27 green foods for St. Patrick’s day to make the day fun and festive! From breakfast, snacks, desserts, sides, drinks and all kinds of other recipes, this roundup is all you need to make your holiday as fun as can be while keeping it on the healthier side.
I know our Americanized version of St. Patrick’s day is a far cry from traditional religious celebrations that happen in Ireland for the saint, but I can’t help loving this holiday! However far it has strayed from its origins, it’s still fun to celebrate and green is a fabulous color after all.
Corned beef and cabbage? Yes please. Green beer? Load er up. Mini leprechaun hats? Absolutely necessary.
I love a hearty traditional Irish dish like dutch oven corned beef and cabbage or Instant Pot Irish stew. Sometimes though, its fun to just keep it simple and roll with the green! That’s what inspired this list of green foods for St. Patrick’s Day. Plus, since it’s related to the holiday, you can easily sneak some extra veggies in! Your kids won’t be any wiser to it.
You might as well take advantage of the theme and eat healthy St. Patrick’s Day recipes instead of just treats. This St. Patrick’s Day recipe round up is filled with healthy green foods that are still delicious. It’s easy to make green food healthy and get away with a little extra spinach than your discerning child would normally tolerate.
From sweet to the savory, I’ve got you covered. I chose to share a spattering of green food ideas from different food types (breakfasts, dinner, snacks salad, drinks, etc.) so just pick whatever is easiest and/or most appealing to you. And the traditional Irish meals are linked at the bottom in case you choose that route. We’ve got your covered.
I hope you enjoy this list of green foods! Go forth and sprinkle some St. Patrick’s Day love on all you know with green foods and a good pinch or two wherever it’s deserved.
Breakfasts
Spinach Pancakes
These protein filled spinach pancakes are loaded with nutritious greens, cottage cheese for protein and an oat flour base. This makes them healthy as can be and gluten free if you use GF oats, but they're delicious even without the syrup!
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Creamy Green Shakshuka
This incredibly flavorful looking green shakshuka from Pinch of Yum is made with herbs like cilantro and parsley so you know it'll be full of fresh flavor. With runny eggs acting as a sauce and cornmeal cooked into the recipe, you know it will be a filling breakfast to start your day off right.
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Shamrock Fried Eggs
This healthy breakfast from Zestuous is both green and shaped like a four leaf clover! Festive as can be and a nutritious, protein packed way to start the day. Pair with some Irish soda bread or keep it low carb.
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Green Smoothie Bowl
This green smoothie bowl recipe is a bright green from adding lots of spinach or other mixed greens, avocado, and then sweetened up with banana and mango. Additions like hemp hearts and chia seeds are sprinkled on top to add more protein (9 grams total!) but you could of course customize this to whatever you want or opt for some shamrock sprinkles to make it more festive.
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Snacks and Appetizers
Reuben Pickle Bites
These adorable reuben pickle bites from Health Starts in the Kitchen are an awesome way to repurpose your corned beef and cabbage leftover. Plus, the green in the pickles makes it even more on theme for the day!
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Super Green Goddess Hummus
This green goddess hummus from Hapa Nom Nom is made from edamame and avocado giving it a deep green shade and a delicious avocado flavor. Pair with cut veggies, crackers, pita chips or whatever sound best.
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Zucchini Pizzas
These tasty zucchini pizzas are so easy to make and delicious! They can be customized to your favorite ingredients and are easy enough that kids can make them with you to help sell them on the zucchini.
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Cajun Roasted Kale Chips
These crispy kale chips are tastier than they sound if you're new to kale chips! They're salty, a touch spicy (leave off for kids) and addictingly munchable. One food that satisfies the snack urge in a healthy way!
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Chili Crab Potsticker Dumplings
Chili Crab Potsticker dumplings from The Flavor Bender are a delicious savory way to do green food. With spinach added to the dough to give it a distinctive green color, they'll pass for St. Patrick's Day and provide a welcome Asian twist to a holiday otherwise dominated by European flavors.
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St. Patrick’s Day Snack Board
Okay, I know this one isn't exclusively green but its so on theme, I couldn't leave it out! These layers of healthy goodness and the fun "pot of gold" make this no-fuss, snack board from Eating By Elaine such a fun way to fill up with healthy snacks that are both adult and kid-friendly.
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Drinks
Beet Greens Smoothie
This simple beet greens smoothie uses greens you'd normally throw away to add nutrition and a vibrant green color to this tasty beverage. Plus it only has 5 simple ingredients and tastes sweet from all of the fruit so it'll pass the kid test!
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Protein Shamrock Shake
This Shamrock Shake from Jillian's Healthful Eats is a copycat of the McDonald’s Shamrock Shake but made healthier. It is loaded with protein, fresh greens, matcha powder, and topped w/ keto whipped cream in case you're watching your carbs.
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Cucumber Lime Cooler
Continue to still have fun, while making healthier choices! This spring Sparkling cucumber lime gin cooler from Regain Your Sparkle is made with vodka or gin makes a beautiful naturally green party cocktail.
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Spinach Cucumber Green Juice
Spinach cucumber green juice is way better than it sounds since all of those greens get sweetened up with apple! You can make the recipe in a juicer or high power blender, straining away the debris in the end.
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Side Dishes
Lemon Kale Salad
Lemon kale salad is in my opinion, the best way to eat kale. It turns kale haters into kale lovers and its rich dark green color makes it a perfect accompaniment to whatever main dish you're serving.
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Easy Sautéed Spinach with Garlic
This easy sautéed spinach recipe is an excellent side to serve with your main St. Patrick's Day dish no matter what it ends up being. The vibrant green color is on theme and the simple flavors make it easy to pair with.
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Colcannon Irish Mashed Potatoes
This recipe for Colcannon (Irish mashed potatoes with kale), makes smooth, creamy potatoes loaded with garlic, leeks, kale and butter. An indulgent yet healthy side dish that is perfect for celebrating this Irish holiday.
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Air Fryer Broccoli
If you're an air fryer lover and want your veggies crispy, this air fryer broccoli doesn't disappoint. This is a simple every day recipe that can be made into a St. Patrick's day theme simply by it's color and what you pair it with. I served this with green eggs and ham for breakfast and it was a hit at our house!
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Lemon Parmesan Asparagus
This lemon parmesan asparagus is another easy side dish that pairs well with pretty much any main making it an excellent option for your Irish holiday dinner. Its so versatile that you can serve it alongside any main to add some more green to the table. If you're looking to make it in the air fryer, check out my air fryer asparagus recipe.
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Mixed Greens with Jalapeño Tuna
This recipe for greens with jalapeño tuna from Average Arab Girls is full of healthy greens and can act as either a side dish or main. It would make an awesome healthy lunch to keep with the green theme of the day.
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Collard Green Wraps with Peanut Sauce
These collard green wraps from Health Starts in the Kitchen are absolutely delicious and easy to make. They are packed with wholesome ingredients like quinoa and veggies and drizzled with a little homemade peanut sauce. Perfect for dinner any night of the week!
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Grilled Zucchini with Balsamic Glaze
This delicious grilled zucchini is a delicious fresh tasting side dish to add to the menu if you're grilling. It's simple to make and has an absolute explosion of flavor from the balsamic glaze, fresh basil and feta.
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Soups
Detox Green Soup Recipe
This delicious soup from Detox DIY has asparagus, kale, spinach, fennel, celery and all kinds of nutritious foods! Lime and garlic keep the seasonings simple and the recipe as cleansing as can be. This is the green soup recipe to help replenish those nutrients from drinking green beer!
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Deserts and Baked Goods
Spinach Cupcakes
These festive spinach cupcakes from Brooklyn Farm Girl use fresh spinach to give them a vibrant green color! They're easy as can be since they use a boxed cake mix but made healthier by using apple sauce in the recipe too.
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Peppermint Chocolate Chip Nice Cream
This peppermint "nice cream" recipe from The Fit Cookie is sweet and creamy with a hint of peppermint and lots of chocolate pieces. Perfect for a cool homemade frozen treat on St. Patrick's Day or anytime. Plus it’s dairy free and healthy using bananas as the base!
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Pistachio Muffins
If your breakfast this St. Patrick's Day needs to be on the run, plan ahead with a batch of pistachio muffins! These gluten free treats are naturally died with matcha and made with pistachio flour (it's easy to make!) no refined sugar and all kinds of healthy ingredients to fuel your day.
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Lucky Charms Cookies
These lucky charms cookies from Sweets by Elise are a fun tasty treat smothered in a green festive frosting and a sprinkle of lucky charms cereal. With the rest of the recipes on this list being so healthy, why not end the holiday with something fun and indulgent!
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The Best
Comments & Reviews
I know St. Patrick’s Day has come and gone, but these recipes look great for anytime really. Kathleen’s green goddess hummus is to die for!!
I know! Isn’t that green goddess hummus the best?