New Year's Eve is a time to gather with loved ones and toast
to new beginnings. Review this list of New Year's Eve dinner ideas if you want
to ring in the new year with delicious food.
How to Plan a New Year's Eve Dinner Menu
A New Year's Eve dinner party is a festive special occasion
intended to mark the beginning of a new year. Use these pointers to plan a
successful New Year's Eve dinner:
1. Seasonal flavors should be used. Because New Year's Eve is
so close to the holidays, incorporate festive flavors and seasonal ingredients
into your menu, such as cranberries, cinnamon, and maple-flavored dishes.
2. Consider your dietary needs. Prepare options for dietary
restrictions for guests, especially if your loved ones bring friends and family
you don't know well. To cover all bases, include a vegetarian and a gluten-free
option on your menu.
3. Choose dishes based on the occasion. Plan several courses if
you're having a sit-down dinner. Consider serving finger food and other
appetizers if you want your guests to mingle.
4. Serve festive beverages. To round out your menu, choose
festive cocktails (such as a Cranberry Gin Fizz) or red wine.
New Year's Eve Dinner Ideas
Menus for New Year's Eve dinners typically include
easy-to-eat appetizers, upscale main courses, and comfort foods. Get some
dinner recipe ideas from this list:
1. Alfredo sauce: Alfredo sauce is a traditional
Italian-American pasta sauce made with parmesan cheese, heavy cream, and
butter. For a traditional dish, serve it with fettuccine pasta. To impress your
guests with a delicious main course, make homemade Alfredo sauce with pasta.
2. Artichoke bruschetta: Artichoke bruschetta is a cheesy,
tangy appetizer that combines the flavors of artichoke dip with French bread.
Artichoke bruschetta is a simple appetizer that can be served as an elegant
finger food at an upscale New Year's Eve party.
3. Au gratin potatoes: A classic winter comfort food,
homemade au gratin potatoes are a perfect New Year's side dish for cooks
looking for alternatives to mashed potatoes. Au gratin potatoes (or potatoes au
gratin) are baked casserole dishes that combine layers of sliced potatoes and
cheese, sometimes with a breadcrumb topping for a contrasting crunch.
4. Baked Brie: A crowd-pleasing appetizer that can be easily
prepared in the oven. Wrap a wheel of Brie in puff pastry and bake it in the
oven to make baked Brie. If you want something savory, add prosciutto; if you
want something sweet, add cranberries or pecans.
5. Beef tenderloin: If you have a smoker, serve a tender,
smoked beef tenderloin to your guests. Beef tenderloin is a large cut of beef
that is ideal for feeding a large group. Serve with roasted vegetables and
potatoes.
6. Black-eyed peas: Black-eyed peas are an excellent
vegetarian option for New Year's Eve dinner. There are numerous ways to prepare
black-eyed peas, but even the simplest stewed black-eyed peas make a flavorful
entrée. Serve black-eyed peas over rice, with cornbread, or with sautéed greens
such as collards, kale, Swiss chard, or turnip greens.
7. Roasted Brussels sprouts: These vegetables have a crispy
exterior and tender (but not mushy) interior. For a tasty side dish, top your
brussels sprouts with goat cheese and balsamic vinegar.
8. Burrata: Burrata is a versatile semi-soft cheese with a
loose texture that is made up of tiny, soft cheese curds and cream enclosed in
a mozzarella shell. When combined with fresh tomatoes and a drizzle of olive
oil for a salad or crostini, burrata makes a delicious appetizer.
9. Butternut squash galette: You can make butternut squash
galette sweet, savory, or somewhere in between depending on your preferred
seasonings. The pie crust, which is flaky and made entirely of butter, comes
together easily. It can also be altered. The butternut squash galette can be
paired with a variety of flavors and fillings.
10. Buttery cherry almond cookies: Cherry almond cookies
will impress your guests with their nutty and cherry flavors. Cherry almond
cookies with maraschino cherries, fruit juice, and almond extract are sweet,
tangy, and shortbread-like cookies.
11. Champagne cocktail: The elegant Champagne cocktail,
which features a fizzing sugar cube in a bubbly glass of sparkling wine, is the
perfect beverage for a New Year's Eve party. A Champagne cocktail can be easily
made at home since it only needs a Champagne glass and no additional equipment,
such as a cocktail shaker.
12. Chocolate truffles: Baking chocolate, butter, and cream
are typically used to make these no-bake candies. Chocolate truffles are a
wonderful dessert option for a New Year's Eve dinner and are named after the
dark, oblong truffle mushrooms.
13. Cranberry Gin Fizz: Make a festive, seasonal cocktail to
welcome your guests. A Cranberry Gin Fizz is a refreshing cocktail made with
homemade cranberry syrup, lemon juice, club soda, and gin. This light and fizzy
cold gin cocktail is ideal for celebrations and gatherings throughout the
summer and holiday season.
14. Classic Italian meatballs: These simple proteins brown
in the oven before simmering in a traditional pasta sauce on the stovetop. At
your party, serve meatballs as a main course or as an appetizer.
15. Maple cheesecake: A baked dessert with a cream
cheese-based filling flavored with maple syrup and set inside a thin graham
cracker crust. This decadent cheesecake is an excellent addition to your New
Year's Eve menu.
16. Parmesan risotto: Parmesan risotto is a creamy Italian
rice dish topped with a generous amount of grated Parmesan cheese. Pork chops
and roasted brussels sprouts go well with Parmesan risotto.
17. Polenta: If you're planning an Italian dinner for New
Year's Eve, make polenta. Polenta is a simple Italian dish that goes well with
ragùs, roasted or sautéed vegetables, tomato sauce, and other comfort foods.
18. Pork chops: Pork chops are easy to make. Serve
oven-baked pork chops seasoned with olive oil, salt, and black pepper.
19. Ricotta dip: Make a batch of savory whipped ricotta to
use as a dip or spread for a memorable dinner party appetizer. Serve the
whipped ricotta dip alongside goat cheese, veggies, prosciutto, and slices of
crostini or baguette on a cheese or charcuterie board.
20. Roasted chicken: A classic recipe that yields juicy, tender chicken with crispy skin. You can prepare it in a variety of ways and with various cuts of chicken. You can use a roasting pan without a rack, but if you do, place vegetables, such as sweet potatoes, under the roast chicken to make them more flavorful.
21. Scallops: Serve scallops as an upscale New Year's Eve main course. Scallops may be considered restaurant-only fare due to their high price and ease of overcooking. However, once you've learned how to cook scallops (which only take about five minutes on the stovetop), they'll be a welcome addition to your menu.