Crockpot Colcannon Potatoes
Top o’ the morning, everyone! Are you ready for some hearty Irish fare?
Colcannon is a traditional Irish dish of mashed potatoes mixed with greens – usually cabbage or kale. Mixed with lots of milk and butter and a little crumbled bacon for flavor, it can fill up the bellies of a big Irish family with very little meat.
This dish is a big part of Irish culture. There’s even a song about it, called “The Little Skillet Pot.” But this is an updated version, so we’re making it in the not-so-little Crockpot instead.
This recipe comes together in stages. First, you cook the potatoes by themselves for a few hours, until they’re nice and tender. Then you toss in the greens for another half hour so they get soft as well. And finally, you drain off the liquid, add butter and cream, mash everything together, and stir in the crumbled bacon. The traditional way to serve it is with a divot on top of the bowl for more butter, so you can dunk each forkful in as you eat.
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The green in this dish makes it a perfect choice for St. Patrick’s Day, but it’s also great any time you just need a simple, hearty, make-ahead meal.
Crockpot Colcannon Potatoes
- Peel and cut potatoes into chunks. Add them to your crockpot and cover them with chicken stock 2-3 cups and season with salt and pepper.
- Cook on high for 4 hours, in the last 30 minutes add the chopped kale.
- Once your 4 hours are done, drain the potatoes and kale in a colander. Add them back to the crockpot and add 4 TBSP of butter to the potatoes and slowly pour the milk as you use a hand mixer to mash your potatoes. Mash to your desired consistency.
- Mix in ¾ of your crumbled bacon, leaving some to garnish on the top.
- Make a divot on the top of the potatoes to add your last bit of butter and finish garnishing with the remainder of bacon and chives.
Is this a main course or a side dish?
- I prefer this as a side dish! Perfect with corned beef or lamb.
Is there a way to make this dish vegetarian?
- There are two ways. You can leave out the bacon, or substitute your favorite “fakin” (meatless bacon). Morning Star Farms a bacon alternative.
Can I use other types of potatoes besides russets?
- Any starchy potato, such as Yukon Golds, will also work. Avoid the waxy red or white potatoes – they won’t stand up to a long cooking.
Can I use other greens besides kale?
- Kale is the most traditional, but any leafy green should work. You could try collards, chard, spinach, or Savoy cabbage.
What can I do with the leftovers?
- They’re great reheated with a little grated cheddar sprinkled on top. You can also pat them into flat cakes and fry them up to make delicious potato pancakes.
More of our favorite St. Patrick’s Day Recipes:
- Instant Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage
- Reuben Dip
- Garlic Mashed Potatoes
- Corned Beef Sauerkraut Reuben Braid
- St. Patrick’s Day Appetizer Board
Crockpot Colcannon Potatoes
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Ingredients
- 5-6 large Russet Potatoes
- 3 cups Chicken stock to cover potatoes About 2-3 cups
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 3 cups of chopped kale
- 1 cup of heavy whipping cream
- 5-6 TBSP of Butter
- 8 slices of bacon cooked and crumbled
- Chives chopped for garnish
Instructions
- Peel and cut potatoes into chunks. Add them to your crockpot and cover them with chicken stock 2-3 cups and season with salt and pepper.
- Cook on high for 4 hours, in the last 30 minutes add the chopped kale.
- Once your 4 hours are done, drain the potatoes and kale in a colander. Add them back to the crockpot and add 4 TBSP of butter to the potatoes and slowly pour the milk as you use a hand mixer to mash your potatoes. Mash to your desired consistency. Mix in ¾ of your crumbled bacon, leaving some to garnish on the top.
- Make a divot on the top of the potatoes to add your last bit of butter and finish garnishing with the remainder of bacon and chives.
Video
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer: Family Fresh Meals is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
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Loved this recipe. Surprised and delighted my Irish in-laws and family!
Can you double the recipe?
Yes, you just want to make sure you are using a 6-8qt crockpot