St. Patrick’s Day food ideas don’t have to be unhealthy or make you feel guilty. In fact, just the opposite is true!
Choosing the right St. Patty’s Day menu for your family depends on your lifestyle, preferences, and the ages of family members.
Let everyone in your family choose their favorite green foods or items for an Irish-themed menu.
Prepare fun St. Patrick’s Day food ideas together!
Consider the following healthy, fun, green, or Irish-themed foods you can enjoy with family and friends this St. Patty’s Day!
15 St. Patrick’s Day Food Ideas
Green Vegetables
What better way to celebrate St. Patty’s Day than by cutting up fresh vegetables, sautéing them in olive oil, grilling them, or roasting these nutritious green veggies?
Pick from the following:
- Celery
- Cucumbers
- Green bell peppers
- Broccoli
- Green beans
- Brussels sprouts
- Asparagus
- Zucchini
- Peas
- Kale
- Spinach
- Other leafy greens
- Artichokes
Dip green veggies into the green hummus dip recipe below!
Green Hummus
Dip vegetables, whole-grain crackers, whole-grain chips, or pita chips into this delicious, nutritious green hummus recipe!
Or, simply purchase fresh green hummus at your nearest grocery store.
Ingredients
- ¼ cup of tahini
- ¼ cup of fresh lemon juice (from 1 large lemon)
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil, plus more for serving
- ½ cup of chopped, loosely packed fresh parsley
- ¼ cup of chopped, loosely packed fresh basil or tarragon
- 2-3 tablespoons of green onion or chopped fresh chives
- 1 large clove of garlic, chopped
- ½ teaspoon of salt, plus more to taste
- 15-ounce can of chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1-2 tablespoons of water (optional)
- Extra olive oil and chopped fresh herbs as a garnish
Instructions
- Combine tahini and lemon juice in a food processor or high-powered blender. Process the mixture for about 1 ½ minutes.
- Add olive oil, parsley, tarragon, chives, garlic, and salt to the mixture. Process it for about 1 minute more, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Add half of the chickpeas to the food processor; process for 1 minute. Add the remaining chickpeas and process the mixture until your hummus is thick and smooth (about 1-2 minutes).
- If your hummus is too thick, drizzle in 1-2 tablespoons of water and process the mixture until it reaches a desirable consistency.
- Place the hummus in a small serving bowl. Drizzle it with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Sprinkle additional chopped herbs on top if you’d like.
- Serve and enjoy!
- Store the hummus in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Servings: 1 3/4 cups
Green Fruits
Rather than choosing sweet treats dyed with green food coloring, serve nutrient-dense fresh fruits that are naturally green instead! Make a fruit tray containing:
- Sliced kiwi fruit
- Pears
- Green apples
- Green grapes
- Honeydew melon
- Other green fruits
You might place bite-sized fruit chunks on kabobs and dip them in key lime pie-flavored Greek yogurt!
Guacamole
Loaded with flavor, heart-healthy fats, and micronutrients, guacamole makes the perfect addition to your list of St. Patrick’s Day food ideas.
Serve your favorite guacamole recipe with whole-grain chips or pita chips!
You might choose sliced avocados instead of guacamole as a nutritious side dish or garnish for your main meal!
Beef and Cabbage Soup
Add this flavorful, Irish-themed beef and cabbage soup recipe as one of the top St. Patrick’s Day food ideas this season. Your family and friends will love it!
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 1 pound of rib eye or scotch fillet steak, cut into bite-sized pieces with visible fat removed
- 1 stalk of celery, chopped
- 2 large carrots, peeled and diced
- 1 small green cabbage, chopped into bite-sized pieces
- 4 cloves of garlic, minced
- 6 cups of beef stock or broth
- 3 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley, plus more for serving
- 2 teaspoons each of dried thyme and dried rosemary (you can also use dried basil plus oregano)
- 2 teaspoons of onion or garlic powder
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the beef and sear until browned.
- Add onions and cook them until transparent (about 3-4 minutes).
- Add the celery and carrots and mix well. Cook, mixing occasionally, for about 3-4 minutes.
- Add the cabbage and cook for another 5 minutes until it begins to soften.
- Add in garlic and cook the mixture until fragrant (about 1 minute more). Mix all ingredients well.
- Add the broth, parsley, dried herbs, and onion or garlic powder. Mix well.
- Bring the mixture to a simmer and reduce heat to medium-low. Cover it with a lid.
- Allow the soup to simmer for 10-15 minutes or until the cabbage and carrots get soft.
- Season the soup with salt and pepper and add extra dried herbs if necessary.
- Serve the soup warm with fresh parsley if you’d like.
- Enjoy!
- Store the soup in an airtight container in your refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Servings: 8
Roasted Sugar-Snap Peas
Keeping up with a green-colored food theme this St. Patty’s Day, consider a flavorful roasted sugar-snap peas recipe!
Ingredients
- 1 pound of sugar snap peas, washed and dried with the stems removed
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon of salt
- 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 450 Fahrenheit.
- Toss the snap peas with oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder on a rimmed baking sheet.
- Bake the mixture for 10-12 minutes or until the peas reach the desired tenderness.
- Serve them as a side dish, with salad, or as a delicious St. Patty’s Day snack!
Servings: 4
Green Protein Smoothies
Forgo green beer and other unhealthy St. Patty’s Day drinks this season in favor of protein smoothies for you, your family, and your friends!
Try the following shamrock shake smoothie recipe or create your own green smoothie using naturally green ingredients!
Ingredients
- 1 large frozen banana, sliced
- 1 cup of spinach
- 1/2 cup of vanilla-flavored Greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup of milk or almond milk
- 1/3 cup of packed mint leaves, plus more for garnish
- 4 ice cubes
- Sliced kiwi for garnish
Instructions
- Combine the banana, spinach, yogurt, milk, mint, and ice cubes together in a blender. Blend the mixture until smooth.
- Garnish your smoothie with kiwi slices and additional mint if you’d like.
- Serve and enjoy!
You might also add protein powder (plus additional milk if needed) to boost the protein content of your St. Patty’s Day green smoothie!
Servings: 2 1/2 cups
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Shamrock-Shaped Sandwiches
A simple way to make St. Patty’s Day-themed healthy sandwiches is to use large shamrock-shaped cookie cutters to re-shape them into something fun and festive!
Using the cookie cutters, simply cut whole-grain bread into shamrock shapes, and add your favorite sandwich fillings!
You might consider tuna, cheese, veggies with hummus, chicken, turkey, or even peanut butter and jelly.
Crockpot Corned Beef and Cabbage
You can’t get any more Irish-themed than by choosing this crockpot corned beef and cabbage recipe!
Ingredients
Brisket
- 3-4 pounds of corned beef brisket
- 3-4 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon of black pepper
Sides
- 1 head of cabbage
- 2 onions
- 2 carrots
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil-based tub butter
- 2 cloves of garlic
- 1 teaspoon of caraway seeds
- 1 teaspoon of thyme
- 1 teaspoon of basil
Instructions
- Rinse and drain the brisket under cool water. Place it in a crockpot.
- Add the garlic, pepper, and water to just cover the meat.
- Turn your crockpot on low heat and cook the meat for 8 hours.
- About 1/2 hour before the beef is done cooking, chop the cabbage, onion, garlic, and carrots.
- Sauté the onions, carrots, and garlic in tub butter in a large skillet until slightly soft.
- Add the cabbage and spices and cook until soft. Add a little water from the crockpot if the mixture gets dry.
- Serve the corned beef over cooked cabbage and veggies.
- Enjoy
Servings: 6
Coconut Kiwi Yogurt Parfait
Serve this nutritious St. Patrick’s Day food idea (coconut kiwi Greek yogurt parfait) as a snack or even for dessert!
Its green color is what makes it the perfect addition to your St. Patty’s Day menu.
Ingredients
- Coconut-flavored Greek yogurt
- Kiwi fruit, peeled and diced
- Mint sprigs, chopped
- Pomegranate seeds
Instructions
- Place a layer of yogurt in the bottom of individual serving dishes or glasses.
- Top each with a layer of diced kiwi fruit, another layer of yogurt, another layer of kiwi fruit, and a final layer of yogurt.
- Top each serving dish with more kiwi fruit, chopped mint, and pomegranate seeds.
- Serve and enjoy!
Shelled Pistachios
If you’re looking for a quick snack or St. Patrick’s Day food idea this season, consider shelled pistachios!
These nutrient-dense superfoods are loaded with fiber, protein, and heart-healthy fats, as well as vitamins and minerals.
And they are St. Patty’s Day green!
Chicken Pesto Pasta
This satiating dish is packed with essential nutrients, and pesto gives it a St. Patty’s Day green color.
That’s just one reason chicken pesto pasta is the perfect St. Patrick’s Day food idea for your family this year!
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil
- 1 pound of boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into bite-sized pieces
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 1/2 teaspoon of minced garlic
- 3/4 teaspoon of Italian seasoning
- 12 ounces of pasta
- 1 cup of refrigerated basil pesto
- 1 cup of cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/4 cup of finely grated parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon of chopped fresh parsley or basil
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add salt to taste. Cook the pasta according to package instructions.
- Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat.
- Place the chicken in a pan and season it with salt and pepper.
- Cook the chicken for 3-4 minutes per side until it’s golden brown and cooked through. Add the garlic and Italian seasoning and cook for another minute.
- Drain the pasta and pour it into the pan with the chicken. Add pesto sauce and toss to coat.
- Add cherry tomatoes and gently fold them into the pasta mixture.
- Sprinkle the pasta with parmesan cheese and parsley.
- Serve and enjoy!
Servings: 4
Irish Potato Pancakes
Sticking with the Irish theme, consider these savory Irish potato pancakes as a St. Patrick’s Day food idea this year!
Ingredients
- 1 cup of mashed potatoes
- 1 cup of peeled, grated raw potatoes
- 1 ½ cups of all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon of baking soda
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- 1 cup of buttermilk
- Oil
Instructions
- Wring out the grated potatoes in a clean tea towel to dry them. Discard the remaining water.
- Add all of the ingredients (except the buttermilk) to a mixing bowl and stir.
- Mix in the buttermilk to create a thick batter.
- Heat a little oil in a frying pan over medium-low heat.
- Add tablespoonfuls of the batter and cook it until the pancakes are golden and cooked through (about 5 minutes per side).
- Serve them as a side dish or for breakfast.
- Enjoy!
Servings: 4
Green Smoothie Popsicles
Your entire family will love this nutritious, refreshing, kid-friendly green smoothie popsicle recipe this St. Patrick’s Day!
Ingredients
- 1 cup of coconut water
- 1 cup of orange juice
- 2 cups of baby spinach
- 1 ripe banana
- 2 cups of pineapple chunks, frozen
- 1-inch fresh ginger, peeled
Instructions
- Place all of the ingredients in a blender and blend the mixture until smooth.
- Pour the smoothie mixture into popsicle molds, cover, and freeze them for about 1 hour.
- Insert wooden sticks into each popsicle cavity.
- Freeze the popsicles for another 4 hours or overnight.
- Serve them as a delicious St. Patrick’s Day food idea and enjoy!
Servings: 10
Spring Pea Soup
This flavorful Spring pea soup recipe makes the perfect addition to a fun St. Patrick’s Day.
Its festive bright green color and savory flavor work well as part of any St. Patty’s Day menu!
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil
- 1 teaspoon of ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon of ground coriander
- 1 large yellow onion, chopped
- Salt
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 ribs of celery, rinsed and thinly sliced
- 10 small new potatoes, cut into cubes
- Black pepper
- Juice from 1/2 lemon
- 4 cups of vegetable broth
- 1 pound of fresh or frozen green peas
- 4 cups of baby spinach
- 2-3 green onions or chives, thinly sliced (for the garnish)
- A handful of mint leaves, chopped
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a medium pot over medium heat.
- Add cumin, coriander, onion, and a few pinches of salt. Sauté the mixture for about 5 minutes.
- Add garlic, celery, potatoes, a pinch of salt, and black pepper to taste. Cook, stirring, for another 5 minutes.
- Add the lemon juice and let it absorb for about 1 minute.
- Pour in the vegetable broth.
- Bring the liquid to a boil and lower the heat to simmer.
- Cook, covered, until the potatoes get tender (about 10-15 minutes).
- Add the peas and greens to the soup. Stir until the greens wilt.
- Transfer 1 ½ cups of the soup to a blender and blend it until creamy.
- Return the blended soup to the pot and stir.
- Taste and adjust the seasonings if necessary.
- Serve the soup hot and garnish it with chives, fresh mint, and a squeeze of lemon.
- Enjoy!
Servings: 4-6
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