42 Festive Green Foods To Avoid Getting Pinched This St. Patrick’s Day
Picture this: It's St. Patrick’s Day, and you've got that friend or coworker you KNOW is going to call out that you're not wearing the traditional green. We’ll argue that it’s childish, but we’re still not keen on getting pinched. If you want to avoid the whole rigmarole (especially if, like us, you’re not even sure if you own anything green), show off with one of these 45 green food recipes instead! A matcha-hazelnut mochi donut in hand is a surefire delicious way to keep you safe and well-fed this St. Patrick's Day. 😉
Spring is all about fresh produce, and there’s tons of herbs and leafy greens to choose from to turn your food the perfect seasonal hue. You can celebrate with everything from our green goddess soup to our chickpea Florentine flatbread to our beef & rice stuffed poblano peppers, with tons of naturally green foods in between. You could pack a perfectly green lunch, like our herby baked falafel (tucked in some homemade pita maybe?), our vegan pasta salad, or our rainbow collard green wraps. We also love putting greens into unexpected meals like our green eggs & ham or our green shakshuka to turn them St. Patrick’s Day-appropriate too.
And don’t worry, if you’ve got some green food dye you’re just itching to use, we’ve got you too. Check out our mint chocolate chip cookies, our St. Patrick's Day cake, or our mint chip lasagna for ideas, then feel free to try adding it (start slowly!) to any of your fave desserts.
We've also included some fun green drinks here that are perfect for celebrating with. Check out our Midori sour, our green beer, our copycat Shamrock Shake, or our Shamrockaritas and save everyone you share them with from a pinch-filled fate. Does it count if you’ve only drank something wildly green? We think so.
And we can’t forget about our favorite naturally green fruit: avocado! Stick it in anything from avocado pancakes to avocado popsicles to avocado butter for foods that are the perfect shade of pale green. If all else fails, you can always just make some guacamole (or another avocado-based dip, we’ve got a few).
For more seasonal inspiration, check out all of our favorite Irish drinks, Irish side dishes, and easy Irish desserts. You’re sure to find more luck among them.
Chickpea Florentine Flatbread
If you love cream of spinach dip, chickpea anything, creamy white pizza, and lots of melty cheeses, you’re going to love this spin on a traditional flatbread. Best part? Because most pre-made flatbreads come in a package of two, this is the easiest app to make for a last-minute shindig.
Get the Chickpea Florentine Flatbread recipe.
Rainbow Collard Green Wraps
Just about every color of the rainbow can be found in these simple collard green wraps featuring colorful bunches of shredded purple cabbage, carrots, yellow bell peppers, sliced avocado, alfalfa sprouts, and crimson red sauerkraut all rolled into big collard green leaves like a burrito. Consider tomorrow's lunch SORTED.
Get the Rainbow Collard Green Wraps recipe.
Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies
You could make a regular chocolate chip cookie, but why would you keep it basic when you can add a minty green twist? Mint chocolate chip fans, it's time to skip the pint of ice cream—these cookies are the easy dessert you should be making.
Get the Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe.
Southern Collard Greens
We have to agree with chef Millie Peartree: There’s nothing quite like Southern collard greens. All you need are a couple of hours, a handful of staple ingredients, smoked turkey, and your collard greens, of course, for an easy side (or meal on its own!) you can serve all year long.
Get the Southern Collard Greens recipe.
Copycat Trader Joe's Green Goddess Salad Dressing
Trader Joe’s Green Goddess salad dressing is a forever fave, and it's no wonder it's often out of stock—it's fresh with bright lemon flavor and creaminess (thanks avocado!). Now, you can make it at home, and never have to rely on TJ's to get your fix.
Get the Copycat Trader Joe's Green Goddess Salad Dressing recipe.
Pesto Chicken
Ready in under an hour, this chicken breast recipe gets a flavorful upgrade with homemade pesto and melty cheese. Looking for an easy date night dinner to impress? Look no further!
Get the Pesto Chicken recipe.
Avocado Butter
We're big fans of the classic avocado toast, but if you're looking to take this breakfast staple over the top, turn to this easy, creamy avocado butter. Keep it simple on toast with a little everything bagel seasoning like we did here, or add it to anything and everything you like.
Get the Avocado Butter recipe.
Shamrockaritas
Margarita lovers, rejoice! The Shamrockarita has arrived. Backed with tequila and lime, then spiked with sour apple liqueur, this festive take on the classic cocktail will add the perfect flair to your St. Patrick’s Day party.
Get the Shamrockaritas recipe.
Midori Sour
Midori is a neon green, melon-flavored Japanese liqueur that made its way to U.S. popularity in the neon-crazed 1980s. It’s light and a little sweet, with plenty of bubbles to keep each sip interesting. This fizzy, tangy, bright green drink is as refreshing as it is fun to look at—expand your repertoire with this classic cocktail today.
Get the Midori Sour recipe.
Pistachio Cake
To make this cake, ground pistachios are added in with the flour, giving it a nutty flavor, a little extra texture, and a slightly green springy hue. It's made perfect with a touch of cardamom and a light amount of cream cheese frosting. Mmm.
Get the Pistachio Cake recipe.
Green Smoothie
For those mornings when we really need to get a boost of greens, we turn to this perfect green smoothie. Packed with good-for-you fruits and veggies, this drink has everything you need to keep you full and energized till lunch. Plus, it's downright delicious.
Get the Green Smoothie recipe.
Beef & Rice Stuffed Poblano Peppers
We love a stuffed pepper recipe, and have stuffed bell peppers with all sorts of fillings and in all manners of ways. We’ve even unstuffed them in this casserole skillet. All worthy of a try, but our new favorite version is switching up the bell peppers and stuffing green, slightly spicy poblano peppers instead.
Get the Beef & Rice Stuffed Poblano Peppers recipe.
Mochi Donuts
Get ready for your next food obsession. Mochi donuts, also called pon de ring donuts, are a crispy, springy, sweet treat that combines the chewy texture of Japanese mochi with the crispy fried goodness of the American donut.
Get the Mochi Donuts recipe.
Herby Baked Falafel Bites With Spicy Tahini Dip
Pistachios, mint, cilantro, dill, and parsley combine to turn these bright green! Bonus: These falafel are baked, not fried, for less mess.
Get the Herby Baked Falafel Bites with Mint Tahini Dip recipe.
Copycat McDonald's Shamrock Shake
If your St. Patrick’s Day tradition involves a stop at the nearest drive-through for a cold minty milkshake, this is your lucky year: You can now whip up your favorite fast-food order right at home.
Get the Copycat McDonald's Shamrock Shake recipe.
Super Green Pasta Salad
It’s not so hard to eat your greens when they come in vegan pasta salad form. Sweet baby spinach is great here, but peppery arugula or tender baby kale would work well too.
Get the Super Green Pasta Salad recipe.
Mint Chip Lasagna
Mint chocolate lovers will lose their minds over this no-bake summer dessert. We used mint Oreos, but if you already have the classic kind on hand, feel free to use those instead. Adding mint extract to the cheesecake layer is what's absolutely key.
Get the Mint Chip Lasagna recipe.
Green Spaghetti
Poblanos and cilantro turn this pasta perfectly green! Feel free to reduce the amount of poblanos to 2 or 3, supplementing with roasted green bell pepper instead if you're not a fan of spice.
Get the Green Spaghetti recipe.
Green Goddess Soup
While most green goddess dressings rely on mayonnaise and one to two herbs for their creaminess and pale green color, we achieve the same flavor profile by using kale, cauliflower, 4 different herbs, and just a touch of Greek yogurt. The result is a vibrant green soup that’s pretty much a garden in a bowl.
Get the Green Goddess Soup recipe.
Best Colcannon
Colcannon is a traditional Irish dish made of creamy mashed potatoes and some green veggie. Here, we opt for a scallion and kale combo for vibrant color and deeper, nuttier flavors, but you can fold in things like Brussels sprouts, broccoli, or even kimchi too!
Get the Best Colcannon recipe.
Green Beer
You can't celebrate St. Paddy's without a pint of green beer. All it takes is a little green food coloring to add some hue to your brew.
Get the Green Beer recipe.
Creamy Pesto Baked Gnocchi & Chicken Skillet
What isn’t pesto good in? It’s a sauce that turns any dish into kitchen gold, especially this totally comforting and delicious gnocchi and chicken bake. For the perfect pesto touch, stir a dollop into the tomato mixture to coat everything, then dollop the top with more right out of the oven for a fresh finish.
Get the Creamy Pesto Baked Gnocchi & Chicken Skillet recipe.
Sichuan Pesto Noodles
When we’re looking for something really special, we turn to Sichuan peppercorns. These peppers bring a unique herbal spice with a gentle numbing effect to the lips and tongue. Paired with a few other unexpected ingredients, these peppercorns add new intrigue to the old standby of pesto and pasta.
Get the Sichuan Pesto Noodles recipe.
Avocado Pancakes
If you love avocados, or even if you just love their beautiful green color, these soft, vibrant pancakes will be your new love at the breakfast table. Top them with blueberries, bananas, or chocolate chips, or eat them plain if that's your thing—they're good any which way!
Get the Avocado Pancakes recipe.
Green Shakshuka
Our take on shakshuka, the North African simmered skillet breakfast, spins the color wheel, thanks to roasted tomatillos and Swiss chard, and takes flavor inspiration from Mexico. We top these eggs cooked in a tangy, spicy salsa verde with cotija cheese and avocado, but the topping choices are endless, from chorizo to toasted pine nuts.
Get the Green Shakshuka recipe.
Zucchini Soup
If there's one thing we know about zucchini, it's that it comes in droves in the summertime. We love it in all preparations, but sometimes you just want something light and simple. Enter this gorgeously green zucchini soup, a refreshing summer recipe that makes a stunning starter or a light meal when paired with toasted sourdough.
Get the Zucchini Soup recipe.
St. Patrick's Day Cookies
Our easy sugar cookie recipe always keeps it shape while baking so you can relax in knowing all of your leaves will come out perfectly round and defined. We love decorating with royal icing, but you could use a simple buttercream frosting for a quick and easy way to frost the cookies too!
Get the St. Patrick's Day Cookies recipe.
Key Lime Pie Mousse
When you're not in the mood to make a whole Key lime pie (or are looking for the cutest shareable treat), then this mini dessert is the one for you. This mousse is every bit as refreshing, with a fluffy texture and a crispy oat crumble we could eat on its own.
Get the Key Lime Pie Mousse recipe.
Avocado Soup
Although the origin is debatable—Mexico, Colombia, and California all lay claim—avocado soup's deliciousness is definitely not up for debate. Somewhere between the cool freshness of gazpacho and the savory richness of guacamole, this is equally great chilled or served at room temperature. File this one under: Why haven't we thought of this before?
Get the Avocado Soup recipe.
Green Eggs & Ham
Dr. Seuss wants us all to try green eggs and ham, and with this easy scrambled egg recipe, we have no need not to. Skip the food coloring and use spinach and lots of fresh herbs to give the eggs a green makeover. You feel much better about them, plus get some much needed greens in.
Get the Green Eggs & Ham recipe.
Avocado Hummus
Only got room for one dip on your St. Patrick's Day spread? Now you don't have to choose favorites—this dip is the best of hummus and guacamole combined.
Get the Avocado Hummus recipe.
Appletini
We think this drink, possibly immortalized by Scrubs character J.D., is wildly underrated. Think of it as a friendlier martini—apple schnapps brings sweet-tart green apple flavor, while a splash of calvados (apple brandy) gives it a fiery kick. These babies are tart, bright green, and quite strong. Enjoy!
Get the Appletini recipe.
Zucchini Tater Tots
Next-level genius move: We nixed the potato for green zucchini to make these kid-friendly tots. Serve with ketchup, ranch dressing, whatever you like!
Get the Zucchini Tater Tots recipe.
St. Patrick's Day Cupcakes
Don’t just make plain old cupcakes for your St. Patty’s Day bash—make these adorable rainbow-topped cupcakes that taste as good as they look! They’re nothing more complicated than a moist, vanilla cupcake with a rich buttercream frosting, but with some green food coloring, a rainbow candy belt, and clever piping, you can turn these into a super-festive treat.
Get the St. Patrick's Day Cupcakes recipe.
Mint Chocolate Chip Brownies
These brownies really double down on the mint with Andes candies (on top and in the brownies) AND mint frosting. They don't technically need to be green if you're anti-food coloring (or used it all up for your green beer), but we think it adds some extra holiday fun.
Get the Mint Chocolate Chip Brownies recipe.
Keto Avocado Pops
These avocado popsicles are delicious and ultra-rich tasting, keto or not. Feel free to sub real sugar, maple, or agave if you don't need these to be low-carb.
Get the Keto Avocado Pops recipe.
Gnudi with Browned Butter, Peas, and Mint
Making gnudi (think gnocchi if you're unfamiliar) is a fun project anyone can pull off. The Italian ricotta dumplings get tossed in a browned butter sauce with spring green peas and crispy mint for a dinner that's the perfect mix of fresh and comforting.
Get the Gnudi with Browned Butter, Peas, and Mint recipe.
Guacamole
When all other plans fail, go with the best green party dip there is! We keep ours pretty simple, but you can add spices, tomatoes, or garlic too.
Get the Guacamole recipe.
St. Patrick's Day Cake
We think we found our pot of gold with this epic top hat-shaped rainbow cake. While it does take a bit of time to assemble, it's actually pretty straight-forward. Once you start assembling, the tricky part is done—just don’t forget to fill your cake with Lucky Charms before putting the top layer on!
Get the St. Patrick's Day Cake recipe.
Pandan Pops
When you steep fresh pandan leaves in water, you get the most fragrant tea with notes of both vanilla and almond. Combined with sugar, it’s a refreshing beverage that can also be turned into ice-cold popsicles. A drizzle of white chocolate and a sprinkle of shredded coconut flakes will lend a touch of sweetness too.
Get the Pandan Pops recipe.
Avocado Pickles
Vinegar helps keep avocado bright and green for longer–no more brown avos for you! Put this condiment on anything you can think of, from eggs to tacos.
Get the Avocado Pickles recipe.
Green Bloody Mary
We love our classic Bloody Mary, but sometimes we like to switch things up. This easy green Bloody Mary starts with a mix made from scratch with tomatillos. It's simple to make and comes together in a snap. It also makes a big batch, which is perfect for entertaining!
Get the Green Bloody Mary recipe.
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