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Whether you plan to ring in the New Year with a handful of friends, a houseful, or maybe just one loved one, here are some of our favorite New Year’s Eve Recipes perfect for any festivity.
My husband and I have never really celebrated New Year’s Eve with a big bang. We might get together with family or friends for cards, or just stay home and play games or watch movies with family. Hopefully we stay awake to see the big ball drop in New York…but not always. No matter how we spend the last night of the year, however, we always enjoy delicious snacks and dishes worthy of a night of merrymaking.
I tend to pick one of three party food themes for the evening. 1) a smorgasbord of appetizers and snacks; 2) a buffet of Mexican food; or 3) a fondue party, complete with fondu pots and forks, All three themes are enjoyable, festive, and low-maintenance, as in I always use paper napkins and disposable tableware. After all the holiday gatherings in December, by the end of the year, I’m ready for easy clean-up!
So, let’s get started! Below are my Three Party Themes along with my favorite New Year’s Eve Recipes.
New Year’s Eve Recipes – A Smorgasbord of Appetizers
My all-time favorite way to celebrate the New Year is with appetizers. Dips and chips, cheese ball and crackers, olives, tarts, veggie trays, and don’t forget some chocolate candies or a fun dessert.
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Holiday Cheese Ball
Holiday Cheese Ball is a favorite family recipe that is so delicious and easy to put together. It uses two kinds of cheese (cream cheese, and cheddar) and is flavored with Worcestershire sauce and onion, and then coated in chopped pecans.
Apricot Pepper Jack Mini-Tarts is a delicious recipe to serve as an appetizer or snack at your next family gathering. The spicy-sweet combination is wonderful. And they're quite easy to make!
I’ve been making Ham Pecan Pinwheels for many years now, especially for holiday gatherings and tea parties. Roll sliced ham in a delicious spread of cream cheese, pecans, minced onion, and olives. They are so yummy, you’ll want to eat more than one.
Make Potluck Barbecued Meatballs for your next church dinner or holiday party. Tender, juicy meatballs cooked in a homemade barbecue sauce. Perfect as a main dish or as an appetizer. I've been making these meatballs for many years and it always goes over well.
Smoky Pimento Cheese Balls when you need finger foods for a party, especially when it comes to celebrating New Year’s Eve. Perfect for a church potluck, tea parties, or a soup dinner.
Here’s a fun recipe to make during the holidays for a church or family gathering. This Christmas Antipasto Cheese Spread will have everyone oohing and aahing. It makes for a pretty display on your table, and it tastes really good, too!
This recipe makes a yummy appetizer and is perfect for a potluck dinner. Or maybe even a wine and cheese tasting party. It’s easy to make and is a great way to use your sourdough starter, something I’m always on the lookout for.
I enjoy making Spinach Dip during the holidays or for family gatherings. Frozen spinach mixed with vegetable soup mix and sour cream. Who knew that spinach could be so delicious! Serve with your favorite fresh vegetables or crackers.
This recipe for Slow-Cooked Little Smokies goes beyond the norm by giving your favorite little smokies even more spice and flavor. They are so delicious and easy to make, you’ll want to add this to your holiday recipe stash.
I often choose Mexican food for my New Year’s Eve theme. Maybe because I’ve served and eaten so many traditional appetizers in December that I’m ready for something different. Something spicy! Here are some of my favorite choices.
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Queso Dip with Chorizo
This queso dip is full of heat and flavor–diced jalapenos, chorizo, garlic, onion, tomatoes, and green chiles. The heat in this dip will leave you drooling for more. Plus, it makes enough for a small crowd, so it's perfect for tailgating or a party while watching football on tv.
Black Bean Salsa is an easy and tasty appetizer to make for your family or gathering. It’s so easy, and the ingredients are common enough to be in everyone’s pantry.
We love this recipe for Spicy Chicken and Cheese Taquitos. They are easy to make and perfect for weeknight dinners. Soft and Creamy Chicken Filling with Plenty of Jalapeno Heat.
Our family enjoys these Black Bean Beef Flautas that are baked in the oven, not fried. Spicy hamburger and black beans rolled up in a crunchy flour tortilla. So yummy!
Actually, I only have two fondue recipes on this site, so far. But serving fondue is very simple. When I have a fondue party, I usually will have two or three pots for cooking and serving. One is a stainless set that I received one Christmas. This is a traditional-type fondue set that sits over a flame, such as the one pictured above. I use it for cooking meats. The other two are comparable to baby crockpots.
If you’re shopping for an electric fondue set, I encourage you to find one that has temperature settings on it. Whatever type you decide on, be sure it comes with fondue forks. Color-Coded Fondue Forks are even better, so that everyone knows what fork he is using.
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One pot has hot oil in it for cooking small pieces of meat (usually marinated), such as beef, pork, or chicken. You may fry the meat plain or use a tempura batter, and you will want to offer a smattering of dips for the meat once it’s cooked. See this post by Wise Mommies for more Meat Fondue Recipes.
Cheese Fondue
The second pot will have melted cheese in it. I have tried several recipes for this, which usually include wine or beer. But you could also use my recipe for Queso Dip with Chorizo. Serve raw or steamed vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, and mushrooms, pieces of hard bread (Tangy Sourdough Bread works great), cooked ravioli, Oven Baked Fries, or even cooked meatballs! Here are a few more Cheese Fondue ideas from the Creative Bite.
Dessert Fondue
The third pot is for dessert. Chocolate Peanut Butter Fondue is sure to delight every chocolate craving you may ever have. It’s so delicious. And easy. Melted chocolate mixed with creamy peanut butter used for dipping with your favorite fruits, cake, or cookies.
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Chocolate Peanut Butter Fondue
Here’s a recipe that will delight every chocolate craving you may ever have. Delicious. And so easy. Make some tonight!
When considering desserts for a New Year’s Eve celebration, I like to keep things to finger foods. Bars and Cookies, Sliced Cake, or Bite-Size Desserts. Here are a few of my favorites!
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Chewy Chocolate Fudge Brownies
This recipe for Chewy Chocolate Fudge Brownies is one we make just about every month at our house. Decadent, chewy, fudgy brownies that are easy to make and oh so good!
This recipe for Chocolate Caramel Nut Bars is one we make every year during the holidays–but you can make them any time! With only six ingredients, they are easy to make. Caramel candies, evaporated milk, butter, pecans, chocolate chips, and a German Chocolate Cake Mix.
These Cinnamon Sopapilla Cheesecake Bars are simply wonderful. A little bit of chewiness in the crust with a cheesecake center and buttery sweet cinnamon on the top. So yummy!
I enjoy making Irish Cream Cake at Christmas, which uses a cake mix as its base and is flavored with miniature chocolate chips and Irish Cream Liqueur. The Irish Cream icing seeps into the cake and creates a sweet and crusty film on the outside–like a cake donut! It’s so good. Perfect for any holiday celebration with family or friends.
That concludes my ideas for a New Year’s Eve celebration. I hope some of these recipes will entice you to try them. Whatever you decide, I pray that you will have a safe and happy New Year’s Eve. May God bless you in the New Year and give you peace.
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