40 Green Foods to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day

Pistachio Mallow Salad

This fluffy pistachio salad is a real treat since it’s creamy but not overly sweet. It’s easy to mix up, and the flavor gets better the longer it stands. It’s a perfect green food for St. Patrick’s Day, served in a green bowl. -Pattie Ann Forssberg, Logan, Kansas

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St. Patrick’s Day Cupcakes

These St. Patrick’s Day cupcakes go super-quick. The pistachio pudding mix gives them a mild flavor and their pretty pastel color makes them a perfect dessert for this lively holiday. —Kathy Meyer, Almond, Wisconsin

Shamrock Cookies

A handy cookie cutter shapes these sensational sweets. With a hint of mint flavor, these shamrock cookies are especially yummy with cocoa or chocolate milk. —Edna Hoffman, Hebron, Indiana

Pea Soup with Quinoa

This soup is low in fat, high in fiber, and has a fantastically fresh flavor and wonderful texture. Best of all, it’s a green food for St. Patrick’s Day. —Jane Hacker Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Leprechaun Lime Drink

You won't need the help of lucky little elves to ready this refreshing lime concoction. Cheery garnishes can be fixed in a wink to dress up each guest's glass. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Green Beans Amandine

It's hard to improve on the taste Mother Nature gives to fresh green beans, but Mom has done just that for years using this green beans amandine recipe. I have always thought the crunchy almonds were a super addition. —Brenda DuFresne, Midland, Michigan

Clover Rice Crispy Bars

This sweet green food for St. Patrick’s Day are like the pot of gold at the end of your family’s feast. With their yummy peppermint and marshmallow flavor, they’ll make even those without Irish hearts happy. These rice crispy bars will have the cook smiling, too, because they’re so easy to assemble. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

St. Patrick's Day Popcorn

Everyone's eyes will be smilin' when they see this green popcorn. The emerald color gives this snack instant St. Patrick's Day appeal. —Karen Weber, Salem, Missouri

Festive Corn ‘n’ Broccoli

This green St. Patrick’s Day food is delicious and versatile. I often substitute a tablespoon of minced fresh basil for the dried, and two to three ears of sweet corn (about a cup cut fresh from the cob) for the Mexicorn. —Lucile Throgmorton, Clovis, New Mexico

Lime-in-the-Coconut Almond Bark

I love the combination of flavors in this tropical treat, and it takes mere minutes to make. If you need something for a school or church bake sale, this will get you out of the kitchen in a flash. —Julie Beckwith, Crete, Illinois

Leprechaun Lime Punch

This delightful St. Patrick's day punch will add a festive touch to your brunch buffet. Enjoy the lively taste of lime sherbet and other citrus flavors in this leprechaun inspired drink. — Gloria Warczak, Cedarburg, Wisconsin

Green Goddess Vegan Potato Salad

Don’t be fooled by the green color—this vegan potato salad is absolutely delicious! It’s perfect for potlucks and for those with dietary restrictions. —Laura Wilhelm, West Hollywood, California

Holiday Pistachio Dessert

For my best St. Patrick’s Day menu, I make this “famous” dessert, which my children gobble up immediately. It’s a hit at every gathering! —Edie DeSpain, Logan, Utah. Check out our favorite green desserts.

Arugula Pesto Chicken

We had an abundance of arugula in our garden, so I turned it into pesto. The bold green color reminds my son of something the Hulk would eat. —Courtney Stultz, Weir, Kansas

Honeydew Lime Cooler

Serve up a frosty glass of this citrusy blend of lime sherbet and honeydew melon for a real thirst-quencher. I like to sip this on warm afternoons, but it's equally good for breakfast or brunch. —Mitzi Sentiff, Annapolis, Maryland

Garden Risotto

With asparagus, spinach and peas, this green food for St. Patrick’s Day adds spectacular flavor and tons of health benefits from green veggies. Add some Parmesan cheese, and you’ve got one delectable dish! —Kendra Doss, Kansas City, Missouri

Candied Corn

I couldn’t stop eating this popcorn when I first tried it at a friend’s party. My generous pal offered the recipe, and now I bring it to gatherings often. —Courtney D Wilson, Fresno, California

Avocado Crab Boats

These boats are wonderful with tortilla chips, beans or rice. You can also cover them, pack them on ice, and take them to a picnic or potluck. Straight from the oven or cold, they're always delicious. —Frances Benthin, Scio, Oregon

Coconut Pistachio Pie

We simply love the lightly toasted coconut crust that pairs so well with the pistachio pudding in this quick pie. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Green Tomato Salsa

I came up with this green food for St. Patrick’s Day so I could use up all the fresh tomatoes from my garden. —Vanessa Moon, Tucson, Arizona

Chocolate Mint Creams

This recipe came from an old family friend and is always high on everyone’s cookie request list. I make at least six batches for party nibbling and give some away as gifts. —Beverly Fehner, Gladstone, Missouri

Lime Basil Pie

This sweet lime and basil dessert has a unique taste, plus less calories and fat than the traditional Key lime pie. —Samara Donald, Redmond, Washington.

Crunchy Spinach Casserole

Our St. Patrick’s Day would not be the same without this family tradition. We triple the recipe because the kids can’t get enough. —Sharon Scaletta, Johnstown, Pennsylvania

Creme de Menthe Cupcakes

We use creme de menthe liqueur (the term means "mint cream" in French) to add a cool touch to these impressive mascarpone-frosted cupcakes. —Keri Whitney, Castro Valley, California

Creamed Spinach with Parmesan

Cooked spinach makes a perfect green food for St. Patrick’s Day. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Lemon-Lime Punch

This frothy refresher topped with lime sherbet is a longtime family favorite and the best punch I’ve ever had. It’s fast, festive and easy to mix up for St. Patrick’s Day. —Mary Ray, Raccoon, Kentucky

Green Flop Jell-O

Get ready for fluffy lemon-lime goodness. My family calls it "flop Jell-O" because most of the time a clear gelatin layer that tastes like lemon-lime soda falls to the bottom of the dish. Try it with any flavor gelatin! —Michelle Gauer, Spicer, Minnesota

Catherine's Guacamole

Get the scoop on making a standout guacamole. A handful of chopped celery adds some fun crunch in this avocado dip—everyone’s favorite fiesta starter. —Catherine Cassidy, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Thin Mint Milk Shake

Save a sleeve of Girl Scout cookies for this creamy milkshake that's fun for kids and adults, too. —Shauna Sever, San Francisco, California

Basil and Cashew Pesto Pizzas

I grow basil and love making this homemade pesto pizza. Sometimes I make the pesto the day before and spread it on pizza crust the next day. —Charlotte Rogers, Virginia Beach, Virginia

Grasshopper Pie

I only need six ingredients to whip up this fluffy and refreshing grasshopper pie. I usually make two of the minty treats for our family, since we're never satisfied with just one slice. —LouCinda Zacharias, Spooner, Wisconsin

Ginger-Kale Smoothies

Since I started making this green smoothie recipe for breakfast every day, I honestly feel better! Substitute any fruit and juice you like to make this recipe your own healthy blend.—Linda Green, Kilauea, Kauai, Hawaii

Shamrock Cutout Pound Cake

My son Gabriel loves surprises inside cakes, like seeing a shamrock when this St. Patrick’s Day cake is sliced. Everyone wants to know how it’s done. — Angela Lively, Spring, Texas. Want to kick it up a notch with something a little more zesty? Try this amazing key lime bread recipe!

Pistachio Buttons

This cookie recipe makes a big batch, which comes in handy during the holidays. The green center adds a festive touch. —Nella Parker, Hersey, Michigan

Stained Glass Gelatin

Kids love this sweet, wiggly gelatin and whipped topping dessert. Use different flavors of gelatin to make color versions that are as wild as your imagination. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Baby Kale Salad with Avocado-Lime Dressing

We pull a bunch of ingredients from our garden when we make this green food for St. Patrick’s Day. The yogurt dressing layers on big lime flavor. —Suzanna Esther, State College, Pennsylvania

Marshmallow-Almond Key Lime Pie

Summer is peak season for Key limes—a must for this pie’s distinctive sweet-tart flavor. Unlike other Key lime pies, mine has a smooth marshmallow layer on top. This makes it stand out as a crowd favorite. —Judy Castranova, New Bern, North Carolina

Matcha Chia Pudding

Pistachio Cookies

This wonderful pistachio cookie recipe is fun to make and everyone will be impressed with how pretty the green coloring is. They’re one of my favorite holiday cookies. —Pat Habiger, Spearville, Kansas

Simple Lime Gelatin Salad

Looking for a festive dish to light up the buffet? This pretty green gelatin salad is eye-catching and has a delightful, tangy flavor. —Cyndi Fynaardt, Oskaloosa, Iowa

Fluffy Key Lime Pie

For a taste of paradise, try this no-bake Key lime pie recipe. It's low in fat, sugar and fuss. It truly is the best Key lime pie recipe ever! —Frances VanFossan, Warren, Michigan