• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Travel Palate
  • Recipe Index
  • Latest Recipes
  • About Me
  • Meal Plan
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipe Index
  • Latest Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • About Me
recipe image for pinterest
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe Index
  • Latest Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • About Me
recipe image for pinterest
×
Home ≫ Main Dish

Irish Bangers and Mash with Guinness Onion Gravy

By Nikole Berg Mar 14, 2023 · Updated: Jun 9, 2024

3.8K shares
  • Facebook
Pin Recipe Jump to Recipe
recipe image for pinterest

Ah, Irish bangers and mash, a dish that warms the heart and fills the stomach with a satisfying blend of meat and potatoes. But what happens when we put a spin on this classic recipe by using bratwurst and adding a rich Guinness onion gravy? Well, let me tell you, it's an absolute game-changer!

the completed bangers and mash recipe

Email me the recipe!

Enter your email and I'll send it to your inbox!

Plus get all our new recipes too!


Why you'll love it

  • Easy dinner for a busy weeknight or perfect for company on the weekend
  • Inspired by the Irish and perfect for Saint Patrick's Day
  • Comfort food that's hearty with unique flavor - the entire family will love it

Ingredients

Bratwurst - Now, I know what you're thinking, "That's not Irish food!" And you're right, it's not. But trust me on this, the juicy, flavorful bratwurst is the perfect match for the creamy mashed potatoes. It's also easy to find and is similar to Irish sausage, which is also made with pork. If you can get Irish sausage in your area, by all means use that.

Onion - I like yellow or sweet yellow onions. Red onion is another food option. You'll need a large onion.

Flour - all purpose flour to make the Guinness gravy. Choose a gluten-free thickener if needed.

Guinness beer - this is going to be used to make the rich onion gravy. This beer is found in the bottle and can. If you prefer something milder in taste, try a brown ale or amber lager. You can also reduce the amount of beer or use just beef broth if you want a less intense flavor.

Beef broth - homemade, canned, or from the carton.

Butter, olive oil - for cooking onions and sausages.

Mashed potatoes - this is the "mash" in bangers and mash. We prefer gold potatoes but russet potatoes are also a good choice. You'll also need some butter and milk.

Salt and black pepper - to taste

ingredients to make the recipe

Equipment

  • Large pot
  • Large frying pan or large skillet
  • Potato masher
  • Gravy boat

Instructions

To make the bratwurst, start by heating a pan with a bit of oil over medium heat and cooking the sausages until they're nicely browned on the outside and mostly cooked through on the inside.

You can also grill them if you prefer, but there's something about the sizzling sound of the pan that makes this dish even more comforting. Set aside on a plate while you make the mashed potatoes and stout gravy.

frying bratwurst in a large skillet
cooked bratwurst on a plate

To make the Guinness Stout Gravy, add some butter to the pan the sausages were cooked in. Add the sliced onions and season with some salt and pepper. Cook over medium heat until they're softened and slightly caramelized, about 10 minutes. Sprinkle flour over onions and cook for a minute or two.

Add the beer to deglaze the pan then pour in the beef broth. Stir to combine well with the onion mixture. Add cooked sausages to gravy and cook for 10 to 15 minutes over medium-low heat.

cooking onions for a gravy
making onion gravy with beer and beef broth
bratwurst simmering in gravy

To make the mashed potatoes, peel and cut potatoes into one inch pieces. Boil in salted water until tender when pieces with a fork. Drain and return cooked potatoes to the pan. Mash then add the melted butter and warmed milk. Whip with a wooden spoon to your preferred consistency, adding more milk as needed.

Check out my Air Fryer Mashed Potatoes or my Popeye's Copycat Mashed Potatoes to round out this meal!

To serve, place a generous scoop of mashed potatoes on a plate then place a bratwurst on top of the mashed potatoes. Smother everything in the rich, savory stout onion gravy. Garnish with a bit of fresh parsley or green onions and voila! You've got yourself a delicious, hearty Irish Bangers and Mash meal inspired by the classic recipe.

Kitchen tips

  • Add some fresh herbs like a thyme sprig to the gravy.
  • Slightly caramelize onions for best results.
  • Worcestershire sauce is another possible flavor addition to the gravy.
  • Any good quality pork sausage or even some chicken sausage can be used in place of bratwurst.
  • Pre-cooked sausage can be used. Cook according to package directions.

How to store and reheat

Store sausages, mashed potatoes, and gravy separately in air tight containers in the refrigerator for 3 or 4 days.

Reheat in the microwave or stove top and reassemble.

Freeze food items separately in freezer safe containers for up to three months. Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.

Quick facts

Why is it called bangers and mash?

According to Britannica, the English term bangers may have come about during WWI as meat shortages caused sausages to be made with fillers like water, which caused them to explode when cooked.

What does bangers and mash mean in America?

Bangers and mash simple means sausages and mashed potatoes. The classic pub dish is often topped with a savory brown onion gravy.

What to serve with Irish bangers and mash?

  • Green peas
  • Stout Gravy Recipe
  • Champ - creamy mashed potatoes with green onions.
  • Irish Colcannon - Champ with cabbage added.

More Irish recipes

  • Guinness Beef Stew
  • Guinness Dark Beer Chocolate Cake
  • Irish Soda Bread
the completed bangers and mash recipe

📖 Recipe

Email me the recipe!

Enter your email and I'll send it to your inbox!

Plus get all our new recipes too!

the completed irish bangers and mash reicpe

Irish Bangers and Mash with Guinness Onion Gravy

Recipe by Nikole Berg
Looking for a hearty meal that's packed with flavor? Look no further than Irish bangers and mash! From succulent sausages to creamy mashed potatoes, this dish is sure to satisfy your cravings.
4.60 from 5 votes
Prevent your screen from going dark
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 30 minutes mins
Total Time 40 minutes mins
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American, British, Irish
Servings 5
Calories 611 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

Bangers

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 5 bratwurst sausages, uncooked or Irish sausage

Guinness Onion Gravy

  • 2 tablespoon butter
  • 1 onion medium or large
  • 3 tablespoon flour
  • ½ cup Guinness stout beer
  • 1.5 cups beef broth
  • salt and pepper to taste

Mash

  • 2.5 lbs gold potatoes diced into one inch pieces
  • 2 teaspoon kosher salt or 1 teaspoon table salt
  • ¼ cup butter melted
  • ¾ cup milk, whole more or less as needed
  • salt and pepper to taste
US Customary - Metric

Instructions
 

To cook the bratwurst:

  • Start by heating a pan with oil over medium heat and cooking the sausages until they're nicely browned on the outside and mostly cooked through on the inside. Set aside on a plate while you make the mashed potatoes and stout gravy.

Guinness Onion Gravy

  • Add 2 tablespoon butter to the pan the sausages were cooked in to melt. Add the sliced onions and season with some salt and pepper. Cook over medium heat until they're softened and slightly caramelized, about 10 minutes. Sprinkle flour over onions and cook for a minute or two.
  • Add ½ cup beer to deglaze the pan then pour in the 1.5 cups beef broth. Stir to combine well with the onion mixture. Add cooked sausages to gravy and cook for 10 to 15 minutes over medium-low heat.

Mash

  • Peel and cut potatoes into one inch pieces. Boil in salted water until tender when pieced with a fork. Drain and return cooked potatoes to the pan. Mash then add the melted butter and warmed milk. Whip with a wooden spoon to your preferred consistency, adding more milk as needed.
  • To serve, place a generous scoop of mashed potatoes on a plate then place a bratwurst on top of the mashed potatoes. Smother everything in the rich, savory stout onion gravy. Garnish with a bit of fresh parsley or green onions and voila! You've got yourself a delicious, hearty meal inspired by the classic bangers and mash!

Notes

Reduce or replace Guinness with beef broth if less intense flavor is desired.
Add some fresh herbs like a thyme sprig to the gravy.
Caramelize onions for best results.
Worcestershire sauce is another possible flavor addition to the gravy.
Any good quality pork sausage or even some chicken sausage can be used in place of bratwurst.
Pre-cooked sausage can be used.

Nutrition

Calories: 611kcalCarbohydrates: 50gProtein: 17gFat: 37gSaturated Fat: 17gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 16gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 90mgSodium: 1983mgPotassium: 1332mgFiber: 5gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 492IUVitamin C: 46mgCalcium: 107mgIron: 3mg
Keyword bratwurst, mashed potatoes, onion gravy, sausages, st. patrick's day food, stout gravy
Tried this recipe?Click here to leave a helpful tip!

more Main Dish recipes

  • Stuffed zucchini with ground beef and melted cheese.
    Stuffed Zucchini with Ground Beef and Rice
  • Greek chicken pasta salad.
    Greek Chicken Pasta Salad
  • Crockpot chicken and rice casserole.
    Easy Crockpot Chicken and Rice Casserole
  • Easy Chicken Dorito Casseorle.
    Easy Chicken Dorito Casserole

About Nikole Berg

Nikole is the creator and photographer behind The Travel Palate, a food and travel blog featuring quick and flavorful recipes and getaway guides. Nikole hopes to inspire your inner foodie whether you're in the kitchen or traveling on your next adventure.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Louise Corderman

    March 10, 2025 at 5:11 pm

    Wonderful, as so many simple things are, definitely might change our St Pat's day dinner to this!

    Reply
    • Nikole Berg

      March 11, 2025 at 8:46 am

      I'd love for you to give it a try Louise! Happy St Pats Day!

      Reply
  2. Erin Kiernan-Johnson

    April 27, 2024 at 12:54 am

    5 stars
    This dish is outstanding and pretty easy to make! Made for a change from the usual corned beef dinner for St. Patty’s and it was SO delicious!! So I made it again tonight at my son’s request. Definitely a keeper!

    Reply
4.60 from 5 votes (4 ratings without comment)

Did you make the recipe? Share a tip here! Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

recipe image for pinterest
a young lady with a hat on smiling

Welcome! I'm Nikole, the blogger, photographer, and recipe developer dedicated to bringing you recipes that maximize flavor with minimal effort.

More about me →

Trending

  • Stuffed zucchini with ground beef and melted cheese.
  • Greek chicken pasta salad.
  • Crockpot chicken and rice casserole.
  • Easy Chicken Dorito Casseorle.
See more Main Dish →

Footer

recipe image for pinterest

↑ back to top

About

  • About
  • Privacy Policy

Subscribe

  • Sign Up! for the latest recipes delivered via email

Connect

  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Instagram

As an Amazon Affiliate I may earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support.

Copyright © 2018-2025 The Travel Palate

All Rights Reserved

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.