If you’re wondering what to serve with your colcannon, you’ve come to the right place.
In this article, I list 33 of the most popular side dishes for colcannon.
In a rush? Here’s the short answer.
The best dishes to serve with colcannon are Guinness braised short ribs, honey mustard corned beef, marinated lamb chops, and sausages with onion gravy. For plant-based options, try sauteed mushrooms with balsamic glaze and vegan lentil loaf. Go with teriyaki meatballs for some tasty Asian fusion.
Ready? Let’s jump right in.
Guinness braised short ribs
These braised short ribs are the epitome of comfort food.
You get fall-off-the-bone tender meat, and a delicious, deeply flavored broth.
The addition of Guinness makes the sauce extra rich and velvety, with every sip feeling like a warm hug.
All you need is some colcannon to soak everything up!
Why we love this recipe: a bite of these ribs will instantly boost your mood.
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Guinness braised short ribs
Make it different
Red wine pot roast
Make it plant-based
Harissa vegetable and chickpea stew
Baked honey mustard corned beef
Corned beef is a staple in Irish households on St. Patrick’s day, but it’s delicious all year round!
This recipe roasts the cured and seasoned brisket, which yields tender, juicy meat, and a gorgeously caramelized crust – yum.
And the best part? You only need 5 ingredients.
Why we love this recipe: any leftovers will make great sandwiches.
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Baked honey mustard corned beef
Make it effortless
Crispy slow cooker corned beef
Add a smoky note
Smoked corned beef
Creamy mushroom chicken
In a rush and need a tasty dish you can whip up in 30 minutes? This creamy chicken dish has your back.
The mushroom sauce and the chicken are cooked in the same pan, which is great for you because it means less washing up.
Win-win!
Psst… for maximum indulgence, spare some mushroom sauce to drizzle over your colcannon.
Why we love this recipe: everyone will be clamoring for second helpings.
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Creamy mushroom chicken
Make it Southern-inspired
Southern fried chicken
Preheat the oven
Baked chicken pieces
Vegan lentil loaf
Whether you’ve been vegan for years or you’re just starting to dip your toes into meat-free meals, this lentil loaf is a must-try.
The secret ingredient – vegan ‘beef’ crumbles helps compensate for the lentils’ naturally mushy texture and gives the loaf some bite.
Pro tip: if you can’t find vegan Worcestershire sauce, A1 steak sauce is a great substitute!
Why we love this recipe: it freezes nicely so you can double up and make two meals at once.
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“Beefy” vegan lentil loaf
Skip the lentils
Chickpea vegan meatloaf
Stick with the basics
Classic meatloaf
Marinated lamb chops with rosemary and garlic
Not a fan of corned beef? Serve these lamb chops instead for your Irish feast.
The chops are already tender, so they don’t technically need a marinade.
But this recipe goes the extra mile and calls for rubbing the chops with a classic lemon, garlic, and rosemary marinade for maximum flavor.
Why we love this recipe: the chops look and taste like they came from a five-star restaurant.
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Marinated lamb chops with rosemary and garlic
Make it Greek-style
Greek lamb meatballs
Make it for a group
Roasted leg of lamb
Teriyaki meatballs
Add a delicious Asian flair to your colcannon with a serving of these teriyaki meatballs.
The meaty morsels are made of turkey and baked instead of pan-fried, making them healthier than the usual beefy version.
Baking also seals in the natural juices, ensuring you achieve perfectly moist meatballs.
Why we love this recipe: it’s budget-friendly.
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Teriyaki meatballs
Make it Swedish-style
Swedish meatballs
Make it meat-free
Broccoli cheese balls
Lemon garlic salmon
If you want to keep your dinner light, this seared salmon dish is the way to go.
It’s packed with omega-3s and vitamins like B6 and B12, making it one of the healthiest animal proteins you can serve.
This recipe keeps things simple with a bright and zesty lemon sauce, which allows the natural flavor of the salmon to shine through.
Why we love this recipe: it’s ideal for busy weeknight dinners.
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Lemon garlic salmon
Fire up the grill
Grilled halibut
Make it crispy
Beer-battered fish
Jack Daniel’s grilled steak
Stick with the classics and whip up this grilled steak to pair with your colcannon.
New York strip steaks are great with just a dash of salt and pepper, but this recipe jazzes them up with simple soy sauce and whiskey marinade.
The whiskey enhances that smoky flavor your steaks get from the grill, and gives you something to sip on while you’re cooking.
Why we love this recipe: it’s restaurant-quality.
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Jack Daniel’s grilled steak
Stick with the basics
Pan-seared steak
Make it budget-friendly
Garlic grilled flank steak
Cumberland sausages with onion gravy
Put a fun twist on the British classic by serving sausages and onion gravy over a bed of colcannon.
The combination of salty sausages and the sweet, smoky gravy is the perfect contrast to the creaminess of your colcannon.
Just a heads up – this recipe opts for reducing the stock for the gravy instead of using a thickener, so patience is a must.
Why we love this recipe: it’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
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Cumberland sausages with onion gravy
Make it different
Italian sausage and peppers skillet
Make it plant-based
Vegan sausage
Sauteed mushrooms with balsamic glaze
Want the colcannon to be the star of the show? Pair it with a simple veggie side.
Mushrooms are already loaded with umami, but adding balsamic vinegar takes them to another level.
As well as adding a contrasting sweet-but-tangy bite to make your meal more interesting.
Why we love this recipe: it will be ready in 20 minutes.
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Sauteed mushrooms with balsamic glaze
Make it healthier
Skillet zucchini mushrooms
Make a stew
Mushrooms bourguignon
Pulled pork
With this recipe, you can have melt in your mouth pulled pork with just your oven – no smoker needed.
The key to perfect pork is to season the meat with the spice rub a day in advance so the flavors can really develop.
Pulled pork doused in barbecue sauce is typically served in brioche buns, but it’s also excellent over a heap of colcannon.
Why we love this recipe: it’s ideal for feeding a crowd.
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Easy pulled pork
Make it Tex-Mex style
Crockpot carnitas
Make it vegan
BBQ jackfruit “pulled pork”
The best side dishes to serve with colcannon
- Guinness braised short ribs
- Baked honey mustard corned beef
- Creamy mushroom chicken
- Vegan lentil loaf
- Marinated lamb chops with rosemary and garlic
- Teriyaki meatballs
- Lemon garlic salmon
- Jack Daniel’s grilled steak
- Cumberland sausages with onion gravy
- Sauteed mushrooms with balsamic glaze
- Pulled pork
What To Serve With Colcannon
Ingredients
- 1 portion colcannon
Instructions
- Prepare your colcannon according to your favorite recipe.
- In the meantime, choose one of the following sides to serve alongside it.
- Side dishes include: guinness braised short ribs, baked honey mustard corned beef, creamy mushroom chicken, vegan lentil loaf, marinated lamb chops with rosemary and garlic, teriyaki meatballs, lemon garlic salmon, jack daniel’s grilled steak, cumberland sausages with onion gravy, sauteed mushrooms with balsamic glaze, and pulled pork.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!