• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Sunday Supper Movement logo
  • Home
  • About
    • Contact Us
    • Sunday Supper Pledge
    • Family Foodie TV
  • Browse Recipes
    • Instant Pot Recipes
    • Appetizers & Snacks
    • Dinner Ideas
    • Side Dishes
    • Best Dessert Recipes
  • Grilling Recipes
  • Cooking Chart
  • Newsletter
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Browse Recipes
  • Holiday Recipes
  • Newsletter
  • Cookbooks
  • Media
  • Contact Us
  • The Sunday Supper Pledge
  • Follow us on social!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Side Dishes » Irish Mashed Potatoes

    Irish Mashed Potatoes

    Published: Mar 7, 2023 Modified: Apr 20, 2023 by Isabel Laessig

    Share
    Pin
    Share

    Sunday Supper is an Amazon Associate and may receive compensation for purchases made through affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    My recipe for Colcannon, or Irish Mashed Potatoes, is a deliciously flavorful and fluffy mashed potatoes recipe with shredded savoy cabbage, green onions, garlic, and plenty of butter! Ready to serve in just 30 minutes.

    Irish Mashed Potatoes - Colcannon in a black dish with melted butter and scallions
    Jump to:
    • Colcannon Recipe
    • Irish Mashed Potato Ingredients
    • How to Make Colcannon
    • Irish Mash Tips
    • What is Colcannon?
    • Colcannon Recipe FAQs
    • What are the best potatoes for mashed potatoes?
    • Best Mashed Potatoes Recipes
    • 📋 Recipe
    • 💬 Reviews

    Colcannon Recipe

    One of my favorite recipes to make as a side dish for my family is a classic bowl of mashed potatoes. There is no failing when it comes to buttery, soft mashed potatoes served with just about any dinner you can think of!

    Of my mashed potato recipes, this recipe for Colcannon, or Irish mashed potatoes, is one of my favorites. This dish isn’t just mashed potatoes: it’s mashed potatoes with cabbage, a delicious combination that pairs well with main dishes of all kinds.

    The best part about making homemade Colcannon is that it takes just 30 minutes from start to finish, using simple ingredients. Colcannon is an easy mashed potatoes recipe your family will love!

    Irish Mashed Potato Ingredients

    • Medium-size potatoes, peeled and quartered
    • Butter
    • Green onions, finely sliced
    • Garlic clove, crushed
    • Savoy cabbage, finely shredded and packed
    • Whole milk
    • Salt and pepper

    Colcannon makes the perfect Irish Thanksgiving food and even serves as one of the best side dishes for roast beef, if you want ideas for Irish Christmas side dishes. It’s one of my favorite gluten-free side dishes, and is a great choice for serving over the holidays!

    How to Make Colcannon

    1. In a medium saucepan, add peeled and quartered potatoes and cover them with cold water and a pinch of salt. Boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to a simmer and boil for another 7 minutes. When they are fork-tender, drain the potatoes, then return them to the saucepan over low heat for 30 to 40 seconds. Shake every so often to reduce moisture, then set aside.
      Soft potatoes after boiling
    2. In the same pan, melt butter over low-medium heat, add some of your green onions to the saucepan with garlic and saute for 2 minutes.
      Sauteing green onions in a saucepan
    3. Finally, add the cabbage and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened.
      Cabbage added to saucepan
    4. Turn the heat to low, then add the potatoes back to the pan. Mash them, gradually mixing them into the other ingredients in the pan.
      Potatoes added back to the pan
    5. Once the potatoes are mashed and mixed well, slowly add the milk. Stir in until it is absorbed into the potatoes. Add the remainder of your butter, salt, and pepper, and mix through.
      Adding milk to potatoes
    6. Serve with extra butter and green onions, and enjoy!

    Irish Mash Tips

    • Peel your potatoes before making mashed potatoes. Unless you like potato skins in your mash, it’s better to peel them beforehand.
    • Boiling potatoes works out best when you first place them in cold water and then bring up to a boil.
    • I always make sure to salt the water when boiling potatoes, as some of that salt will get absorbed by the potatoes, which adds to the flavor. Not all of the salt will be absorbed, so it’s okay to be a bit generous with the salt.
    • If you cut your potatoes no larger than an inch and a half, and turn the heat down as soon as the water boils so it simmers, you should have perfect fork-tender potatoes in around 7-8 minutes.
    • The most important step to perfect mashed potatoes is to let the potatoes dry out before mashing. Many mashed potatoes fail because the potatoes are full of water, caused by boiling for too long or not drying them out. How do you dry them out? It’s simple! Once you drain the cooked potatoes, return them to the saucepan. Over low heat, cook them for another 30 seconds, shaking the pan often. This will steam away any excess moisture.
    • If you mash potatoes too long, your mashed potatoes will become over-mashed and way too soft.

    What is Colcannon?

    Colcannon is an Irish mashed potatoes recipe that includes cabbage. Traditionally, you would create a “well” in the center of the mashed potatoes as a place to add melted butter. Cabbage adds a nice texture to the mashed potatoes, though kale or other leafy greens may also be used if preferred.

    Colcannon Recipe FAQs

    What goes with colcannon?

    Colcannon goes well with holiday meals such as a prime rib, turkey, or ham. It also pairs well with braised meats, especially pot roast or stew. Irish stew is a great choice to pair with colcannon.

    Can you make colcannon with red cabbage?

    Though colcannon traditionally uses green cabbage, red cabbage may be used to make this dish if you prefer.

    Can you make colcannon ahead of time?

    You can make Irish mashed potatoes ahead of time by preparing the entire dish according to the recipe instructions, then transferring it to a casserole dish. Cover with plastic wrap, tightly, and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Remove the plastic wrap before reheating in the oven.

    Irish mashed potatoes in a black skillet
    Irish Mashed Potatoes

    What are the best potatoes for mashed potatoes?

    For making colcannon, I recommend using potatoes with high starch content. Yukon Gold or Russet makes the best mashed potatoes! Waxy potatoes do not mash as well and may take longer to prepare, which can result in over-mashed potatoes.

    Best Mashed Potatoes Recipes

    • Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
    • Creamy Mashed Potatoes
    • Marquis Potatoes
    • Papas Rellenas

    This recipe makes a great side dish for the holidays. Pair it with my other Side Dishes for Ham, Side Dishes for Prime Rib, or Christmas Side Dishes!

    📋 Recipe

    Irish mashed potatoes in a small skillet

    Irish Mashed Potatoes

    Isabel Laessig
    Learn how to make Colcannon, easy Irish mashed potatoes with cabbage that are ready in just 30 minutes from prep to cook time!
    4.88 from 8 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 30 minutes mins
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine American, Irish
    Servings 4 serves
    Calories 211 kcal

    Equipment

    • 1 medium saucepan

    Ingredients
      

    • 5 medium potatoes peeled and quartered
    • 6 tablespoons butter divided (4:2)
    • ¾ cup green onions finely sliced (scallions)
    • 1 clove garlic crushed
    • 2 cups savoy cabbage finely shredded & packed
    • ½ cup whole milk
    • Salt + pepper
    • 1 tablespoon butter
    Cooking Conversions

    See our Cooking Conversions Chart for help converting measurements!

    Instructions
     

    • In a medium saucepan, add potatoes and cover them with cold water and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to a simmer and boil for 7-8 minutes until fork-tender. Finally, drain the potatoes, then return to low heat for 30-40 seconds, shaking every so often to steam off residual moisture. Set potatoes aside.
      potatoes in a saucepan
    • In the same pan, melt 4 Tablespoons of butter over low-medium heat. Reserving 2 Tablespoons of your green onions, add the remainder to the pan with the garlic, and saute for 2 minutes.
      Green onions and butter cooking in pan
    • Add cabbage and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring, until soft.
      Cabbage cooking in pan with green onions
    • Finally, turn the heat to low and add the potatoes back to the pan. Mash them with your spoon, gradually mixing them in with the cabbage and onions.
      Mixing potatoes into cabbage and onions
    • Once the potatoes are mashed and mixed through, slowly add in milk and stir until it's absorbed by the potatoes. Add the remaining 2 Tablespoons butter, salt, and pepper, and mix to combine.
      Adding milk to potatoes
    • Serve with extra butter and green onions on top, and enjoy!
      Irish mashed potatoes in a black dish

    Notes

    1. Peel your potatoes before making mashed potatoes. Unless you like potato skins in your mash, it’s better to peel them beforehand.
    2. Boiling potatoes works out best when you first place them in cold water and then bring up to a boil.
    3. I always make sure to salt the water when boiling potatoes, as some of that salt will get absorbed by the potatoes, which adds to the flavor. Not all of the salt will be absorbed, so it’s okay to be a bit generous with the salt.
    4. If you cut your potatoes no larger than an inch and a half, and turn the heat down as soon as the water boils so it simmers, you should have perfect fork-tender potatoes in around 7-8 minutes.
    5. The most important step to perfect mashed potatoes is to let the potatoes dry out before mashing. Many mashed potatoes fail because the potatoes are full of water, caused by boiling for too long or not drying them out. How do you dry them out? It’s simple! Once you drain the cooked potatoes, return them to the saucepan. Over low heat, cook them for another 30 seconds, shaking the pan often. This will steam away any excess moisture.
    6. If you mash potatoes too long, your mashed potatoes will become over-mashed and way too soft.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 211kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 2gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 55mgSodium: 201mgPotassium: 172mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 1200IUVitamin C: 14.6mgCalcium: 65mgIron: 0.4mg
    Keyword Colcannon, Colcannon recipe, irish mashed potato, Irish mashed potatoes
    Did you try this recipe?Tag #SundaySupper on social and leave a comment below!

    Photos by Marie Roffey.

    Share
    Pin
    Share

    More Side Dishes

    • chicken wing dipping inside blue cheese
      Blue Cheese Dressing Recipe
    • portuguese rice with cilantro in an orange dish
      Portuguese Rice
    • Close up of four grilled corn on the cob in a foil pack for How to Grill Corn on the Cob in Foil
      How to Grill Corn on the Cob
    • orecchiette pasta salad with tomatoes and basil in a deep white plate
      Summer Pasta Salad
    Isabel, AKA Family Foodie

    About Isabel Laessig

    Hi! I’m Isabel Laessig, also known as Family Foodie, creator of Sunday Supper Movement and author of the Boujee Steak Cookbook. Sunday Supper is my mission to bring family back around the dinner table. Join me in making family meal-time a tradition to celebrate!

    » About Me

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Wendy says

      November 04, 2018 at 7:23 pm

      I make colcannon with diced ham mixed in and serve it as a main dish. It’s our go to meal for St. Patrick’s Day.

      Reply
      • Marion Myers says

        November 05, 2018 at 11:50 am

        Yes! We love this recipe on St. Patrick’s Day, but it’s also a nice change to add to other holiday meals like Thanksgiving. So much flavor! Thanks for stopping by, Wendy 🙂

        Reply

    Let us know what you think or ask a question about the recipe! Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Leave a rating!




    Primary Sidebar

    Isabel, AKA Family Foodie

    Hi! I’m Isabel Laessig, also known as Family Foodie. Sunday Supper is my mission to bring family back around the dinner table!

    • Family Foodie Facebook
    • Sunday Supper Pinterest
    • Sunday Supper Youtube
    • Family Foodie Instagram
    • Family Foodie Tiktok

    Sunday Dinner Ideas

    • Southern smothered pork chops in a cast iron skillet
      Pork Chop Recipes
    • Overhead shot of beef chuck roast recipe on a white platter with carrots and fresh herbs
      Beef Chuck Roast
    • up close baked portobello mushrooms surrounded by lettuce
      Portobello Mushroom Recipe
    • A fork with a bite of air fryer pork chops
      Air Fryer Pork Chops
    • Candied Bacon
    • Elotes Mexicanos on a white platter
      Elote Recipe

    Footer

    logos of brands sunday supper has worked with

    Connect with us!

    Join us around our family table by following us on social media, including our Sunday Supper Recipes group!

    • facebook
    • instagram
    • pinterest
    • youtube

    Our Brands

    Follow all of our websites for the best recipes catered to your needs!

    Sunday Supper Movement |
    Best Beef Recipes | Easy Sauce Recipes | Side Dish Ideas | Pork Recipe Ideas

    About Us

    • Contact Us
    • About Isabel and Sunday Supper
    • Our Partners
    • Disclosure & Privacy
    • No AI

    ↑ back to top

    Sunday Supper Logo

    Copyright 2012-2023 Sunday Supper Movement®, All Rights Reserved.