61 New Year’s Eve Appetizers for Every Kind of Party
We’ve been known to make a meal out of New Year’s Eve appetizers—after all, it’s much more fun to snack all night, Champagne cocktails in hand, than to sit down and have another holiday dinner. But the best hors d’oeuvres spread has variety: something crispy, something dippable and creamy, something hearty, something fresh. It’s the right night for frying and for fondue. Some of our favorite New Year’s Eve snacks feature seafood, though even more go heavy on cheese. Below you’ll find elegant bites and fun snack mixes, crunchy veggies, and a literal tower of chips. Scroll down for all the New Year’s Eve appetizer inspiration you need to wrap up 2023 with a bang—and ring in 2024 in style.
Photo by Isa Zapata, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca, Food Styling by Yekaterina Boystova1/61Cheese Fondue
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich2/61Shrimp Cocktail
Shrimp cocktail with classic cocktail sauce? Fun. Shrimp cocktail with three different sauces, including creamy Old Bay Remoulade? Iconic.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich4/61Cheddar and Herb Gougères
These delightfully airy cheese puffs can be served warm without any last-minute messing with dough. Just pipe the choux and freeze a week ahead, then bake as your guests walk in the door.
Photo by Heami Lee, Food Styling by Victoria Granof, Prop Styling by Astrid Chastka6/61Cheese Ball
For this old-school favorite, you’ll beat together sharp cheddar cheese, tangy cream cheese, and Brie with seasonings like garlic powder, hot sauce, and a touch of Worcestershire. The most important step: Get it in the fridge to firm up before you attempt rolling it in toasted pecans.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Lillian Chou7/61Cheesy Samosa Puffs
These crispy baked samosas are stuffed with spiced potatoes, cheddar, and cilantro. What can’t puff pastry do?
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Lillian Chou9/61Honey Butter Potato Chip Tower With Crispy Salami
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton10/61Chili Crab Dip With Shrimp Chips
Any list of New Yea’s Eve snacks couldn’t be complete without dip—and this one is a favorite of ours. Inspired by Singaporean chili crab, it gets a little sweetness from tomato paste and dynamic flavor from shallots, garlic, and ginger. Scoop it all up with crispy shrimp chips for the ultimate bite.
By Chris Terry11/61French Onion and Blue Cheese Tart
Winter is the perfect time to make real caramelized onions. And once you do, they deserve a moment in the spotlight.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Megan Hedgpeth, Food Styling by Liza Jernow12/61Clams Casino With Bacon and Bell Pepper
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio, Food Styling by Monica Pierini13/61Crudités With Chile-Lime Salt
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton14/61Stuffed Mushrooms
Curating your appetizer spread well means balancing cool bites with warm ones—though honestly, these are just as great at room temp as they are hot out of the oven. Use a vegetarian-friendly domestic Parmesan if you’ve got nonmeat eaters in your crowd.
