25 Green Food And Drink Recipes For St. Patrick's Day

Marking St. Patrick's Day involves choices. You can choose to go out and raise a glass to Ireland's patron saint with friends at the closest Irish pub. But if you want to stay in instead, Tasting Table has you covered with a variety of green-tinged apps, mains, and desserts.

Our selection of green dishes works beautifully when it's served alongside more traditional St Patrick's day fare — be it corned beef and potatoes or Guinness and steak pie. Our green Jell-O shots are not only fuss-free since they can be made ahead of time, but they're also given a delicious upgrade. And our dessert options range from classic St. Patrick's Day cupcakes dressed up with a pot of gold to trendy treats such as pistachio macarons and matcha avocado cheesecake.

When you serve up these recipes, the only other thing you'll need for the perfect party is to dress up your space with shamrocks and leprechauns — and then you can let the merriment begin!

There is something inherently comforting about a familiar classic, and that's what you get when you bring basil, Parmesan cheese, olive oil, and pine nuts together for a basil pesto. As long as you've got all your ingredients on hand, pulling this sauce together just takes minutes before it's ready to toss with spaghetti, fusilli, or penne. If extra protein is needed, you can add chicken breast, salmon, or tofu.

Recipe: Classic Basil Pesto Pasta

If you're looking for a fun St. Patrick's Day side, here's a dish that delivers both greens and protein. This green bean almondine allows for the use of hearty green beans or the more slender haricots verts. The legumes are sautéed in butter with lemon juice and black pepper before they're topped with sliced toasted almonds and Parmigiano Reggiano. 

Recipe: Fresh Green Bean Almondine

While many people raise a glass to Saint Patrick with green beer, there's no shame in doing the same with an indulgent, non-alcoholic shamrock shake, which comes with a hint of mint, a hefty serving of pistachio ice cream, homemade whipped cream, and slivers of semisweet chocolate. The drink is even customizable — meaning if you're looking to turn this G-rated drink into a spiked milkshake that could give green beer a run for its money, you're more than welcome to do so.

Recipe: Homemade Shamrock Shake

We bless the day someone discovered you could take an avocado and serve it on top of generously buttered slices of sourdough. This version of avocado toast gets a full-service upgrade with the addition of blanched asparagus, delicately poached eggs, and sprinkles of chives and sumac — a spice that is popular in Middle Eastern cooking and delights with a pop of color and tartness.

Recipe: Sourdough Avocado Toast

This herby, mayonnaise-based dressing lives up to its name with flavors that come from a bevy of aromatics and spices, including shallot, garlic, parsley, cilantro, basil, tarragon, chervil, and black pepper. One of the inspirations for this condiment is a 100-year-old recipe from a landmark San Francisco hotel, but it has been refreshed for the 21st century. Enjoy it as a dressing with your favorite salad or as a St. Patrick's Day-themed dip for crudités.

Recipe: Green Goddess Dressing

There are few things that sound as wonderfully refreshing as this frozen mint lemonade. The drink may be dressed for St. Patrick's Day, but it's actually limonana — a beverage that's popular in Middle Eastern countries such as Israel, where a fake advertising campaign ended up turning this mouth-watering mint and lemon combo into a go-to summer sip. If the recipe sounds like too much trouble for just one or two servings, don't worry — it yields six cups of this refreshing cooler.

Recipe: Frozen Mint Lemonade

These French macarons may not be the easiest to make, but they are definitely worth the effort. This particular recipe yields whimsical green macarons that will be a hit at any St. Patrick's Day celebration. Each one has a luscious filling made with pistachio paste, white chocolate, and whipping cream. And to get perfect macarons, chef and recipe developer Eric Ngo offers a few tips. Once assembled, these treats will keep for up to five days in the refrigerator or a month in the freezer. 

Recipe: Pistachio Macaron

If you're looking for a St. Patrick's Day appetizer idea, try this twist on avocado toast, which features the fruit smashed with sour cream, lime juice, and fava beans — creating a flavorful green schmear that complements the crisp corn tortilla base beautifully. It's then topped with charred snap peas, toasted coconut flakes, Aleppo pepper, and a drizzle of coriander- and cumin-infused olive oil for added texture and flavor.

Recipe: Avocado Tostadas with Charred Snap Peas and Fava Beans

These easy-to-assemble, from-scratch St. Patrick's Day cupcakes are sure to bring the luck of the Irish to your festivities. These colorful treats start off with a quick cupcake batter that gets its flavor from pistachio pudding mix. After they're baked and cooled, the cupcakes are blanketed with festive green frosting and topped with a Rolo, representing the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Recipe: St. Patrick's Day Cupcakes

You may have memories of taking Jell-O shots that make you shudder, but recipe developer Melissa Oliveri says these aren't your garden-variety shooters. Made with pistachio-flavored pudding, milk, and amaretto, these shots are creamy and go down smoothly. They are fuss-free because they can be made up to two days before your St. Patrick's Day party.

Recipe: Pistachio-Amaretto Jell-O Shots

This isn't your family's heirloom corn bread recipe, unless your ancestors enjoyed spicing up this American classic. The heat in this Tex-Mex adaptation comes from pureéd poblano and jalapeño peppers, while a generous serving of Monterey Jack brings a cheesy dimension to it. It can be served warm as a St. Patrick's Day-themed side — either as is or with the recommended addition of pepper jelly.

Recipe: Green Chile And Tomatillo Corn Bread

You may have enjoyed avocado whole, sliced, and smashed, but if you haven't had it pureéd and served as a mousse, then you might discover a whole new way to enjoy this versatile fruit. This savory mousse is dressed for St. Patrick's Day and incorporates the flavors of lemon, parsley, sea salt, and Worcestershire sauce for a mouth-watering spread that's reminiscent of avocado toast but with a bit more oomph. It can be used as an appetizer, dip, or side dish.

Recipe: Savory Avocado Mousse Recipe

Here's a chance for you to come up with your own version of a Mexican classic — created in the comfort of your kitchen. The first break from tradition comes from the use of flour tortillas, which are filled with chicken, green onions, and cheese, and then rolled to form enchiladas. Each one is dipped in salsa made from chiles, onion, garlic, tomatillos, and cilantro. Top them with cheese that melts to perfection in the oven, and you've got yourself a winning meal you can serve any day of the year.

Recipe: Cheesy Salsa Verde Chicken Enchiladas

The dandelion could well be the plant version of a Rorschach test. Some see it as a flower, and others see it as a weed, but recipe developer Susan Olayinka says dandelions are so much more than that. Its greens — which can be purchased at a farmer's market, grown at home, or plucked from anywhere free of pesticides — become a great side dish when they are sautéed with olive oil and then seasoned with salt, garlic powder, and black pepper. As a finishing touch, the dandelion greens are topped with shredded Parmesan — resulting in an ideal accompaniment for a meal of corned beef and boiled potatoes.

Recipe: Simple Dandelion Greens

We're betting you probably haven't enjoyed green tea this way before — powered up with a homemade sour mix, peach schnapps, Irish whiskey, and premium lemon-lime soda. After all the ingredients are shaken together for at least 30 seconds, the shot is served chilled — ready to refresh.

Recipe: Elevated Green Tea Shot

Many store-bought pistachio puddings may get their green color from food coloring, but this version of the dessert gets the green smoothie treatment, thanks to the addition of spinach, which lends color and boosts nutrition. Its verdant hue makes it wonderful to enjoy on St. Patrick's Day, but it could also be delightful as an Easter or spring-themed treat too.

Recipe: Pistachio Pudding

Potatoes and leeks add substance to this delicious spinach soup, which is blended to have a smooth texture. When the dish is paired with good bread, it's the perfect light meal. Recipe developer Miriam Hahn recommends garnishing it with chives, hemp seeds, or lemon slices.

Recipe: Sautéed Spinach Soup

Ricotta cheese is a versatile ingredient that can act alone as a substitute for cream cheese, but it's also happy to play a supporting role in a dish like pea pesto, where this soft cheese is swirled with a yummy combination of blended peas, basil, mint, Parmesan cheese, and garlic. An optional addition of tarragon or chives can provide extra pops of flavor to this dish, which is best enjoyed with crusty bread as an app or a main course.

Recipe: Pea Pesto With Ricotta

For those of you who see rice as nothing more than a bland, boring carb, this recipe might change your opinion. In this dish, the rice is dressed up with an herby green sauce made from onion, poblano and jalapeño peppers, garlic, cilantro, parsley, and other ingredients — adding a vibrant pop of color and flavor. Hahn recommends having the rice as a side dish with beloved Mexican mains.

Recipe: Green Rice

Most green bean dishes called for the vegetable to be sautéed or cooked up in a casserole. We thought we'd shake things up a bit by first grilling them, then tossing them with a flavorful helping of curry yogurt, crisped-up chickpeas, and cilantro. This recipe is great as a side dish with a lamb roast or a traditional Guinness and steak pie.

Recipe: Grilled Green Beans with Chickpeas and Yogurt

Genmaicha is a Japanese green tea that's flavored with roasted rice. It becomes the co-star in a comforting vodka-based drink that's spiced up with ginger liqueur and lemon juice. All you need to do is combine these ingredients in a teapot for up to five minutes to draw out their flavors, and then add a lemon twist for a pop of citrus before you enjoy this Asian-influenced take on a hot toddy.

Recipe: Top Toddy

You've probably never seen avocado and matcha come together in a cheesecake like this before, but we promise you: This dessert will make a great addition to any green-themed meal. Just remember to give yourself an extra day if you're making this sweet, velvety treat for your St. Patrick's Day meal, since it needs to set in the refrigerator overnight before it's ready to be served.

Recipe: Matcha Avocado Cheesecake

One easy way to consume your veggies is through a nutritious soup — and this one has it all. Hearty servings of broccoli, zucchini, spinach, and peas are cooked in an herby broth accented with mint, oregano, basil, garlic, and onion. Serve it with crusty bread as a great starter or a light main course.

Recipe: Vegetarian Green Soup with Spinach

Fresh green beans with butter and garlic could be the little black dress of any meal. It goes with everything, it's understated, and it's ready to wow guests. These beans are blanched before they are cooled down and tossed in hot butter, garlic, and lemon juice for a vegetable dish that can be served with a roast and a side salad for a mouthwatering meal.

Recipe: Lemon Garlic Green Beans

Avocados aren't treated as an ingredient for savory dishes in some parts of the world, so it shouldn't be too surprising to see it used as an ingredient for this refreshingly sweet cocktail. Here, avocado is puréed with lime juice and cilantro. This mixture is then blended with tequila, agave nectar syrup, ice, and even more lime juice to create a green cocktail that is both refreshing and delicious. 

Recipe: Frozen Margarita With Avocado And Cilantro