Discover delicious and festive New Year’s Eve dinner ideas for celebrating at home! From appetizers to main courses, desserts, and cocktails, find the perfect recipes to impress your guests and ring in the new year in style.
Planning a New Year’s Eve dinner at home offers the perfect chance to gather loved ones and celebrate with delicious, festive dishes. Whether you’re envisioning an elegant sit-down meal, a casual buffet, or a mix of small bites and drinks, choosing the right menu can set the tone for a memorable night. This post has everything you need, from appetizers and main courses to desserts and cocktails, that will help you create a spectacular New Year’s Eve dinner while watching the ball drop. Get ready to toast to the new year with a spread that’s sure to impress and bring joy to everyone around the table!
I’m not sure about you, but I’ve never been a huge fan of celebrating New Year’s Eve out at a bar. Chicago bars start charging around $100 for a ticket, and you spend most of the night in line at the bar waiting for drinks. Not to mention the time you spend waiting for a cab at the end of the night. Instead of spending NYE in line, enjoy the last meal of the year in the comfort of your own home!
Easy Appetizers to serve for New Year’s Eve at home
Set the mood with appetizers that are easy to nibble on while guests mingle. Consider a variety of flavors and textures to kick off the night.
Crab Stuffed Mushrooms – ultimate bite-size appetizer! They’re simple yet elegant and so easy to make! Perfect for the last meal of the year! They’re also easy to prep ahead and bake just before guests arrive.
Smoked Salmon Crostini – Easy to make and ready in 20 minutes! Make these toasts in advance and store them in an airtight container until ready to assemble.
Whipped Feta with Honey and Chili Crisp – a quick 10-minute dip or spread. Creamy and salty-sweet, it’s topped with spicy chili crisp for extra flavor.
Oysters with Fresh Cranbery Mignonette – if you like oysters Rockefeller, try this easy appetizer! It’s incredibly festive and simple to prepare.
Cream Cheese Dip with Bacon and Cheddar -a must have for any party or gathering! Baked until hot, cheesy, and bubbly, it makes a gooey, cheesy, and comforting dip!
Shrimp Cheese Ball – a quick and easy appetizer to prepare with shrimp, taco seasoning, cream cheese, lime juice, and pecans.
New Year’s Eve Dinner Ideas
For the main course, consider dishes that feel festive and are easy to serve for a group. Choose one show-stopping dish, or go with a couple of different options if you’re having a larger gathering.
Lobster Mac and Cheese – if you’re a fan of lobster tails, you’ll love this mac and cheese! A decadent and flavorful dish that’s easy enough for a weeknight, and decadent enough for New Year’s at home! Leftovers are great for new year’s day, too!
Black Eyed Peas – this dish is perfect for your New Year’s Eve party! It is a great start to the new year, as it’s supposed to bring good luck!
30 Minute Mushroom Carbornara – another simple pasta dish with a twist on a classic! Ready in just 30 minutes!
Linguine with White Clam Sauce – made with fresh clams and dry white wine, this simple pasta is a show-stopping family-favorite that’s so easy to make!
Cauliflower Au Gratin – Four cheeses, tender roasted cauliflower and buttery panko breadcrumbs are baked to perfection to make this cheesy Cauliflower Au Gratin!
Prime Rib – Whether you’re lighting up those festive holiday vibes or just looking for some top-tier eats, this standing rib roast is your express pass to becoming the “host with the most”!
Garlic Butter Lobster Tails – Not only were they easy to prep, they only took 15 minutes to cook! Put them on a plate with some fresh lemon wedges and you’re all set! Talk about low-maintenance dinners! I’m including my recipe for garlic butter lobster tails below. Be sure to check it out!
New Year’s Eve Cocktail Ideas
Champagne Ice Cream Floats – Champagne is always a must on New Year’s Eve, but how bout putting a twist on classic champagne cocktails!
Sparkling peppermint holiday cocktails – You only need a few ingredients to craft this gorgeous holiday drink everyone will love!
Poinsetta Punch – Made with cranberry juice, orange liqueur, and champagne with floating slices of oranges and fresh cranberries. It’s the perfect drink for New Years Eve
Meyer Lemon French 75 – this retro cocktail is an elegant choice to welcome in the New Year!
Easy Dessert Ideas for New Year’s Eve
New Year’s Eve Dessert Charcuterie Board – Count down to the ball drop with this New Year’s Eve Dessert Charcuterie Board!
Strawberry Champagne Cake – With four layers of moist champagne cake and a fresh strawberry puree-based Swiss meringue buttercream, this cake is equal parts delicate, beautiful and delicious.
New Year’s Eve Confetti Cupcakes – These New Years’s Eve Confetti cupcakes are the perfect way to celebrate the start of a new year!
Champagne Cheesecake Fruit Dip – Featuring a creamy cheesecake base, you’ll love dunking strawberries, bananas, or even cookies into this treat!
FAQ and Expert Tips
Broiling Times for Lobster Tails:
Smaller (3 to 4 oz) lobster tail 6 to 8 minutes
Medium (5 to 6 oz) lobster tail 10-11 minutes
Larger (7 to 9 oz) lobsters tail 12-15 minutes (with rack in middle of oven)
Broil lobster meat until opaque and white in center, or 145˚F.
Hosting New Year’s Eve at home is a wonderful way to celebrate with loved ones, and with a thoughtfully curated menu, you can make the night truly special. These ideas will help you create a delicious and memorable dinner that’s worthy of ringing in the new year. Here’s to a night filled with great food, laughter, and joy as you say goodbye to the old year and welcome in the new! Happy new year!
PrintLemon Garlic Butter Lobster Tails
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Ingredients
4 4 oz Lobster Tails
1 Tbsp parsley
2 pressed garlic cloves
1 tsp dijon mustard
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 1/2 Tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp lemon zest, chopped
Instructions
Use kitchen shears to cut through the top shell of the lobster tail, stopping at the base of the tail and snipping through the top portion of the meat as you go.
Flip the tail over to the back see-through side of the tail and crack the ribs in the center. This will help open the shell.
Open the shell using your thumbs and fingers and loosen the meat from the shell (remove vein if present). Work carefully – shells can be sharp! Lift the meat from the shell, keeping it attached at the base. Press the shell together and set the lobster meat over the top. The bulk of the lobster meat should be sitting over the top of the shell.
Place rack in center of oven so when you bake, the meaty tops of your lobster tails will be at least 6 inches from the top heating elements. Preheat oven to broil on high heat.
In a small bowl, add the marinade ingredients: 1 Tbsp parsley, 2 pressed garlic cloves, 1 tsp dijon, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/8 tsp pepper, 1 1/2 Tbsp olive oil and 1 1/2 Tbsp lemon juice and lemon zest. Stir to combine.
Broil lobster tails on high 10-11 minutes (or according to the lobster tail size – see chart below). When done, lobster meat should be opaque and white in the center and register 145˚F on an instant read thermometer.
Transfer lobster tails to a serving dish and garnish with fresh parsley if desired.
To make the Garlic Lemon Butter: drain drippings from the roasting pan into a small saucepan and combine with remaining 2 Tbsp butter, bring to a simmer and remove from heat. Pour over lobster tails or divide into ramekins and use as dipping sauce.
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6 Comments
Some nice choices there. Thanks for the inspiration and Merry Christmas.
ohhh this lobster looks amazing! this looks like a great way to have a delicious low key NYE!
I’m planning to stay in with some good food and drinks on New Years, like this!
Oh, my gosh! That lobster looks outstanding. I love entertaining and I also love shopping at Whole Foods!!
That looks like such an amazing NYE spread! And that lobster…. Can I come?!
What a great looking spread. How about inviting me?