Watching her mom as a kid, Vicki came by cooking easily. Kids Cook Monday offers simple recipes kids can help with.

Make your own green beer for St. Paddy's Day! Victoria Lynn

Need Appetizers for a St. Patrick's Day Party?

So you're having a St. Patrick's Day party? Are you wondering what kind of appetizers to serve? For any party I have, finger foods go over the best. I would do the same for a St. Patrick's Day party. I wouldn't worry about a traditional meal of corned beef and cabbage or potatoes. While I love that stuff, I would go with a theme of green finger foods. These small morsels last all evening and are easy and fun to eat.

So how do you produce an abundance of green appetizers? Just dye everything green! Just kidding. Well, halfway joking. There are some things that are naturally green, but there are others that you can dye green for your party.

The possibilities are really endless as far as green appetizers go. And there are green drinks for sure. Some bars serve green beer. How do they do that? Well, this article is going to give you some great ideas on how to create green appetizers for your St. Paddy's Day party.

Green Beer Poll

Who doesn't love a green drinks? Emerald beverages—both non-alcoholic and otherwise—are a great way to take your shindig to the next level. Victoria Lynn

Green Drinks for St. Patrick's Day

There are some naturally green drinks that you can serve for your St. Patrick's Day party or you can add a little green food coloring to help them along.

Frozen Lime Margaritas: You can use a frozen mix and follow instructions. I find those mixes too sweet, however, and so I just use regular frozen limeade. I use half of a 12 oz can and about the same amount of tequila. Put that in the blender and fill with ice. Blend until smooth. Of course, you can adjust the ingredients to your liking. You can even leave out the tequila!

Green Beer: Making green beer is easy. Just add a drop or two of green food coloring to a light-colored beer. Voila! I started with a drop. It didn't seem dark enough, so I added another. Adjust the color to your liking.

Non-Alcoholic Drinks: For those who don't want alcoholic beverages, serve virgin margaritas, or offer green drinks such as Mountain Dew and lemonade (could add a little green food coloring here, too). You definitely need non-alcoholic options, for adults and children alike.

These easy green snacks are ready to go right out of the jar. Victoria Lynn

The Easiest Out-of-the-Jar Green Appetizers

Here are some green no-bake appetizers that you can serve, with little preparation time.

Mini dill pickles (yeah, they're green!)

Sweet pickles (again, those mini ones are great)

Green (yes, green) olives

Pickled okra

Pepperoncinis (not too hot for many folks)

Put some of each in a divided serving tray and serve.

Practicing vegetable art with a tray of green jewels from the garden! Victoria Lynn

The Green Vegetable Tray

The green vegetable tray for a St. Patrick's Day party is easy to put together. Chop up the following veggies and arrange on a tray:

Broccoli

Bell peppers

Celery

Cucumbers

Green Onions

Serve veggies with guacamole or spinach dip or ranch dip with a bit of green food coloring in it. Talk about people getting their daily servings of greens! You're really helping them out!

Dip into some green with chips and salsa. Victoria Lynn

Or buy or make homemade guacamole! Victoria Lynn

Green Dips

Have several green dips available for your vegetables and chips. Choices are spinach dip, guacamole, and green salsa, or salsa verde.

Spinach Dip: Veggies and chips are both great with spinach dip. Buy this dip pre-made or use your own homemade spinach dip recipe.

Salsa Verde: Purchase your salsa verde in the bottle or can, or make your own green chili salsa with tomatillos. I love making this stuff. You just mix it all up and leave it in the slow cooker for a while.

Guacamole: Buy avocado dip or make your own. It's easy enough to mash up a few avocados and add a few ingredients to it. Make it as simple as you want. I add a few cloves of fresh minced garlic, salt, pepper, and a few squirts of lemon juice. I like my guacamole simple. Some people add finely diced tomatoes. Others add sour cream. Tweak according to your own tastes.

Green Chips: You can usually find green avocado-flavored chips in grocery stores. If you can't find them, I'll bet you can get away with using regular tortilla chips. In the picture above, there are some vegetable chips, some of which are green.

Bake (or grill) zucchini with butter to make a tasty appetizer! Victoria Lynn

Baked zucchini! Victoria Lynn

Baked Green Appetizers

If you want some warm food to serve, try grilled zucchini. I make this quite often, whether it be outside on the grill on inside in the oven. This recipe is simple and delicious.

Simply cut up your zucchini. Place in pan with skin side up. Baste with butter and bake in an oven preheated to 425˚F for about 10 minutes. Remove tray, flip over zucchini and baste fleshy side. Sprinkle with a bit of salt and pepper, if desired. (I sometimes use garlic salt instead of salt. Sometimes I find that the butter is really enough.) Bake for about 10 minutes more or until at desired tenderness.

Note: If you make it on the grill, it will cook more quickly and brown better, but it's delicious in the oven, too. Great flavor! Grilled zucchini will also be easier to pick up as far as a finger-food goes. Fresh out of the oven, the zucchini is a bit soft and will become easier to pick up as it is allowed to set for a bit.

You can also bake or grill green bell peppers if you want to throw those in, too. Baste with butter and turn them after a few minutes. Asparagus is another option. Be creative! Just stick with the color green!

Green Fruit Tray

Serve green grapes and kiwi. While keeping in line with the green party theme, these fruits also offer a healthy dessert choice.

Lime jello with sliced kiwi Victoria Lynn

Green Desserts for St. Patrick's Day

Besides serving green fruit, you have several other green dessert options from which to choose.

You can quickly make lime gelatin from a box—or pistachio pudding! You could make or buy a key lime pie, depending on how industrious you're feeling. And don't forget the green mint ice cream!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

There you have it—your green party finger foods. Now, straighten up the house, tape up some green shamrock decorations, put on your favorite green shirt, and you're ready for a party. If you have some Irish music, better yet. If not, don't worry. You will impress your guests with your green-themed finger foods.

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Have fun! And go green!

© 2012 Victoria Lynn

Victoria Lynn (author) from Arkansas, USA on March 11, 2014:

Hady Chahine--Your favorite color is green! I'm glad I could accommodate. That green beer was really good, by the way. I had to make it for the picture. Very refreshing. :-)

Hady Chahine from Manhattan Beach on March 10, 2014:

This timing of this hub is perfect! Green beer...yummm! Because my favorite color is green I read this article twice over and look forward to enjoying some of these festive recommendations! - Thanks for sharing.

Victoria Lynn (author) from Arkansas, USA on June 29, 2013:

claudyobcn--A blue theme would be interesting for food. I will think on it. Blueberries? :-)

Victoria Lynn (author) from Arkansas, USA on March 16, 2013:

Jmilis2006--Yes, there are definitely other green drinks. Glad you liked the hub!

Jmillis2006 from North Carolina on March 16, 2013:

Great ideas, I do not like beer , so it is good to see other drinks I can have instead.

Victoria Lynn (author) from Arkansas, USA on March 14, 2013:

Sunshine--The pic does make the green beer look inviting, huh? Thanks for coming by!

Victoria Lynn (author) from Arkansas, USA on March 14, 2013:

prettynutjob--I love margaritas. Could use one now!!

Linda Bilyeu from Orlando, FL on March 12, 2013:

If I drank beer I think I might enjoy the frosted mug beverage. It looks festive and delish!

Mary from From the land of Chocolate Chips,and all other things sweet. on March 12, 2013:

Great hub, voted up and shared, The frozen lime margarita's look delicious.

Victoria Lynn (author) from Arkansas, USA on March 11, 2013:

Kathryn--I keep thinking St. P's Day is further off, but it's in less than a week! Have fun with deciding what to do that day!

Kathryn from Windsor, Connecticut on March 11, 2013:

That was a good selection. I almost forgot St Pat's Day hasn't gone by yet. A few more days! I will have to do something festive that day.

Victoria Lynn (author) from Arkansas, USA on March 11, 2013:

CC, I hope you do try some of them! :-)

Cynthia Calhoun from Western NC on March 11, 2013:

Yummy! I love your ideas here. I am ging to a potluck this weekend and I'm going to suggest a green food theme and THEN I'm going to come back here and make some of the stuff you suggested. Awesome! ;D

Victoria Lynn (author) from Arkansas, USA on March 06, 2013:

shin_rocka04--What an idea for the lime jello! LOL. I'm not crazy about all flavors of Jello, but I think the lime tastes pretty interesting. Thanks for reading!

Victoria Lynn (author) from Arkansas, USA on March 06, 2013:

Thanks, Angelo! Glad you like!

Victoria Lynn (author) from Arkansas, USA on March 06, 2013:

rebecca--I love the baked zucchini. I have it a lot in the summer, often on the grill. Hope you enjoy if you try it!

shin_rocka04 from Maryland on March 06, 2013:

Awesome recipes! I haven't had Jello in a while, but I can imagine the Lime Jello would taste good in some shots. Shared and voted up.

Angelo52 on March 06, 2013:

Chock full of ideas for Paddie's Day celebration. Great article. Shared and voted up.

Victoria Lynn (author) from Arkansas, USA on March 05, 2013:

lovedoctor--I'm not Irish either (although my mom tells me we have SOME Irish blood), but it's still a great excuse to party, i guess. :-)

Rebecca Mealey from Northeastern Georgia, USA on March 05, 2013:

Wow! The baked zucchini looks good. I can't wait to try that at the of the summer when I have it running out of my ears. The lime jello and kiwi is so pretty and tropical looking. Thanks. Shared!

Victoria Lynn (author) from Arkansas, USA on March 05, 2013:

Bill, I've never really celebrated the holiday. I think I went out for a green beer with a friend before. Thanks for reading and sharing, anyway! :-)

lovedoctor926 on March 05, 2013:

awesome! this list got me hungry... and virgin margaritas are pretty good drinks. voted up & sharing even though I'm not Irish, St. Patty's Day is a cause for celebration.

Bill Holland from Olympia, WA on March 05, 2013:

You know, Vicki, this has never been a big reason for me to celebrate. I have to be reminded every year about this day. Even back when I drank I didn't go for the green beer thing. :) Good job on this. I'll share it on Facebook just because you have been a good friend.

Victoria Lynn (author) from Arkansas, USA on February 27, 2013:

pstraubie--I'm glad you can use this hub! And thanks for the Angels! :-)

Patricia Scott from North Central Florida on February 26, 2013:

Victoria Lynn...

This is a great collection of ideas for St. Paddy's Day. I am bookmarking to add to my files and am sharing and pinning.

Great hub.

Sending Angels to you today

:) ps

Victoria Lynn (author) from Arkansas, USA on April 06, 2012:

Thanks, Purple Perl! Much appreciated!

Esther Shamsunder from Bangalore,India on April 06, 2012:

Mouthwatering! Congrats on your win!

Chris Achilleos on March 16, 2012:

Lovely ideas , thanks for sharing :)

Victoria Lynn (author) from Arkansas, USA on March 12, 2012:

Cool, LauraD.Glad this hub could be of use to you and your friend. Hope the party goes well!

Laura Tykarski from Pittsburgh PA on March 12, 2012:

Victoria Lynn I voted this hub up and useful. I have a close friend born exactly on March 17 and I am always looking for party ideas to combine both her birthday and St Patrick's day. I will be referencing this article this year to throw her yearly birthday bash. Ty great hub.

Victoria Lynn (author) from Arkansas, USA on March 12, 2012:

Thanks, Vellur! Glad you appreciated the green hub! :-) And the video!

Nithya Venkat from Dubai on March 12, 2012:

Great green hub. Looks so tasty and delicious. Enjoyed the video. Voted up.

Victoria Lynn (author) from Arkansas, USA on March 11, 2012:

teaches--True about the drinks! that's enough for some people. Haha! Chances are, they will get the munchies, though. Glad you liked the hub!

Victoria Lynn (author) from Arkansas, USA on March 11, 2012:

RealH--I like your comments--and pretty, too, huh? That's cool. I worked hard on the pictures. Glad you appreciate it! :-)

Victoria Lynn (author) from Arkansas, USA on March 11, 2012:

FordeAhern--haha. Looks like a fun party, huh? :-)Thanks for the comments!

Victoria Lynn (author) from Arkansas, USA on March 11, 2012:

Thanks, sarvamitra.

Nare Anthony--What nice comments! Glad you appreciate my work! :-)

Victoria Lynn (author) from Arkansas, USA on March 11, 2012:

thanks, Mar! So many nice compliments! Thanks for the votes. And, yeah, it was nice to win something in the contest!

Victoria Lynn (author) from Arkansas, USA on March 11, 2012:

Thanks, donnaisabella! The song/video tells a short story about the history of St. Patrick's Day. Glad you enjoyed this hub!

Victoria Lynn (author) from Arkansas, USA on March 11, 2012:

Marcy, I would definitely count the chips! Thanks for the great comments!

Victoria Lynn (author) from Arkansas, USA on March 11, 2012:

Awesom, Tundexman!

anglnwu--Glad you like the pictures! And the selection of appetizer choices!

Victoria Lynn (author) from Arkansas, USA on March 11, 2012:

random--Thanks. Yeah, none of these party ideas take long. All the better! Thanks for reading!

Victoria Lynn (author) from Arkansas, USA on March 11, 2012:

Cloverleaf--throw a St. Paddy's Day party. You even have the name for it...Clover!!!

Dianna Mendez on March 10, 2012:

I guess we can still eat healthy during this celebration. I forgot about all the green veggies that I can serve, and I love pickles. Of course, some people would go with the drinks and be complete full and happy. Thanks for sharing. It is so appropriate for this time of year!

Kelly Umphenour from St. Louis, MO on March 10, 2012:

Sweet hub! Wow - you have it all! I meant to come back and comment as I'd gotten pulled away last time:). Up and everything! It's informative, fun and pretty!

Victoria Lynn (author) from Arkansas, USA on March 10, 2012:

haha, Wesman! I love your funny comments. Consider yourself Irish and enjoy St. Patrick's Day! Thanks!

FordeAhern from Broadford, Co. Limerick. ireland on March 10, 2012:

great hub. thank you. can I go to your house ST Patrick's day? voted up and interesting

Nare Gevorgyan on March 10, 2012:

Great!!! So much effort has put to create this hub. I admire you Viki. Voting up and everything else :)

sarvamitra on March 10, 2012:

great ideas.

Maria Jordan from Jeffersonville PA on March 09, 2012:

Vicki--

This is right on time, fun, no muss, no fuss and simple enough that someone like me can handle it! I love every idea and the way you presented with attractive photography to guide... enjoyed the YouTube as well.

Congratulations on your win! Voted UP & UABI. Hugs, mar.

Isabella Mukanda from Fort Myers on March 09, 2012:

Great write Victoria! And lovely pictures too, I loved going through this seeing that I know very little about St Patrick's what is supposed to be happening. Congratulations, good job!

Marcy Goodfleisch from Planet Earth on March 09, 2012:

These are fun ideas - I like the green theme, and you could easily do this for a themed potluck at the office. You've included sweet foods, savory foods and salty foods (if you count the chips that go in the guacamole!). Nice hub - thanks for publishing!

anglnwu on March 09, 2012:

YOu do have a great selection of green stuff, enough to make even the most finnicky of eaters drool. Thanks for sharing--the pictures are great.

Tundexman on March 09, 2012:

I love it great

Rose Clearfield from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on March 09, 2012:

Great suggestions Vicki! I love how easy so many of these ideas are.

Cloverleaf from Calgary, AB, Canada on March 09, 2012:

Hi Vicki - love the green stuff! You've got lots of excellent ideas here for appetizers at the party. I wasn't planning on throwing a party but now you've inspired me :)

Victoria Lynn (author) from Arkansas, USA on March 09, 2012:

Yum, Susan--you need to share those recipes with us! Makes me hungry! Glad you liked my ideas for a St. P party!

Wesman Todd Shaw from Kaufman, Texas on March 09, 2012:

This is really awesome!!!!!!!!!!!

Of course I've always claimed to be "Irish," but I think I was only looking for excuses for my loudmouth and my drinking habit!!!!

KISS ME I'M IRISH!!!

Susan Zutautas from Ontario, Canada on March 09, 2012:

Yum to this entire hub! What time does the party start at? I usually make cabbage rolls for St. Patrick's day or corn beef and cabbage. This year I was actually thinking of making stuffed eggplant, just to be different.

Great ideas for a St. Patrick's Day party!

Victoria Lynn (author) from Arkansas, USA on March 09, 2012:

Neat, Deb. Hope your family enjoys them!

Deborah Neyens from Iowa on March 09, 2012:

Great ideas! I love St. Patrick's Day and have a big dinner party for my family every year. I'll have to try some of these ideas for appetizers. Thanks.