65 Easy New Year’s Eve Appetizers to Get the Party Started
You thought about making plans to ring in 2021, then thought against it. Now the holiday's crept up on you and the thought of doing nothing just seems bleak. So, you read up on the CDC's guidelines, and you're hosting a small, last-minute New Year's Eve bash. Fun! And cue the panic: What the heck are you going to serve? Here, 65 appetizers that are easy, festive and filling. (Come on, you need something to soak up all that Champagne and booze.)
1. Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
These are everything you love about wings, minus the sticky hands.
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2. Baked Brie with Figs, Pistachio and Orange
The secret to a great party has nothing to do with booze. It’s oozy baked cheese served in a cast-iron skillet topped with honey and thyme.
3. Deviled Eggs Three Ways
You’ve heard that the key to being a great host is to give your guests choices. Behold these deviled eggs with roasted garlic, sriracha or capers—take your pick. (Or have all three.)
4. Roasted Mixed Nuts
Strategically place bowls of these tasty homemade roasted nuts around the living room for a fancy addition to your NYE party.
5. Whipped Feta Avocado Crostini with Pomegranate
Monique Volz’s chic twist on avocado toast is worthy of being served on a silver platter.
6. Cheesy Bacon Holiday Crack
We’ll let the title of this recipe speak for itself. (Hint: Serve it after a few rounds to make sure everyone makes it to midnight.)
7. Prosciutto and Fig Salad Board
Feeling like you need something green to balance out the cheese, meat and alcohol? Try this gorgeous and festive salad board.
8. Boursin Cheese with Caramelized Onions and Bacon
You might want to keep this plate of savory goodness close to the kitchen. (It’s safer there, right?)
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9. Dairy-Free Butternut Squash “Fondue”
A snack vegan guests can eat that doubles as a gorgeous centerpiece. (You multitasker, you.)
10. Mozzarella Bites
Tiny fried balls of mozzarella cheese? Sign us up...and everyone else at the party, too.
11. Italian Bruschetta Bar
Let this app do the hard work for you: Guests can assemble their own crostini with toppings like olive tapenade, prosciutto and herbed cheese.
12. Eggplant Parm Bites
On nights when appetizers are the main meal, hearty dishes are a welcome addition to the buffet. Case in point: eggplant parm bites with marinara dipping sauce.
13. Easy Baked Goat Cheese Marinara Dip
Free up some oven space, because the hostess with the mostest will definitely want to bake this goat cheese marinara dip. Serve it with toasted bread.
14. French Onion Cups
Want to look fancy without putting in too much work? Try these French onion cups baked in puff pastry (the store-bought kind).
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15. Spinach Goat Cheese Mini Quiches
It’s only fair to have a few healthy options, right? Thanks to their almond meal crust, these little guys are low in carbs and packed with protein.
16. Mini Quesadillas
It’s time to eat cheese wrapped in wonton wrappers like it’s January 1.
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17. Cucumber Canapés with Whipped Feta, Sun-dried Tomatoes and Basil
Quick, it’s 15 minutes until the party and you need one more snack. Grab the food processor to quickly whip some feta for Maria Lichty’s delightful treat.
18. Cheesy Spinach Artichoke Dip
Extra cheese is the secret ingredient in Heidi Larsen’s addictive spinach and artichoke dip. We’ll just need a spoon, thanks.
19. Holiday Cheese Board
No party is complete without copious amounts of cheese. Take it up a notch and adorn it with fruit, cheese, charcuterie and everyone’s favorite mini pickles, cornichons.
20. Smoked Salmon Crostini with Herbed Mayonnaise
Katie Workman’s crostini is basically our dream appetizer: It’s best served at room temperature, you can make it ahead of time and smoked salmon is involved.
21. Garlic Cheese Flatbread
We know you’re not supposed to eat garlic at a party, but too bad. Midnight kiss, schmidnight kiss.
22. Spicy Harissa Black-Eyed Pea Dip
Prove to your guests that crudités are anything but boring—Gena Hamshaw’s spicy harissa dip with veggies is as yum as it gets.
23. Spicy Chili Crisp Grilled Cheese
What do you get with three ingerdients and six minutes? The ultimate spicy grilled cheese, full of cheddar and chilis. (And a great pairing for all that Champagne.)
24. The Perfect Easy Mezze Platter
Sometimes the best appetizers don’t even involve cooking, like a giant mezze platter loaded with hummus, tabbouleh and lavash.
25. Pear, Cranberry and Brie Mini Tartlets
Mini phyllo dough shells make a seriously delicious base for Aida Mollenkamp’s savory Brie and cranberry tartlets. (Try spicing things up with a jalapeño garnish. Thank us later.)
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26. Spicy Pineapple Prosciutto Tarts
You already know that ham and pineapple make an amazing pair, so gussy up this classic combo in an Insta-worthy snack-etizer.
27. Carrot Pigs in a Blanket
The “blanket” of this beloved appetizer is absolutely the best part, so make the filling a little healthier by subbing mini hot dogs with roasted carrots.
28. Coconut Shrimp
Set a few crispy shrimp aside for yourself, because they’ll be gone in approximately five seconds.
29. Vegan Arancini
Plant-based cheese and cold risotto are the secret ingredients in these crowd pleasers.
30. Pork Dumplings
The better the dumplings, the better the party. Store-bought wonton wrappers make the process easier.
31. Waffle-Iron Quesadillas
Quesadillas can be pressed and sliced on demand with this quick waffle-maker hack. (Bonus: They look super cute.)
32. Meatballs in Sour Cherry Sauce
It’s a proven fact: Every cocktail party needs a good meatball on a toothpick.
33. Crispy Baked Cauliflower Wings
Eating chicken wings at a party can be awkward—where the heck do you put the bones? Enter cauliflower wings. You’re welcome.
34. Cheater’s Sicilian-Style Pizza with Jalapeños and Honey
This sheet-pan pizza can be easily cut into small slices to serve a crowd, so one batch goes a long way.
35. Beef Empanadas
Seasoned beef encased in store-bought pie dough will keep well in the freezer for months.
36. Baked Gorgonzola Bites
Be prepared to share the recipe for these gooey, cheesy rolls, because everyone’s going to be asking for it.
37. Bacon-Wrapped Cheese Straws
These flaky, crisp homemade crackers are conversation-pausing swirls of goodness.
38. Katsu Bites with Chipotle-Gochujang Sauce
These panko-coated chicken breast bites are delightfully crunchy...and even better dipped in the homemade fusion hot sauce.
39. The Classiest Cheese Balls in the Universe
You only think cheese balls are outdated. These modern toppings will prove you wrong.
40. Goat Cheese and Honey Bites
Four ingredients (including easy frozen puff pastry) and 20 minutes? We can handle that.
42. Mini Cranberry Potpies
Don't have ramekins or mini pie dishes on hand? Go ahead and whip up one big pie in a nine-by-nine baking dish instead.
43. Baked Mac-and-Cheese Bites
We'd make two or three batches if we were you. The kids at your party will demolish the first in a few seconds flat.
46. 15-Minute Buffalo Chicken Sliders
These sammies have a secret shortcut: store-bought rotisserie chicken.
47. Crispy Mushrooms
Presenting your one-way ticket to Umamiville. You won't believe how crunchy the creminis get after being slow-roasted.
48. Bacon, Fig and Ricotta Tartines
Could these salty-sweet gems be any more chic? We think not.
51. Loaded Baked Potato ‘Chips’
All the fixings of a traditional loaded baked potato, plus the irresistible crunch of a chip.
52. Cranberry-Brie Puff-Pastry Pops
Let's face it: Everything tastes better on a stick. And with a sprinkle of flaky salt.
53. Maple Pecan Baked Brie
You know that warm, cozy feeling you get when you're sitting by a roaring fire with a hot drink in hand and a blanket wrapped around you? That's what this app tastes like.
54. Sweet Potato Crostini
Get ready to make the toughest decision of your life: smoked salmon or cranberry-almond?
55. Bacon, Onion and Asiago Fondue
You truly couldn't mess up this recipe if you tried. And even if you did, no one can complain about a skillet of bubbly melted cheese.
56. Spicy Glazed Popcorn Chicken
They'd taste great in ranch dressing, but we're partial to garlic aioli.
57. Spinach Artichoke Squares
Spinach artichoke dip is a dependable home run—but we have a feeling no one will mind eating it wrapped in puff pastry.
58. Winter Cheese Board
This beauty's all about the add-ons. Think kumquats, persimmons, apples and rosemary crackers.
59. Spicy Cranberry Barbecue Meatballs
You're seriously not ready for these three-ingredient gems. It's the ultimate cheater's appetizer.
60. Chocolate-Chip Cookie Dough Dip
Y'all. It's ready in five minutes flat. Need we say more?
61. Baby Blooming Onions
BRB, drinking the horseradish dipping sauce straight from the bowl.
62. Crispy Parmesan Brussels Sprout Bites
All in favor of making Brussels sprouts their own food group say "aye."
63. Cranberry-Brie Pie Crust Bites
The key to the hostess drinking her Champagne while it's still actually cold? Fifteen-minute appetizers, of course.
64. Delicata Squash Rings with Garlic-Lemon Sauce
They're baked in the oven for maximum crispiness minus the messy frying.
65. Churro Bites with Chocolate Sauce
Nothing puts us in the mood to celebrate like fried dough rolled in cinnamon sugar.
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