14 Things You Need for Your St. Patrick’s Day Party

St. Patrick’s Day is a holiday particularly celebrated among elementary school children, college-aged adolescents, and Irish people, but news flash: it’s a fun celebration that the whole family can enjoy! So, if you’re looking for a way to cheer up your March calendar and get an early start to spring, here are some St. Patrick’s Day Party ideas!

Whether you plan to celebrate with your partner and kiddos or turn it into a neighborhood or extended family event, there are plenty of St. Patrick’s Day dinner recipes that are sure to please everyone in attendance.

To make sure that you have everything you need to make your St. Patrick’s Day party memorable, I suggest stocking up on décor and a few kitchen items, like these stoneware crocks for Irish soup, shamrock cookie cutters, and edible green glitter. Here are 14 things you’ll need for a seamless St. Patrick’s Day party.

The Best Cooking Essentials for St. Patrick’s Day Food

1. For St. Patty’s Day Cookies: Shamrock Cookie Cutters

Let your kiddos in on the St. Patrick’s Day celebration prep by whipping up a batch of my beloved soft sugar cookies with this festive shamrock cookie cutter (which is sold individually or in sets of three or five). 

2. For Irish Soda Bread: Nordic Ware Loaf Pan

Irish soda bread is a great recipe to add to your St. Patrick’s Day celebration. Rather than whipping it up in a plain loaf pan, though, spruce things up with the Nordic Ware Classic Fluted Cast Loaf Pan. It has a 6-cup capacity and a nonstick coating, so it will make baking (and removing) the bread as simple as possible. I love the Nordic Ware brand pans and have several in my kitchen!

If classic Irish soda bread isn’t your favorite, you can also make this molasses oatmeal soda bread, which is just as yummy when topped with butter and jam!

3. For Irish Soup: Stoneware Soup Crocks

Need another great appetizer—or even a main dish—for your St. Patrick’s Day celebration? Soup! My Easy Guinness Irish Soup, Easy French Onion Soup, and Irish Stew are all crowd-pleasers. To minimize messes, skip the self-serve and opt for pre-ladled bowls. To do so, you’ll want to add the Kook French Onion Soup Crocks to your kitchen. These 18-ounce ceramic bowls, which are sold in sets of four, are oven- and microwave-safe, and you can even store them in the fridge and freezer if you have leftovers. 

4. For Corned Beef and Cabbage: Staub 5.5 Round Cocotte

To whip up a heartier St. Patrick’s Day dinner—such as Irish Stew, Cottage Pie, Dump-and-Bake Corned Beef and Cabbage, make sure you have a Dutch oven on hand. The Staub 5.5 Round Cocotte is my personal favorite (it took the top award in our review round-up of the best Dutch ovens) thanks to its heavy-duty enameled cast iron design and the fact that it’s oven-safe up to a whopping 900°F. Best of all? It’s sold in green, which makes it even more perfect for St. Patrick’s Day. 

5. For Shamrock Milkshakes: Wide Mouth Mason Jars

Whether you plan to kick off your St. Patrick’s Day celebration before sending your little ones off to school or simply want to add a healthy dessert to your nighttime bash, my Healthy Shamrock Shake will make everyone’s mouth water. I find that the easiest (and most photogenic) way to serve it is in a Ball Wide Mouth Mason Jar, as the clear container lets the green shake shine. This particular set includes 5 jars with screw-top lids, so you will also be able to use them for other purposes down the road.

6. For a Pint of Guinness: 20-Ounce Beer Glasses

Celebrate St. Patty’s Day by enjoying one of Ireland’s best known beers! I love the idea of transferring Guinness’ signature dark ale into one of these beer glasses. The 20-ounce capacity is perfect for cracking open a pint, especially because you can see the thick foam at the top. I love that these come in a set of four, but just note that they’re hand wash only.

(And, if you have some kiddos or non-alcohol drinkers at your party, you can always have them join in on the fun by serving my shamrock green 4-ingredient smoothie!)

7. For Watergate Salad: Footed Glass Dessert Bowls

Another green dessert fit for a St. Patrick’s Day party? Watergate Salad! Whether you’re throwing a party or serving your immediate family, this recipe looks especially lovely when pre-dolled out in the Crate & Barrel Footed Dessert Dish. While the company is known for being quite pricey, these precious 9-ounce dessert bowls are less than $3 each, and they’re sold individually, so you can purchase only as many as you need.

St. Patrick’s Day Party Decorations

8. Striped Paper Drinking Straws

If you or your kids enjoy drinking out of straws, or if you’re hosting a larger St. Patrick’s Day celebration and want to cover all your bases, adding a pack of these eco-conscious green and white striped straws to your list of party favors is a great idea. (FYI: They’re sold in packs of 100.)

9. Edible Green Glitter

A simple way to transform any clear beverage or sweet treat into a St. Patrick’s Day delight is with the Edible Glitter from Fancy Sprinkles. Sold in 2 jar sizes and 18 colors—including emerald green and gold—this glitter, which is safe to consume, will transform your beverages and desserts into sparkly treats guests won’t get enough of. 

10. St Patrick’s Day Wired Ribbon

You’ll want to set the tone for your St. Patrick’s Day party starting on your doorstep. While you could absolutely get a doormat or specific wreath for the occasion, an easier approach is with this festive shamrock ribbon. The wired ribbon is easy to craft into a voluminous bow, so you can add it to any plain wreath or light posts to show off your St. Patrick’s Day spirit. 

11. Rectangle Green Table Cloth

To ensure your St. Patrick’s Day party looks as festive and put-together as possible, outfit your table with a kelly green tablecloth. This one can be used indoors and outdoors and is sold in various sizes, as well as round and rectangular options. Your smattering of roasted cabbage, watergate cake, and Guinness steak flank will look amazing!

12. Black Cauldron Kettle

While on the topic of table decorating, consider this plastic Black Cauldron Kettle for the kids’ table. This black plastic bucket might be a Halloween staple, but when filled with chocolate gold coins and other colorful candy, it’s the perfect St. Patrick’s Day lucky pot o’ gold centerpiece. 

13. St. Patrick’s Day Glasses Set

Everyone can wear a flash of green with this 12-pack of fun St. Patrick’s Day glasses! I love that they come in a variety of different designs, ranging from leprechaun-inspired looks to some that read “feeling lucky!”. These are perfect for putting out on your decorated tables before guests arrive, adding a festive touch to anyone’s outfit.

14. Letterfolk Tile Mat

Looking to do more than add a ribbon to your door? The Letterfolk Tile Mat is a great investment for your front stoop—for St. Patrick’s Day, as well as other holidays and seasons. The mat is sold in four colors and two sizes, and comes with 150 tiles, which can be placed to create the design of your choice. (Though, you can also buy multi-color and single-color tile sets to bring your doormat design vision to life.) Beyond aesthetics, the mat is made of a flexible, rubber-like vinyl that’s waterproof and easy to clean, so it’s durable and long-lasting, too. 

St. Patty’s Day Cocktail Tips 

As a reminder, St. Patrick’s Day is largely associated with drinking, so if you plan to host a party, consider asking guests to BYOB or think ahead and come up with a festive cocktail for the occasion. Alternatively, you can pick up popular Irish favorites like Guinness, Jameson, and Bailey’s and let guests whip up their own brew. 

My Favorite St. Patrick’s Day Recipes

Need some inspiration for your St. Patrick’s Day dinner? Check out some of my favorite St. Patty’s food recipes:

• Guinness Chocolate Cake with Cake Mix
• Watergate Salad
• Irish Soda Bread
• Easy Guinness Soup
• Healthy Shamrock Shake
• Irish Stew
• Dump-and-Bake Corned Beef and Cabbage

Prices were accurate at time of publication.