When it comes to party food, it's hard to find anything more appropriate than finger food. That way you can skip the whole sit-down dinner thing and your guests can just browse as they feel like it. It also doesn't matter what you're thinking when it comes to New Year's Eve party theme ideas, because there'll be finger food that goes with it. Read on for 75 New Year's recipes.
1. Chicken Bacon Ranch Pinwheel
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Here’s a no-bake recipe that will keep your guests coming back for more. Even better, it all comes together with just 5 ingredients. Besides, what’s not to love about the combination of chicken, bacon, and ranch dressing.
2. Meatball Sliders
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In my humble opinion, sliders are the ultimate finger food. Tiny little wannabe burgers that can be devoured in two bites? Sign me up! This recipe calls for meatballs and plenty of cheese for an Italian influence on the humble slider.
3. Charcuterie Board
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The great thing about charcuterie boards is that they are endlessly customizable. You can make them as fancy as you want with high-end cheeses, cured meats, olives, figs, tapenades, you name it. Or you can go the other route and chop up some vegetables and serve them with a dipping sauce or hummus and some nice bread.
4. Chicken, Cranberry, And Brie Mini Tarts
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These mini tarts put the flavors of the season into one bite. The combination of puff pastry and brie is good enough to get anyone salivating. Add chicken and cranberries and you may have just found your new favorite holiday snack.
5. Breakfast Bites
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For those breakfast lovers, this is the perfect finger food no matter what time of day it is. Wrap a mini sausage, a little scrambled egg, and some cheese in a cresent roll and bake.
6. Chicken Wings
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I mean, need I say more? Chicken wings are the ultimate party food, especially later on in the evening. Try cooking them in a slow cooker with a honey pineapple sauce for the best finger food to serve at your New Year’s Eve party.
7. Jalapeno Cheese Balls
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These spicy, cheesy delights come together quickly when you need some more snacks ASAP. All the cheese lovers at your party will swarm around this dish. Luckily they come together so quickly because you might have to whip up a few more batches throughout the night.
8. Fried Tortellini
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While we’re on the topic of balls of cheese, why not try some cheese-stuffed fried tortellini this year? Crunchy pasta filled with cheese and dipped in a marinara sauce is sure to keep everyone happy.
9. Buttermilk Batter Onion Rings
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This onion ring recipe calls for buttermilk pancake batter to coat the onions. Cornbread mix adds crunch and texture and buttermilk adds a subtle tang you don’t get with other dairy. Pair with some wasabi-garlic mayo for a creamy, spicy dipping sauce.
10. Baked Zucchini Sticks
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Finger foods tend to have a reputation for being unhealthy, but that doesn’t have to be the case! Slice up some zucchini, coat them in breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese and bake until ready. Does that sound delicious or what?
11. S'Mores Dip
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Now here’s a finger food dessert that comes together in about 10 minutes and is bound to be a crowd favorite. Melt chocolate chips with some milk in a saucer on the stove. Once melted, transfer to a pie dish, top with marshmallows, and broil in the oven until brown. Serve with Graham Crackers as the vessel for this delectable dish.
12. Mini Apple Pies
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How about some mini apple pies for a New Years Eve dessert that you can whip up in about 30 minutes? The only difference between this and regular apple pie is that the pastry here is crescent roll pastry, which results in small little pies.
13. Champagne Jello Shots
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Jello shots don’t have to be reserved for college parties. Elevate your jello shot game with this sophisticated take on a party classic. The jello itself is made with champagne. Add a couple of blueberries to each shot and sprinkle with gold sanding dust and voila!
14. Cocktail Sausages
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What could be easier than throwing a bunch of cocktail sausages into the oven? To take this simple dish up a notch, try cooking them in a slow cooker grape jelly, honey barbecue sauce, and sriracha.
15. Cocktail Sausages Wrapped In Bacon
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While we’re on the topic of cocktail sausages, did you know that wrapping anything in bacon makes it delicious? It’s true, especially when you’re wrapping cocktail sausages. To go a step further, roll them in brown sugar before roasting.
16. Samosas
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If you’re looking for some party food inspired by India, samosas are the go-to. Grocery stores that have a large asian food section might have frozen samosas that you can cook at home. Alternatively, find an Indian restaurant in your area and order a whole bunch of samosas.
17. Bruschetta
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This simple dish with a fancy name scores high on the I-want-to-eat-the-whole-platter scale. Toasted Italian bread drenched in olive oil and served with garlic and tomatoes is as good as it sounds. You can customize the toppings too. Try goat cheese and roasted cherries.
18. Coconut Shrimp
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The coconut batter on the shrimp adds a crunchy texture full of tropical coconut flavors. Add a few dipping sauces (sweet chili is my favorite) and you’ve got a New Years Eve party food that won’t last long.
19. Slow-Cooked Ribs
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The great thing about slow-cooked ribs is that you can do most of the work way ahead of time. If you time it correctly, you could reveal your perfectly cooked, fall-off-the-bone ribs just as the party is gaining momentum. Nothing like some surprise snacks to kick your party into high gear.
20. Quesadillas
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This humble Mexican dish has been delighting people for ages. So it’s a no-brainer if you want to delight your party guests. Make sure you have cheese, sour cream, guacamole, and salsa. Any other toppings are a bonus! Try cutting your quesadillas into smaller triangles for a better finger food experience.
21. Marinated Chicken Kebabs
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The first step is to marinate the chicken in an easy marinade of fish sauce, lime juice, sugar, garlic, and Sriracha. Then skewer your chicken and selected vegetables and throw them in the oven until cooked. Easy and delicious.
22. Chicken Caesar Salad Pinwheel
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Salads aren’t really finger food. Unless you wrap them in a tortilla and slice them into pinwheels. Whip up your favorite caesar salad recipe, roll up in a tortilla, slice them into bite-sized pieces and skewer with a toothpick for a healthier finger food option.
23. Salad On A Stick
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Remember how I said salad isn’t finger food? Well, turns it can be if you use your imagination. Like this roasted beet, goat cheese, arugula, and walnut salad on a stick. Drizzle with your favorite vinaigrette for a New Year's Eve snack the herbivores will love.
24. Mini Chicken And Waffles
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Like normal chicken and waffles, but bite-sized. This recipe calls for frozen chicken bites and frozen mini waffles. Cook the chicken according to the instructions on the packaging and do the same with the waffles. Drizzle with maple syrup and skewer with a toothpick.
25. Pesto Tortellini Skewers
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The most difficult part of this dish is making the tortellini. So if you can boil water, you can make this recipe. Add pesto to the tortellini once cooked and skewer with sun dried tomatoes to finish off.
26. Pizza Twists
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For a finger food twist on pizza, try twisting puff pastry with mozzarella, oregano, and pizza sauce and baking in the oven. The same great pizza taste in easy-to-manage puff pastry twists.
27. Asparagus Twists
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On the topic of twisted puff pastry, why not wrap that delicious pastry around some grilled asparagus? Top with cheese before baking for a snack that vegetarians and meat-eaters alike will love.
28. Wrapped Figs
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You didn’t think we were done with things wrapped in bacon already did you? Stuff the figs with blue cheese before wrapping them in bacon. Drizzle with homemade caramel, maple syrup, or honey before serving and enjoy.
29. Savory Pastries
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Butter pastry wrapped around savory fillings of your choice sounds great for any occasion. Bring these customized bites to your New Year’s Eve party this year. Try a filling of spinach, feta, and caramelized onions.
30. Crab Hush Puppies
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Lump crab meat is wrapped in a crispy exterior of cornmeal batter before fried. Serve with a creamy remoulade for a finger food dish that will be a smash hit at any party.
31. Mini Pretzel Bites
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Cheesy pretzel bites dipped in a mustard sauce will keep all your guests happy, both kids and adults. Brush with melted butter and sea salt for a perfect finish.
32. Fried Wontons
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Elevate any bite-sized snack by wrapping it in a wonton wrapper before frying. Try making your favorite jalapeno poppers and try wrapping them in wonton wrappers for a fancy touch.
33. Beef Tataki Rolls
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Here’s another idea that’s easy to execute but will bring a fancier touch to your New Year’s Eve party. Thinly sliced beef is quickly seared before wrapping around crisp fresh vegetables. Garnish with sesame seeds and serve.
34. Grilled Cheese Bites
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Let’s be honest, it’s hard to beat a grilled cheese to snack on when you’ve been at a party for a few hours. Make a bite-sized version by using a sliced baguette as the bread, and add whatever toppings you normally put on a grilled cheese. To do large batches, put in the oven on grill mode.
35. Sliders
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We’ve done meatball sliders, but the classic cheeseburger slider is a must at any finger food party. You know the drill; mini buns, mini patties, mini toppings, massive taste.
36. Potato Pave
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The humble potato shows off its versatility again in this dish. Thinly sliced potato is layered with bacon, cream, thyme, and parmesan before baked, compressed in the fridge overnight, and baked again. Amazing.
37. Tempura Fried Vegetables
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Vegetables dipped in tempura batter before being fried to a crisp don’t last long at parties or on dinner tables. Use whatever vegetables you have on hand for a tasty way of using up what you have.
38. Vegetable Potstickers
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The great thing about potstickers is that you can make them way ahead of time. Stick them in the freezer and when the time comes, fry, steam, or boil them up and serve.
39. Cauliflower Wings
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Cauliflower wings have been all the rage recently. Whether you love them or you’re skeptical, try them out this New Year’s Eve to make sure. The vegans at the party will appreciate it and besides, it’s delicious.
40. Taquitos
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Tightly rolled tortillas filled with your choice of filling are always a great finger food choice. Fill them with a rotisserie chicken and your choice of fixing for the least effort option.
41. Calamari
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Try soaking calamari tubes in buttermilk. The buttermilk will tenderize the calamari while adding a nice tangy flavor. Then coat them in seasoned flour before deep frying them to a crispy golden-brown.
42. Vegetable Dip
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For a quick and easy dish that you can make in a snap, try chopping up some vegetables and serving them alongside some homemade hummus. You’ll need to use vegetables that can be eaten raw, like carrots, celery, and broccoli, and you customize your hummus to suit your tastes.
43. Cheesecake Dip
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This no-bake recipe has all the flavor of cheesecake and it’s perfect as a finger food dessert. It involves filling a dish with cheesecake filling, topping that with cherry pie filling, and serving with crackers or cookies.
44. Chocolate Dipped Mandarin Slices
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Mandarin’s are a winter fruit, which means they’re a perfect seasonal snack to add to your New Year’s Eve menu. Dip them in melted chocolate and sprinkle with sea salt before it hardens.
45. Guacamole Devilled Eggs
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Devilled eggs are a classic dish, but you can add a new twist to it by adding guacamole to the yolks. Garnish with a sprinkle of chili and cilantro.
46. Smoked Salmon Bites
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A smoked salmon appetizer will add that little bit of elegance to your selection of finger foods. Stack them on a skewer with dill cream cheese and cucumber and everyone will be in love.
47. Sweet Potato Bites
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Here’s another crowd-pleaser. Slice a sweet potato into thin slices, fry in a bit of olive oil, and top with your favorite guacamole. Paleo, vegan, gluten-free, and delicious.
48. Spicy Chicken Meatballs
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Ground chicken coated in panko bread crumbs and your favorite spices make these delightful chicken meatballs for your New Year’s Eve party. Serve with a sweet and spicy chili sauce for bonus points.
49. Baked Egg Rolls
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Deep frying stuff can be a bit of an inconvenience sometimes. Not to mention the cleanup. If you still want egg rolls, without deep frying, try some baked egg rolls stuffed with taco fillings and your favorite cheese.
50. Mac And Cheese Donuts
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This food hybrid calls for blended macaroni and cheese. Once blended, shape into donut shapes and bake in the oven. Don’t forget to add more cheese, bacon bits, and chives to complete this delightful appetizer.
51. Deep Fried Mac And Cheese
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While we’re on the topic of mac and cheese I have to mention deep-fried mac and cheese balls. Simply form your mac and cheese into round balls, coat in breadcrumbs, and deep fry until golden brown and crispy.
52. Sausage And Shrimp Skewers
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How about some Cajun-style skewers at your party this year? Rub the shrimp in a Cajun seasoning, skewer them with Andouille sausage, and grill for a few minutes. Quick, easy, and tasty.
53. Mini BLT
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Everyone loves a BLT, so make a mini version for your next finger food platter. Use small Roma tomato slices to fit onto the small sandwiches. Use a circular cookie cutter to cut mini slices out of a regular slice of bread and serve with a skewer through the middle to keep everything in place.
54. Bacon Cream Cheese Bites
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Bread, cream cheese, chives, and bacon partner up to make this incredibly easy appetizer. Spread cream cheese on a piece of crustless bread, roll tightly, wrap with bacon, and bake until the bacon is cooked.
55. Charcuterie On A Stick
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Instead of laying out a charcuterie board, you could stack some of these elements on a skewer instead. Try prosciutto ham, your favorite cheese, and a green olive on a skewer together.
56. Wrapped Pears
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Combine the flavors of pear, prosciutto, and blue cheese and put it on a skewer. Wrap pear slices and a piece of blue cheese in prosciutto for a somewhat sophisticated finger food platter.
57. Glazed Vegetables
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Glazing any vegetables in a brown sugar sauce immediately makes them delicious. Try glazing some green beans before cooking them, and wrap with bacon before adding to a skewer.
58. Beef And Pickle Skewers
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The trick here is to marinate the beef in pickle juice before cooking. This tenderizes the meat and adds its own flavor. Skewer the meat with a pickle for a lovely little bite packed with flavor.
59. Rosemary Skewers
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Here’s a cool way to impart some rosemary flavoring to meat skewers. Instead of using a skewer, use a sprig of rosemary as the skewer. The rosemary will add some of its flavor to your arrangement. This works particularly well with filet mignon or lamb.
60. French Dip Sliders
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Like a French Dip sandwich, but bite-sized. Deli roast beef, provolone cheese, and an Au Jus make these sliders irresistible. Bake in the oven until the cheese has melted and the bread is golden brown.
61. Paneer Sticks
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Mozzarella sticks are great, but have you ever tried paneer sticks? You can use the same batter and method as you would with mozzarella sticks, just substitute the mozzarella for paneer. Serve with a dipping sauce of your choice or keep it simple with ketchup.
62. Shrimp Cocktails
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The thing about shrimp cocktails is that they seem kinda fancy, but they’re super easy to make. Impress your friends with shrimp cocktails this New Year’s Eve but don’t let them in on how easy they are to make. Or do, up to you.
63. Toasted Ravioli
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Seasoned, breaded ravioli, deep-fried, and served with a marinara sauce. This dish originated in St. Louis, but there’s no reason why you can’t bring the taste of St. Louis to your New Year’s Eve party this year.
64. Mashed Potato Pancakes
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The potato strikes again! This time in a vegan pancake arrangement that will have meat-eaters and plant eaters celebrating the versatile potato together. All you need to do is form mashed potato (perfect way to use up leftovers) into pancake shapes and fry on a skillet. Feel free to add whatever you’d like to the mash before frying. I recommend cheese and chives.
65. Smoked Trout Crostini
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If you can assemble a sandwich, you can assemble this simple finger food spread. Toast slices of baguette and top with store-bought smoked trout and a herby sour cream. Done.
66. Smashed Potato Bites
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Instead of mashing baby potatoes once boiled, just smash them once with a fork instead. These smashed potatoes then form an excellent foundation to add any manner of delicious toppings before baking until crispy.
67. Phyllo Bites
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Phyllo pastry acts as an excellent vessel to carry delicious toppings into your mouth. Try adding brie cheese and cranberry sauce for a sweet, creamy, crispy dessert.
68. Baked Brie
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Baked brie is always a bit of a spectacle at a party. Top a wheel of brie cheese with pecans, cranberries, and honey, wrap the whole thing in puff pastry, and bake until the pastry is golden brown. Serve with crackers.
69. Camembert Wheel
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Similar to the recipe above, except with camembert cheese and minus the pastry. Bake a wheel of camembert for 10 minutes. Drizzle with balsamic vinegar and pomegranate seeds fresh out of the oven and serve with some of your favorite crackers.
70. Butternut Flatbread
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A flatbread works really well as a sharing dish. Top a crispy flatbread with butternut squash, goat cheese, shallots, prosciutto, sage, and thyme for a healthy flatbread that’s full of flavor.
71. Potato Croquettes
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A potato croquette is basically mashed potatoes that’s breaded and then baked. Add bacon bits and mature cheddar for a creamy and salty mouthful.
72. Bacon Wrapped Pineapple
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While pineapple on pizza is a contentious issue, how do we all feel about pineapple wrapped in bacon? I think it’s worth a try. Simply wrap pineapple chunks in bacon, roll in a mixture of brown sugar and black pepper, and bake (or put it in the air fryer) until the bacon is crispy. If you try this one, please let us know in the comments how it turned out.
73. Hawaiian Chicken Bites
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Combine chicken and pineapple on a skewer and grill to perfection. For a bit of heat, add some cayenne pepper to the pineapple. Brush with BBQ sauce as you’re grilling for a flavor explosion.
74. Charcuterie Cone
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This idea takes the charcuterie board and reduces it to a single serving paper cone. Grab your charcuterie essentials, cut them into bite-sized pieces, and add them to a cone of decorative paper. Serve with a toothpick or skewer for ease of access.
75. Brownie Bites
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Chocolate brownies are simply always a winner. Make a tray of your favorite chocolate brownies but cut them into smaller squares than you normally would. Stick a toothpick into each square for ease of serving and you’re done.
Get Cookin'
With the mega list above, there's no doubt that you found something that will work at your New Year's Eve party. What do you think? Which finger foods will you be serving this year? Comment below and let us know.