Side Dish · Lunch · Dinner · Eastern European ·

Irish Colcannon Recipe with Crispy Bacon and Cabbage

Name: Irish Colcannon Recipe with Crispy Bacon and Cabbage
Prep time: 23 min
Cook time: 70 min
Total time: 93 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Side Dish
Ingredients: 2 lbs Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cubed; 1 cup whole milk; 4 tbsp unsalted butter; Salt and pepper to taste; 2 cups green cabbage, thinly sliced; 2 cups kale, stems removed and chopped; 4 slices thick-cut bacon, diced; 1/2 cup scallions, thinly sliced; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1 tbsp olive oil; 1/2 tsp nutmeg; Extra butter, for serving

Colcannon is a comforting Irish dish made from potatoes mixed with cabbage and kale, enhanced with the savory touch of bacon and the sharpness of green onions.

4.2(93 reviews)

·By Ethan Brooks·June 22, 2025

Irish Colcannon Recipe with Crispy Bacon and Cabbage — Side Dish served and photographed from above

Prep

23 min

Cook

1 h 10 min

Difficulty

Easy

Serves

Ingredients

Servings

For the Potatoes

For the Greens

For the Flavors

Optional Additions

Nutrition

Per serving

Calories: 323 kcal
Protein: 9 g
Carbs: 34 g
Fat: 16.25 g
Fiber: 3.83 g

Whole recipe

Total

Calories: 1935 kcal
Protein: 54 g
Carbs: 205 g
Fat: 97.5 g
Fiber: 23 g

Breakdown by ingredient▾

Ingredient	Cal	P	C	F	Fib
2 lbs Yukon Gold potatoes peeled and cubed	780	18	162	0.5	13
1 cup whole milk	150	8	12	8	0
4 tbsp unsalted butter	400	0	0	45	0
Salt and pepper to taste	0	0	0	0	0
2 cups green cabbage thinly sliced	44	2	10	0	4
2 cups kale stems removed and chopped	70	5	14	1	4
4 slices thick-cut bacon diced	240	20	0	18	0
1/2 cup scallions thinly sliced	16	1	4	0	1
2 cloves garlic minced	9	0	2	0	0
1 tbsp olive oil	120	0	0	14	0
1/2 tsp nutmeg	6	0	1	0	1
Extra butter for serving	100	0	0	11	0

These are estimates, not dietary advice.

Preparation

Get these tasks done before you start cooking.

Marinating the Flavors

1
Combine Garlic and Oil
Combine the minced garlic and olive oil in a small dish.
2
Rest
Let it sit for at least 15 minutes to develop flavors.
3
Set Aside
Set aside until ready to use.

Preparing the Greens

1
Cook Bacon
Heat a large pan over medium heat. Add bacon and cook until crispy. Remove and drain on paper towels.
2
Sauté Greens
In the same pan, add cabbage, kale, and garlic oil. Sauté until tender.

How to Make Irish Colcannon Recipe with Crispy Bacon and Cabbage

Total time: 1 h 33 min · Yields 6 servings

1
Boiling the Potatoes
Place potatoes in a pot, cover with water, add a pinch of salt, and boil until tender, about 20 minutes.
2
Infusing the Milk
In a saucepan, heat milk and butter until butter melts. Keep warm.
3
Combining Everything
Drain and mash potatoes, then mix in the infused milk, sautéed greens, bacon, and scallions. Season with salt, pepper, and optional nutmeg.