New Year’s Eve Food Ideas

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If you are looking for some tasty New Year’s Eve food ideas, you have come to the right place! This is a great list of recipes for hosting a New Year’s Eve party or for a cozy New Year’s Eve at home.

A collage of food for New Year's Eve parties
From top left: Christmas Charcuterie Board, Easy Chocolate Truffles, Homemade Sparkling Cider, Bacon Wrapped Lil’ Smokies, Cream Cheese Fruit Dip, Buffalo Chicken Dip.
Featured in this post
  1. New Year’s Eve Drinks
  2. New Year’s Eve Appetizers
  3. New Year’s Eve Dinner Ideas
  4. New Year’s Eve Desserts


We have put together a tasty list of recipes for New Years Eve that will keep your parties fun and classy! From drinks like our homemade sparkling cider to dips and appetizers to our easy chocolate truffles and delectable desserts, we have got you covered!

Celebrate the end of the year and enjoy one last night of fantastic food before the New Year’s resolutions begin. These particular recipes will be the hit of the party while you count down to the New Year.

New Year’s Eve Drinks

As we are a family-friendly site, we are happy to offer some delicious non-alcoholic drinks the whole family can enjoy. Try something warm and creamy to sip on while playing games or watching a movie. We also have sparkly and pretty cold drinks to serve up in a stemmed glass for a New Year’s Eve toast.

Three mugs of Starbucks Caramel Apple Spice Cider topped with whipped cream and caramel
Starbucks Caramel Apple Spice Cider
4.93 from 14 votes
This Starbucks Caramel Apple Spice Cider Copycat is my fall drink of choice! This delicious warm apple cider drink is THE actual recipe used at Starbucks.
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Two white mugs filled with Unicorn Hot Chocolate topped with mini marshmallows and sprinkles
Unicorn Hot Chocolate Recipe
5 from 17 votes
This Unicorn Hot Chocolate recipe will make your childhood dreams come true. It is so sweet and creamy, you can't help but smile while drinking it!
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A large container of dry wassail mix next to some glasses full of wassail recipe
Wassail Recipe
5 from 14 votes
This Wassail recipe makes a delicious wassail mix to add to water for a quick hot citrus drink on cold days. You will love the orange and lemon flavors with a hint of cinnamon.
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Creamers, treats, whipped cream, and other toppings to make a hot chocolate bar.
Hot Chocolate Bar
5 from 3 votes
Set up your own epic hot chocolate bar that your guests will never forget using these easy recipes, ideas, and tips.
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A glass of sparkling cider topped with an orange slice and cranberries
Sparkling Cider
5 from 5 votes
It’s so easy to make your own Homemade Sparkling Cider!  
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Clinking a mug of Butterbeer with another mug of Butterbeer.
Harry Potter Butterbeer Copycat Recipe
4.98 from 337 votes
Our recipe for Harry Potter Butterbeer tastes just like what they sell at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. A no-cook method that is SO easy!
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New Year’s Eve Appetizers

Your food for New Year’s Eve must include appetizers. In fact, if you only served drinks and appetizers, your New Year’s Eve menu would reach perfection. These finger foods and snacks are easy to eat during all of your New Year’s Eve festivities. Set them up buffet style for guests to snack on during the evening, or surprise guests by bringing them out one at a time during the night.

Charcuterie Boards and Platters

A fancy spread of fresh deli meats, prosciutto, salami, a variety of cheeses, vegetables, fruit, and candies is a great way to provide something for everyone on the guest list. Garnish with some fresh herbs to add some color. You can copy one of our platters here or substitute ideas of your own. This is where you can have fun with your own creative and unique ideas and tastes!

charcuterie board appetizer with meats, cheeses, and vegetables
How to Make a Charcuterie Board
5 from 11 votes
Charcuterie boards are so easy to make and always make for an impressive spread. Bring one of these and you will easily be the star of your next party!
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Meat and cheese tray with turkey, ham, salami, and roast beef
How to Make a Meat and Cheese Tray
5 from 21 votes
Meat and cheese trays are a great appetizer or an easy way for guests to make their own sandwiches. Perfect for parties, potlucks, BBQs, or family gatherings!
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Part of a Christmas Charcuterie Board on a wooden try with gold handles
Christmas Charcuterie Board
5 from 9 votes
Create a festive Christmas Charcuterie Board with savory meats and cheeses, and sweet treats—perfect for parties and family gatherings!
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Finger Foods

An assortment of hot finger food for New Year’s Eve parties is always a hit. Keep foods warm in a crock pot or in the oven during the party, and set out a plate at a time. Be sure to provide vegetarian and gluten free options.

Bacon Wrapped Lil Smokies Appetizer with toothpicks in each one served on a white tray.
Bacon Wrapped Smokies
5 from 13 votes
Bacon wrapped smokies are a guaranteed hit for parties! These sweet and savory bites come together with just four ingredients. Make a bunch and watch them disappear! 
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Crab and Cream Cheese Wontons on a Plate
Cream Cheese Wontons
5 from 10 votes
Cream cheese wontons are the perfect appetizer. You will love these crunchy wontons with or without hot crab filling. Enjoy them dipped in a sweet and sour sauce.
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Cocktail Meatballs in a bowl next to slow cooker, sliced celery and green onions.
Crockpot Appetizer Meatballs
5 from 10 votes
These crockpot appetizer meatballs are sure to be a crowd favorite. A little sweet, a little savory with a spicy kick. Perfect for holiday parties or game days!
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Side view of air fryer chicken wings on a plate with veggies and ranch dip
Air Fryer Chicken Wings
5 from 11 votes
Can you believe that you can make crispy on the outside, tender on the inside chicken wings with no oil? These Air Fryer Chicken Wings are cooked perfectly crisp then smothered in our favorite wing sauce!
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Delicious Dips

Is party a party without chips and dip? We don’t think so. Here are four of our all-time favorite dips that you are sure to love.

A chip dipped in buffalo chicken dip
Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Dip
5 from 4 votes
This easy Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Dip is a creamy, cheesy, and spicy appetizer made with shredded chicken, Frank's Hot Sauce, and ranch dressing. Perfect for parties, game day, and family gatherings!
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close up look at cream cheese shrimp dip.
Cream Cheese Shrimp Dip
5 from 20 votes
This Cream Cheese Shrimp Dip can be ready to serve in minutes! It is a quick and easy appetizer that everyone loves.
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Dipping a chip into a bowl of clam dip
Clam Dip Recipe
5 from 21 votes
This clam dip recipe is always a favorite at family gatherings! It is a creamy dip with minced clams and a touch of lemon. Best served with salty ridged potato chips.
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A bowl of crockpot spinach artichoke dip surrounded by slices of baguette
Crockpot Spinach Artichoke Dip
5 from 13 votes
This Crockpot Spinach Artichoke Dip is a favorite appetizer and people go crazy for it! It’s full of creamy, cheesy goodness and is perfect for parties.
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Cranberry Almond Bacon Cheese Ball missing a wedge. Crackers and vegetables surrounding the cheese ball.
Cranberry Cheese Ball
5 from 19 votes
This Cranberry Almond Bacon Cheese Ball is the perfect appetizer for the holidays. Festive colors and flavors make this a brilliant buffet centerpiece for any occasion!
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Piece of French bread smothered in warm cheddar fondue over the pot.
Cheddar Cheese Fondue
5 from 34 votes
Cheddar Cheese Fondue is so versatile! It is smooth, creamy and has a delicious sharp flavor. Perfect for dipping vegetables, meat, bread, or crackers.
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Baked Brie topped with honey, cranberry sauce, pecans, and rosemary
Baked Brie with Jam
5 from 12 votes
This baked brie with jam tastes amazing, is SO EASY to make, and is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. It’s the easiest holiday appetizer ever!
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New Year’s Eve Dinner Ideas

We have some delicious ideas for your main course on New Year’s Eve. Try a delicious pasta dish to finish off the New Year, or some steak, a simple, yet tasty chicken breast recipe, or maybe even salmon. All of these dishes are easy to prepare so you can also enjoy the festivities. Let the oven, instant pot, air fryer, or crock pot do the work!

A bowl of Crockpot chicken Alfredo with pasta noodles
Zesty Crockpot Chicken Alfredo
5 from 16 votes
Zesty Crockpot chicken Alfredo is a yummy recipe that you can put in the crockpot hours earlier, then make into a fast and delicious meal!
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a plate of instant pot pork chops
Instant Pot Pork Chops and Gravy
4.93 from 14 votes
Instant Pot Pork Chops and Gravy are made in no time and are always tender, juicy, and delicious! A perfect way to get a hearty dinner on the table even on the busiest days.
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A grilled sirloin steak with tomato basil sauce on top and red potatoes on the side
Sirloin Steak With Tomato Sauce
5 from 8 votes
Grilled sirloin steak with tomato sauce turns an ordinary cut of meat into a tender, savory dish with a rich tomato gravy. The ultimate comfort food!
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A large plate with asparagus, wild rice, and air fryer salmon topped with a lemon slice
Salmon Air Fryer
5 from 3 votes
Get a delicious, simple, salmon dinner on the table in no time with our Air Fryer Salmon recipe.
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3 pieces of baked garlic chicken topped with green onions on a white plate.
Baked Garlic Chicken
5 from 8 votes
Baked Garlic Chicken is crispy and flavorful on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside. This versatile chicken tastes great sliced over pastas or salads!
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Cranberry Chicken on a dinner plate with mashed potatoes and green beans.
Cranberry Chicken
4.85 from 19 votes
This cranberry chicken is tender, sweet yet tangy and easy to make! With less than five minutes of prep time, this is a perfect dinner for busy weeknights.
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New Year’s Eve Desserts

Before the ball drop at midnight, don’t forget to finish off the year with an irresistible dessert. Do you want to serve an array of dessert choices or one decadent dessert? Either way, we have just what you need to serve your guests something sweet.

Nuts, Candies, and Chocolates

A few little munchies for those who like to nibble a little here and there. We have crunchy. We have creamy. And a little something for everyone with a sweet tooth.

A bowl of cinnamon almonds
Cinnamon Almonds in the Crockpot
4.84 from 12 votes
Cinnamon Almonds roasting in the crockpot is the perfect way to make your whole house smell like Christmas.  The cinnamon and sugar coating gives the almonds a sweet crunch.  
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Chocolate Peanut Clusters on a plate
Crockpot Peanut Clusters
5 from 12 votes
These Chocolate Peanut Clusters have only 4 ingredients and are so easy to make! Just throw everything in the Crockpot or slow cooker and you're done.
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Almond Joys on a cutting board and one cut in half.
Almond Joy Recipe
5 from 39 votes
This Almond Joy Recipe is a family favorite! They are so delicious and easy to make! My husband likes these better than the actual candy bar.
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A stack of chocolate truffles on a plate
Chocolate Truffles Recipe
5 from 8 votes
You won't believe how simple this easy chocolate truffles recipe is to make. They look and taste impressive, but are fool-proof! 
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Cookies and Bars

Cookies and bars are great for parties. You can make them up ahead of time without a lot of fuss. You can also make a lot at one time – enough to feed a big crowd.

Plate of 4th of July Cookies with sliced strawberries, blueberries and Pop Rocks.
4th of July Cookies
5 from 6 votes
These 4th of July Cookies are the perfect festive treat to celebrate Independence Day! They're a simple yet scrumptious treat that captures the spirit of the holiday in every bite.
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A stack of Andes Mint Cookies on a plate
Andes Mint Cookies
5 from 11 votes
Andes Mint Cookies are chewy chocolate cookies, topped by melted Andes mints. Rich and delicious with a mild mint flavor. A definite favorite!
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A stack of scotcharoos
Scotcharoos
5 from 9 votes
These no-bake Scotcharoos are a favorite treat. A Rice Krispie and peanut butter center is covered with a chocolate butterscotch topping.
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Tall stack of 7 Layer Magic Cookie Bars.
7 Layer Bars
5 from 6 votes
These 7 Layer Bars are always a hit! The coconut, milk chocolate chips, and pecans caramelize while it bakes. A quick and easy delicious dessert.
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Dazzling Cakes

This is where the decadent desserts come in. A slice of one of these rich, dazzling cakes, is enough to satisfy the sweet cravings for the night. Each of these recipes will serve 12-15 people.

Side view of White Chocolate Raspberry Cake.
Nothing Bundt Cakes White Chocolate Raspberry Cake Copycat
4.85 from 193 votes
This Nothing Bundt Cakes White Chocolate Raspberry Cake Copycat tastes just like the popular bakery version! Creamy, flavorful, easy to make at home!
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Spatula lifting a slice of Chocolate Cherry Cake.
Chocolate Cherry Cake
5 from 6 votes
Chocolate Cherry Cake is rich and moist and tastes just like biting into a luscious cherry chocolate candy. The perfect dessert for Valentine’s Day!
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Raspberry Almond Fudge Ice Cream Cake serving on 2 small plates
Raspberry Almond Fudge Ice Cream Cake
5 from 9 votes
Raspberry Almond Fudge Ice Cream Cake is a sweet cold and creamy dessert. It’s loaded with chopped almonds, fresh raspberries, and chocolate fudge swirls.
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Top view of Raspberry Cheesecake with a slice coming out.
Raspberry Cheesecake with Raspberry Sauce
5 from 12 votes
This Cheesecake with Raspberry Sauce is the most decadent, tasty dessert. This is so rich and creamy and the raspberry sauce is sweet and tart.
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Sticky toffee pudding in a bowl
Easy Sticky Toffee Pudding Cake
5 from 4 votes
This sticky toffee pudding cake is one of our favorite Christmas desserts. The toffee sauce is to die for!
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We hope you have found the perfect food for your New Year’s Eve celebrations. Happy New Year from all of us at Favorite Family Recipes!!!



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About the author

Emily Walker

Emily lives in Meridian, Idaho, with her husband, Beau, a physician assistant, and her three incredible children: a son and two daughters. Travel is one of her favorite ways to experience new cultures and cuisines, and she has a love for all things Disney.

EDUCATION
Southern Utah University and Ricks College

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Co-Author of Favorite Family Recipes 3 Cookbooks:
Favorite Family Recipes
A Year of Favorites
and Most Requested Copycat Dishes

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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    These look amazing. I’m going to have to try them out. Love your blog. I can tell you’ve put a lot of work into it.