St. Patrick’s Day might not be one of the most marketed or celebrated holidays, but it’s one of the most fun, at least as far as I’m concerned. Not to mention, it’s also one of the more alcohol-heavy holidays. So yeah, St. Paddy’s Day is just plain fun. If you’re looking for ways to step up your St. Patrick’s Day appetizer game – or if you just like Irish-themed or green food – check out this list of 20 of my favorites.
1. Guinness Beer Cheese Dip
St. Paddy’s Day is all about Irish culture, and what’s more Irish than Guinness?! Okay, there are probably a few things, but Guinness is definitely near the top of the “Things That Are Irish” list. This awesome appetizer features Guinness in a supremely cheesy, garlicky dip that’s gooey, tasty, and unbelievably delicious. And since you’ll bake it with biscuits on top, it already comes equipped with what you’ll need to dip it with, as well!
2. Reuben-Topped Irish Nachos
Another thing that comes to mind when most people think of the Irish is the humble potato, which is what you’ll use as the base for these yummy nachos. That’s right! You’ll skip traditional tortilla chips and make homemade potato chips instead. You’ll top them with creamy Thousand Island dressing, corned beef, Swiss cheese, and sauerkraut. You might not have known that potato-based, Reuben-topped nachos were something you needed in your life, but you’ll love them all the same.
3. Green Eggs and Ham Deviled Eggs
One of the easiest ways to make something relevant to St. Paddy’s Day is simply to turn it green, and that’s what you’ll do for these green eggs and ham deviled eggs. You’ll use avocados and the traditional deviled eggs ingredients to turn the filling of each egg a lovely green. Then, you’ll add bright green chives and prosciutto for flavor. Obviously, these are also the ideal option for any Dr. Seuss-themed parties you have.
4. Colcannon Puffs
These potato puffs are absolutely scrumptious. If you aren’t familiar with Irish foods, you might not know the term “colcannon.” It’s basically a potato and cabbage dish, but these puffs substitute kale for cabbage and turn them into baked, biscuit-like rolls instead of mashed potatoes. It’s a flavorful, convenient way to enjoy authentic Irish colcannon. Plus, there’s so much green in them!
5. Reuben Egg Rolls
So, you may be wondering why there are so many Reuben-themed dishes on this list. What in the world do Reubens have to do with St. Paddy’s Day?! The answer to this lies in the components of a good Reuben, notably corned beef, cabbage (sauerkraut), and cheese – all things the Irish love. Corned beef and cabbage are practically staples of the Irish diet, so Reuben-based meals are hugely popular for Irish holidays. These egg rolls combine the crisp crunchiness of egg roll wrappers with the fragrant and tasty Reuben ingredients. It’s a combination you won’t want to miss.
6. Shamrock Veggie Skewers
With no cooking involved, these are fun, easy skewers you can whip up in 30 minutes or less. Simply slice and dice your favorite green veggies and stick them on skewers. Top each one with a green pepper cut in the shape of a shamrock. It turns out, being green is easy after all! Pro Tip: If you’re more of a fruit person, you can do the same thing using green grapes, kiwi, pears, and green apples. The apple is the easiest one from which to make the shamrock shape.
7. Marshmallow Leprechaun Hats
Here’s another excellent no-cook St. Paddy’s Day treat. These tiny leprechaun hats are charming and delicious. All you’ll need to make them are full-size marshmallows, mint and fudge cookies, yellow Starburst minis (for the buckle), green candy melts and sprinkles, and Airhead rainbows. Toothpicks should help hold everything together.
8. Reuben Pinwheels
If egg rolls aren’t your thing but you still want to feature Reubens at your St. Paddy’s Day celebration, make these Reuben pinwheels instead. They’re a cold, filling, and fantastic treat, and they take only a few minutes to whip up.
9. Reuben Pizza
This eight-ingredient Reuben pizza is another excellent option. All you’ll need is pre-baked pizza crust, Thousand Island dressing, corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, mozzarella, caraway seeds, and pickles. It’s cheesy and has a crispy crust and plenty of tanginess from the kraut and pickles. It’s not everyone’s idea of delicious pizza, but if you love Reubens, you’ll enjoy it.
10. Green Popcorn
This popcorn is fluffy, crunchy, sweet, and, best of all, green! It tastes a bit like caramel corn, though it isn’t as sticky, and it looks like a leprechaun’s dream come true.
11. St. Patrick’s Day Appetizer Shamrock Crackers and Green Dip
These crunchy, salty crackers have a unique spinach and dill flavor that just about everyone will love, not to mention their fun green color. Cut them with shamrock-shaped cookie cutters and bake them for about 10 minutes. Then, serve them by themselves or with your favorite green dip for extra St. Paddy’s Day fun.
12. Irish Soda Bread Crostini
Whether you make this for St. Patrick’s Day or just because you’re craving a tasty lunch, Irish soda bread crostini is incredible. You’re making homemade bread, so it takes a bit of time, but it’s a relatively simple bread recipe to make. Once it’s ready, you’ll top it with butter, smoked salmon, chives, and fresh dill. It’s phenomenal.
13. Cabbage Chips
What could be easier than these simple, three-ingredient (cabbage, salt, and oil) cabbage chips? Not much! These are crispy, healthy, vegan- and Paleo-friendly, keto-compliant, and gluten-free! You can also make kale chips if you’re looking for something that’s a bolder shade of green.
14. Irish Cheddar Bacon Jalapeño Potato Skins
You can’t go wrong with potato-based dishes for St. Patrick’s Day. The Irish take Samwise Gamgee’s “Boil ’em, mash ’em, stick ’em in a stew!” and seriously up the ante! For example, they also fry them, bake them, scallop them, grill them, and more. This is one of my favorite ways to enjoy potatoes. They’re surprisingly simple to make, using only six ingredients. You’ll hollow your baked potatoes and fill them with bacon, Irish cheddar, jalapenos, chives, and parsley. Top them with sour cream or Greek yogurt for serving.
15. Reuben Crescents
These Reuben crescents are like a hot, gooey, crescent roll dough version of the Reuben pinwheels above. Again, if you’re a Reuben fan, you’ll love them.
16. Cheese and Herb Irish Soda Bread
Here’s another great recipe for Irish soda bread. It has a wonderfully crispy outer crust but is warm and soft inside. And best of all, every bite is packed with cheese and herby deliciousness. It’s one bread that’s so good you won’t mind eating it dry and by itself.
17. Chilled Pea Soup Shooters
These pea soup gazpacho shooters are a bit of an acquired taste, but their vibrantly green color makes them an obvious choice for St. Paddy’s Day. Plus, they’re super easy to pull together. It shouldn’t take you more than 15 minutes to make the soup, but you’ll need to let it chill for at least an hour.
18. Corned Beef Leprechaun Cheeseball
If you’re looking for something festive and fun, you can’t beat this leprechaun cheeseball. You’ll use green, yellow, and red bell peppers, olives, parsnips, and carrots to decorate it. Beyond that, you could actually use any cheeseball recipe you like! Still, if you’re going for 100% St. Paddy’s Day, why not make this filling, tangy corned beef cheeseball, too?
19. Guacamole
It’s green. It’s delicious. It’s guacamole. If you’re looking for an easy St. Patrick’s Day appetizer that you know will be a crowd-pleaser, it’s the best way to go.
20. Spinach Artichoke Dip
And if guacamole isn’t your family’s favorite dip, then try this recipe for spinach artichoke dip instead. It, too, is well-suited to a green-themed holiday party. It’s also creamy, insanely good, and has crumbled bacon in it for extra salt and flavor. Additionally, you can have it on the table in 30 minutes or less, and that’s always a plus. Click on a star to rate it!
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