Full Irish Breakfast
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Full Irish breakfast is the best meal to enjoy on a weekend or when a long, busy day is ahead of you. It’s filling, hearty and packed with a variety of delicious ingredients.
After spending 10 years living in Ireland, it’s no surprise that the Irish fry-up has become one of my favorite breakfasts. I’ve made it countless times, and now I’m sharing this recipe so you can enjoy it too.
It’s perfect for St. Patrick’s Day breakfast or brunch, but just as enjoyable on any day you’re in the mood for a warm and satisfying meal!
What is a full Irish breakfast?
It is a cooked meal, traditionally fried in a skillet and served warm.
Authentic Irish breakfast ingredients
Here’s what you’ll typically find on a proper breakfast plate:
- Rashers (Irish bacon): Unlike American streaky bacon, rashers are thicker and meatier with only a little fat. Serving tip: 2–3 rashers per person is typical.
- Sausages (bangers): Irish sausages are often made with pork and have a rich, savory flavor. Choose sausages with high meat content for the best results. Serving tip: Plan for 2 sausages per person.
- Fried eggs: Fried eggs are essential. Scrambled or poached eggs won’t deliver the same authentic touch. Serving tip: 1–2 eggs per person.
- Baked beans: These add a hearty touch. Serve as much/as little as you like but make sure to heat them through first!
- Mushrooms: Optional, but delicious when sautéed in bacon fat for added flavor.
- Tomatoes: Lightly fry halved tomatoes in the skillet to bring out their sweetness.
- Hash browns: Today, these are a convenient choice, usually found in the freezer section of a supermarket. Traditional Irish breakfasts often included fried potatoes or potato farls.
- Black and white pudding: Black pudding (a type of blood sausage) is a must-try for authenticity. White pudding is similar but without blood, often made with pork fat, oatmeal and spices. Both add rich flavor to the plate.
Ingredient substitutions
If you’re in the US and can’t find some traditional Irish ingredients, here are some great alternatives:
- Rashers (Irish bacon): Use Canadian bacon or thick-cut pork loin as a substitute. Cook it gently to mimic the softer texture of rashers. If you don’t really mind about not being authentic, use your favorite kind of bacon!
- Irish sausages: Look for British-style bangers or high-quality pork sausages. Breakfast sausages with minimal seasoning work well, too.
- Black pudding: While authentic black pudding can be harder to find, some specialty stores carry it. Alternatively, try Spanish morcilla or Polish kaszanka for a similar flavor.
- Hash browns: Frozen hash browns are widely available, or you can make your own, if you feel like it.
How to make an Irish breakfast
Making this breakfast is all about timing and cooking everything just right. You can either fry all the ingredients in a frying pan/skillet (this is the more traditional way) or you can do some of them in the oven and some on the stove top.
I prefer the second version as it makes the whole process of cooking a breakfast quicker. Because, let’s face it, as much as I love making this breakfast, it does take some time, especially when making it for 4 people or more.
A griddle will also work great. In fact better than a skillet in my opinion.
Please note that the cooking time will vary, depending on the ingredients you use (different sausages, bacon, hash browns and black pudding may have different cooking times), so be sure to check the package instructions!
As for the tomatoes and mushrooms, they only need a few minutes in the skillet. The eggs also take only a few minutes.
Serving suggestions
For the ultimate experience, serve everything together on warm plates to keep the food hot. Fresh toast with Irish butter is a must-have side, while Irish brown soda bread is another traditional addition worth trying.
To drink, go for a cup of strong black tea with a splash of milk for authenticity. Alternatively, coffee or orange juice pairs nicely with this hearty breakfast. For an added touch, some places serve the meal with brown sauce (like HP Sauce), ketchup, or mustard, pick your favorite!
Now just so you know, this filling breakfast can vary from place to place so your plate may look slightly different. Some B&Bs may offer extra sides or swap out ingredients depending on local preferences.
If you ever get the chance to visit Ireland, I recommend staying at a B&B (Bed and Breakfast) for the most authentic experience.
Not only will you enjoy a delicious Irish fry-up, but you’ll also experience the warmth and hospitality that makes B&B stays so memorable.
In Ireland, many small shops have hot counters selling Irish breakfast items so that people can grab them and eat them on the go. They usually stuff a French baguette with them (it’s called a breakfast roll). It’s a delicious and convenient way to enjoy this classic meal!
Julia’s tips for success
Over the years, I’ve made this breakfast countless times, cooking it every weekend when we lived in Ireland. Here’s what I’ve learned:
- Cook in stages: To manage timing, start with sausages, then bacon, followed by mushrooms and tomatoes. Eggs should be cooked last so they stay warm and fresh.
- Don’t overcook the rashers: They should be cooked through but not crispy. The slight chewiness is key to authentic Irish bacon.
- Add flavor with bacon fat: Sauté mushrooms and tomatoes in bacon fat for a rich, savory taste.
- Choose quality ingredients: A good Irish breakfast is all about the ingredients. Opt for quality sausages, fresh eggs and proper Irish pudding if available.
Frequently asked questions
Absolutely! You can omit it if it’s not your thing. Your breakfast will still be hearty and satisfying.
Yes, you can. Swap the meat for plant-based alternatives, and consider adding grilled halloumi or avocado as flavorful additions.
Yes! You can pre-cook sausages and bacon, then reheat them in the oven before serving.
Brown sauce (like HP Sauce) is a popular choice, while some prefer ketchup or mustard for dipping.
More Irish recipes to try
If you enjoyed this breakfast, you might also like these traditional Irish recipes:
- Creamy Irish Colcannon – Classic mashed potatoes with cabbage.
- Hot Cross Buns – A delicious Easter treat.
- Irish Barmbrack Tea Cake – A perfect breakfast or afternoon snack.
Enjoy your hearty breakfast whether it’s for St. Patrick’s Day, a weekend treat or just because!
If you have been to Ireland and tried it there (or perhaps you have tried a breakfast roll, which is pretty much an Irish breakfast on the go, or delicious jambons – pastries filled with ham and cheese), let me know how you liked it in the comments section below!
Full Irish Breakfast
Ingredients
- 8 sausages
- 4 hash browns
- 8 slices black pudding
- butter or oil
- 8 bacon slices
- 8 mushrooms (cleaned and quartered)
- 1 large tomato (quartered)
- 4 eggs
- 14 ounces baked beans (400 grams)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Place the sausages, hash browns and black pudding slices onto a baking tray lined with baking parchment (for easy cleanup) and bake them until ready. The time will vary depending on the ingredients you use, so keep an eye on them. You might need to take out some of them earlier.
- About 10 minutes into baking, turn the sausages, hash browns and black pudding around for even cooking. Heat a little butter/oil in a large skillet/frying pan and fry bacon slices until cooked through. When ready, wrap them in a sheet of aluminum foil to keep them warm.
- In the same skillet/frying pan, fry the mushrooms and tomato (add more oil/butter, if needed). When ready, wrap them in the aluminum foil.
- Check the items in the oven – some may already be done. If yes, take them out.
- Clean the skillet with a paper kitchen towel and add a little oil. When hot, crack the eggs in and fry on low/medium heat until they look to your liking. Using a lid will speed up the cooking process.
- Finally, heat up the beans (either in a microwave or in a skillet/frying pan).
- When ready, serve all the ingredients either on a baking tray, in a frying pan or plated individually.
- Best served warm!
Notes
- Sausages – If you can’t buy Irish sausages, use the ones you like (fresh or frozen).
- Bacon slices – Irish rashers, British bacon or American streaky bacon are all tasty choices. When using American bacon, you might want to use 3-4 per person. I used unsmoked rindless back bacon slices.
- Tomatoes – any tomatoes are fine to use. When using cherry tomatoes, use 2 per person.
- Black pudding usually comes in a tube. It looks like a huge black sausage that is cut into about ¼-½ inch (1-1.5 centimeter) slices. The size of eggs does not really matter in this recipe (small, medium, large).
- Serving suggestion – Irish soda bread, brown bread, toast with butter.
- Optional condiments – ketchup, brown sauce, mustard. The cooking time will vary depending on the ingredients you use. Please follow the package instructions for the best results. If not using frozen products, you can fry everything on the stovetop. Note that it will take longer to cook everything.
Woke up wanting something different, so I decided to try this Irish breakfast. Wow, what a feast! It felt like a little taste of Ireland right at home. Absolutely loved it!
I am so happy to hear you enjoyed Irish breakfast, Ursula!
I made your Irish breakfast this weekend, and it was a big success! The crispy bacon and perfectly cooked eggs were the highlights. Everyone loved it, and I’ll definitely be making it again. Thank you for sharing these delicious tips.
You are welcome, Sage! Thank you for finding time to leave feedback and rating.
Hi Julia, the picture of this breakfast alone is making me salivate! There’s nothing I love more on weekends than having a lazy morning and making a big spread. But this will be such a fun twist from my usual eggs, bacon, home fries, toast, etc. I can’t wait to surprise the crew with this one!
Enjoy! :)
Looks delicious – However baked beans and hash browns are not part of a full Irish breakfast. Happily eat this but wouldn’t class it as Irish. Missing 2 major elements of an Irish breakfast potato farl and soda bread.
Hi Mark. Thanks for your feedback! I lived 9 years in Ireland and I have to slightly disagree with you. While potato farls were available to buy in stores not once were they part of a breakfast menu on our extensive travels. Baked beans were served everywhere with Irish breakfast – at deli counters, at B&Bs, restaurants and so were the hash browns. However, I agree that soda bread is a classic breakfast item and I have a recipe on my blog, if interested to try :). I’d say you are referring to the traditional Irish breakfast that Irish farmers enjoyed back in days (I imagine potato farls were on their plates every morning) but I guess over the time people have adapted the classic recipe a bit.
i love everything in that tray! They all look delish!
Thank you, Toni!
Oh gosh DROOL-ALERT! On our last trip to Dublin we had one of those every single day – I kind of forgot about how awesome Irish breakfasts are! Yours is definitely the most beautifully presented one I have ever seen! Thanks for sharing!
:) Irish breakfast can be pretty addictive, right? :)
I don’t know much about food in Ireland, but if this is what I get for breakfast, I’m totally in! Seriously, this combination of foods sounds and looks fabulous. My whole family would be thrilled if this was put in front of them. The tomatoes are a nice touch with all of the heavier ingredients. Love!
:) If you ever get to Ireland, you gotta try it, Valentina!
Wow. Now that’s a serious breakfast. Love the addition of beans and hash browns with the eggs… this seriously looks so delicious.
Thanks!
What a great idea! I never would have thought to do this but my family would love it. I won’t get to it on St. Patrick’s Day as I’ll be out of town but definitely inspired to do this when I get back.
Good to hear that, Lauren! :)