You Won't Need the Luck of the Irish with These St. Patrick's Day Party Ideas

There are very few holidays that revolve solely around drinking — no, Christmas doesn't count — so when St. Patrick's Day rolls around, you have an excuse to double (or triple) down on booze. But to host a St. Paddy's party that will make even leprechauns green with envy, you can't have an all-liquid buffet.

Plan your shindig around our St. Patrick's Day recipes like corned beef and cabbage, Irish soda bread and much more to soak up the alcohol from all those whiskey shots and big mugs of green beer. Get your game plan below.

Corn Your Enthusiasm

Even though you can buy corned beef ready to eat at the grocery store, if you have a little extra time, embrace your inner Super Food Nerd and make your own corned beef. Brining brisket for seven days is ideal, but you can do it in four if you're in a pinch. If you don't go for corned beef and cabbage, try another one of our popular St. Patrick's Day recipes, like Irish Stew.

Go Green

Make green recipes for St. Patrick's Day like Giada De Laurentiis' grilled chicken with pesto or something that'll get the party started, like Margarita Jell-O Shots.

Say "Bottoms Up!"

If Jell-O shots aren't your thing, grab a beer or whiskey cocktail. Not feeling up to taking shots all day? Find out how to cook with stout using our favorite Guinness recipes, or mask the flavor of alcohol further with a rum-spiked Adult Shamrock Shake.

Soak Up That Alcohol

Bready or not, here comes that hangover — unless you soak up all the booze with carbs. Kelsey Nixon's Irish Soda Bread should do the trick.

Next Up

Thirsty Thursday: Luck of the Irish Whiskey Cocktail

Cooking Channel's nod to St. Patrick is a Celtic-inspired libation made with Irish whiskey, some smooth Irish cream and a touch of crème de menthe.

Fast Food St. Patrick's Day Creations

Chain restaurants have long been a fan of St. Paddy's Day, using it to unveil all manner of themed menu items. Flip through our gallery of some of our favorites throughout the years.

Drink Pink for St. Patrick's Day

Make the Wild Irish Rose cocktail for St. Patrick's Day.

Thin Mint Cupcakes for St. Patrick's Day

These cupcakes taste just like a Thin Mint and the green frosting make them perfect for St. Paddy's Day.

Battle of the St. Patrick's Day Shakes: Shamrock Vs. Grasshopper

We've broken down McDonald's Shamrock shake and Cooking Channel's homemade "Grasshopper" Chocolate Mint Chess Pie Milkshake into categories, so you can see which one best fits your lifestyle.

Putting the ROCK in Shamrock: Recipes Inspired by Ireland's Greatest Hits

From Van Morrison to U2, Ireland has been turning out some of the world's greatest musical talent for decades. This St. Patrick's day, we're celebrating these artists with some recipes inspired by their greatest hits . Turn up the volume and preheat those ovens, because it's time to put the rock back in shamrock.

Lucky Charms Layer Cake

Frosted Lucky Charms are magically delicious and they make a mean (sweet, sticky, possibly addictive) layer cake for St. Patrick's Day, too.

On TV

So Much Pretty Food Here