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Every State’s Favorite Traditional Irish Dish for St. Patrick’s Day 2026

As March approaches, it heralds two significant events: the arrival of spring and, more importantly, St. Patrick’s Day. This festive occasion, celebrated with vibrant parades, green attire, and Irish cultural traditions, invites everyone to embrace the spirit of Irish heritage.
In addition to the festivities, why not enhance your St. Patrick’s Day celebration by trying your hand at preparing a traditional Irish dish? It’s a delightful way to honor this beloved holiday.
Most Interesting Finds
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Soda bread, a versatile quick bread leavened with sodium bicarbonate instead of yeast, enjoys popularity particularly among East Coast states.
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Colcannon, a traditional Irish side dish made from mashed potatoes mixed with cabbage or kale, is especially favored by states starting with the letter “O.” Ohio, Oklahoma, and Oregon all show a strong interest in this delightful dish.
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North Dakota has a notable affinity for Irish Stew, a comforting casserole typically made with root vegetables and lamb, mutton, or beef, showing a significantly higher search interest than other states for this hearty entree.
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The lively states of Louisiana and Nevada lead in searches for Irish coffee, making it their top choice for St. Patrick’s Day beverages.
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Guinness Pie, a quintessential St. Patrick’s Day dish combining beef and Guinness beer, has garnered attention primarily from New York and California, who are the only states to have searched for this recipe in recent times.
How We Figured This Out
To identify each state’s favorite St. Patrick’s Day dish, we compiled a list of popular traditional Irish foods and drinks. Through research into classic Irish fare, we established a top ten list. Here are our findings:
The Top 10 Traditional Irish Food and Drinks (in no particular order):
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Soda Bread
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Corned-Beef Hash
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Colcannon
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Corned Beef and Cabbage
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Guinness Pie
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Coddle
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Irish Stew
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Shepherd’s Pie
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Irish Coffee
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Irish Apple Cake
With a clear understanding of popular Irish dishes and drinks, we turned to Google Trends to discover which states were most enthusiastic about each item. By analyzing regional search interest, we determined each state’s culinary preferences.
For instance, the search term ‘corned-beef hash’ revealed that Hawaii showed the highest interest in this Irish breakfast favorite, with a relative interest score of 100. In contrast, Louisiana had a significantly lower interest score of 7 for soda bread.
Every State’s Favorite Traditional Irish Dish for St. Patrick’s Day
| State | Favorite Irish Food |
|---|---|
| AL | Apple Cake |
| AK | Corned-Beef Hash |
| AZ | Coddle |
| AR | Coddle |
| CA | Guinness Pie |
| CO | Corned Beef and Cabbage |
| CT | Soda Bread |
| DE | Coddle |
| FL | Shepherd’s Pie |
| GA | Shepherd’s Pie |
| HI | Corned-Beef Hash |
| ID | Corned-Beef and Cabbage |
| IL | Shepherd’s Pie |
| IN | Apple Cake |
| IA | Corned Beef and Cabbage |
| KS | Irish Coffee |
| KY | Apple Cake |
| LA | Irish Coffee |
| ME | Soda Bread |
| MD | Irish Coffee |
| MA | Soda Bread |
| MI | Corned-Beef Hash |
| MN | Irish Stew |
| MS | Apple Cake |
| MO | Coddle |
| MT | Corned-Beef Hash |
| NE | Corned-Beef and Cabbage |
| NV | Irish Coffee |
| NH | Soda Bread |
| NJ | Soda Bread |
| NM | Irish Coffee |
| NY | Guinness Pie |
| NC | Irish Coffee |
| ND | Irish Stew |
| OH | Colcannon |
| OK | Colcannon |
| OR | Colcannon |
| PA | Irish Stew |
| RI | Corned-Beef Hash |
| SC | Irish Stew |
| SD | Colcannon |
| TN | Apple Cake |
| TX | Shepherd’s Pie |
| UT | Coddle |
| VT | Soda Bread |
| VA | Shepherd’s Pie |
| WA | Colcannon |
| WV | Coddle |
| WI | Colcannon |
| WY | Corned Beef and Cabbage |
As you prepare to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, consider exploring the traditional foods that resonate with each state. From hearty Irish Stew to sweet Apple Cake, these dishes not only reflect culinary preferences but also showcase the rich tapestry of Irish culture across the United States. Embrace the spirit of the holiday and enjoy the delightful tastes of Ireland!

