Boxty is a traditional Irish potato pancake that showcases the country’s deep-rooted love for the humble spud. Crispy on the outside and tender inside, boxty is made from a combination of grated raw potatoes and mashed potatoes mixed with flour, baking soda, and buttermilk. The result is a rustic, satisfying dish that’s been enjoyed in Irish households for generations, especially in the northern and western parts of the country.
What makes boxty unique is its blend of textures. The grated raw potato gives it a slight bite and crispness, while the mashed potato keeps it soft and creamy. The batter is usually cooked on a griddle or frying pan, much like a pancake, and served hot and golden brown. Some versions are thick and hearty, while others are thin and crepe-like, folded around savory fillings.
Boxty is incredibly versatile and can be served in many ways. It’s often enjoyed as part of a traditional Irish breakfast alongside eggs, sausages, and black pudding. It also works beautifully as a side dish for roasted meats or stews. In more modern preparations, boxty is used as a wrap for fillings like smoked salmon, vegetables, or creamy chicken.
Rich in history, boxty is sometimes tied to old Irish rhymes and folklore. It was once considered a special meal for holidays or feasts, but today it’s celebrated for its simplicity and adaptability. Despite its modest ingredients, boxty delivers a hearty, comforting experience that connects generations of Irish cooks.
Whether made at home or ordered at a local Irish pub, boxty remains a beloved staple that highlights the creativity of traditional Irish cooking. It’s a dish that turns potatoes into something both humble and special.
Ingredients
- 2 cups grated potatoes peeled and raw
- 1 cup mashed potatoes cooked
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons butter for frying
Instructions
- Combine the grated potatoes, mashed potatoes, and flour in a large bowl.
- Mix in the buttermilk, baking soda, and salt until you have a smooth batter.
- Heat a pan over medium heat and add the butter.
- Spoon the batter into the pan to form pancakes, cooking until golden brown on each side, about 3-4 minutes per side.
- Serve hot as a side dish or with toppings of your choice.
This looks amazing! My grandma used to make boxty all the time. Can’t wait to try this recipe!
Too much butter! It was greasy. Next time I’ll use less. But overall, pretty good.
I don’t know, isn’t boxty supposed to be made with just raw potatoes? Adding mashed potatoes seems off.
Nah, it’s gotta be raw potatoes only! Adding mashed sounds weird. 😕
I thought boxty was just grated potatoes too, but it actually tastes great with mashed potatoes! Gives it a nice texture.
It tasted alright, but I think I put too much flour… What does buttermilk even do? 🤔
Buttermilk adds moisture and helps with the fluffiness! Don’t stress too much about the flour, just tweak it next time!
This turned out great! Can’t believe how easy it was! I added some cheese and it was delish!
I’m so glad it worked out for you! I love cheese too, definitely going to try that next time!
Easy to make and delicious! My kids gobbled them up! 😊
I tried making this but it turned out soggy. Not sure where I went wrong. Perhaps too much buttermilk? I’m not sure I’ll try again.
I don’t know, this seems too complicated! Can’t I just use regular potatoes? What’s the point of all this mixing?
Made this in a rush using leftover mashed potatoes. Not bad, but I overcooked ’em. Oops!
Sounds like a creative way to use leftovers! Sometimes my best meals come from mistakes too. 😊
Boxty is from Ireland, right? I don’t think this is the authentic way. But it was alright.
Not bad at all. I think mine needed a bit more cook time on the first side, because the centers were slightly underdone. Taste was great though!
Boxty? Sounds fancy! Just call them potato pancakes. Haha! Still yummy though. 3 stars.
Why add buttermilk? Can’t I just use milk? Anyway, I liked it.
Looks simple but I find it kinda confusing. Do you really need both kinds of potatoes?
I think using both types of potatoes gives it a better texture! The grated ones make it crispy, while the mashed ones keep it soft.
Pretty good overall! I used a little more salt because I like it punchy. They browned fast, though, so I’d watch the heat closer than medium.
Thanks! I’m the same way—I always add a bit extra salt too. And yeah, browning fast makes sense if the pan runs hotter than “medium.” I usually do a test pancake first.
These are surprisingly easy. I served them with sour cream and chives and it felt like a fancy brunch. Will definitely make again.
Not bad, but way too much flour for me personally. It got a little bready. Maybe I should’ve measured differently or grated the potatoes finer.
Yum! I added some cheese and herbs to the batter and it turned out fantastic! Will be making again for sure.
Cheese and herbs sound like a great idea! I never thought of that. I might try it next time!
I love this! But can I substitute buttermilk with regular milk? I don’t have any at home right now.
I tried and it was okay… my family ate it, but they said it’s more like potato fritters than pancakes. Still, not bad for a quick meal.
Pretty good, but mine stuck a bit to the pan. Next time I’ll use more butter and make sure the pan is properly hot before spooning.
That’s helpful—boxty can be a little sticky if the pan isn’t hot enough. I’ll try preheating a touch longer and maybe add a thin extra butter wipe before the first batch.
Mine never sticks but I always use more flour and less potato juice… also I fry on high, not medium. Maybe your grated potatoes were wetter?
Tried this boxty tonight—so crispy on the outside and soft inside. The batter being smooth worked out perfectly for me. I served it with sour cream and chives and it was gone fast. Great comfort food!
Yes!! That’s exactly how boxty should be—crispy edges, tender middle. Glad the smooth batter tip worked for you. 🙌
Mmm, crispy edges! But I feel like butter could be more or less…depends on taste!
Great taste! I added some cheese in the mix. So good!
1 star. Too salty? Also I cooked way longer than 3-4 minutes because it wasn’t browning. Maybe my stove is cursed lol.
This recipe is amazing! The boxty turned out perfect and everyone loved it. Will make again!
Made these last night—so crispy outside, soft inside! I used slightly less flour because my potatoes were wetter, and it worked great. Definitely a keeper.
2 cups of rawe potatoes? R you sure? I used less, and it was still too much for me. Somebody help me figure this out.
I think you need more salt? The batter tasted bland before frying. After adding cheese on top it was better. Recipe is fine but adjust to taste.
My boxty stuck to the pan even with butter. I think my butter burned too fast. Also I turned the heat up too high—oops.
I tried to follow the steps, but my batter never got smooth. It stayed lumpy, and the pancakes came out kinda dense. Still ate them, but I wouldn’t call it “smooth.”
I’ve made boxty before but this batter method is solid. The combo of grated + mashed potatoes really gives it that nice texture. Turned out golden and flavorful—definitely making again.
Did you really just mix raw and cooked potatoes? I feel like that could go wrong. I’m skeptical but might try.
The baking soda + buttermilk combo is doing something here, wow. Mine browned faster than expected though—3-4 minutes might be too long on my stove.
Boxty? Never heard of it. Sounds weird to me. Why would you mix mashed and grated potatoes? Seems odd.
I followed the steps but my pancakes were kinda gummy in the middle. I think I used medium heat but maybe my pan runs cold. Any tips for getting them cooked through?
Boxty is my grandma’s thing, so I’m picky. This recipe got the texture right, but I used less flour because my potatoes were wetter. Still delicious—10/10 for authenticity-ish.
Meh. They taste fine, but my kids didn’t like it. They prefer plain pancakes.
I get that! Kids can be super picky. Maybe try adding some chocolate chips next time?
Boxty? More like boooxty! Not a fan. Just make normal pancakes, much easier.
This boxty recipe is amazing! So easy to follow and they taste incredible. I can’t believe I didn’t know about this dish before. Definitely a 5-star!
I tried this but the batter was too runny. What did I do wrong?
Made these last night and they turned out so golden and crispy—exactly what I wanted with Irish comfort vibes. The batter was a little thick but manageable. I served them with sour cream and it was perfect.
Mine stuck to the pan a bit even with butter. Next time I’ll use a nonstick pan or add a touch more butter. Flavor was still solid though.
Oh no—boxty can definitely be a little stubborn like that. Nonstick is a great call. I also find grating the potatoes drier (and letting the batter sit a minute) helps, plus a touch more butter or even a light oil wipe on the pan.
This boxty recipe brought back so many memories! My grandma used to make it for us every Sunday. It tastes just like home. ❤️
Not a fan. The potatoes were too mushy. Maybe I overcooked them?
I love potatoes! Made this for brunch and my kids ate it up! Will make again.
That’s awesome to hear! Boxty is a hit in my house too. Kids love it!
Simple and delicious! I used leftover mashed potatoes from dinner and it was a hit with the fam. Highly recommend!
The batter came together smooth like the instructions said, which was nice. I served mine with sour cream and chives and it tasted like comfort food.
The ingredient ratios feel off—1 cup mashed + 2 cups grated seems like a lot of potato. I ended up with batter that was more like dough. Tasted okay but the shape was messy.
Totally get what you mean—boxty can get weird if the potato mix is too wet or the mix feels like it won’t “pancake.” Next time, try wringing/squeezing the grated potatoes a bit before mixing. Also add a splash more flour or a little more mashed if it’s too loose.
Eh, I tried it, but it didn’t turn out as good as I expected. Maybe my pan wasn’t hot enough. Who knows?
Idk, I thought it was super easy. Just follow the steps! Maybe you mixed the batter wrong? 🤔
Maybe you should try using a better pan next time! My boxty came out amazing! 🌟
So simple and delicious! I added a bit of cheese to the mix, and wow, what a game changer! 🌟
Not my thing, too heavy. Maybe I did something wrong? gonna stick with regular pancakes.
Super yum!!!
Looks good, but is it really that easy? I don’t wanna mess it up.
I tried this recipe and it was incredible! So fluffy and tasty. 😍
How many potatoes for this? The cups confuse me. 😕
Boxty is supposed to be Irish, right? I grew up with it and this recipe tastes pretty close. My only gripe is I prefer mine a bit thinner—still delicious.
I made these and they came out perfectly golden—crispy outside, soft inside. The batter consistency was exactly what I hoped for. Great comfort food.
Two words: super tasty. Used butter and they browned nicely. Would make again for sure.
Love to hear that! The butter browning is the best part of boxty—thanks for confirming it works great with that approach.
These taste like my grandma’s cooking (or maybe I’m just hopeful). The texture is the best part. I topped with sour cream + chives.
The flavor is great, but 3-4 minutes per side felt too short for my stove. I had to cook longer to get them golden. Still worth it though.
Wasn’t sure about using grated potatoes with mashed ones. It seemed strange, but they actually came together well.
I totally get what you mean! I was skeptical too, but it ended up being a hit at dinner. Who would’ve thought?!
I had no buttermilk so I used regular milk with lemon. They were kinda tangy and okay, but not the same. Still ate them all, so… yeah.
Okay but I don’t get the “smooth batter” part… I mixed and it stayed kinda lumpy because potatoes are potatoes 😅. Still, the pancakes tasted great. Maybe I overmixed? Or undercooked? Not sure.
Not bad, but I’m skeptical about the 3-4 minutes per side part. Mine took way longer on medium heat. Either I’m doing something wrong or “medium” varies wildly.
Maybe try higher heat? If it’s raw in the middle then the outside won’t brown. But if your skillet runs cold, 3-4 mins won’t work. Also do you drain the grated potatoes? I think extra moisture makes them slower.
Yeah, I agree—3–4 min/side sounds fast. I usually need closer to 5–7 minutes depending on the pan and how hot “medium” really is. If it’s browning too fast, lower the heat; if it’s staying pale, give it more time.
I don’t know what happened but my first batch burned. Pan was probably too hot. I lowered to medium-low and they were way better. So maybe blame me, lol.
Not gonna lie, I was skeptical about “smooth batter” with grated potatoes. Mine stayed a bit chunky, but they still tasted great. Maybe I overmixed?
Chunky boxty still sounds like success to me 😄 Potatoes don’t always go perfectly smooth. I’ve found lightly mixing (like just until combined) keeps it tender without getting gluey. Golden brown = the real test.
Uh… smooth batter with raw grated potatoes? Mine never does that either. Next time maybe grate finer or squeeze the grated taters a little? Otherwise it’s more like fritters than pancakes, still yummy though.
I think my potatoes were too watery, because my batter felt thin. I added a splash more flour, and then it behaved better. Still tasty though.
Tasty, but I burnt a few! 😅 Practice makes perfect, I guess. Next time will be better!
Don’t worry, everyone burns a few! Just turn down the heat a bit next time. They taste great regardless! 😄
Ugh, I always mess up pancakes too. I think it’s just practice. At least they weren’t a total disaster! 😂
I followed the steps, but mine were pale and not as golden as in the picture (none of us in the comments have pictures anyway 😅). Flavor was still good though—maybe my pan wasn’t hot enough.
Mine stuck to the pan a little even with butter. Next time I’ll use more butter or a nonstick pan. Flavor was there, just presentation was messy.
I’m skeptical about “smooth batter” with grated raw potatoes. I mean, you can’t really smooth that out. But the pancakes still came out good, so… meh, point for the recipe.
My boxty kinda fell apart… I think my batter was too runny. Still ate it all cuz I’m not wasting food lol. Would try again.
I’m skeptical about “smooth batter” with raw grated potatoes. Mine looked chunky but still tasted fine. Texture was more rustic than I expected.
Not gonna lie, I was skeptical because the batter looked kinda thick, but it cooked up really well. I added a little extra salt by instinct and it was awesome.
I’m skeptical about using both grated raw potatoes and mashed cooked potatoes—sounds like it could get gummy. Mine did hold together though, but the texture was sort of chewy. Still edible and flavorful, just not what I expected.
Totally get the skepticism—raw + cooked potatoes *can* sound like it would turn out gummy. But boxty is kind of built on that mix. The cooked mash helps bind, while the grated raw adds starch and structure. If yours was chewy, that may mean the grated potatoes were pretty wet or the pancakes were a little thicker—next time try squeezing the grated potatoes a bit and keep the heat at medium so they brown before getting too soft.
Good flavor, but my batter was a bit too thick? I ended up adding a splash more buttermilk. Also, 3-4 minutes per side felt long on my stove—next time I’ll watch for that golden brown more closely.
These were actually kinda bland for me. Next time I’ll add black pepper or maybe some garlic—salt alone didn’t wow me.
Crispy outside, soft inside—yes! I made them smaller like latkes and they cooked more evenly. Great with smoked salmon too.
It’s okay, but I’m not sure about the baking soda amount. Mine had a slightly weird taste—maybe my buttermilk was expired? Probably user error.
I forgot the baking soda once (don’t ask 😅) and they were flatter. So yeah, that teaspoon matters. Good recipe.
The batter came out super thick for me, not really “smooth.” I whisked harder and it loosened, but next time I’ll measure buttermilk more carefully.