Creamy Irish Colcannon Mashed Potatoes with Crispy Bacon
A comforting and easy-to-make Irish colcannon mashed potatoes recipe featuring creamy potatoes, tender sautéed cabbage, and crispy bacon for a perfect texture and flavor balance.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Cuisine: Irish
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 pounds (900 grams) Russet or Yukon Gold potatoes
- 1/2 medium head green cabbage, finely shredded
- 4 tablespoons (60 grams) unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) whole milk or half-and-half
- 6–8 slices crispy bacon
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Green onions or chives, finely chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Peel and roughly chop potatoes into even chunks. Boil in salted water (about 1 tablespoon salt) for 15-20 minutes or until fork-tender.
- While potatoes boil, finely shred cabbage. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large pan over medium heat. Add cabbage, season lightly with salt and pepper, and sauté for 8-10 minutes until tender but still slightly crisp. Stir occasionally.
- Cook bacon in a cast-iron skillet or frying pan over medium heat until crispy, about 8 minutes. Drain on paper towels and set aside. Once cooled, roughly chop or crumble the bacon.
- Drain potatoes and return to pot. Add remaining 2 tablespoons butter and warm milk or half-and-half. Mash with a potato masher or ricer until smooth and creamy. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Fold sautéed cabbage gently into mashed potatoes. Adjust seasoning if needed.
- Spoon mashed potatoes onto serving plates. Top generously with crispy bacon and sprinkle with chopped green onions or chives if using.
- Serve immediately while warm.
Notes
If the mash feels too thick, add a splash of warm milk to loosen it. Avoid overcooking the cabbage to keep some crunch. For extra flavor, drizzle some reserved bacon fat into the mash. This recipe is adaptable for vegetarian and dairy-free diets.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1 cup per serv
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 550
- Fat: 16
- Saturated Fat: 8
- Carbohydrates: 26
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 8
Keywords: colcannon, mashed potatoes, Irish recipe, creamy potatoes, crispy bacon, comfort food, cabbage, easy side dish