How To Host A St. Patrick's Day Feast

Whether you're Irish, want to be Irish, or are not Irish at all, St. Patrick's Day provides everybody with the perfect excuse to party in the middle of March. Every St. Paddy's Day should center on food and drink, so we've created this guide to help you host the perfect St. Paddy's Day feast.

It's evident that your table is going to need decorating with something green. Rather than paying for random decorations which you may never use again (aside from the aforementioned green napkins and balloons), your food can do the adornment for you. Bright green Brussels sprouts cooked with salty bacon are a delicious and pretty side dish.

For the Bacon Brussels Sprouts recipe, click here.

No one is capable of turning down a chocolate cupcake, especially not when it's spiked with Guinness just for our favorite Irish holiday. These deep, dark chocolate cupcakes are the perfect sweet ending to every St. Patrick's Day feast.

For the Chocolate Guinness Cupcakes recipe, click here.

Corned beef and cabbage always gets all the attention every St. Patrick's Day. It's time to expand your Irish food repertoire, and there's no better way to do so than with this comforting, classic Irish colcannon. Buttery mashed potatoes with speckles of greens dispersed throughout — this hearty side dish is just one more reason to love the Irish.

For the Classic Irish Colcannon recipe, click here.

This dish of collard greens in spicy tomato sauce is in no way an authentic Irish dish, but it is another way to include our favorite festive color in this feast in the tastiest way. You're going to require lots of greens to counteract the heavy corned beef and colcannon, so this spicy recipe is exactly what you need.

For the Collard Greens in Spicy Tomato Sauce recipe, click here.

We're not sure you can host an American St. Patrick's Day without serving corned beef and cabbage. Not placing this dish on the dinner table means you're running the risk of all your guests getting up to leave to find the nearest Irish Pub serving green beer and this perfect, incredibly well-loved dish.

For the Corned Beef and Cabbage recipe, click here.

Swap the green beer for a more elegant cocktail this St. Patrick's Day. If you love a perfect Manhattan, you'll love this lucky Irish twist. Irish whiskey is shaken with Italian vermouth and a dash of orange bitters for a strong, but sophisticated start to your party.

For the Emerald Cocktail recipe, click here.

This might be another whiskey-based cocktail, but it really is totally different. This sweet and fruity cocktail is perfect for you as the host, as it can be made as a punch, and poured throughout the evening. Garnish with a slice of pineapple and a sprinkle of cinnamon for a summery, spicy addition to St. Paddy's Day.

For the Fruity Whisky Hurricane Cocktail recipe, click here.

Begin your meal with a hearty, comforting soup. Eating this cheese-filled, beer-tainted potato soup is like being given a huge hug. With a piece of soda bread on the side and a smooth pint of Guinness nearby, this is the coziest way to set off your festivities. You'll be glad later on that you had something so hefty in your stomach before you started on those suspicious green shots.

For the Irish Ale Potato Cheddar Soup recipe, click here.

Send your guests on their very merry way by finishing your feast with an Irish coffee. It's rare that we have the excuse to enjoy one of these, so make the most, and be sure you add in an extra splash of whiskey for good luck.

For the Irish Coffee recipe, click here.

If you want to serve an alternative to corned beef and cabbage, or if you want to have the fullest of tables this St. Paddy's Day, a hearty Irish stew will be loved by all your Irish and non-Irish guests. Stewed meat and root vegetables are simmered in a rich, meaty stock, and it's best served at the table while it's still bubbling and steaming.

For the Mum's Irish Stew recipe, click here.

There couldn't be a more appriorately-named St. Paddy's Day drink than this Lucky Pot O' Gold cocktail. You'll be sure that you've finally found the end of the rainbow when you take a sip of this sparkling, bright, whiskey-based drink.

For the Lucky Irish Pot O' Gold Cocktail recipe, click here.

Despite their name, these mini chocolate mousses don't actually contain Guinness, but they are so dark and rich that they taste just like they do. These sophisticated little desserts are the perfect elegant ending to your feast. Make sure to serve them topped with whipped cream and a chocolate-coated coffee bean.

For the Mini Guinness Chocolate Mousse recipe, click here.

Mini potato cakes topped with smoked salmon are the best appetizer for your St. Patrick's Day party. Make the little cakes in bite-size portions, and pass them around with the whiskey cocktails to kick-start your feast in the tastiest way.

For the Potato Cakes and Smoked Salmon recipe, click here.

Kids and adults will all love these Surprise-Inside St. Paddy's Day cupcakes. They look so pretty once they're frosted and decorated, and when you cut inside to reveal the hidden Lucky Charms, everyone will be smiling and celebrating the most festive, fun dessert.

For the Surprise-Inside St. Paddy's Day Cupcakes recipe, click here.

Every Irish meal has soda bread as an accompaniment, and yours shouldn't be the exception. Don't be scared by the thought of baking your own bread: Soda bread requires no rising time, and can be made in just one bowl. The addition of thyme in this recipe makes for a delicate, herby loaf.

For the Thyme-Herbed Soda Bread recipe, click here.