Traditional colcannon is a beloved Irish dish that combines creamy mashed potatoes with tender greens, often cabbage or kale, and plenty of butter. Hearty and rustic, this comforting side is more than just mashed potatoes – it’s a celebration of simple, wholesome ingredients that have been part of Irish cooking for centuries. Often served alongside meats or enjoyed on its own, colcannon is especially popular around St. Patrick’s Day and during colder months when filling, warm dishes are most welcome.
The foundation of colcannon is mashed potatoes, typically made with floury varieties like Russets or Yukon Golds, which create a soft, smooth texture. Cooked greens are folded into the mash, giving the dish its signature speckled appearance and an earthy, slightly sweet flavor. Cabbage is most commonly used, but some variations swap in kale, scallions, or even leeks, depending on regional and family traditions.
What makes colcannon so comforting is the generous amount of butter and cream mixed into the potatoes. This richness is balanced by the bite of the greens, resulting in a dish that feels indulgent yet grounded. Traditionally, a well of melted butter is made in the center of the bowl when serving, so everyone gets a spoonful of extra richness with their portion.
Traditional Colcannon is often served with corned beef, boiled ham, or Irish sausages, but it can just as easily stand on its own or be served with a fried egg for a cozy vegetarian meal. Leftovers can be shaped into patties and fried until golden, making a delicious next-day treat.
Deeply rooted in Irish heritage, colcannon is more than just a side dish — it’s a warm, comforting reminder of home and tradition. Whether prepared for a holiday feast or a weeknight dinner, its rich flavor and humble ingredients make it a timeless favorite.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds potatoes peeled and cubed
- 4 cups cabbage chopped
- 1/2 cup milk or as needed
- 4 tablespoons butter divided
- 4 scallions chopped
- to taste salt and pepper
Instructions
- Boil the potatoes in a large pot of salted water until tender, about 15-20 minutes.
- In a separate pan, cook the chopped cabbage in boiling water for about 5-7 minutes until tender, then drain.
- Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a saucepan and sauté the scallions until soft.
- Drain the potatoes and mash them with the milk and 2 tablespoons of butter until smooth.
- Stir in the cooked cabbage and scallions. Season with salt and pepper to taste, and serve hot.
I tried this recipe, but it just didn’t taste right. Maybe the cabbage was too much?
Nah, I don’t think cabbage is the prob. Colcannon is supposed to taste like that. Just different, ya know?
I think you might’ve used too much cabbage. It’s all about balance! Maybe try less next time?
This colcannon was a hit! So creamy and comforting. Definitely making again. 🥔❤️
Good recipe! But why you gotta use so much butter? 😅 Can’t we make it healthy?
Looks great but I don’t like cabbage. Could I use spinach instead? Any suggestions?
I didn’t have milk so I used broth. Tbh it wasn’t the same and the texture was off. Recipe is solid—just follow the ingredients.
Totally makes sense—broth won’t give you that creamy mashed-potato texture. The milk (or something similar) is kind of key here. Glad you still found the recipe solid though!
Not a fan. The cabbage was too mushy for my taste. Maybe I overcooked it?
Colcannon?! I thought that was a dance! Turns out it’s food. Ha!
Tried this and my kids loved it, I just added some cheese on top! Yum!
This isn’t how my Irish family makes it! We add bacon! And more cream! Bigger flavor!
Hey, why do people call this colcannon? It’s really just mashed potatoes with greens, right?
It’s called colcannon because it’s a traditional Irish dish! It’s more than just mashed potatoes; the cabbage adds a nice flavor! 😊
I’m skeptical about the cabbage boiling—doesn’t that waterlog it? Mine stayed fine, but I think steaming would be better.
Sorry, but this is just mashed potatoes with cabbage! How can you call it a dish? 🙄
Way too much butter for my personal taste, but still a nice dish overall.
Pretty good, but I think 5-7 minutes for the cabbage is a little short depending on how thick you chop it. I simmered a few extra minutes and it turned out better. Still easy though.
Yummy, but I feel like it could use some garlic for more taste!
I agree! Garlic would be a great addition! Makes everything better! 🧄
Colcannon is one of my favorites and this recipe gets the basics right. I like that it doesn’t overcomplicate it. If you want it richer, add an extra knob of butter at the end.
I made it tonight and it was good, but I think the cabbage needed more than 5-7 minutes. Also, I used way more milk than 1/2 cup—maybe “as needed” really means a lot.
Yes! Colcannon should be simple and comforting like this. That extra butter knob at the end is the move—makes it silky.
Eh, I’ve had better. Needs more butter in my opinion.
Pretty good, but my mash got a bit lumpy. I think I rushed step 4. Still tasted great though, especially with the scallions.
Took forever to cook the potatoes! But it was worth it in the end.
Gr8 recipe! Who knew it was so easy? Thanks so much! 💖
Really good but I used green onions instead of scallions by accident. Still tasted great!
This is just like my grandma used to make! So comforting and delicious. Thank you for sharing!
It was okay, but I thought it needed more flavor. Maybe I should’ve added some cheese? Not sure I’ll make it again.
I totally agree! A little cheese can take it to the next level. I usually add cheddar myself. This dish could use a kick!
Cheese? Isn’t colcannon supposed to be simple? Maybe you just made it wrong. Cabbage, potatoes, butter, that’s it!
Pretty good, but I think 5-7 minutes for cabbage is a little short unless you chop it really fine. Mine was still a bit crunchy—ended up simmering longer and it fixed it.
I found this recipe pretty bland. Needs more seasoning than just salt and pepper!
Too much chopping for me. Where’s the quick version of this recipe??
Awesome!! Can’t believe how easy this was! My kids loved it too. Will make again for sure!
This colcannon is so delicious! Tastes just like my grandma used to make. Five stars for sure!
This tastes like my grandma’s kitchen. No joke. I added extra salt and it was perfect.
Not gonna lie, I was skeptical about boiling cabbage separately. But it didn’t get watery, and the texture was actually really nice. Great side for roast chicken.
I’m the same—separate boiling sounded like extra work, but you’re right about the texture. I usually drain the cabbage really well too so it doesn’t dilute the mash. Roasted chicken + colcannon is a great combo.
Meh. Tasted like mashed potatoes with a veggie in it. Maybe I just hate cabbage? Lol. I’ll try again with less cabbage maybe.
Absolutely love colcannon! Perfect comfort food during the winter. Just add some bacon and it’s even better!
Honestly, I was a bit skeptical about mixing cabbage with potatoes. It sounded weird to me, but it turned out surprisingly good!
I didn’t think cabbage could be so tasty. Never had colcannon before, but this recipe is a win!
I’m glad you enjoyed it! Colcannon is such an underrated dish. Perfect comfort food!
Isn’t this just mashed potatoes with cabbage? Not very fancy at all.
Is this really Irish food? I thought colcannon was just a myth. Anyway, it was okay.
Easy to follow, but too many potatoes for my taste. I prefer more cabbage!
Made this last night—so comforting. The cabbage + scallions combo is spot on, and I didn’t even miss anything. Used a splash more milk for extra creaminess. 10/10 comfort food.
That sounds so perfect for a cozy night! I love when the cabbage and scallions really shine—glad you didn’t feel like you missed anything. ❤️
It’s ok but I prefer it with some cheese mixed in. Never had colcannon before so this was different.
Yum! I added some cheese and it was like a flavor bomb in my mouth! Try it.
I don’t get why there’s cabbage in this. Seems weird to me…but I gave it a shot.
I’ve never had colcannon before, but this seems easy enough. Is it supposed to be this creamy?
Way too much butter for my liking! I’ll make it again but with less.
I dunno, I think it needs something more. Maybe a bit of garlic? Just felt kinda bland to me.
So… I tried it but my potatoes were kind of watery. Maybe I didn’t drain well? anyway, edible.
That watery texture makes sense if the potatoes or cabbage weren’t fully drained after boiling. Next time, drain well and let the potatoes steam in the pot for a minute or two before mashing—also make sure the cabbage water is squeezed out if it’s still wet.
Why do you put milk in this? Isn’t it supposed to be just potatoes and cabbage?
This colcannon recipe is just like my grandmother used to make! So nostalgic 🙂
Very nice! But what’s colcannon even mean? Sounds fancy, haha.
Colcannon is just a fancy name for mashed potatoes with greens! It’s super hearty and delicious. You’ll love it!
Not enough butter for my taste. I know it says divided but I basically went rogue and used more and it was still good!
Honestly same 😄 Colcannon begs for extra butter. Glad it still came out good!
Yum yum, my new favorite dish! 😍
Glad you loved it! Colcannon is the best, right? 😄
Wow, this is awesome!! Can’t believe how easy it was to make! My kids loved it too!
Made this for St. Patrick’s Day and it was a hit! My kids loved it.
So easy to make! I added some cheese on top, really upped the flavor!
Cheese on colcannon? That’s different! I usually stick to the basic recipe, but I might give yours a try!
This colcannon was amazing! My family loved it. Will definitely make again.
So glad to hear that! Colcannon is such a comforting dish. What did your family think of the texture?
I don’t know, seems kinda plain to me. Where’s the flavor? Maybe try adding some bacon next time?
I thought I was cooking potatoes but I messed it up. What did I do wrong? It just tasted like mush.
I added bacon to mine, and it was great! Might not be traditional, but way tastier!
This colcannon recipe is pure comfort food! I added a touch of garlic and it made it even better! Definitely a 5 star dish!
I made this for St. Patrick’s Day, and it was a huge hit! Thanks for the easy instructions!
Made this for St. Patrick’s Day and it was genuinely comforting. I used extra butter and it came out creamy with a nice cabbage bite. Will make again!
meh. I dont get why people love this dish so much. Just boiled potatoes and cabbage shouldnt be such a big deal.
Can you use a different vegetable instead of cabbage? My kids won’t eat it. Help!
Isn’t colcannon supposed to have more ingredients? Where’s the bacon? Not sure I buy this. 🙄
Just finished making this, and it didn’t turn out well. My potatoes were too lumpy. 😞
Not bad, but I’m not sure about the ratio. 4 cups cabbage felt like a lot compared to 2 lbs potatoes—could be me? Next time I’ll cut the cabbage slightly.
Salt and pepper “to taste” is lazy lol. I didn’t know what to do, and I ended up bland. Also, why boil cabbage when you could roast it?
I followed the steps exactly and it tasted… fine? The flavor felt a bit flat until I added more black pepper than “to taste” (which I always do). Next time I’ll probably add a little garlic.
So easy, so good. My grandma would approve. Also the scallions made it smell amazing while cooking.
This colcannon is a game changer! Just like my grandma used to make! Can’t believe how creamy it turned out. Well done!
I made this exactly as written and it came out so cozy. The cabbage texture stayed nice and the scallions gave it that fresh bite. Will definitely repeat on St. Patrick’s Day!
Not gonna lie, the cabbage step felt weird draining it like that, but it worked. Flavor was solid. My only complaint is I kept forgetting to salt the mash until late.
I tried colcannon before and this version is close, but I’m missing that “silky” mash. Maybe I overboiled the potatoes? Still tasty, just not restaurant-perfect.
Delicious! Perfect comfort food for winter. Gonna make it again!
Never heard of colcannon before. Sounds weird! Potatoes and cabbage? Not sure about that…
I totally agree! Colcannon is the best. It’s so cozy and warm, especially on chilly nights.
Delicious but you need more butter for flavor! Didn’t cut it for me otherwise.
I also think it could use more butter. Helps with the texture! But maybe that’s just me.
Delicious! But my neighbor said the Irish don’t add milk usually… is that true?
I don’t get the hype. Colcannon is just mashed potatoes with cabbage… and cabbage is already strong. Still ate it though, so I guess it works.
Totally get where you’re coming from—cabbage can be overpowering on its own. But once it’s cooked and folded into buttery, creamy mash, it turns milder and almost sweet. Also the scallions add a nice sharpness that keeps it from feeling flat. Glad you tried it anyway!
Salted water for both potatoes and cabbage—okay. But I used way too much milk “as needed” and it got kinda runny. Lesson learned: add slowly.
Pretty good comfort food. I think I needed a bit more milk though—mine turned out slightly thick. Next time I’ll add a little butter at the end for extra richness.
Totally agree—colcannon is all about getting that right mash texture. I usually add milk a splash at a time until it turns creamy, not paste-y.
Mine got thick too the first time. I think the milk amount “or as needed” is key, but I still forgot. Butter at the end sounds like a great fix!
This is the real deal! Reminds me of my grandma’s cooking. Yum!
Colcannon just like the Irish make it! So filling! Buy the big potatoes!
Super easy! I followed the steps exactly and it turned out smooth—like, restaurant smooth. My kids went back for seconds. Thank you!
Too much cabbage for my taste. I love potatoes but this was weird. Maybe skip the cabbage? 🤷♀️
I actually think the cabbage adds a nice texture! You might just need to find the right balance for your palate.
Cabbage goes great with potatoes! Maybe try using less in your next batch or add some cheese instead? 🤔
I don’t usually cook cabbage this way—thought it would taste “green” and weird. It didn’t! The scallions mellowed it out. My family asked for seconds, so yeah.
Love this! Colcannon has that cozy, buttery vibe and the scallions definitely help with the cabbage flavor. Seconds is the best review 😄
The cabbage took longer than 7 minutes for me. I should’ve cooked it until tender tender, not just “less crunchy.”
Totally agree—“less crunchy” is vague. I usually cook cabbage until it’s actually tender when pierced with a fork.
This is good, but I messed up the timing. My potatoes took closer to 30 minutes because the cubes were too big. Still delicious once I fixed it!
Made this last night and it was pure comfort. The cabbage part really gives it that classic flavor—next time I’ll use a little more pepper.
Honestly, colcannon sounds fancy but this is straightforward. I doubled the butter and it came out silky.
Came out alright but I’m skeptical. 4 cups cabbage seems like a lot compared to 2 pounds potatoes—mine overwhelmed the mash a bit. Tasted good though with extra butter.