Have you ever wondered where St. Patrick’s Day festivities earned their green theme? Beyond the shamrocks and leprechaun suits, the actual holiday is a festive Christian feast celebrating the patron saint of the Emerald Isle. And what better way to evoke the feeling of rolling green pastures than to consume green-hued foods and drinks?
This list has plenty of food coloring, of course — in cupcakes, pies and shakes — but it also includes recipes that get their bright-green hue from its main ingredients, like avocado, broccoli, pickles, leeks, cabbage, zucchini, pistachios, herbs, spinach and other leafy greens. Go natural or artificial — it’s a judgment-free zone — or you could do a little bit of both. It’s called balance.
Whether you’re hosting or attending a party, sending snacks to school or bringing treats in for work, these green snacks will fuel your fun. In terms of sweets, we’ve got everything from shamrock-shaped cupcakes to DIY Shamrock Shakes (no trip to the drive-thru needed!) and minty grasshopper pie to matcha-infused cookies. If you’re leaning in a savory direction, we’ve got everything from guacamole to a TikTok-famous green goddess salad and cheesy fried pickles to a cream of greens soup. And many of these recipes can be made ahead, so you can spend more time perfecting your pour on your favorite Irish beer.
After you pick out your green snacks for the holiday, be sure to check out our best St. Patrick’s Day desserts (including Irish desserts) and St. Patrick’s Day food (including Irish food) for your feast.
Savory snacks
This viral recipe features a vegan pesto dressing using all the green veggies you have on hand. Feel free to improvise anywhere you see fit! Nuts, greens and oil in the dressing can be subbed out for other varieties you have on hand and you can do that for the veggies in the salad as well. Go wild!
There's no reason to discard the broccoli stem, which has a radish-like crunch and mild flavor. Cutting it into long spears and searing it keeps the broccoli crunchy while softening its fibers a bit, and the creamy avocado sauce acts as a sort of dip. You can fork-and-knife this or eat it with your fingers.
Al Roker's daughter Courtney dresses up this party-favorite snack with a creamy, dreamy avocado-based filling.
Similar to a crabcake, these green patties are made with a blend of blanched greens, such as spinach, parsley and kale. They're pan-fried and so crispy on the outside, but still deliciously tender on the inside. Consider serving them with a yogurt-, tomato- or mayonnaise-based sauce to jazz them up.
This three-ingredient snack is undeniably Irish. Crispy bacon is chopped and crumbled over roasted cabbage for a salty, savory crunch. It's a little bite that serves as a great app or snack between meals.
These salty, crispy, bites are just plain delicious. They're also wildly easy to make — all you need are dill pickle spheres, havarti cheese, store-bought egg roll wrappers and oil for frying. Other cheeses will certainly work but havarti is truly the best flavor pairing with the pickles.
Our take on the classic French soup happens all in one pot, allowing for minimal mess and super easy cleanup. It gets its velvety, creamy texture from boiled potatoes and a touch of butter.
This salad simply says spring. In each bite, you'll get delicately shaved asparagus, fresh fennel and peppery arugula. A tangy, juicy orange vinaigrette adds an extra pop of brightness to this crunchy and satisfying starter or snack.
Serve this vibrant green dip as a party snack with store-bought or homemade tortilla chips or vegetable crudités.
Whether you're feeling under the weather or are simply sick of the cold, this nourishing recipe is so cozy. It's made with a combination of apples, broccoli florets, spinach and vegetable broth. Serve it as a starter prior to a fish and chips entrée.
This viral sensation is not-surprisingly satisfying. It offers the perfect crunch and blending of flavors, and if you're a pickle and cheese lover like Siri, you'll love this combo.
These crispy, crunchy chips are great way to eat a powerhouse veggie. Make a big bowl or platter for a salty snack at your St. Patrick's Day party.
Filled with delicious herbs, this party dip is bright and tangy, thanks to the combination of greens like chives, tarragon, spinach and parsley. You can serve it with crudité or chips, spread it on a sandwich or drizzle it over salad.
The crunchy hot exterior and the tart tang of the interior makes this salty snack a sure-fire hit. The dip is smoky and rich and goes so well with the chips for the ultimate party food.
For this super-green recipe, use whatever you have on hand — cheese, spinach (or another leafy green) and some kind of nut. It is so easy to throw together, and the vibrant noodles are perfect for the holiday.
Get ready to elevate your St. Patrick's Day spread with these irresistible broccoli cheddar tots! This recipe checks all the boxes: bite-sized, cheesy, and tastes like a Tater Tot. Plus they’re packed with the goodness of broccoli and are sure to win over even the pickiest eaters at your party. Bet you can’t eat just one!
Sweet snacks and treats
Nothing says St. Patrick's Day quite like grasshopper pie. While traditional grasshopper pie has a chiffon filling made with eggs and gelatin, this no-bake version simplifies things with a luscious cream cheese filling. Poured into a chocolate cookie crumble crust, this dessert is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
Guinness is the missing ingredient you never knew your brownies needed — but an obvious inclusion for a St. Patrick's Day dessert. The Irish stout ensures they're moist and deeply flavorful.
Skip the stout and enjoy a festive boozy milkshake. Crème de menthe helps to develop a delicious minty flavor. A topping of whipped cream and sprinkles add the finishing touch to this fun grown-up treat.
Use tin foil as a hack to make adorable clover-shaped cupcakes. You can make it with homemade cake batter or keep things simple and use store-bought. A drop or two of green food coloring and this sweet is ready to please!
This recipe is festive and customizable — win, win! Add a few drops of mint extract to the white chocolate for a refreshing peppermint flavor, or add a drop or two of green food coloring.
This DIY take on McDonald's Shamrock Shake only requires four ingredients — vanilla ice cream, milk, mint extract and green food coloring. Get sweet satisfaction in just minutes and skip the trip to the drive-thru.
It only takes a handful of pre-made ingredients — boxed cake mix and instant pistachio pudding — to make this light and tender treat from Dylan's childhood. To really drive home the green theme, top it off with a pistachio pudding-infused frosting.
For a festive treat, look no further than this jasmine tea-infused Swiss roll. The sponge cake is made with matcha powder, which imparts a subtle earthy flavor with a green hue. Fill it with a jasmine-spiked whipped cream, then chill until ready to serve.
No-bake means no stress for this crowd-pleasing pie. A chocolate cookie crumb crust is filled with a creamy mint swirl made with cream cheese, heavy cream, powdered sugar, peppermint extract and green food color.
An awesome (and healthy) kid-friendly breakfast, these pancakes are packed with two cups of spinach. They taste great unadorned or topped with maple syrup, a dollop of whipped cream or nut butter.
This simple icebox cake comes together in mere minutes and won't take up precious space on the stove or in the oven. The small addition of almond extract enhances the nutty pistachio flavor.
If you want to avoid using green food coloring in your St. Patrick's Day treats, try these elegant matcha cookies. These buttery shortbread cookies get their pale green hue and earthy flavor from matcha powder.
This traditional Indian dessert is sweet and snackable, and the lively green pistachio topping makes it a natural pick for St. Patrick's Day.
Trifles are one of those desserts that look impressive, but couldn’t be easier to make. This one features alternating layers of mint chocolate pudding, chocolate crumbles and mint whipped cream. Top the trifle with chocolate-brushed mint leaves to make this a real showstopper.