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St. Patrick’s Day is one of those holidays that’s just fun to celebrate. It doesn’t have to be elaborate or over-the-top, just a few festive dishes, a good cocktail, and a table with a little green charm is all you need!
A cozy dinner with friends, some Irish-inspired food, candles glowing on the table, and a cold Guinness beer is honestly my favorite way to celebrate.
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Pin ItWhy I Love Hosting St. Patrick’s Day
As you may know, I love hosting themed gatherings, and St. Patrick’s Day is such a fun one to lean into. I make these corned beef Irish tacos every year, and they are SO good. I know they’re not traditional Irish food, but they’ve become part of my St. Patrick’s Day tradition, and everyone looks forward to them!
Pair them with Irish boxty potatoes and a fresh lemon dill cabbage salad, and together it’s honestly the best meal. The tacos are savory, the boxty are crispy and comforting, and the cabbage salad adds that fresh crunch that ties everything together.
It’s one of those meals I actually look forward to making every year.
St. Patrick’s Day Gathering Menu
Here’s the simple menu I served for this gathering… it’s so good! I make this meal every year and always look forward to it.
One quick note about the corned beef tacos because this actually happened to me once. The recipe says to “warm the corned beef for 20 minutes,” but that’s because the corned beef is already cooked. Corned beef takes several hours to make from scratch.
I usually cook mine in the crockpot for about 6 hours until it’s tender, then shred it. I serve it straight from there while it’s hot, and it’s perfect!
Trust me, once you have the corned beef ready, these tacos are absolutely worth it.
Main
Irish Tacos: LOVE these. I make them every year for St. Patrick’s Day. Don’t skimp on the slaw — it really makes the tacos. I also recommend cooking the corned beef in a slow cooker all day so it gets super tender and delicious.
Irish Boxty Potatoes: I doubled this recipe for the party. They’re crispy, savory, and you absolutely have to serve them with sour cream and green onions.
Fresh Dill Cabbage Salad (recipe card below) – This is a quick salad I whipped up with a simple dressing I use for everything. It’s actually my mother-in-law’s and my go-to dressing for so many salads now. It’s fresh, easy, and really flavorful — the perfect balance to the richer dishes.
Quick tip: To heat the tortillas all at once, place them on a baking sheet with a cooling rack and warm them in the oven. I usually put about six on at a time, and they heat up really quickly.
St. Patricks Day Drinks
Drunken Leprechaun Cocktail: A classic St. Patrick’s Day cocktail in our house. I’ve been making this for about 10 years! I only make it on St. Patrick’s Day, which makes it feel extra special.
Guinness Beer: Make sure it’s really cold. A cold Guinness with this meal is the perfect pairing.
Irish Whiskey Green Tea Punch: Another great drink option for a gathering. I love making punches because they’re easy to prepare ahead of time, and guests can serve themselves.
St Patrick Day Desserts
Lucky Charms Rice Krispie Treats: Love making these, and you can make them.
Bailey’s Hot Chocolate: For the hot chocolate, I simply used my homemade hot chocolate recipe and replaced 1 cup of the milk with Bailey’s Irish Cream. It’s rich, cozy, and perfect for a St. Patrick’s Day dessert drink.
Bailey’s Irish Cream Cheesecake: You could also make this the day before. It’s honestly one of the most fantastic, delicious cheesecakes and would pair perfectly with this meal. If you have a little more time and want a more elegant dessert, I highly recommend it. If you want something quick and easy, the Lucky Charms Rice Krispie treats are perfect instead.
The Table Setting
I kept the table simple and festive with a few charming details.
A green checkered tablecloth from Quince set the tone and instantly made everything feel St. Patrick’s Day ready. I layered that with the cutest cabbage plates from Williams Sonoma, which are honestly adorable, and added a few flowers and candles down the center of the table.
Nothing too formal. Just cozy, welcoming, and festive.
If you love simple table styling like this, you might also like my guides for
• How to Set a Beautiful Table
• How to Make a Cheese Platter
• Easy Dinner Party Appetizers
Entertaining really is about creating a warm atmosphere, not perfection.
Eden’s Tips for Hosting St. Patrick’s Day
A few little things make the night feel extra festive.
• Put on an Irish playlist on Spotify while guests arrive
• Light lots of candles for a cozy table
• Serve really cold Guinness beer
• Prep the menu ahead so you can actually enjoy the night
And of course, shake up a Drunken Leprechaun cocktail while everyone settles in.
More St. Patrick’s Day Ideas
Holidays
Green Tea & Irish Whiskey Punch
Saint Patrick's Day
Lucky Charms Cupcakes with Marshmallow Filling
Saint Patrick's Day
Jameson Whiskey Jello Shots
Holidays
Baileys Dipped S’mores
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Cabbage Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 5 cups green cabbage, very thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup fresh dill, chopped
- 4 medium green onions
- 1 large apple, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp dijon mustard
- 1 tsp honey
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 cloves garlic, grated or pressed
Instructions
- Remove the outer leaves from the cabbage and cut it into wedges. Using a sharp knife or mandoline, slice the cabbage very thinly and place it in a large mixing bowl.
- Thinly slice the green onions and finely chop the fresh dill. Thinly slice the apple and add everything to the bowl with the cabbage.
- In a jar or cocktail shaker, combine the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, pepper, and grated garlic. Seal the jar and shake well until the dressing is fully combined.
- Pour the dressing over the cabbage mixture and toss until everything is evenly coated.
Notes
• The salad can be prepped ahead — just wait to add the dressing until right before serving.
• This salad pairs perfectly with hearty dishes like corned beef tacos or Irish potatoes.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
