10 Green Foods That Kids Will Eat on St. Patrick's Day
No picky eaters at this table.
St. Patrick's Day is a fun excuse to serve "green foods" that kids will actually want to eat—and no, it doesn't have to mean sneaking spinach into everything! With a little creativity, you can serve up festive green dishes for St. Patrick's Day that any kiddo will feel lucky to eat. The trick? Focus on familiar flavors, playful presentations, and ingredients they already love.
Think: green desserts like shamrock shakes, sliceable mint ice cream pie with a chocolate cookie crust, and Lucky Charms bars that are decorated with sprinkles. On the savory side, kid-friendly foods are all about familiar comfort foods with a colorful twist: Pesto pasta delivers that vibrant hue while tasting like classic noodles. Irish grilled cheese sandwiches are always a crowd-pleaser. (Who doesn't love melty cheese and pickles?) Even something as unexpected as dill pickle pizza feels fun and on-theme, especially for adventurous little eaters. The key is leaning into dishes that feel exciting. When the flavor leads the way, kids are far more likely to dive in... although you won't have any trouble getting them to eat Irish Hills cupcakes with green frosting. Keep portions small, offer choices, and let kids help assemble—participation makes eating so much more fun!
Green Eggs and Ham
Yes, like the Dr. Seuss story! This is the ultimate St. Patrick's Day breakfast for kids because it's familiar, funny, and actually green. The color comes from lots of kale mixed in with the fluffy eggs and savory ham.
Get the Green Eggs and Ham recipe.
Irish Grilled Cheese
Who doesn't love an ooey-gooey grilled cheese—kid or not? What makes this sandwich "Irish" are the green pickles hidden in every bite.
Get Ree's Irish Grilled Cheese recipe.
Dill Pickle Pizza
For a fun meal that still feels familiar, try something like dill pickle pizza. It's made of creamy ranch, melty mozzarella, and tangy pickles on a crispy crust deliver big flavor (and plenty of green) in every slice.
Get Ree's Dill Pickle Pizza recipe.
Lucky Charms Bars
Here's a St. Patrick's Day spin on classic cereal treats, made with melted marshmallows and Lucky Charms. A sprinkle of gold on top, plus a few extra cereal marshmallows, makes them look extra festive.
Get Ree's Lucky Charms Bars recipe.
Homemade Shamrock Shakes
A guaranteed kid-pleaser for St. Patrick's Day because they're basically a minty milkshake dressed up in holiday green. Vanilla bean ice cream and milk get blended with mint extract, then tinted bright green so it feels extra lucky! Finish with a big swirl of whipped cream and a cherry.
Get the Homemade Shamrock Shakes recipe.
Mint Fortune Cookies
Cute for classroom parties or a celebration at home, these treats are lightly tinted green and flavored with mint, then folded around sweet "fortunes" while they're still warm. Basically, the kids will get a special surprise in every bite!
Get the Mint Fortune Cookies recipe.
Pasta with Zucchini Pesto
Even picky eaters love a bowl of pasta! The "pesto" is made with zucchini, then finished with olive oil and parmesan for a creamy, herby sauce. Toss it with short pasta and green beans, then fold in browned summer squash and a splash of heavy cream so it clings to every bite.
Get Ree's Pasta with Zucchini Pesto recipe.
Ice Cream Sandwich Cake
It takes just four ingredients to make this cake! Layers of vanilla-and-chocolate ice cream sandwiches sandwich a mint chocolate chip center studded with crushed mint cookies, then it's complete with a swoop of whipped topping. Make it ahead of time and stash it in the freezer, then slice it up whenever the kiddos want a treat.
Get the Ice Cream Sandwich Cake recipe.
Zucchini Pizza Bites
Perfect for little hands and easy to pop like snacks, here's a fun way to serve something green! Thick zucchini rounds are a green base for any kid's favorite pizza toppings. Each bite is saucy, cheesy, and finished with mini pepperoni.
Get the Zucchini Pizza Bites recipe.
Irish Hills Cupcakes
Surprise them with a green dessert! Each one of these vanilla cupcakes are topped in a soft cream cheese frosting tinted bright green. The fun part is the finish: they're rolled in green sanding sugar that mirrors the Emerald Isle itself.
Get Ree's Irish Hills Cupcakes recipe.
10 Ways to Savor All That Leftover Corned Beef
Raise a Glass to St. Paddy's Day With These Drinks
Why Is a Four-Leaf Clover Lucky?
Must-Watch Irish Movies on St. Paddy's Day
