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40+ New Year's Eve Recipes

Published: Dec 29, 2018 · Modified: Jan 3, 2023 by Tiffany Dahle · This post may contain affiliate links.

New Year's Eve recipes should be easy and delicious. Don't finish the year off in the kitchen, use these make-ahead family recipes so you can enjoy the evening with your kids!

Two young girls wearing "Happy New Year" tiaras pose for a photo. Below is a collage of recipe ideas.

How does your family celebrate New Year's Eve? We love to spend the day at our favorite bowling alley. We bowl a few rounds, have lunch at their awesome restaurant, and then come home for a quiet evening in.

We watch movies, listen to music, and just count the year down together.

Even though it is usually just us, I try to have something delicious for us to enjoy for our last meal of the year.

Sometimes we do a full dinner, other times we make a meal out of appetizers and dessert.

Whether you plan to fill your house with friends and family or keep it quiet with just your own, you'll find fun New Year's Even recipe ideas for a fun night at home below.

Happy New Year to you and your family, I hope you have a great one.

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New Year's Appetizers Ideas

Maybe you prefer to snack the night away for your party?

These appetizers are a huge hit with kids but will still be popular with any adults at your New Year's party:

Jalapeño Artichoke Dip

This is one of my favorite hot dips. It is so festive looking with the red and green veggies tucked inside that creamy cheese sauce.

Jalapeño Artichoke Dip

This awesome spicy artichoke dip is thick with chopped fresh veggies and makes a perfect party appetizer. You can adjust the spice to be mild or hot, as you wish!

5 from 2 votes

A dish of baked jalapeño artichoke dip shows diced red peppers and green onions. There's a serving spoon taking a scoop. A bowl of crackers sits in the back.

Hot Spinach and Artichoke Dip

If you're looking for a more classic hot spinach and artichoke dip, you'll love this recipe with caramelized onions for a bit of sweetness.

Hot Spinach and Artichoke Dip

This baked spinach and artichoke dip has caramelized onions and is the perfect make ahead party appetizer for the season. Serve with raw veggies for a low carb, gluten free appetizer or with buttery crackers or chunks of bread for a delicious snack.

5 from 1 vote

A baking dish filled with warm artichoke dip.

Sweet and Sour Meatballs

I make these sweet and sour meatballs in the Crockpot so we can enjoy them over the course of several hours while they keep warm the entire time.

Sweet and Sour Meatballs in the Crockpot

Classic cocktail meatballs keep warm on your buffet table for hours in the slowcooker. This wildly popular sweet and sour sauce is made from ketchup and grape jam but is elevated by a dash of hot sauce to keep it from being too sweet.

5 from 46 votes

The white serving bowl is filled with sweet and sour meatballs in a rich glaze.

Easy Crab Melts

You can serve these crab melts as a generous portion on ciabatta bread halves or cut each melt into quarters for a more bite-sized appetizer.

Easy Crab Melts

This rich and delicious crab melt recipe makes a perfect party appetizer or simple dinner entree. Sweet lump crab meat is mixed together with savory cheeses and melted on fresh ciabatta bread.

5 from 54 votes

A platter of cheesy crab melts have green onions sprinkled over the top.

Spicy Taco Dip

Just add a big bowl of tortilla chips and watch as this classic party appetizer disappears in a flash!

Spicy Taco Dip with Cream Cheese

This is the best ever spicy taco dip with cream cheese because of Mom's secret tricks! Serve it at your Cinco de Mayo party or for Taco Tuesday. At a party, you'll find the pan practically licked clean by your guests.

5 from 1 vote

A container of homemade taco dip has a spicy cream cheese filling and is topped with shredded cheese and lettuce. A serving spoon has scooped a portion out.

Swedish Meatball Dip

I love to serve this hot sausage dip with baked tater tots as a fun surrpise.

Swedish Meatball Sausage Dip

This savory sausage dip is inspired by the classic Swedish meatballs everyone loves. Serve it with a giant pile of crispy seasoned tater tot dunkers!

5 from 2 votes

A white bowl filled with hot sausage dip has a serving spoon and a pile of tater tots for dunking on a platter.

Oriental Chicken Layer Dip

Serve this creamy chicken dip with crispy butter crackers.

Oriental Chicken Layer Dip

This sweet and spicy layered Asian dip has a homemade sweet and sour sauce, savory cashews, and spicy green onions over a cream cheese base.

4.50 from 2 votes

A plate of layered Asian dip is served next to butter crackers.

Sausage Crescent Roll Swirls

This is an easy make ahead party appetizer. You can roll the sausage swirls in advance and then just slice and bake at the start of your party.

Sausage Crescent Roll Swirls

Savory sausage rolled in sweet, buttery crescent roll dough, and baked for the perfect easy party appetizer.

5 from 1 vote

A platter of sausage swirl appetizers is ready to be served.

Buffalo Blue Cheese Chips

This appetizer is inspired by our favorite item on a local restaurant menu. We love the mix of spicy and creamy sauces on the chips.

Buffalo Blue Cheese Potato Chips with Lit'l Smokies®

Salty sausages tossed in a spicy buffalo sauce make for a fun spin on traditional nachos. Top potato chips with the mixture along with a creamy blue cheese dressing and chopped green onions.

5 from 1 vote

A plate of potato chips has buffalo and blue cheese dressing drizzled over he top with green onions sprinkled and little sausages scattered.

Easy Cheddar Snack Board

Is it a party if you don't have a snack board to nibble on?? This is perfect for enjoying as you wait for the final countdown.

Cheddar Snack Board

This delicious snack board is inspired by the Ultimate Cheddar Snack Board from Stunning Spreads by Chrissie Nelson Rotko.

5 from 1 vote

A round snack board has sliced green apples, spreadable cheese, slices of cheese, ruffled slices of various meats, and a bowl of fresh blackberries.

Seasoned Pretzels with Dip

Make a batch of homemade seasoned pretzels (16 different flavors to pick from!) and then make an easy batch of spinach dip or raspberry mustard for dunking them

Seasoned Pretzels

Mix and match your favorite spices to make easy homemade seasoned pretzels that your family will love. The only pretzel recipe you need for holiday entertaining all season long!

4.96 from 49 votes

A serving bowl of square pretzels that have been baked and seasoned.

Cold Spinach Dip

This easy spinach dip recipe is best served chilled. Simply mix together the spinach and cream cheese base for a delicious dip for bagel chips and crackers.

4.67 from 3 votes

A bowl of spinach dip is served with bagel chips for dipping.

Raspberry Mustard

This sweet and spicy mustard dip is perfect for dunking homemade seasoned pretzels for an easy party snack.

5 from 1 vote

A blue bowl filled with raspberry mustard has a spoon and is surrounded by seasoned pretzels.

Easy Chex Mix Recipes

And you can never go wrong with a simple batch of homemade snack mix.

Honey Sriracha Chex Mix

Sweet and spicy Chex mix features melted butter, honey, and a touch of sriracha sauce for a fun kick.

5 from 1 vote

Sweet and spicy honey sriracha chex mix has square pretzles, cereal, and peanuts mixed together.

Sweet and Salty Chex Mix

Sweet and salty Chex Mix has a unique blend of mix-ins that give this recipe the perfect balance of flavors and textures. A hearty snack mix that you'll love to bring for family road trips or serve as a special holiday snack.

4.50 from 2 votes

A bag of sweet Chex Mix has nuts, cereal, and red and orange M&M candies.

Buddy's Chex Mix for Christmas

This delicious Chex Mix for Christmas is Buddy the Elf's very favorite! Maple-syrup coated Chex is tossed with marshmallows, candies, and almonds for a treat any elf will love.

4.60 from 5 votes

A red polka dot container has Christmas Chex Mix with red and green sprinkles over the top.

Candied Nuts

These sweet and slightly spicy candied nuts taste like they just came off a street cart in New York City but only take 5 minutes of prep.

4.20 from 5 votes

A dish of candied nuts has a red heart decoration. The nuts are coated in a thick sugar crust.

New Year's Eve Beverage Recipes

If you want something other than traditional sparkling wine, here are our favorite cocktails and festive kid-friendly beverages for New Year's Eve:

Pomegranate Punch with Sparkling Prosecco

This pomegranate punch recipe is the perfect beverage to serve at your holiday gathering because you can make it as an adult beverage with the wine or swap sparkling white grape juice to make a mock-tail for the whole family.

5 from 1 vote

A stemless wine glass is filled with pomegranate punch, slices of fresh orange, and fresh pomegranate seeds for garnish.

Brandy Old Fashioned Sweet

A classic midwestern cocktail. Brandy Old Fashioned Sweets are perfect for football games and entertaining.

5 from 1 vote

A glass of brandy old fashioned sweet has lots of ice and a maraschino cherry with orange twist for garnish.

Ultimate Crockpot Hot Chocolate

This easy Crockpot hot cocoa recipe is perfect for a holiday open house or Christmas Eve! Set up the ultimate hot cocoa bar with one of these fun flavor variations and plenty of festive toppings for guests to mix and match their own custom mug.

5 from 1 vote

A blue mug filled with hot cocoa has mini marshmallows on top and chocolate pieces and marshmallows scattered around it.

DIY Christmas Coffee Bar

Let guests mix and match their own festive Christmas coffee with this easy holiday coffee station.

5 from 1 vote

3 tall bottles hold different flavored coffee syrups for a DIY coffee bar.

Casual Dinner Recipes

Keep it extra easy and serve kid-friendly sliders and soup.

This is the perfect comfort food for a relaxing night in that lets you focus on playing games together or watching a movie marathon.

Here are some of our favorites:

Gooey Ham and Cheese Sliders

These totally easy, utterly delicious, Hawaiian roll ham and cheese sliders are perfect for making for your next party. Make a big pan in minutes and watch them disappear.

4.93 from 38 votes

A filled baking pan of mini ham sliders with butter dripping off the top and a sprinkle of poppyseeds on each one.

BBQ Chicken Sliders

These easy to assemble BBQ chicken sliders have just the right amount of filling, melting cheese, and a deliciously buttery crisp topping. They will fly off the baking pan at your next party or family game night.

5 from 1 vote

A metal baking pan has 3 rows of baked bbq chicken sliders showing the melted cheese oozing out.

Cuban Sliders

Use up leftover pork to make these easy Cuban pork slider sandwiches with ooey gooey cheese and a crispy pickle. They make a delicious family dinner or easy appetizer for friends. This is the party size version of the smaller kid-friendly recipe featured in The Totally Awesome Ultimate Kids' Cookbook.

5 from 45 votes

A white platter of mini slider sandwiches.

Spicy Sausage and Lentil Soup

This hot and spicy sausage and lentil soup is the perfect comfort food for chilly days. Freezer friendly, kid friendly, perfect for a big crowd with a big appetite.

5 from 2 votes

A bowl of sausage lentil soup sits on an orange napkin with a spoon ready for eating.

Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Soup

This 15-minute Instant Pot soup recipe is made with tender chicken thighs and boxed wild rice blend. Fresh onions and celery give a homemade taste to a quick and easy chicken soup your family will love, even on a busy weeknight.

4.34 from 3 votes

A white bowl is filled with a creamy chicken and wild rice soup.

Instant Pot Ground Turkey Soup

This rich and hearty ground turkey soup is filled with tender vegetables and tastes like it has been slowcooked all day but takes less than an hour with your Instant Pot. Serve with fresh bread.

4.96 from 42 votes

The finished ground turkey soup is ready to be served from the Instant Pot.

Red Chicken Chili with No Beans

Light and healthy red chicken chili with tons of tomatoes and fresh peppers but no beans. Top it with shredded cheese, a dollop of sour cream, and serve with tortilla chips for dunking.

4.42 from 24 votes

A white bowl of tomato-based chicken chili has shredded cheddar and a dollop of sour cream on top.

Elegant Dinner Recipes

If you like to have a more formal meal to end the year or are entertaining other adults, these elegant dinners are totally kid-friendly and super easy to prep ahead.

You could assemble everything in the morning and just pop these recipes into the oven before dinner.

Easy Lasagna Roll-Ups

This easy lasagna roll-up recipe is filled with a delicious spinach and cheese filling and rich meaty tomato sauce. It's the perfect make-ahead meal for busy families since you can assemble and freeze it for an easy dinner later.

5 from 49 votes

A serving of beef lasagna rollups is next to a simple green salad with a fork.

Easy Macadamia Crusted Halibut with Quick Lemon Butter Cream Sauce

Macadamia crusted halibut is one of the best easy halibut recipes for a special occasion. Prep it earlier in the day and this oven-baked halibut will be ready to go in just minutes at dinner time leaving you with almost no cleanup. Serve it with a drizzle of rich lemon-butter cream sauce for a quick but decadent treat.

4.46 from 146 votes

A filet of macadamia encrusted halibut is covered with a drizzle of lemon butter cream sauce. Fresh green asparagus and a serving of wild rice sit next to it on the plate.

Rum Glazed Pork Tenderloin

This rum glazed pork tenderloin is one of our all-time favorite grilling recipes during the summer. Serve it with fresh grilled peaches as a simple side dish.

5 from 3 votes

Several slices of pork tene

Blue Cheese and Cranberry Stuffed Pork Tenderloins

This elegant stuffed pork tenderloin recipe is perfect for fall entertaining. You can prep the dish ahead of time and simply bake it before serving.

4.50 from 2 votes

A stuffed pork tenderloin has cranberries and blue cheese peeking out of the roll. A bunch of fresh thyme is on the platter.

Steak Marinade for "Steak and Tubes"

This easy steak marinade is delicious on steak tips, flank steak, beef stew, or even beef tenderloin for a special meal. Saute the beef in a skillet in melted butter and serve with a side of buttered noodles for a delicious and easy dinner.

5 from 1 vote

Marinated steak on a plate next to buttered noodles.

Baked Chicken Parmesan

Baked chicken parmesan is a comfort food classic made easy in the oven. Coated in savory bread crumbs, the chicken bakes up moist and juicy with delicious tomato sauce and melted cheese on top.

4.74 from 15 votes

A dinner plate has a serving of baked chicken parmesan, farfalle pasta, and a green salad.

Simple New Year's Eve Desserts for Kids

We like simple and individually portioned treats for New Year's. I usually stick to cookies, brownies, or bars.

You could make simple circle sugar cookies, frost them with this awesome cookie frosting, and have the kids decorate them to look like clock faces using candies.

Here are some of my other favorite treats:

Easy Sugar Cookies

These sugar cookies are the perfect blank canvas for your creative designs. You can decorate them to match any season or celebration during the year. Try them with a simple cookie glaze or spread your favorite frosting over them and top with sprinkles for a special treat your family will love.

4.53 from 17 votes

How to host a cookie decorating party for Valentine's Day. Sugar cookies with pink icing and a spoon.

Black and White Cookies

This classic New York cookie is actually really easy to make at home with a few simple tricks.

5 from 1 vote

A serving platter filled with black and white cookies.

Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies

These sweet and spicy cookies are an awesome addition to your holiday cookie tray. The kicked-up cayenne powder adds a spicy touch to your sweets.

4.50 from 4 votes

A platter of chocolate crinkle cookies show the Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookie recipe finished.

Peppermint Patty Brownies

These rich and fudgy peppermint patty brownies are perfect for kid bakers to make during the holidays.

5 from 3 votes

A platter of peppermint brownies has York candies next to it.

OREO Blondies

Rich and chewy cookies and cream blondies are the perfect twist to a cookie bar for your next homemade treat. Kids will love to crush the Oreo cookies for mixing in.

5 from 32 votes

A tray of cookies and cream bars have OREOS sitting next to them.

Easy Brownies for Kids

These are the BEST brownies for kids to bake for their families. Chewy centers with crispy edges and loaded with extra chocolate chips for the fudgiest brownies ever.

4.67 from 45 votes

A round platter of a pile of chocolate brownies with a bite taken out of the one on top and a sprinkle of chocolate chips to the side.

Elegant New Year's Desserts for Adults

If you want a show stopping dessert for the last party of the year, these elegant desserts are easy to prep ahead and are utterly delicious:

Chocolate Flourless Torte

This rich and fudgy chocolate flourless torte is the perfect easy gluten-free dessert to make for any special occasion.

5 from 1 vote

A rich chocolately round torte is on a cake plate with a pink ceramic flower accent. Powdered sugar is dusted over the top.

Creme Anglaise

Creme Anglaise is a rich and creamy vanilla custard sauce that is the perfect topping for a chocolate flourless torte.

5 from 1 vote

Creme anglaise, a rich custard sauce has been drizzled over a slice of chocolate flourless torte. A fork is scooping a bite.

Orange Chocolate Chip Cake

This zesty orange chocolate chip bundt cake is covered in an easy chocolate ganache. Perfect easy cake for a party.

5 from 1 vote

A chocolate glazed bundt cake sits on a white cake plate with a blue robins egg decoration to the left.

Triple Berry Sauce

This simple triple berry sauce is so easy to make using fresh or frozen blackberries, blueberries, and strawberries. Drizzle it over cheesecake or your favorite dessert.

4.45 from 20 votes

A slice of plain cheesecake has fresh strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries sprinkled over the top and on the table. A drizzle of dark purple triple berry sauce is dripping down from the top. A pitcher of sauce is nearby.

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