Ring in the new year with these incredible New Year's Eve dinner ideas! Whether you're hosting an epic New Yearā€™s Eve dinner party or watching the ball drop with friends and family, you'll find the perfect meal here.

A collage of four New Year's Eve Dinner Ideas

Table of contents

If you're wondering what to make for dinner on New Year's Eve, we've got lots of ideas for you. From our most popular appetizers to champagne cocktails, show-stopping entrees to special desserts, you'll find all you need to create your New Year's Eve menu and celebrate in style!

1. New Year's Eve Appetizers

Ring in the new year with extra delicious appetizers that everyone will enjoy. Our two favorites are the cheese bread bites, a New Year's Eve must. The texture is crispy on the outside, soft inside, and absolutely cheesy throughout. And the hot honey baked brie which is a wheel of brie cheese drizzled in a hot honey glaze and baked until melty; it is always a crowd favorite.

Or try our easy party dips you can whip up at the last minute and rosemary nuts you can make days in advance.

And for a real show stopper on New Year's Eve, try our smoked salmon mousse which is served on cucumber rounds; you could also serve it on puff pastry rounds. And lamb lollipops with mint pesto are fun to eat and delicious. Both will make the evening feel extra special.

A close up of Cheese Bread Bites in a bowl.

Sharp Cheese Bread Bites

These cheese bread bites are the ultimate indulgence. They're made by coating pieces of white bread in butter and imperial sharp cheddar cheese then baking them until they're wonderfully crispy on the outside and soft inside. Bring these out at a party and they'll disappear in seconds!
4.91 stars (22 ratings)
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baked brie with hot honey on a serving plate

Hot Honey Baked Brie

This hot honey baked brie is gooey and sweet with a little heat. It's a wheel of brie cheese baked with homemade hot honey, and topped with pecans and fresh rosemary. It's an easy party appetizer that everyone loves, and it's ready in just 20 minutes!
4.94 stars (29 ratings)
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Three Easy Party Dips on a tray with chips and veggies

Easy Party Dips

These easy party dips are essential for stress-free entertaining. They're a colorful trio of dips that includes creamy parmesan, honey mustard, and green goddess. They're ready in just 15 minutes (total), and everyone will rave about them!
5 stars (38 ratings)
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Spiced Rosemary Nuts in a bowl.

Rosemary Nuts Recipe

These rosemary nuts are sweet, smoky, and a little bit spicy. They're perfect around the holidays for snacking, gifting, and decorating your favorite cake. They're easy to make, and they're ready in just 55 minutes!
4.93 stars (27 ratings)
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Smoked Salmon Mousse on crackers and cucumbers.

Smoked Salmon Mousse

This easy smoked salmon mousse recipe takes only 5 minutes to make and is a sure way to impress your guests. Pipe the tasty mousse onto healthy cucumber rounds, crackers, or put it into a bowl to serve as a dip.Ā 
4.77 stars (39 ratings)
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A plate piled with lamb lollipops with mint pesto on the side.

Lamb Lollipops Recipe

Lamb lollipops are marinated then seared in a hot pan for a few minutes until lightly charred and incredibly delicious. They are simple to make yet the flavor is outstanding. We like ours with an easy mint pesto for dipping!Ā 
4.96 stars (42 ratings)
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2. Special New Year's Eve Cocktails

Every New Year's Eve dinner party needs a special cocktail, and we know you'll love these ones. Our cotton candy champagne makes the evening feel fun and playful while a french 75 feels glamorous and sophisticated.

And to help your guests stay awake until the stroke of midnight, think about serving them an espresso martini or a coffee margarita!

For a twist on a classic, try our delicious negroni sour. And don't forget about the non-drinkers! Our blackberry lavender soda is a great mocktail that makes the evening feel special.

Two glasses of Cotton Candy Champagne

Cotton Candy Champagne

This cotton candy champagne is bubbly, sweet, and perfect for parties! It's sparkling wine served in a sprinkle-rimmed glass, then topped with a cloud of cotton candy. It'll take your party to the next level, and it's ready in minutes!
5 stars (22 ratings)
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Two French 75 champagne cocktails beside a bottle of sparkling wine.

French 75

A French 75 is a bright and bubbly cocktail made with gin, lemon juice, and sparkling wine. It's elegant enough for the most special celebrations, yet easy enough to enjoy with Sunday brunch. It's made with just 5 ingredients, and it's ready in minutes!
4.97 stars (27 ratings)
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Two espresso martinis with a bottle of Kahlua.

Espresso Martini

This easy espresso martini is a classic cocktail for coffee lovers. It's strong and boozy yet sweet with a foamy top. It's the perfect after-dinner drink, and it's ready in just 5 minutes!
5 stars (54 ratings)
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Coffee Margaritas in salt rimmed glasses

Coffee Margarita (Espresso Margarita)

It's not every day that tequila and coffee meet, but this coffee margarita is a real treat! It's tequila, lime juice, and coffee liqueur mixed together with our two-ingredient homemade coffee simple syrup. It's refreshingly smooth and it's ready in about 5 minutes!
5 stars (61 ratings)
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a Negroni Sour in a coupe glass

Negroni Sour

This negroni sour is a bright and refreshing take on the beloved bittersweet classic. It's a stunning drink with delicate froth and familiar flavors. Cheers to a quick and easy cocktail that takes only 5 ingredients to make!
4.96 stars (23 ratings)
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2 blackberry lavender sodas in short glasses.

Blackberry Lavender Soda

The lavender adds a light botanical flavor to the richness of blackberries. Not only is this a twist on a regular berry soda, but the syrup can also be drizzled on desserts like pound cake or angel food cake.
4.96 stars (25 ratings)
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3. New Year's Eve Dinner Ideas

New Year's Eve is one night that should definitely feel special. If you're sitting down to dinner, let's make it a good one. These main courses range from fancy to cozy and all aim to please.

To go all out, try our roast porchetta or chocolate braised pork ribs. Both are insanely rich and delicious and take the meal to the next level. Serve both of these with sour cream mashed potatoes, garlic butter mushrooms, and a kale salad and you'll have a meal to remember.

If you're craving seafood, try our favorite lingcod recipe which is bathed in lemon garlic brown butter. Cod with tomatoes and olives is a wonderful meal, especially with a slice of buttered sourdough to mop up the sauce.

For an ultra-cheesy meal, make it special with a New Year's Eve cheese fondue. Or keep it cozy with a pot of four cheese mac and cheese! (Bonus here is that any leftover noodles taste great reheated on New Year's Day.

Looking at the side of porchetta on a cooling rack.

Porchetta Recipe

This porchetta recipe is as good as it gets. It's all-belly porchetta with rich and tender meat flavored with fennel and traditional Italian seasonings and has the crispiest, chicharron-like crackling. And won't worry, making this famous Italian dish is surprisingly simple.
4.93 stars (54 ratings)
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A pot of braised pork ribs

Dark Chocolate and Stout Braised Ribs

These braised pork ribs are as good as it gets. They're slow-cooked in a ridiculously delicious sauce made with dark beer and chocolate that, by the time the ribs have finished cooking, becomes the best gravy you'll ever try.
4.96 stars (46 ratings)
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a spatula lifting a piece of seared lingcod out of a pan

Favorite Lingcod Recipe

Our favorite lingcod recipe proves how flavorful simple can be. Lightly seasoned filets are pan-seared to flaky perfection and then drizzled in a rich, brown butter garlic sauce. It makes a quick and easy dinner for weeknights and it's ready in just 20 minutes!
4.91 stars (74 ratings)
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A pan of cod with tomato and olive sauce.

Cod with Tomatoes and Olives Recipe

Cod with tomatoes is an easy recipe where the cod is gently simmered in a rich tomato sauce with capers and delicious Gordal olives. In less than 30 minutes you'll have a healthy and delicious dinner on the table!
4.70 stars (13 ratings)
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Pork Medallions in a cast iron pan

Pork Medallions

These pork medallions are incredibly tender, juicy, and flavorful. Rounds of pork tenderloin are perfectly seasoned, seared until golden, and served in a rich savory sauce. They're easy enough for weeknights, and they're ready in just 25 minutes!
4.93 stars (63 ratings)
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Oven grilled tomahawk pork chops piled on a white plate.

Tomahawk Pork Chops Recipe

These tender tomahawk pork chops are smothered in an incredible honey garlic sauce that caramelizes as it cooks to become ultra delicious. You'll love them baked in the oven or cooked on a grill!Ā 
4.62 stars (21 ratings)
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A Gruyere Cheese Fondue with fondue forks dipping into the cheese.

Gruyere Cheese Fondue

This cheese fondue is creamy, smooth, and by far the best! It's classic melted gruyĆØre cheese flavored with caramelized shallots, apple brandy, and warm spices. It's an easy recipe that's perfect for seasonal gatherings, and it's ready in just 35 minutes!
4.96 stars (41 ratings)
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Four Cheese Mac and Cheese in a bowl with a spoon

Four Cheese Mac and Cheese Recipe

This four cheese mac and cheese is an all-time family favorite! It's a classic, creamy stove-top recipe made with only real ingredients, and no baking is required. It's easy to make, and it's ready in just 30 minutes!
5 stars (33 ratings)
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4. New Year's Eve Desserts

End New Year's Eve dinner on a sweet note with one of these delicious desserts. For chocolate lovers, don't miss our chocolate pie with bacon praline. Or try our chocolate lava cakes that are filled with salted caramel.

Amaretto poached pears and citrus-flavored orange blossom panna cotta are two sophisticated desserts that are perfect for welcoming in the new year.

If you're a cake fan, you'll love our chocolate beet cake that is frosted in all-natural pink buttercream and our frosted coconut pineapple upside down cake. Both are beautiful and delicious!

For something simple that the whole crowd is guaranteed to love, try sweet bacon caramel popcorn or whipped cream filled profiteroles.

Chocolate Pie decorated with praline and whipped cream

Chocolate Pie Recipe

This chocolate pie is a dreamy, decadent dessert for any occasion. It's a rich chocolate filling chilled in a golden pie crust, served with whipped cream, and an easy cocoa nib praline. It's simple to make with only real ingredients.
5 stars (42 ratings)
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chocolate lava cake with salted caramel spilling out

Chocolate Lava Cake with Salted Caramel

It doesn't get more delicious than infamous chocolate lava cake. With a cakey exterior and irresistible warm chocolate caramel center, it's the perfect individual dessert for dinner parties and special occasions. It's surprisingly easy to make, and ready in an hour!
4.98 stars (44 ratings)
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A close up of Bacon Caramel Popcorn in a bowl

Bacon Caramel Popcorn

If you like caramel corn then you will LOVE bacon caramel popcorn! We add crispy bacon pieces and peanuts to bacon fat popped popcorn then drizzle the whole deal in caramel. It's unbelievably delicious!
4.96 stars (22 ratings)
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a bowl of Profiteroles drizzled in chocolate

Profiteroles with Chantilly Cream

Profiteroles are an elegant classic dessert, and they're surprisingly easy to make! Bite-size French choux pastry balls are filled with a delicate chantilly cream, and topped with powdered sugar or chocolate sauce. It's a simple recipe for bakers of all skill levels, and it takes only an hour!
4.98 stars (42 ratings)
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A collage of four New Year's Eve Dinner Ideas

If you love these recipes as much as we do, let us know with a 5-star rating!

5 stars (15 ratings)

Recipe Index

1. New Year's Eve Appetizers

Cheese Bread BitesĀ 
Hot Honey Baked Brie
Easy Party Dips
Rosemary NutsĀ 
Smoked Salmon Mousse
Lamb Lollipops

2. Special New Year's Eve Cocktails

Cotton Candy Champagne
French 75
Espresso Martini
Coffee Margarita!
Negroni Sour
Blackberry Lavender Soda

3. New Year's Eve Dinner Ideas

Porchetta
Chocolate Braised Pork Ribs
Lingcod Recipe
Cod with Tomatoes
Cheese Fondue
Four Cheese Mac and Cheese!

4. New Year's Eve Desserts

Chocolate Pie
Chocolate Lava CakesĀ 
Amaretto Poached Pears
Orange Blossom Panna Cotta
Chocolate Beet Cake
Coconut Pineapple Upside Down Cake
Bacon Caramel Popcorn
Profiteroles
Like these recipes?Let us know which is your favorite in the comments below!

For more inspiration, check out all of our New Year's Eve recipes!