22 Green Recipes for a Festive Spread

Vibrant foods to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, Earth Day, or any time

By
Lizz Schumer
Lizz Schumer
Lizz Schumer
A journalist, writer, and author, Lizz Schumer has 10+ years of experience covering food and drink for a wide variety of well-known print and online publications.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 08/11/21
Baked Cheesy Spinach Balls

The Spruce/Diana Chistruga

When you fill your plate with these delicious options, it actually is easy being green. Whether you're celebrating St. Patrick's Day or bringing awareness to Earth Day, you need a dose of the good stuff to brighten up your plate. With this selection of grassy-colored dishes, you can serve an entirely green menu from apps right through dessert.

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  • 01 of 22

    Sauteed Green Beans with Red Peppers and Peanuts

    Sauteed Green Beans with Red Peppers and Peanuts

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

    When you sauté green beans, they turn the prettiest, most vibrant shade. You know they're ready when that color pops. Peanuts and bell peppers add a little crunch, and contrast. If you have fresh, thin beans, you can skip the steaming step.

  • 02 of 22

    Raw Green Kale Smoothie

    Raw Food Green Kale Smoothie

    The Spruce / Cara Cormack 

    A raw kale smoothie starts you day off with a glass that tastes just as good as it looks. Banana and orange juice add a little sweetness, that you can adjust to your liking. Feel free to add ingredients you have on hand and that suit your tastebuds.

  • 03 of 22

    Air Fryer Kale Chips

    air fryer kale chips in a bowl

     The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney

    Add a little green to snacktime with these couldn't-be-easier kale chips. Tossing kale in the air fryer transforms the vegetable into something crunchy, crispy, and extremely craveable. A better alternative to potato chips, just add salt, olive oil, and a little nutritional yeast for a snack that hits all the right notes. You might finish the whole batch in one sitting.

  • 04 of 22

    Green Pea and Ham Soup

    Green Pea and Ham Soup

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

    This classic British soup uses frozen peas for a quick, yet still soul-satisfying bowl. Cubed ham balances out the flavor and texture for dinnertime in less than 30 minutes. Serve with warm bread and mint butter, or make the ultimate British cheese toastie for a decadent dinner.

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  • 05 of 22

    Mojo de Cilantro or Spanish Cilantro Green Sauce

    Mojo de Cilantro or Spanish Cilantro Green Sauce

    The Spruce / Stephanie Goldfinger

    Make just about any food green with a spoonful of this pungent mojo sauce. Cilantro gives this mojo an intense flavor and deep green color. If you don't care for cilantro or have plenty of parsley in your refrigerator or garden, you can substitute a bunch of Italian (flat leaf) parsley for the cilantro

  • 06 of 22

    Simple Sauteed Mixed Greens

    Easy sauteed mixed greens

    The Spruce 

    Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free, use up that bag of greens in your fridge with this super easy sautéed greens recipe. Make it into a main dish by topping the greens with some grilled tofu or chicken breast or even a fried egg.

  • 07 of 22

    Vegan Avocado and Pesto Pasta

    Avocado and pesto pasta recipe

    ​The Spruce Eats / Emily Hawkes

    Green pesto makes a great pasta topping with its zippy, garlicky flavor. Endlessly versatile, you can swap out the parmesan for nutritional yeast for a vegan version, or use other herbs for part or all of the basil. Toss it with any pasta shape you like best. Dinner: Solved.

  • 08 of 22

    Green Pea Salad with Creamy Dressing

    Green Pea Salad With Easy Creamy Dressing

    The Spruce / Ana-Maria Stanciu

    Most remember the times when mom would just defrost a bag of frozen peas and called it a day. Give green peas a more fun treatment with an easy creamy dressing, shredded carrots, and finely-chopped celery and red onion for a side dish that tastes like spring.

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  • 09 of 22

    Asparagus Soup

    Easy Asparagus Soup

    The Spruce / Danielle Moore

    When fresh asparagus hits the produce aisle, you have to make the most of it. This super easy asparagus soup fits the bill with just a little heavy cream, stock, and garlic to highlight the vegetable's flavor.

  • 10 of 22

    Avocado Mac and Cheese

    Avocado Mac and Cheese

    The Spruce / Jennifer Perillo

    Turn the classic mac and cheese green by adding creamy avocado. Use a very ripe avo for the ideal texture, as well as some lemon juice for extra zip. White cheddar cheese will let the color shine through, but regular cheddar works just fine.

  • 11 of 22

    Ultimate Avocado Toast

    Avocado Toast

    Leah Maroney

     

    This dish is for kids, adults, and millennials alike. We kid, but this basic avocado toast recipe tastes so good, you'll have it in your meal or snack time rotation in no time. Start here and freestyle with your favorite toppings like everything bagel spice or chili sauce.

  • 12 of 22

    Daikon and Cucumber Salad

    Spoon into dishes

    The Spruce

    Light, fresh, and hydrating, this sunomono salad comes dressed simply with rice vinegar, salt, and sugar. It makes a beautiful accompaniment for any meal, but works best with Japanese cucumber if you can find them.

    Continue to 13 of 22 below.
  • 13 of 22

    Spinach and Ricotta Pasta

    Low-Fat Spinach and Ricotta Pasta
    The Spruce.

    Low in fat and high in flavor, serve this spinach and ricotta pasta when you crave some carbs but want to keep things light. Either low-fat ricotta or traditional ricotta will work, as will just about any pasta shape you have on hand.

  • 14 of 22

    Chinese Broccoli with Oyster Sauce

    Chinese Broccoli With Oyster Sauce Recipe

     The Spruce

    Even avowed broccoli haters should try this simple recipe in which umami oyster sauce and spicy ginger complements crisp-tender broccoli perfectly. Regular broccoli or broccolini can sub in if you can't find Chinese broccoli.

  • 15 of 22

    Baked Cheesy Spinach Balls

    Baked Cheesy Spinach Balls

    The Spruce/Diana Chistruga

    Serve these cheesy, creamy, greens-packed spinach balls as a handheld appetizer to kick any meal off with a bang. Warm marinara sauce on the side makes a great dipper. They freeze well, so make a big batch and save some for later.

  • 16 of 22

    Mint Ice Cream

    Mint Ice Cream

    Kristina Vanni 

    Serve a classic Shamrock shake in a bowl with a simple and creamy mint ice cream you make at home. Follow the manufacturer's instructions whether you use a hand-crank machine, an automatic ice cream maker or a stand mixer attachment for best results.

    Continue to 17 of 22 below.
  • 17 of 22

    Matcha Rice Crispie Treats

    Matcha Green Tea Rice Krispie Marshmallow Treats
    Matcha Rice Krispie Treats. Photo Credit: © Judy Ung

    Instead of reaching for the food coloring, turn rice crispie treats green with the addition of matcha green tea. Adults and kids alike will love the sweet and slightly savory treat that also looks great on a dessert or bake sale table.

  • 18 of 22

    Grasshopper Cocktail

    Grasshopper Cocktail

    The Spruce

    Pair this pretty green cocktail with your green dinner menu to stay on-theme. Creme de menthe gives it that signature color and a refreshing minty flavor. Sub out the cream for vodka if you like more of a kick.

  • 19 of 22

    No-Bake Grasshopper Pie

    No-Bake Grasshopper Pie

    Elaine Lemm

     

    For a similar flavor to the classic mint cocktail but in pie form, try this easy no-bake grasshopper pie. A digestive crust forms the base, but you can use crushed graham crackers, chocolate sandwich cookies, or a premade cookie crust instead if you prefer.

  • 20 of 22

    Enchiladas Verdes with Chicken

    Enchiladas Verdes With Chicken

    The Spruce/Diana Chistruga

    With a zippy green chile sauce and shredded chicken, these hearty enchiladas make a real crowd-pleaser. While queso blanco and cotija cheese work best, any dry white cheese will do.

    Continue to 21 of 22 below.
  • 21 of 22

    Irish Eyes Cocktail

    Irish Eyes Cocktail
    S&C Design Studios

    For anyone who's a fan of creamy, minty drinks, the Irish eyes cocktail is a great choice. This creamy lowball is terrific in its simplicity and requires just three ingredients, including green crème de menthe and your favorite Irish whiskey. Give that pairing a cream background and enjoy this green delight.

  • 22 of 22

    Thin Mint Cookie Pie

    thin mint cookie pie

    The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney

    Thin Mint cookie pie is cool, creamy, and full of your favorite grasshopper pie flavors. The crust is made from beloved Girl Scout cookies with even more mixed into the filling as well as sprinkled over top—we just can't get enough. This pie makes a great addition to your St. Patrick’s Day menu or Easter Day spread.