St Patrick's Day Appetizers to Kick Start the Party

Corned beef or Irish stew might be the main dish for your feast, but try some of these favorite St Patrick's Day appetizers to get the party started!

Closeup side view of Corned Beef and Cabbage Sliders for St. Patrick\'s Day Appetizers to Kickstart the Party

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The Green Party

More Americans identify as Irish than the population of Ireland itself. Second, only to Germany, Irish heritage is strong in America, with Northeastern states ranking highest. In fact, 21% of the population in Massachusetts claim Irish heritage.

St Patrick's Day Appetizers

Find your Green, make some Irish Coffee or No-Churn Irish Coffee Ice Cream, stream your favorite Irish music, and let's celebrate with St Patrick's Day Appetizers, comfort food, and more!

For heartier fare, you may want to check out our Irish Pub Recipes or Classic Irish Recipes: Emerald Isle Comfort Food.

Classic Irish recipes like Easy One Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage can be made in a pressure cooker with the Instant Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage recipe.

For dessert ideas, Green St Patrick's Day Treats that are Mostly Easy or the perennial favorite Cast Iron Irish Apple Cake.

And please, don't skip the soda bread!

How to Make An Irish Cheeseboard

Cheeseboard or charcuterie boards are always a good idea. If you want to make one for St. Patrick's Day, here are a few ingredient tips for making one at home.

Begin with the cheeses

Irish Central says, "The number one rule for putting together a cheese board is variety - you want to make sure there's a range of flavors, textures, and colors. Aim for one hard cheese, such as an Irish cheddar; a strong cheese such as an Irish blue; a semi-soft cheese like a Farmhouse Cheese such as Gubbeen; and a soft cheese such as Irish goat cheese."

Add the accompaniments

Choosing fresh fruits, like apple slices, strawberries, and grapes, are perfect for non-dairy options. Dried fruit is also nice like figs, cranberries, apricots, raisins, or dates.

Then add nuts like almonds, walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts, and Brazil nuts for a lovely texture contrast.

Finally, include slices of Irish brown bread, cream crackers, or oat crackers. 

St. Patrick's Day Appetizer Recipes

1
Top view of green pizza for St. Patrick's Day appetizers.
Vegan Green Goddess Pizza
It doesn't get more green or party worthy than this Green Goddess Pizza!
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2
Corned Beef Leprechaun Cheeseball
"This corned beef leprechaun cheeseball is sure to make everyone laugh. This is the best appetizer for your St.Patrick's day party!"
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3
A festive charcuterie board with sliced meats, cheeses, crackers, dips, mustard, grapes, chocolates, cucumbers, and a hand reaching for green jelly-perfect for serving as St Patrick's Day appetizers.
St. Patrick's Day Appetizer Board
"There are actually quite a few naturally green snacks you can use in this board of St. Patrick's Day Appetizers - pistachios, pesto, mint jelly, grapes, and zucchini.
For the protein, I used Dubliner Cheese (it tastes likes a dry medium cheddar) and a pub cheese (horseradish-cheddar). Both of these are available at Trader Joe’s.
For the meat, I used sliced ham and pastrami – a finger-food-friendly version of corned beef (my mom’s favorite dish to cook this time of year).
Add an ale or whole grain mustard and some fun gold-wrapped chocolate for the ultimate spread in St. Patrick’s Day Appetizers, right?"
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4
St. Patrick's Day snack board for kids with goodies.
ainttooproudtomeg.com
St. Paddy's Day Snack Foods Board
"Throw on your favorite green clothes (don't want to get pinched!) and celebrate Paddy's Day with some fun, (mostly) healthy bites."
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5
A round loaf of Irish Soda Bread, studded with raisins, sits on parchment paper in a baking pan, boasting a golden crust and a beautifully scored top.
Easy Irish Soda Bread with Buttermilk and Raisins Recipe
Irish Soda Bread, a national heritage… and a Wilson family favorite. Whether it be St. Patrick's Day or any spring day. A delicious twist on the traditional Irish Soda Bread.
Easy Irish Soda Bread with Buttermilk and Raisins Recipe
6
wfm.com
Recipe: Irish Cheddar Potato Bites
This St. Patrick's Day-worthy appetizer is a perfect side to the main event. Which could be Irish Stew of Shepherd's Pie or Corned Beef and Cabbage!
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7
reluctantentertainer.com
Trader Joe's Cheesy Irish Sliders
"Trader Joe's Cheesy Irish Sliders are made with corned beef or pastrami, Dubliner Irish cheese, a delicious sweet mustard on Aloha Rolls!"
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8
Shamrock Pesto Snacks
"You only need three ingredients to make this St. Paddy's app: puff pastry, pesto and an egg. "
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9
Closeup view of Irish Soda Bread Muffin in green and white shamrock paper liners.
Irish Soda Bread Muffins with Buttermilk and Raisins
A delightful twist on classic Irish Soda Bread, these bite-size muffins are perfect and festive for St. Patrick's Day appetizers!
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10
Shamrock Veggie Skewers - Two Healthy Kitchens
"These easy Shamrock Veggie Skewers are a perfect St. Patrick's Day appetizer for parties, and a fun, healthy after-school snack! Plus, if you happen to catch a leprechaun (lucky you!), you'll know just what to feed him!"
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11
Colcannon Bites With Collard Greens (Vegan)
"Made with collard greens and topped in filo shells. Great appetizer for your St. Patrick's day menu."
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12
Three raisin scones on parchment paper atop a wooden board, with a bowl of raisins, a glass of honey, and a colorful towel nearby-perfect alongside mini Irish soda bread for a cozy teatime treat.
Easy Mini Irish Soda Bread
Make the traditional soda bread in mini form to serve as party appetizers for St. Patrick's Day
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13
Blackened Shrimp Avocado Cucumber Bites
It's all about the color with these delicious Blackened Shrimp Cucumber Bites!
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14
Mini Shepherd's Pie
"Kids can help make this dish and have fun doing it! This can also be made in a 9×13″ pan. This is good frozen and microwaved. Great to take in your lunch bag, to a picnic, or to a tailgate party! Enjoy!"
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15
www.aspicyperspective.com
Savory Irish Potato Pie
"Savory Irish Potato Pie Recipe - Crispy crust layered with potatoes, onions, and bacon. The Saint Patrick's Day favorite is a must-have at an Irish dinner!"
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16
Irish Seafood Chowder in a white bowl with shrimp, smoked salmon and mussels garnishing the top.
Irish Seafood Chowder
Irish Seafood Chowder is delicious and filling comfort food… and is common fare in Irish pubs and restaurants. Serve with Irish Soda Bread for an authentic and delicious meal in 30 minutes or less!
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17
Irish Grilled Cheese
"Mash 4 tablespoons softened butter with 2 tablespoons each chopped parsley, scallions and chives. Spread the mixture on 4 slices white bread; top each with sliced Irish cheddar cheese and bread-and-butter pickles. Cover with 4 more bread slices. Spread plain butter on the outside of the sandwiches and fry in a skillet until golden on both sides. Spread the remaining herb butter on the warm sandwiches. Slice into quarters, then press the cut sides in more chopped herbs."
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18
Closeup up of 3 Beef Pot Pies with Fresh Parsley
Pub-Style Beef Pot Pies in Muffin Tins
Pub Style Beef Pot Pies in Muffins Tins is a celebration in every bite. Simple to make, utterly delicious, fun to serve, and perfect as an appetizer or the main event.
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19
Reuben Crescents
"I just can't pass up a tasty Reuben! You can substitute pastrami or turkey pastrami for the corned beef."
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20
Seven puff pastry cups filled with a creamy mixture and garnished with chopped chives are arranged on a light-colored plate, making them perfect St Patrick's Day appetizers.
Onion Potato Tartlets
"Here's an innovative appetizer that uses puff pastry, potato flakes, French fried onions and Cheddar cheese to make bite-sized pastries with big-time flavor."
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21
Potato Pancakes for St. Patrick's Day
"My Irish grandmother would make these all time, these or potato scones and we loved them."
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22
Red ceramic ramekins filled with a baked dish topped with golden breadcrumbs, garnished with parsley, make festive St Patrick's Day appetizers, served on a cloth napkin on a wooden surface.
Cheesy Cabbage Gratin
"I kept true to the Irish spirit with good Irish butter and, my latest obsession, Dubliner cheese. If you've never tried it, it's creamy and buttery and sharp. Kind of halfway between a cheddar and a Parmesan. If you can't find any then a good sharp cheddar will work fine but check out the cheese section of your market and you just might find it nestled among the cheddars. Either way, enjoy!"
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23
Leftover Mashed Potato Tater Tots
"Use up leftover colcannon and make a batch of these delicious little colcannon tater tots."
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24
Smoked Salmon on Irish Soda Bread Crostini
"This is the PERFECT appetizer to kick off your St. Patty's Day meal. Think outside the box and give this unexpected appetizer a whirl."
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25
A skillet of classic Corned Beef Hash with diced corned beef, potatoes, cabbage, and carrots.
Corned Beef and Cabbage Hash
This easy skillet corned beef hash turns leftover corned beef, potatoes, cabbage, and carrots into a crispy, comforting breakfast or quick dinner.
Corned Beef and Cabbage Hash
26
Irish Cheese Toasties
"A perfect and easy starter that goes with all the flavors of St. Patrick's Day!"
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27
St. Patrick's Day Popcorn Recipe: Leprechaun Popcorn
"Dubbed Leprechaun popcorn, it is an easy to make green and white chocolate covered popcorn snack with green mint M&Ms and St. Patrick's day sprinkles."
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28
A bowl of creamy vegetable soup, inspired by classic potato leek soup, garnished with fresh parsley and filled with chunks of carrot, celery, and onion sits beside a bowl of salt on a wooden surface.
Irish Potato Leek Soup
Irish Vegetable Potato Leek Soup is a hearty bowl of delicious comfort. Perfect for brisk days, it's a healthy soup that will warm your toes.
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29
A bowl of creamy potato soup garnished with crispy bacon, chopped chives, and fried onions, placed on a napkin with a spoon beside it.
Cream of Potato Soup
Cream of Potato Soup is a creamy bowl of comfort on chilly days. Packed with healthy vegetables, and seasoned with fresh herbs and bacon, it's a delicious soup you'll love.
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30
A plate of golden brown Boxty potato pancakes garnished with green onions and a dollop of sour cream. The plate rests on a dark wooden table with a metal spoon, fork, and knife nearby, alongside a blue-gray cloth napkin.
Irish Boxty Potato Pancakes
Irish Boxty Potato Pancakes is an Emerald Isle staple and vies with champ and colcannon as a favorite potato dish. It's often served for breakfast but a can make a tasty side any time of the day.
Irish Boxty Potato Pancakes
31
Front view of stacked tea bread slices on a white tea stand
Irish Barmbrack Tea Bread
Irish Barmbrack Tea Cake is an utterly delicious, speckled tea bread, much like Irish Freckle Bread, that's moist, tender, and perfect for teatime, snacks, or breakfast. It is an irresistible loaf that's quicker and lighter than Christmas bread and is often served in October.
Irish Barmbrack Tea Bread

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