New Year’s Eve is the perfect occasion to indulge in delicious food and create unforgettable moments. Whether you’re hosting a grand party or an intimate gathering, having a variety of appetizers on hand is essential to keep your guests satisfied and in high spirits.
From elegant finger foods to fun and festive bites, we’ve curated a list of 25 irresistible appetizers that are sure to impress your guests and elevate your celebration. Get ready to ring in the New Year with a spread that’s as delightful as the countdown itself!
Fancy Shrimp Cocktail Shooters
One delightful way to impress your guests is with Shrimp Cocktail Shooters—an elegant and fun appetizer that perfectly captures the festive spirit of the occasion. These individual servings of succulent shrimp, zesty cocktail sauce, and fresh garnishes not only look stunning but also offer a delicious burst of flavor in every sip. Perfect for toasting to new beginnings, these shooters are sure to be a hit at your New Year’s Eve gathering!
Shrimp and Herb Mayonnaise Shot Glass Appetizers
These Shrimp and Herb Mayonnaise Shot Glass Appetizers are the perfect way to impress your guests while adding a touch of elegance to your party spread. The combination of succulent shrimp paired with a creamy, herb-infused mayonnaise creates a delightful burst of flavor in every bite. Served in individual shot glasses, these appetizers are not only easy to enjoy but also add a festive flair to your table.
Tomato Shrimp Boat Appetizers
These Tomato Shrimp Boat Appetizers filled with succulent shrimp and a creamy sauce are the perfect addition to your festive spread. Not only are they refreshing and light, but they also offer a delightful combination of flavors that will impress your guests. The juicy tomato wedges provide a vibrant base, while the creamy shrimp filling adds a touch of elegance and sophistication to your New Year’s Eve celebration.
Firecracker Meatballs
Get ready to turn up the heat this New Year’s Eve with our Firecracker Meatballs! These savory bites are packed with bold flavors and a spicy kick that will leave your taste buds dancing. Coated in a sweet and tangy glaze, they are the perfect blend of heat and sweetness, making them an irresistible addition to your appetizer spread. Serve them up with toothpicks for easy snacking, and watch as your guests come back for seconds—these meatballs are sure to be a hit!
Steak Crostini with Horseradish Spread
Steak Crostini with Horseradish Spread appetizers are the perfect appetizers with toasted slices of French baguette, tender slices of steak and a rich and spicy horseradish spread. When the plate hits the table, it’s usually the first thing that attracts a crowd. That’s because the promise of a perfectly cooked slice of steak goes past no one.
Teriyaki Salmon Bites
Elevate your New Year’s Eve festivities with our delectable Teriyaki Salmon Bites! These tender morsels of salmon are marinated in a rich teriyaki sauce and grilled to perfection, delivering a burst of flavor in every bite. Topped with sesame seeds and green onions, they offer a delightful combination of taste and texture that will transport your guests straight to the tropics. Perfect for elegant gatherings or casual celebrations, these salmon bites are a must-have for your appetizer lineup!
Cuban Sandwich Bombs
If you’re a fan of Cuban sandwiches, you’re going to fall in love with these Cuban Sandwich Bombs. They take everything you love about a classic Cubano—the savory meats, melted cheese, tangy pickles, and zippy mustard—and wrap it up in a buttery, golden biscuit.
Buffalo Chicken Poppers
If you love jalapeno poppers and buffalo chicken wings, imagine the combination this will make! We often make buffalo chicken stuffed peppers and recently decided to try stuffing jalapenos instead. The combination of smoky heat and creamy, cheesy buffalo chicken filling makes these Buffalo Chicken Poppers a perfect appetizer!
Tomato Manchego Tartlets
When you’re wanting something elegant yet easy to make, these Tomato Manchego Tartlets are a guaranteed hit. Flaky, golden puff pastry topped with tangy tomatoes and nutty Manchego cheese creates a perfect balance of flavors. They make the perfect Christmas or New Year’s Eve appetizer.
Tortilla Shrimp Bites
If you’re looking for an appetizer that’s both quick and bursting with flavor, these Tortilla Shrimp Bites hit the mark! With a creamy avocado base, spicy shrimp, and a crispy tortilla chip for crunch, each bite is a delicious blend of textures and tastes.
Mini Pizza Bites
If you’re searching for a fun, crowd-pleasing appetizer, these Mini Pizza Bites are perfect! Made in a mini muffin pan with all the classic pizza toppings—sauce, melty mozzarella, and mini pepperoni—each bite is packed with familiar flavors in a cute, snackable form.
Spanish Patatas Bravas
These crispy, golden potatoes paired with a smoky, spicy tomato sauce (and sometimes a creamy aioli) are the ultimate combination of comforting and bold. Whether you’re hosting a tapas night, holiday party, or just craving a flavorful snack, Patatas Bravas are easy to make and impossible to resist.
Loaded Tater Tots
Loaded Tater Tots are everything you love about a loaded baked potato packed into a crispy, bite-sized treat. These tater tot cups, baked in a mini muffin pan, are filled with melted cheddar cheese, creamy sour cream, bacon crumbles, and a sprinkle of fresh green onions. They’re the perfect party appetizer or snack for game day, New Year’s Eve, or potluck you’re attending!
Caprese Tortellini Skewers
Caprese Tortellini Skewers are made by threading seasoned cheese tortellini, cherry tomatoes, fresh basil, and mozzarella balls onto a skewer. They are the perfect party appetizer! This caprese tortellini skewer is not only easy to make, requiring very little effort, it’s also super easy to pick up and eat while milling around at a party.
Delicious Baked Brie with Garlic
This Baked Brie With Garlic appetizer is a mild-flavored creamy cheese stuffed with garlic, drizzled with olive oil, and baked until gooey and delicious. Brie melts in the oven and transforms into this wonderfully creamy, yummy cheese bliss that goes great with crackers and crostini. It’s an excellent appetizer for a dinner party or as part of a cheese board.
French Onion Bites
French Onion Bites are made with phyllo pastry and filled with sweet caramelized onions and Gruyere cheese just like the famous French onion soup we all love, but in appetizer form. These delicious caramelized onion bites are a game-changer, they look fancy but are so simple and taste great.
Jalapeno Popper Wontons
These Jalapeno Popper Wontons are a delicious appetizer that combines cream cheese, savory bacon, sharp cheddar cheese, spicy jalapenos, and garlic powder in crunchy wonton wrappers. If you’re looking for something a little different for their next party or gathering, these jalapeno popper wontons are a great choice. They are easy to prepare ahead of time and can be reheated before serving, making them perfect for entertaining.
BLT Crostini Appetizer
BLT Crostini Appetizers feature crispy bacon, juicy cherry tomatoes, and mayo that come together on a toasted baguette slice, creating a tasty bite-sized treat. I can’t think of a better appetizer for just about any situation. As they say, bacon makes everything better, right! They are easy to put together and they’re so tasty that your guests will be asking for more.
Potato Rosti Canapes
Potato Rosti Canapes make for the perfect appetizer featuring crispy golden rosti topped with creamy creme fraiche and delicate smoked salmon. If you’re a fried potato fan you’ll love these potato rosti canapes. They’re a favorite for everyone who tries them and are a twist on the typical cracker-based canapes.
Prosciutto & Pear Pizza
This Prosciutto & Pear Pizza is a wonderful mix of textures and flavors, blending caramelized onions, savory prosciutto, blue cheese and sweet pears. If you’re looking for something to serve at your next cocktail party, or just for a quiet night in, this pizza is the perfect thing to serve.
Bacon Wrapped Shrimp
These Bacon Wrapped Shrimp are crisped in the oven and tossed in a savory sweet sauce. They are a great appetizer to serve at parties or as a finger food side dish for any occasion. Everyone loves bacon, after all. This recipe is a great appetizer to have in your back pocket when you only have half an hour to cook. You can even prepare them in advance and have them ready to pop in the oven when guests arrive.
Chicken Bacon Ranch Pinwheels
These Chicken Bacon Ranch Pinwheels make the perfect party appetizer – flour tortillas rolled up with cream cheese, chicken, bacon, and Ranch dressing mix inside. No one can resist pinwheels. Whenever I make them, they’re gone in a matter of minutes. They make a great finger food because their so easy to pick up and eat.
Bacon-Wrapped Tater Tots with Sriracha Honey Glaze
Bacon-Wrapped Tater Tots are the perfect finger food for a party or get-together, especially paired with beer. They’re sprinkled with a savory seasoning salt, then glazed with a Sriracha honey glaze. We all know that bacon makes everything better, and that’s definitely the case with these delicious appetizers. Believe me that they’ll be the hit of any spread.
Puff Pastry Sausage Rolls
Puff Pastry Sausage Rolls are a perennial favorite and a must-have appetizer at any gathering. Everyone loves the flaky crunchy crust and rich sausage filling, plus it’s a great food pairing with beer. You can mix up this appetizer in no time and have it baked and ready to eat in just 20 minutes. It’ll definitely become a go-to appetizer once you see how easy it is to prepare.
Fried Oyster Mushrooms
Fried Oyster Mushrooms are a delightful appetizer or snack with a crispy texture and savory flavors. The crispy coating made with all-purpose flour, cornstarch, and a blend of spices adds a tasty crunch. Fried Oyster Mushrooms are so tasty. They have a perfectly seasoned, crispy outer crust that encases a tender and meaty interior. You can serve them as an appetizer to elevate your party or game day event or incorporate them into a main course, these addictive mushrooms are wonderful.
Tips For Throwing a Great Party
Organizing a successful party requires thoughtful planning and attention to detail. Whether you’re hosting an intimate gathering or a large celebration, here are some tips to help.
- Plan Ahead: Start planning well in advance to ensure everything comes together smoothly. Create a checklist that includes tasks such as sending invitations, planning the menu, and make sure you have enough food for everyone.
- Offer Great Cocktails: This adds a special touch to the event and can become a talking point among guests. Let us help you out with that. Check out this collections of irresistible Christmas Cocktails.
- Be Flexible: Unexpected situations will happen. Remember to relax and go with the flow. Flexibility is key to handling any unforeseen challenges.
Before You Go
Since you made it to the end of this article, you might be interested in more party information. Here are a few more articles we think you might enjoy.
- 21 Simple 3-Ingredient Cocktails You’ll Love
- How to Stock a Home Bar
- How Many Glasses of Wine Are in a Bottle?
Like this post? We’d love for you to save it to your Pinterest board to share with others! FOLLOW US on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook for more great recipes! If you made it, post a pic on Instagram and hashtag it #savoredsips
When not mixing up delicious cocktails to enjoy on the patio with friends, Angela is busy writing about food and drinks for three popular food websites, and exchanging creative ideas on social media.