17 Tasty Ways to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day

St. Patrick’s Day is a day for meat and potatoes if there ever was one. The traditional foods — corned beef, cabbage, potatoes, anything green — are some of our favorite comfort food dishes.

And of course you can’t forget about the drinks! From a boozy shamrock shake to Guinness everything, it’s a day to eat, drink, and make merry.

This delicious cabbage dish is a far cry from the wilted cabbage you’re used to seeing alongside corned beef. Roasting it gives it a richer caramelized flavor that’s amplified by smoky bacon.

How To Cure Corned Beef

You’ve run out of time to cure your own corned beef for this year’s celebrations, but bookmark this tutorial for Sunday dinner.

There are endless versions of the Irish scone, but this one has become our favorite. With buttermilk and a touch of sugar, it’s hard to go wrong with this confection. Serve them warm, slathered with salted butter.

Don’t suffer through green beer this St. Patrick’s Day. Instead, opt for a cocktail that’s naturally green, thanks to Chartreuse and lime juice. It’s a classic cocktail that’s great to have in your arsenal.

St. Patrick’s Day can be tough on vegetarians, which is exactly why we like this hash made from beets and cabbage instead of corned beef. It’s a rustic, hearty breakfast. All you need is a piece of soda bread on the side.

This gets our vote for the new way to fix potatoes on St. Patrick’s Day this year. The briny, salty potatoes are just as addictive as salt and vinegar chips, but they’re a little bit better for you.

This might be the fanciest of the Guinness cocktails since it pairs the traditional Irish stout with Champagne or sparkling wine. Pour carefully, starting with the Champagne, and then topping with the Guinness.

This recipe has all the goodness of traditional Guinness stew — just minus the beef. It’s still hearty and filling, and will make sure all your dinner guests can enjoy a traditional St. Patrick’s Day feast.

This easy beer bread recipe has both Irish cheddar and a bottle of Guinness — it’s just about the most Irish beer bread you can possibly make.

We love Hasselback potatoes for being somewhere between a baked potato, french fries, and roasted potatoes. Plus, you can get creative with the seasoning: A pat of butter and generous sprinkling of salt and pepper are good places to start.

Part drink, part dessert, this two-ingredient boozy float is the best way to end a St. Patrick’s Day feast. If you happen to have homemade vanilla ice cream in your freezer, all the better.

There are a few variations on traditional Irish soda bread (just like with the scones), but the three things they all have in common are flour, baking soda, and some sort of soured milk like buttermilk. We’re partial to this version cooked in a cast iron skillet, but there are plenty of ways to make it your own.

If St. Patrick’s Day was on the weekend this year, then we’d say swap out your normal coffee for this whisky-spiked version. But no need to relegate it only to the holiday: Kick brunch off with a boozy start and serve this coffee cocktail.

Yes, you could go buy a shamrock shake now that they are available again, but you’d still have to add your own booze to it. Instead, make one at home and be generous with the crème de menthe.

Just in case you need another way to enjoy some Guinness, this chocolate pudding pie is a good place to start. Rest assured that you can really taste the stout in this recipe.

If you want a hot cocktail, but don’t drink coffee, try this warming drink instead. It’s similar to a hot toddy, but has a bit of sugar instead of the traditional cloves for a lighter, sweeter taste.

Finally, if you’d prefer to just give a nod to St. Patrick’s Day without preparing any of the traditional fare, go ahead and eat something green like this pesto and veggie flatbread. It’s fresh, healthy, and almost totally green.