Plan a Tasty St. Patrick’s Day Menu

Start your recipes for St. Patrick’s Day planning by deciding what menu you need. Is this a party or a meal? Will it be just adults or are there children too? Are you providing all the dishes or will others be bringing in food also? Once you know the answers, then begin selecting recipes to fit what you need like appetizers, main dishes, desserts, or snacks.

Traditional St. Patrick’s Day Recipes vs Modern

The flavors of St. Patrick’s Day are Irish dishes, right? There are several traditional recipes for St. Patrick’s Day, however many familiar ones are dishes that came about when Irish immigrants new to America created recipes based on ingredients they could readily find.

Many modern St. Patrick’s Day recipes are based on the colors green, gold, and rainbow. They may use ingredients like cereal featuring Leprechauns or rainbows. These recipes rely more on how the food looks rather than being a traditional Irish recipe.

Recipe for St. Patrick’s Day Fun

Create a Leprechaun trap with kids for a fun St. Patrick’s Day activity. There are many options for creating traps but often the bait is a bit of gold or a favorite Leprechaun food. Legend says if you trap a Leprechaun, they owe you three wishes. Just like Elf on the Shelf traps set the night before St. Patrick’s Day often have evidence of a Leprechaun visit. 

Another fun way for kids to celebrate is with a scavenger hunt that has a St. Patrick’s Day theme. And don’t forget to remind kids to wear green to avoid being pinched! 

A Start to Finding Recipes for St. Patrick’s Day

Let us help you start your St. Patrick’s Day menu! Here are some of our favorite recipes for celebrating.

Corned Beef and Cabbage Slides

Let’s start with one of the most well-known St. Patrick’s Day recipes and give it a bit of a twist. Corned beef and cabbage is an Irish-American dish originating in the United States. Irish immigrants who couldn’t afford bacon would purchase the more economical corned beef from Jewish neighbors. Making this dish into sliders is a fun way to serve it for a family meal. It also works great as an appetizer for grown-up parties.

• 2 tsp. vegetable oil
• 1 medium yellow onion, thinly sliced
• 1 1/2 C. sauerkraut, drained
• 1 (12 ct.) pkg. Hawaiian rolls
• 2 T. mayonnaise
• 2 T. Dijon mustard
• 1 lb. sliced corned beef
• 1/2 lb. Swiss cheese, sliced

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Saute onions in oil over medium-low heat until soft and translucent. Stir in sauerkraut and set aside. Leave rolls attached and slice in half parallel to the work surface. In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise and mustard. Lay the bottom half of the rolls on the foil-lined baking sheet and spread the mayonnaise mixture on them. Top with corned beef, Swiss cheese, and onion mixture. Replace the top half of the rolls. Bake sandwiches until warmed through and cheese is melted about 10 minutes. Slice into individual sliders and serve warm.

Shepherd’s Pie Potato Skins

This recipe may have roots in Britain more than Ireland but many people recognize it as a staple for St. Patrick’s Day. This version can be used as an appetizer or a main dish plus it’s a fun way to serve it up for kids.

• 8 oz. ground meat
• 1 T. olive oil
• 1/2 onion, diced
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 1/2 C. frozen mixed vegetables
• 2 T. flour
• 1 C. beef broth
• 1/2 C. water
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. dried thyme
• 1/2 tsp. dried oregano
• Black pepper to taste

POTATOES/MASHED POTATOES:

• 4 large potatoes (scrubbed clean)
• 3/4 C. milk
• 2 T. butter
• Salt to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prick potatoes with a fork about 6 times for each potato and microwave on high for 5 minutes. Turn potatoes and microwave for an additional 5 minutes. Pierce with a knife to check if they are cooked. Remove potatoes from microwave and cut in half lengthwise. Scoop out the center using a spoon, leaving a thin skin. Place the scooped-out potato in a bowl. Add milk, butter, and salt and mash with a potato masher until smooth.

FILLING:

Heat olive oil in a large fry pan over medium-high heat. Saute onion and garlic for 2 minutes until softened. Turn up the heat to high. Add ground beef and cook, breaking up the beef as you go, cook through until nicely browned. Sprinkle flour over beef and stir to combine. Add remaining ingredients and stir to combine. Bring to a simmer and continue to stir until the sauce is thick and glossy about 2 minutes. Remove from heat.

ASSEMBLE POTATOES:

Fill each potato with filling packing it in and heaping it slightly. Pipe or spread mashed potato on top (there may be some leftovers you can serve on the side). Place potato skins in the oven to bake for 15 to 20 minutes until the mashed potato starts to brown. Serve immediately.

Irish Potato Boxty (Potato Pancakes)

“Boxty” comes from the Irish phrase “poor house bread”. It has been a staple food in Irish households since the 1700s. These potato pancakes are a delicious side served with any favorite potato toppings! Try them with sour cream, chives, cheese, bacon bits, or salsa.

• 1 1/2 C. grated raw potatoes
• 1 C. all-purpose flour
• 1 C. mashed potatoes
• 1 large egg
• 1 T. milk
• Salt and pepper to taste

Toss grated potatoes with flour in a large bowl. Stir in mashed potatoes until combined. Whisk egg and milk in a separate bowl then add to the potato mix. Next, heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Drop in potato mixture, forming patties about 2 inches in diameter. Fry both sides until golden brown (about 3 to 4 minutes per side). Drain on paper towels and serve warm. 

St. Patrick’s Day Sugar Cookie Bars

Tasty bars that are easy to make and take to share with co-workers (hint, hint) or serve to your Leprechauns at home. Adding sprinkles or green candies on top makes it extra festive.  

COOKIE BARS: 

• 1 C. unsalted butter, softened
• 2 C. sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp. almond extract
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 5 C. all-purpose flour

BUTTERCREAM:

• 1 C. unsalted butter, softened
• 4 C. powdered sugar
• 3 T. milk
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract

COOKIE BARS:

Grease a 12×17-inch sheet pan and set aside. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar on medium speed. Add eggs one at a time. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add vanilla and almond extract. Mix well. In a medium bowl, whisk together salt, baking soda, and flour. Then slowly add to butter/sugar mixture until it is just combined. Press dough evenly into the prepared sheet pan. Bake at 375 degrees F for 15 minutes or until lightly golden. Remove from oven and set aside to cool.

BUTTERCREAM:

Beat softened butter on medium speed with an electric mixer or stand mixer. Beat for 3 minutes until smooth and creamy. Add powdered sugar, cream, and vanilla extract with the mixer running on low. Increase to high speed and beat for 3 minutes. If the frosting is too thick, you can add a little more cream. Add one tablespoon at a time, then mix thoroughly until you get the consistency you like. Add green food coloring gel until you get the color you like. Once the bars are cooled spread frosting evenly over the top of the bars. Add sprinkles if desired. Cut into squares to serve.

Leprechaun Snack Mix

A snack Leprechauns and kids can’t resist. Perfect as bait for a Leprechaun trap or snack time at school. Have kids help stir this up to practice recipe reading skills and measuring.  

• 6 C. Lucky Charms cereal
• 3 C. Golden Grahams cereal
• 2 C. sweetened shredded coconut
• 1 1/2 C. slivered almonds
• 3/4 C. butter
• 1 C. granulated sugar
• 1 C. granulated sugar
• 1 C. corn syrup
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 2 C. green M&M’s

Combine cereal, coconut, and nuts in a large bowl. In a medium saucepan, heat butter, sugar, corn syrup, and salt over medium heat. Bring to a boil then boil for 3 minutes, stirring often. Remove from heat and pour over the cereal mixture. Stir well to coat everything. Let sit for 15 minutes, stirring often to cool, then add M&M’s and gently stir once more. Store in an airtight container.

Leprechaun Slime for Play-Time

This safe-to-taste sensory slime is a great way to give kids some St. Patrick’s Day magic. Kids can help mix this up to practice math and kitchen skills while having fun.

• 1 box (3 oz.) flavored green Jell-O, regular or sugar-free.
• 1/2 C. cornstarch
• 2 to 3 T. water

Pour Jell-O powder into a medium bowl. Add cornstarch and stir until combined. Slowly add water, one tablespoon at a time, stirring until it is your desired consistency. If slime becomes too runny add more cornstarch. Use immediately. NOTE: Can be left out overnight to dry then placed in trash or compost.

Additional Resources

• Now check out our blog article titled “Holiday Recipes are the Recipe for Memories” it includes FREE Printable Recipe Forms – Holiday Blog
• You can create a Fundraising or Family St. Patrick’s Day Cookbook learn more at – Create a Cookbook