Bangers and Mash is a recipe I grew up eating about twice a week. A delicious blend of tender sausage, caramelized onion in a mouthwatering brown gravy made with Guinness beer. Oh, it’s not over yet! Enjoy your Bangers (Irish Sausage) over creamy buttery mashed potatoes. Enjoy this festive recipe any time of year.
This is also a perfect way to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day!
Bangers and Mash recipe
In Ireland, bangers and mash are part of traditional Irish food! My recipe is based on my Granny’s recipe! You all know me, just like my Irish Soda Bread, I have made it my own!
Granny always made very traditional Bangers with onions, water, and a little broth. Bangers are the term used for sausage in Ireland and England. The “mash” is mashed potatoes. A very popular dish in Ireland and England.
My spin on bangers is a Guinness gravy with caramelized onions! Caramelizing the onions adds a sweetness to compliment the strong ale. A few extra minutes to caramelize the onions adds amazing flavor to the entire meal. That Guinness gravy, I can’t even express how good it tastes.
My boys always say they can eat the gravy in a soup bowl! The hubs loves to dip a piece of brown bread into the gravy after he’s done with the sausages and mash!
Why are the sausages called bangers?
- My Granny grew up on sausage with mash in Ireland. When WWII began, meat was scarce and sausages were being made with more water. When the sausage hit the pan, they would pop and split, thus bangers began.
- I am lucky to live in an area where I can purchase Irish sausage. If you have an Irish shop in your area, they may sell Irish Sausage. You can always order through Amazon.
- Irish sausage is usually pork-based. Some varieties include beef! When I don’t have Irish sausage in the freezer, I use regular pork sausage and they are delicious.
I can’t find bangers (Irish Sausage), what else can I use?
For years, we only used Irish sausage. After many delicious test recipes, pork sausage or bratwurst works really well. The big bonus, those sausages are in every market and way more cost-effective! For the past few years, I now use pork sausage unless I get a great deal on Irish sausage.
What is the “mash” in Bangers and Mash?
Mash is referring to mashed potatoes. No surprise that my Classic Mashed Potato recipe is AH-MAZING and my Granny’s recipe. I wish I could have a dollar for every potato I’ve peeled to make mashed potatoes.
For anyone who follows a low-carb diet, use almond flour instead of all-purpose flour. Instead of mashed potatoes, make low-carb cauliflower mash and enjoy with the bangers.
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Shop this Recipe:
- Cast Iron Skillet: I love this cast iron.
- Coleman’s Mustard: Love this mustard and I use it often.
A few of my Irish meal recipes I hope you try:
How to make a delicious bangers and mash recipe:
- Brown bangers in a cast iron pan, once brown, remove set aside.
- Add sliced onions to the pan, let them caramelize at least 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Caramelize Onions for Guinness Gravy
- A. Slice onions very thin.
- B. Saute onions over medium heat.
- C. Continue to saute onions about 15-20 minutes.
- D. Onions develop a great caramelized coating that adds amazing flavor to the Guinness gravy!
- Pour in Guinness beer and stir up any brown bits in the pan. Add in beef broth, Worcheshire Sauce, Coleman mustard, thyme, parsley, and pepper.
After dinner, fire up your coffee pot and enjoy an Irish Coffee, my dad’s recipe! Slainte!
You are going to absolutely love my Granny’s bangers and mash. When I was little, I’m not sure what was better, eating these bangers or being allowed to say Granny’s bangers, too funny.
Don’t miss an opportunity to make one of my family’s favorite recipes! Whether it’s Saint Patrick’s Day or any day, I think you will love Bangers and Mash!
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Granny's Bangers and Mash
Equipment Needed:
Ingredients
- 8 pork sausage links Note 1
- 2 medium yellow onions, peeled sliced thin
- 3 cloves garlic, peeled and finely chopped
- 1 Tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 cup Guinness Beer Note 2
- 1 teaspoon olive oil Note 3
- 2 cups beef broth
- 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon Colman's Mustard Note 4
- 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon ground thyme
- salt and pepper, to taste
- fresh chopped parsley, garnish
The Mash
Instructions
- In a skillet, over medium heat add olive. Add in the sausages to brown, around 6 minutes. Remove sausage and set aside.
- To the skillet, add in butter. Stir in onions, simmer about 15 minutes to soften and carmelize onion, stirring frequently. Mix in minced garlic, stir a few seconds.
- Pour in Guinness and stir up and brown bits sticking to the bottom of the skillet. Remove a few Tablespoons of the warm Guinness and place in a small bowl. Whisk the flour into the small bowl with the Guinness until smooth, no lumps. Pour back into the pan and whisk all together.
- To the skillet, add beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, parsley, and thyme. Stir together. Add bangers back into the skillet.
- Reduce heat to a low simmer. Cover pot with lid and simmer for 20 minutes. Serve over mashed potatoes.
- Optional: garnish with fresh chopped parsley.
Notes
I am not a registered dietician, I do my best to provide the most accurate nutritional values. Any nutritional data I provide is an approximation. Actual dietary information can vary based on ingredients and portion sizes
Nutrition
Enjoy some of my favorite blogger’s recipes for Saint Patrick’s Day. Savory, desserts, and cocktails!
St. Patrick’s Day Recipes:
Savory Saint Patricks Day Recipes:
- Easy Boxty by Our Good Life
- Irish Cheddar Ale Mac and Cheese by Cheese Curd In Paradise
- Cod Cakes by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
- Potted Crab by Karen’s Kitchen Stories
Saint Patricks Day Dessert Recipes:
- Brownie Batter Fudge for St. Patrick’s Day by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
- Green Velvet Cookies by Kelly Lynn’s Sweets and Treats
- Irish Cream Poke Cake by Strawberry Blondie Kitchen
- Nutty Irish Car Bomb Cake by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
Cocktails to enjoy for Saint Patricks Day:
- Shamrock Shake by A Day in the Life on the Farm
- Irish Buck Cocktail by Family Around the Table
What a fun and delicious post! I had no idea how the name “Bangers and Mash” started! All your fun facts are perfect to get my teenagers talking at the dinner table. Thanks!
Thank you Sandra! I am glad you enjoyed the post! Enjoy the bangers as well!
This is my kind of St patty’s day comfort food!
Awesome! So glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Problems with this recipe… flour on ingredient list but not in instructions? And parsley in instructions not in ingredient list….
Thank you Rob, I have corrected the recipe. not sure how that got past my proof reader 🙂 I hope you make and enjoy the bangers!
Thank you, I finally know why these are called bangers haha! What a great family recipe. This is perfect to make this weekend in New England. It is snowy and this comfort food classic looks like the perfect way to warm up.
I am so glad you enjoyed the recipe Lauren!
We are having a Saint Patrick’s Day party. We wanted to serve something besides corned beef. I made your recipe and we ate it all. My husband wants me to make this every day. I said ok, how about twice a week. That gravy if off the chart!
That is awesome Cassie! I am so glad you enjoyed the Bangers! Thank you so much for making the meal and taking the time to comment! much appreciated!