep your kids busy finding hidden pictures and coloring.
You can also make these delicious and fun Rainbow Chocolate Dipped Oreo Cookies {St. Patrick’s Day} for dessert! They not only look fun but taste amazing. You can also make Shamrock shakes for dessert. These are green ice cream that tastes like chocolate mint.
