25+ Finger Food Appetizers for New Year’s Eve

New Year‘s Eve is just nearby, and there is no better way to ring it in than with delicious finger food that keeps a party entertaining and hassle-free. Whether it is an intimate affair or a big one, appetisers are the people-pleasers—and the best thing is, they are comfortable enough to eat while catching up, sipping on cocktails, and counting the seconds down to midnight.

From crispy bites to creamy dips and fancy little nibbles, I’ve rounded up 25+ irresistible finger food ideas to wow your guests and make your New Year’s celebration extra special. These recipes are not only simple and fun to prepare, but they’ll also have everyone coming back for seconds (or thirds!). So, let’s make your party the tastiest yet—because good food is the perfect way to toast new beginnings!

Let‘s dive in and start prepping for a night of laughter, good vibes, and unforgettable flavours.

Preparing for New Year’s Eve: Setting the Stage for an Unforgettable Celebration

Getting ready for a New Year‘s Eve party is half the fun! With just a bit of planning and some creativity, you can create the right festive atmosphere to entertain your guests. Here‘s how you can be certain that everything, from the food down to the atmosphere, falls into place:

Plan Your Menu in Advance

Make a list of appetisers and drinks you want to serve, keeping in mind your guests’ preferences and dietary needs. Finger foods are ideal for New Year’s because they’re easy to eat and don’t require utensils. Mix and match flavours by including cheesy bites, savoury sliders, crispy snacks, and a sweet treat or two.

Stock Up on Essentials

Make sure your kitchen is well-stocked with all the ingredients, serving platters, and party supplies you’ll need. Don’t forget cocktail napkins, toothpicks, and small plates for those finger foods! Pro tip: Buy extras of anything you think might run out—it’s always better to have too much than not enough.

Prep Ahead of Time

To avoid last-minute stress, prepare as much as you can in advance. Chop vegetables, bake pastries, and set up dips the day before. That way, you’ll have more time to relax and enjoy your own party.

Create a Festive Ambiance

Decorations set the tone for the evening. Think sparkly fairy lights, gold and silver accents, and plenty of New Year’s Eve-themed props like party hats, noisemakers, and “2024” glasses. A curated playlist with upbeat tunes and a countdown-worthy anthem is a must!

Set Up a Drinks Station

Make your life easier by setting up a self-serve drink station. Include a mix of alcoholic and non-alcoholic options, and don’t forget to chill some champagne for the midnight toast!

Designate a Countdown Spot

Choose a central location where everyone can gather for the countdown. Decorate it with a banner or balloon display, and keep the TV or a countdown app ready for when the clock strikes midnight.

With these simple steps, your New Year’s Eve preparations will be stress-free, leaving you with plenty of time to enjoy the party and make memories with your loved ones. After all, it’s not just about the appetisers (though they’re a big deal)—it’s about ringing in the new year with joy, laughter, and a sprinkle of magic! 🎉✨

25+ Finger Food Appetizers Ideas

These bite-sized creations are not only easy to make and fun to eat but are sure to impress your guests. Here‘s a mix of classic crowd-pleasers and unique recipes with simple steps to make your New Year‘s Eve party one to remember!

1. Mini Caprese Skewers

• Ingredients: Cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls, fresh basil leaves, balsamic glaze, toothpicks.
• Recipe: Thread a cherry tomato, a basil leaf, and a mozzarella ball onto a toothpick. Repeat until you’ve used up the ingredients. Drizzle with balsamic glaze just before serving.

2. Spinach and Feta Puff Pastry Bites

• Ingredients: Frozen puff pastry, spinach (fresh or frozen), feta cheese, cream cheese, garlic, egg.
• Recipe: Thaw puff pastry and cut into squares. Mix cooked spinach, feta, cream cheese, and minced garlic. Place a dollop of filling on each pastry square, fold the edges slightly, and brush with egg wash. Bake at 200°C (400°F) for 15–20 minutes.

3. BBQ Meatball Skewers

• Ingredients: Frozen or homemade meatballs, BBQ sauce, pineapple chunks, red onion.
• Recipe: Warm meatballs in BBQ sauce. Skewer a meatball, pineapple chunk, and onion slice. Serve warm with extra BBQ sauce for dipping.

4. Deviled Eggs with a Twist

• Ingredients: Eggs, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, smoked paprika, crispy bacon bits, green onion.
• Recipe: Hard boil eggs, peel, and slice in half. Mix yolks with mayo, mustard, and paprika, then pipe into egg whites. Top with bacon bits and chopped green onion.

5. Mini Shrimp Tacos

• Ingredients: Mini tortillas, cooked shrimp, guacamole, salsa, shredded lettuce, lime.
• Recipe: Use a cookie cutter to create mini tortillas. Fill with shrimp, a spoonful of guacamole, shredded lettuce, and a drizzle of salsa. Garnish with a lime wedge.

6. Loaded Potato Skins

• Ingredients: Small potatoes, shredded cheddar, sour cream, bacon bits, green onion.
• Recipe: Bake halved potatoes until soft. Scoop out a small portion, fill with cheese, and return to the oven until melted. Top with sour cream, bacon bits, and green onion.

7. Bruschetta with Tomato and Basil

• Ingredients: Baguette, ripe tomatoes, fresh basil, olive oil, garlic, balsamic vinegar.
• Recipe: Slice baguette, brush with olive oil, and toast. Mix diced tomatoes, basil, minced garlic, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar. Spoon onto toast just before serving.

8. Buffalo Chicken Wonton Cups

• Ingredients: Wonton wrappers, shredded chicken, buffalo sauce, ranch dressing, shredded cheese.
• Recipe: Press wonton wrappers into muffin tins. Mix chicken, buffalo sauce, and cheese, then spoon into wrappers. Bake at 200°C (400°F) for 10–12 minutes. Drizzle with ranch before serving.

9. Antipasto Skewers

• Ingredients: Salami, olives, marinated artichokes, cherry tomatoes, cheese cubes.
• Recipe: Skewer salami, olive, artichoke, tomato, and cheese. Serve on a platter for an elegant presentation.

10. Parmesan Garlic Breadsticks

• Ingredients: Pizza dough, butter, garlic, Parmesan, parsley.
• Recipe: Roll pizza dough into thin strips, brush with melted butter mixed with minced garlic, and sprinkle with Parmesan. Bake at 220°C (425°F) for 8–10 minutes. Garnish with parsley.

11. Jalapeño Poppers

• Ingredients: Jalapeños, cream cheese, shredded cheddar, bacon.
• Recipe: Halve and deseed jalapeños. Fill with cream cheese and cheddar, then wrap in bacon. Bake at 200°C (400°F) for 20 minutes.

12. Cucumber and Smoked Salmon Bites

• Ingredients: Cucumber, cream cheese, smoked salmon, dill, lemon zest.
• Recipe: Slice cucumber into thick rounds. Spread cream cheese, top with a piece of smoked salmon, and garnish with dill and lemon zest.

13. Mini Chicken and Waffle Sliders

• Ingredients: Mini waffles, fried chicken nuggets, maple syrup.
• Recipe: Sandwich a chicken nugget between two mini waffles. Drizzle with maple syrup before serving.

14. Cheesy Stuffed Mushrooms

• Ingredients: Button mushrooms, cream cheese, breadcrumbs, garlic, Parmesan.
• Recipe: Remove mushroom stems and fill caps with a mixture of cream cheese, breadcrumbs, garlic, and Parmesan. Bake at 200°C (400°F) for 15–20 minutes.

15. Sweet and Spicy Cocktail Sausages

• Ingredients: Mini sausages, BBQ sauce, honey, chilli flakes.
• Recipe: Simmer sausages in BBQ sauce mixed with honey and chilli flakes for 10 minutes. Serve warm with toothpicks.

16. Caprese Stuffed Mini Peppers

• Ingredients: Mini bell peppers, mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, fresh basil, balsamic glaze.
• Recipe: Halve and deseed peppers; stuff with mozzarella, tomato, and basil. Drizzle with balsamic glaze.

17. Puff Pastry Sausage Rolls

• Ingredients: Puff pastry, sausage meat, egg.
• Recipe: Roll sausage meat into strips and wrap in puff pastry. Brush with egg wash and bake at 200°C (400°F) for 20 minutes.

18. Crispy Zucchini Fries

• Ingredients: Zucchini, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, egg, seasoning.
• Recipe: Coat zucchini sticks in egg, then breadcrumbs mixed with Parmesan. Bake at 200°C (400°F) until golden. Serve with marinara sauce.

19. Mini Quiches

• Ingredients: mini tart shells, eggs, cream, cheese, ham, spinach.
• Recipe: Whisk eggs and cream, then pour into tart shells filled with cheese, ham, and spinach. Bake at 180°C (350°F) for 15 minutes.

20. Crispy Coconut Shrimp

• Ingredients: shrimp, flour, eggs, shredded coconut, panko breadcrumbs.
• Recipe: Coat shrimp in flour, egg, and a mixture of coconut and panko. Bake or fry until golden. Serve with sweet chilli sauce.

21. Bacon-Wrapped Dates

• Ingredients: Pitted dates, bacon, almonds (optional).
• Recipe: Stuff dates with almonds, wrap in bacon and secure with toothpicks. Bake at 200°C (400°F) for 15 minutes.

22. Veggie Spring Rolls

• Ingredients: Rice paper wrappers, shredded carrots, cucumber, bell peppers, lettuce, and hoisin sauce.
• Recipe: Soak wrappers, fill with veggies, roll tightly, and serve with hoisin or peanut sauce.

23. Cheese-stuffed Pretzel Bites

• Ingredients: Pretzel dough, cheese cubes, baking soda, butter, salt.
• Recipe: Wrap cheese cubes in the dough, boil briefly in baking soda water and bake at 220°C (425°F) until golden.

24. Mini Sliders

• Ingredients: Slider buns, beef patties, cheese, lettuce, pickles.
• Recipe: Grill mini beef patties and assemble sliders with cheese, lettuce, and pickles.

25. Chocolate-Covered Strawberries

• Ingredients: Strawberries, chocolate (dark or white), sprinkles.
• Recipe: Dip strawberries in melted chocolate, sprinkle with decorations, and let set.

26. Baked Brie Bites

• Ingredients: Frozen phyllo pastry cups, brie cheese, cranberry sauce, chopped walnuts.
• Recipe: Place a small piece of brie in each phyllo cup, top with a dollop of cranberry sauce and a sprinkle of walnuts. Bake at 190°C (375°F) for 8–10 minutes until bubbly.

27. Mini Taco Cups

• Ingredients: Small tortillas, ground beef (or black beans for vegetarian), taco seasoning, shredded cheese, salsa, sour cream.
• Recipe: Cut tortillas into circles and press them into a muffin tin to form cups. Cook seasoned ground beef, then fill each cup with meat, cheese, and salsa. Bake at 200°C (400°F) for 10 minutes, then top with sour cream before serving.

28. Garlic Butter Shrimp Skewers

• Ingredients: large shrimp, garlic, butter, parsley, lemon juice, wooden skewers.
• Recipe: Melt butter with minced garlic and parsley. Toss shrimp in the mixture and thread onto skewers. Grill or bake at 200°C (400°F) for 5–7 minutes. Squeeze lemon juice over the top before serving.

Food Services in the UK: Hassle-Free Solutions for New Year’s Eve Appetizers

Not everyone has the time, or the will, to prepare a spread of appetisers for New Year‘s Eve. Thankfully, the UK is filled with food services bound to take the stress out of party planning. Here are some fantastic options, be it pre-made platters or chef-prepared meals.

1. Supermarket Party Platters

Major UK supermarkets like Tesco, Marks & Spencer (M&S), Waitrose, and Sainsbury’s offer a wide range of party platters that are perfect for New Year’s Eve. Options include everything from mini quiches and sausage rolls to seafood platters and vegetarian bites.

• How it works: Simply browse their online catering menus or visit your local store to place an order. Many supermarkets offer delivery or click-and-collect services.
• Top Picks:
  • M&S’s Dine-In Party Food Range: High-quality options like prawn tempura, mini burgers, and camembert dippers.
  • Tesco’s Entertaining Made Easy range: Affordable and versatile platters, including sandwiches, wraps, and cheese boards.

2. Online Catering Services

For something more bespoke, online catering services like Cook, Dishpatch, and Grazing Tables UK are fantastic options. These companies deliver ready-to-serve appetisers and grazing boards straight to your door.

• Cook: Known for frozen, homemade-style party food like mini tarts, sausage rolls, and canapés. Just heat and serve.
• Dishpatch: Offers chef-prepared dishes from top restaurants across the UK. Perfect if you’re looking for a more gourmet touch.
• Grazing Tables UK: Specialises in beautifully arranged grazing platters featuring meats, cheeses, fruits, and artisan bread.

3. Meal Kit Delivery Services

If you want to add a personal touch without starting from scratch, meal kit services like Gousto and HelloFresh can help. These kits provide pre-measured ingredients and step-by-step instructions for creating delicious appetisers at home.

• How it works: Sign up for a subscription or one-off box and select appetiser recipes tailored to the festive season.
• Example Recipes: Mini goat’s cheese tartlets or sticky sesame chicken bites.

4. Local Catering Companies and Restaurants

Many local catering companies and restaurants offer party food packages for New Year’s Eve. Look for catering services in your area on platforms like Deliveroo, Just Eat, or Uber Eats. You’ll often find unique options, such as sushi platters, Indian-style canapés, or Middle Eastern mezze boards.

• Pro Tip: Call your favourite local restaurant to see if they offer catering options or custom appetiser platters.

5. Grazing Boxes and Charcuterie Boards

For a trendy, Instagram-worthy spread, order a grazing box or charcuterie board from UK-based companies like The Charcuterie Box Co. or Graze. These come prearranged and are perfect for adding a touch of sophistication to your party.

• What’s included: A mix of cured meats, cheeses, fruits, nuts, dips, and crackers. Many companies offer vegetarian or vegan options as well.

6. Party Food from Online Retailers

Online retailers like Iceland and Ocado have dedicated New Year’s Eve party food sections, featuring a mix of frozen and fresh options that you can heat and serve in minutes.

• Top Picks:
  • Iceland’s buffet selection includes crispy prawns, chicken skewers, and sweet chilli spring rolls.
  • Ocado’s curated appetiser range offers everything from arancini balls to smoked salmon blinis.

7. Hiring a Private Chef

If you’re hosting a more formal New Year’s Eve event, hiring a private chef is an excellent option. Services like La Belle Assiette, Dineindulge, or Hire a Chef UK allow you to book a professional chef who can prepare and serve appetisers tailored to your preferences.

• How it works: Discuss your menu preferences with the chef, and they’ll handle everything from shopping to cleanup.

Final Thoughts

New Year’s Eve is a time to celebrate, reflect, and look forward to a fresh start—and what better way to set the tone than with a table full of delicious appetizers? Whether you’re crafting your own finger foods, relying on the convenience of food services, or mixing both options, the goal is to create an atmosphere of joy.

Check some of my other recipes for inspiration: https://dannyandlife.com/category/food/.

Remember, it is not about being perfect but about sharing good food, laughter, and memories with those closest to your heart. So pop the champagne, turn up the music, and let the countdown to a fantastic year begin. Here‘s to a sparkling start to your 2024!🥂✨

Happy New Year! 🎉