However you choose to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, we can all agree—you’ve gotta have great food. No matter if you’re sitting down to a meal with family or throwing a kegger for friends, you’ve gotta have some solid appetizers to go around. Luckily for you, these festive dips, bites, and breads are the perfect place to start. The thing about St. Paddy’s Day is that some of the foods we associate with it aren’t even traditionally Irish at all (looking at you, Shamrock Shake), making it tough to figure out what to serve to your guests. We say, don’t overthink it! Stick with a few general ingredients and flavor combos, and have fun with it.
Potatoes are an important part of Irish culture, and are always a crowd-pleaser—try serving them in our potato croquettes, or our St. Patrick’s Day nachos (if you’ve never had potato nachos before, you’re in for a treat!). The melting pot flavor and vibe of a Reuben (Irish corned beef + Midwestern sensibility) is one of our favorites this time of year, especially when you push it even further into clever apps. Check out our corned beef & cabbage quesadillas or our Reuben pinwheels for ideas, but feel free to get creative with it (take our word for it; nearly anything is good with Swiss, corned beef, and sauerkraut). Hot tip: these are the perfect way to use up leftover corned beef, too.
The color green IS all important for the holiday, but don’t feel like you need to twist yourself all up to make everything unnaturally green. Try adding green herbs or veggies as we did in our pull-apart shamrock (basically one BIG garlic knot), or our shamrockuterie board. If all else fails, serve chips and dip—guacamole is already green!
Want more St. Patrick’s Day inspiration? Check out our best St. Patrick’s Day drinks, Irish side dishes, and St. Patrick’s Day desserts, too.
Pull-Apart Shamrock
We’re all about making our own luck, and what better way to do that this St. Patrick’s Day than with your own (delicious) shamrock? This pull-apart appetizer uses pizza dough and mozzarella sticks to create a shamrock-shaped appetizer that will get any party started (alongside plenty of green beer, of course).
Get the Pull-Apart Shamrock recipe.
PHOTO: MURRAY HALL; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE
(PHOTO: MURRAY HALL; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE)Irish Nachos
Instead of tortilla chips, these nachos use a base of crispy roasted potatoes. The potatoes are then topped with shredded corned beef and all of our favorite nacho toppings. They’re perfect for celebrating St. Patrick’s Day!
Get the Irish Nachos recipe.
LUCY SCHAEFFER PHOTOGRAPHY
(LUCY SCHAEFFER PHOTOGRAPHY)Corned Beef & Cabbage Sliders
In honor of this iconic St. Patrick’s day duo, these corned beef sliders pack all of those festive flavors into a bite-size package. These sliders are easy to prepare and perfect for sharing at any St. Paddy’s day gathering.
Get the Corned Beef & Cabbage Sliders recipe.
PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON
(PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON)Reuben Pinwheels
If you think Reuben sandwiches are great, then these crispy Reuben pinwheels are the easy, crowd-pleasing appetizer you’ve been searching for. Made with store-bought buttery puff pastry and layered with corned beef, gooey Swiss cheese, creamy thousand island dressing, and crunchy sauerkraut, these bites have everything you love.
Get the Reuben Pinwheels recipe.
PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON
(PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON)Shamrockuterie Board
Some holidays are all about an elaborate feast, but others are more about lining your tummy for a legendary bar crawl. St. Patrick’s Day is the latter, and whether you’re hosting the green beer pregame or the main event, this shamrockuterie board is the perfect snack to keep the party going all weekend long.
Get the Shamrockuterie Board recipe.
PHOTO: LINDA PUGLIESE; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE
(PHOTO: LINDA PUGLIESE; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE)Beer Cheese
Warm, creamy dips are required at any party, but if you really want to start your St. Patty’s Day festivities, put out a pot of beer cheese. Spiked with lager and Dijon mustard, this smooth and glossy cheese dip will be devoured by party-goers everywhere.Get the Beer Cheese recipe.
PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE
(PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE)Spring Pea & Feta Dip
In this party dip, sweet spring peas are blanched until tender yet vibrant green, then blended with tangy feta cheese, creating a luscious base that’s both creamy and savory. A splash of lemon juice and a handful of fresh basil and mint add a refreshing zing.
Get the Spring Pea & Feta Dip recipe.
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLIST: BROOKE CAISON
(PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLIST: BROOKE CAISON)Corned Beef & Cabbage Sliders
One of the most classic pairings for corned beef is, of course, cabbage, so in honor of this iconic St. Patrick’s day duo, these corned beef sliders pack all of those festive flavors into a bite-size package. They’re easy to prepare and perfect for sharing.
Get the Corned Beef & Cabbage Sliders recipe.
PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON
(PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON)Fried Mashed Potato Balls
This recipe turns leftover mashed potatoes into magical, fried bites of savory deliciousness. Ready in 25 minutes, these delish creations are a perfect last-minute appetizer when you want something a bit different than your average mashed potatoes, or simply need a fun take on classic comfort food.
Get Fried Mashed Potato Balls recipe.
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON
(PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON)Leprechaun Bait
We went with Lucky Charms and green M&M’s for added St. Paddy’s Day flair, but like any party mix, this is completely customizable! Feel free to get creative with this mix, but whatever you do, don’t forget the green. 😉
Get the Leprechaun Bait recipe.
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: FRANCESCA ZANI
(PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: FRANCESCA ZANI)Corned Beef & Cabbage Cheese Quesadillas
Enjoy the St. Paddy’s fave meal anytime with this handheld snack version. These quesadillas feature Swiss cheese, corned beef, and cabbage wrapped up in flour tortillas. Sauerkraut and stone-ground mustard are also taking center stage in a creamy dipping sauce to serve alongside the quesadillas.
Get the Corned Beef & Cabbage Cheese Quesadillas recipe.
PHOTO: KATE JORDAN; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER
(PHOTO: KATE JORDAN; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER)Spinach Puffs
If you love baked spinach dip, you will love these baked puff pastry puffs. They’re filled with a mixture of sautéed onion, garlic, spinach, and cream cheese and baked inside little puff pastry cups in a muffin tin. Consider these your “wearing green”; we bet you can’t eat just one!
Get the Spinach Puffs recipe.
Hearst Owned
(Hearst Owned)Loaded Potato Skins
We expect nothing less than fully loaded from our potato skins. What does “fully loaded” mean to us? If it’s topped with cheddar, sour cream, bacon, and scallions (or chives), it’s loaded. Examples include (but are CERTAINLY not limited to): loaded mashed potatoes, loaded pickle chips, and loaded zucchini skins.Get the Loaded Potato Skins recipe.
PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON
(PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON)Corned Beef Tacos
We’ve already taken the classic Reuben and repurposed it in nacho and casserole form. Next up, a taco, with a melted layer of Swiss and a lightly creamy, caraway-forward slaw. Use your St. Paddy’s Day leftover corned beef or boil a brisket for the occasion, you won’t regret it.
Get the Corned Beef Tacos recipe
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE
(PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE)Reuben Egg Rolls
Honestly, you can put anything in an egg roll, and it’ll be delicious—this Reuben-inspired version is no exception! We love that these Rueben egg rolls are handheld, making them the perfect appetizer to pass around at a party.
Get the Reuben Egg Rolls recipe.
ETHAN CALABRESE
(ETHAN CALABRESE)Roasted Shallot & Garlic Caesar Dip
We love riffing off Caesar salad in recipes like our fried chicken Caesar sandwich, and now we have this Caesar-inspired dip to look forward to. Watch out, spinach-artichoke dip—this is the appetizer no one will see coming.
Get the Roasted Shallot & Garlic Caesar Dip recipe.
PHOTO: RYAN LIEBE; FOOD STYLING: SAM SENEVIRATNE
(PHOTO: RYAN LIEBE; FOOD STYLING: SAM SENEVIRATNE)Reuben Nachos
We’re big fans of a classic Reuben sandwich—the flavor combo works so well, we’re turning it into ridiculously fun nachos. Whether you need a St. Patrick’s Day party app, or are just looking for something to do with leftover corned beef (we can relate!), this recipe is for you.
Get the Reuben Nachos recipe.
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON
(PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON)Pub Beer Cheese
This recipe couldn’t be more party-friendly. It whips up in minutes, and you only have to dirty one bowl. This is wonderful with big hard or soft pretzels (homemade, maybe?), but truly anything goes.
Get the Pub Beer Cheese recipe.
Reuben Pickle Bites
Here at Delish, we’re all about a good Reuben sandwich. Creamy dressing, corned beef, Swiss cheese… what’s not to love? They pop up a lot around St. Patrick’s Day, of course (what else are we going to do with all that corned beef?), but they’re delicious enough to seek out year-round too.
Get the Reuben Pickle Bites recipe.
Cabbage Wrap Brats
We’ve taken tons of our favorite classics—like Philly cheesesteaks, Buffalo chicken wraps—and turned them into lettuce wraps using everything from collards to romaine. Next up, these simple cabbage wrapped beer brats.
Get the Cabbage Wrap Brats recipe.
Hearst Owned
(Hearst Owned)Potato Croquettes
These Spanishtapas are a fantastic way to give day-old mashed potatoes (or colcannon!) a new life and are the perfect bite-size appetizer for when you want something more exciting than potato chips that still hits those same comfort food notes.
Get the Potato Croquettes recipe.
PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STYLING: MARY RUPP
(PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STYLING: MARY RUPP)Reuben Squares
Is your ideal sandwich a perfect Reuben? Ours too. Corned beef, Russian dressing, sauerkraut, and Swiss cheese—what’s not to love? It’s why we made these melty Reuben squares: They’re kind of like the giant grilled cheese version (complete with a toasty buttery top) that’s perfect for sharing.
Get the Reuben Squares recipe.
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON
(PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON)Soft Pretzel Bites
Little pretzel nuggets are just a can of refrigerated biscuit dough away. We did it in our pretzel ring beer cheese dip and again in our cheesy pretzel twists—both were so good, we decided they needed to have their own recipe, made mini! Serve with pub beer cheese for best results.
Get the Soft Pretzel Bites recipe.
PARKER FEIERBACH
(PARKER FEIERBACH)Irish Brown Bread
This quick bread (meaning no yeast or rise) has a dense yet tender interior that’s as good for dipping into a creamy winter soup as it is for turning into a corned beef sandwich. Don’t forget the Irish butter!
Get the Irish Brown Bread recipe.
PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STLYING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER
(PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STLYING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER)Pretzel Ring Beer Cheese Dip
Beer cheese is one of our favorite party dips, so we decided to take it up a notch by surrounding it in a ring of the staple pairing: pretzeled biscuits. The creamy dip and the pretzel ring bake together, making this two-in-one party party snack almost too easy eat.
Get the Pretzel Ring Beer Cheese Dip recipe.
ETHAN CALABRESE
(ETHAN CALABRESE)Boxty
Can’t decide between a crispy latke and a pile of creamy mashed potatoes? Make boxty. Crunchy on the outside, soft and fluffy in the center, these Irish potato pancakes give you the best of both iconic potato dishes in a single bite.
Get the Boxty recipe.
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: FRANCESCA ZANI
(PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: FRANCESCA ZANI)Hot Reuben Dip
Skip the sandwich bread—go straight for the good stuff with this hot, melty Reuben-inspired dip. Serve with celery sticks, cauliflower florets, and rye mini toasts for a snack that could do double-duty as a meal too!
Get the Baked Reuben Dip recipe.
ETHAN CALABRESE
(ETHAN CALABRESE)
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