St. Patrick’s Day Party Food
Need some help finding the perfect St. Patrick’s Day party food? We’ve got you covered with these delicious recipe ideas, which include savory dishes, sweet treats and drinks for a crowd. Mix and match recipes for a good time.
St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner, which has me thinking about the food and recipes we can serve on (or around) the green holiday.
Now, depending on where you live and what your lifestyle is like, you could do a lot of different things to celebrate. In years past, I’ve attended parties at friends’ houses and caught beads at annual parades. I’ve also sipped green beer on rooftops after work. And I’ve stayed home and enjoyed homemade Irish food, too.
There are so many options, and I wanted to put together a simple St. Patrick’s Day food that includes recipes you can make at home that are made for sharing.
Also, if you’re hosting guests, have them bring a favorite Irish recipe to add to the spread!
Looking for more St. Patrick’s Day recipe inspiration? Check out my St. Patrick’s Day recipe index.
How to host a St. Patrick’s Day party like a pro
Entertaining can be stressful… but it’s also really wonderful when everything comes together.
Personally, I love a laidback gathering because when you’re hosting friends, the stakes lower significantly. (I truly understand that we all want to impress out people—but the whole point of hosting a party and entertaining is to get to spend time with them, so we need to let go this idea that everything has to be perfect. It will be perfect BECAUSE you’re doing it and because you are with your people.)
You can host parties and gatherings with the following tips and tricks…
- Set the time and date for your St. Patrick’s Day party, and invite friends.
- Once you have a guest list and a decent idea of who’s going to attend, make your menu. Focus on serving foods that are easily made in advance so that you aren’t cooking while your guests are arriving or at your house.
- Make your cooking timeline, too.
- Get your supplies, make the food and open your home to friends.
It’s really that simple!
To help you out, I’ve compiled a scrumptious St. Patrick’s Day menu with some of our favorite Irish (and Irish-inspired) recipes that are great for sharing.
Depending on your number of guests, you can mix and match these recipes to your tastes. Just be sure to have a variety (and also be aware of guests’ food sensitivities and allergies) to keep guests fed and happy throughout the game.
What Do You Normally Keep On Your Menu For St. Patrick’s Day Like This? Is It Similar To Mine?
St. Patrick's Day Party Food and Menu Ideas
Need some help for St. Patrick’s Day entertaining? We’ve got you covered these delicious recipe ideas, which include savory dishes, sweet treats and drinks for a crowd. Mix and match these eclectic Irish recipes for a good time.
Savory St. Patrick's Day Recipes
Whether or not you enjoy a good appetizer or savory recipes, every party needs a few! We've compiled some of our favorite savory Irish recipes for you below that are PERFECT for St. Patrick's Day parties and sharing.
Mashed Potato Beef Hand Pies
Make these savory hand pies in advance and serve 'em up in style at your party! A handheld treat that's chock full with Guinness-braised beef and mashed potatoes, these hand pies are fabulous for sharing at gatherings.
Corned Beef Poutine with Guinness Gravy
A twist on traditional poutine, these beefy fries are made complete with corned beef AND a Guinness stout gravy! Make 'em in a skillet and let guests descend upon them the moment the fries are out of the oven. Rest assured, this appetizer will go over swimmingly.
Guinness Braised Beef
This beef cooks low and slow and is insanely tender and flavorful. Pair it with potatoes for the complete meal! This is the perfect recipe if you're offering more dinner-centric foods to guests.
Authentic Irish Colcannon
These Irish buttery potatoes are something special! And while mashed potatoes might not be something you normally serve at a party, these will make you change your mind, especially when paired with the beefy recipes above!
Sweet St. Patrick's Day Recipes
No party is complete without sweets! Whether you're looking for cakes, ice cream, Jell-O or more, we've got plenty of festive (and green!) St. Patrick's Day desserts for you below.
Chocolate Guinness Cupcakes with Creamy Bailey's Icing
Y'all. I cannot stress how amazing Guinness makes these chocolate cupcakes! Super dark and intense, and topped with a creamy Irish Cream icing, these desserts are fabulous for a party where the guests enjoy a good boozy dessert.
Chocolate Chip Irish Cream Pound Cake
Irish cream in a pound cake with chocolate chips? Oh yes. This fluffy cake tastes like the popular sipper and is wonderful because you can bake it into different shapes. You can make it in advance, too!
Guinness Brownies with Cream Cheese Frosting Drizzle
These dense, decadent brownies are so chocolatey and soooooooooo delicious. The Guinness truly brings out the deep flavors of the chocolate and turns this classic dessert into something even more intense.
Layered Rainbow Jello
It's not St. Patrick's Day if we don't have SOMETHING on the menu that's a rainbow! And how fun is this layered rainbow jello? If you're hosting a party and involving kids, you DEFINITELY need this sweet on the menu!
No Churn Guinness Brownie Ice Cream
Lookin' for something different this St. Patrick's Day? Bake some Guinness brownies and throw 'em into HOMEMADE ICE CREAM! This is the ultimate make-ahead dessert since you'll want it to sit in the freezer overnight before sharing.
Boozy Irish Brownies with Irish Cream Whiskey Ganache
I simply cannot stop drooling over these brownies, which have a fudgey chocolate layer and an insanely decadent Irish whiskey and Irish cream white chocolate ganache topping. I meaaaaaaaan... how could these NOT be perfect for a St. Patrick's Day party?
St. Patrick's Day Drinks
No St. Patrick's Day festivity is complete without drinks! Whether you want to share Guinness and Jameson-filled beverages to guests or if you want a fun mocktail to serve to all, here are some great drink ideas.
Irish Mule
Like the classic Moscow Mule but with IRISH WHISKEY, this sipper is smooooooooooth and delicious. If you're hosting a crowd, turn it into a pitcher drink and let everyone enjoy theirs in a copper mule mug!
Mint Chip Guinness Floats
Is it a dessert? Is it a drink? Since it's involving Guinness and is mostly liquid, I'm counting it as a dessert drink... and boy, is this one decadent. Use your favorite mint ice cream and pour Guinness stout over it for the ultimate boozy shake.
The Boyfriend Irish Coffee
A nod to the classic IRISH COFFEE, this coffee drink calls for Irish whiskey, Guinness and other ingredients to make a cozy, fizzy sipper.
Grasshopper Jello Shots
Dessert shots for the win! These Grasshopper Jello Shots combine the flavors of mint and chocolate into a bite-sized (and booze-filled) delight.
St. Patrick’s Day Punch
This non-alcoholic punch calls for grape juice, orange juice, lemon-lime soda and rainbow sherbet and is oh-so-fun! Perfect for sharing if you've got kids attending your party, this green punch is festive AND tasty!
Baby Guinness Irish Coffee Jell-O Shots
How cute are these Jell-O shots? They look like a pint of Guinness and call for classic St. Patrick's Day flavors, too. Make 'em ahead of time and surprise guests with these fun shooters!
About the Author:
Erin Parker is a Southern gal living in Texas with her husband and two daughters. She started The Speckled Palate to share what she was cooking as a newlywed… and over the years, it’s evolved to capture her love for hosting. Specifically, the EASIEST, lowest key entertaining because everyone deserves to see their people and connect over good food. Learn more about her…
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