After a jam-packed month filled with unending holiday activities like picking out your Christmas tree, hanging up your Christmas lights, wrapping your Christmas gifts, and preparing Christmas dinner, you’re probably tempted to throw in the towel once December 31 hits. If you’re hosting a New Year’s Eve party, though, you might be feeling a certain amount of pressure to go out with a bang. But throwing an impressive bash doesn’t have to be stressful, energy-zapping, or time-consuming. With our handy collection of make-ahead New Year’s Eve appetizers, you can serve the tastiest, most dazzling hors d’oeuvres without running around hours before your guests arrive. By putting these party snacks on your menu, you’ll have one less task to worry about on the day of your New Year’s Eve get-together.
Ahead, you’ll find crunchy snack mixes, buttery puff-pastry bites, and creamy dips that you can whip up days—sometimes weeks—in advance. Whether you’re opting for an intimate evening or a spectacular affair, each of the below New Year’s Eve recipes look elegant and elevated, so they’ll help set the ambiance—and get the group talking and reaching for seconds. Yet, they’re all surprisingly easy to prepare: Some recipes call for just a handful of ingredients and several minutes of prep work, while others require a simple simmer in the slow cooker, so you can let the appliance work its magic while you go about your day.
To use the week between Christmas and New Year’s wisely, start your party prep in advance with these make-ahead New Year’s Eve appetizers everyone will love.
Fill up your New Year’s Eve menu with more delicious ideas:
Cranberry Brie Bites
Sweet-tart cranberry sauce and crunchy pistachio pieces stuffed inside flaky puffs of dough is a snack worthy of New Year’s Eve. To get a head start on your party preparations, make this recipe up to three days before your gathering. But if you really want to work ahead, freeze the pastry squares (without the filling) a week in advance.
Get the Cranberry Brie Bites recipe.
Will Dickey
(Will Dickey)Holiday Pimento Cheese
Although this make-ahead New Year’s Eve appetizer comes together in just 20 minutes, every second counts when you’re throwing a party! Save yourself the stress by preparing this delicious holiday dip—featuring bacon, cheese, and pimentos—two days ahead of the festivities. Just give it a quick stir before serving!
Get Ree’s Holiday Pimento Cheese recipe.
Smoky Mixed Nuts with Crispy Chickpeas
This make-ahead New Year’s Eve appetizer couldn’t be easier to throw together: Toss canned chickpeas and mixed nuts in a dusting of seasonings, and let the medley turn toasted and crispy in the oven. The best part about this snack, though, might just be that it’ll keep on the counter for up to a week!
Get Ree’s Smoky Mixed Nuts with Crispy Chickpeas recipe.
Spinach Puffs
With these spinach puffs, you’ll enjoy the best of both creamy spinach dip and cheesy puff-pastry bites, all in one appetizer! If you’re hoping to make New Year’s Eve preparations as seamless as possible for yourself, these make-ahead snacks will stay fresh in the fridge for three days or in the freezer for three months.
Get the Spinach Puffs recipe.
C.W. Newell
(C.W. Newell)Pesto Feta Dip
Yep, it’s true: Five minutes and three ingredients are all it takes to pull off this silky-smooth dip. While this appetizer is already a huge time saver, it’s make-ahead-friendly, too. And if you still have leftovers after the celebration, repurpose the dip as a sandwich spread or a roasted-veggie sauce!
Get Ree’s Pesto Feta Dip recipe.
Allison Gootee
(Allison Gootee)Pimento Cheese Thumbprint Crackers
Not only will these thumbprint crackers look so pretty on display at your New Year’s Eve party, but they’ll also make your life so much easier! Whip up the cheesy, crumbly crackers a few days before the festivities begin, and fill them with the spicy-sweet jam right before serving.
Get the Pimento Cheese Thumbprint Crackers recipe.
C.W. Newell
(C.W. Newell)Bacon-Wrapped Water Chestnuts
Give your gathering a hint of nostalgia with these retro appetizers. The crunchy water chestnuts wrapped in crispy bacon and dunked in a zesty sauce will take everyone back in time. What’s more, both the base and the condiment can be made days in advance.
Get the Bacon-Wrapped Water Chestnuts recipe.
Antonis Achilleos
(Antonis Achilleos)Slow-Cooker Spinach Artichoke Dip
To bring this crowd-pleasing dip to your New Year’s Eve celebration without killing yourself in the kitchen, try this easy, breezy recipe. Serve the spread straight from the slow cooker, or store it in the fridge four days ahead of your event. Side note: You don’t have to reheat it—this dip tastes just as good cold!
Get Ree’s Slow-Cooker Spinach Artichoke Dip recipe.
C.W. Newell
(C.W. Newell)Gougères
Put these airy, cheesy, irresistibly tasty snacks on the table for New Year’s Eve, and watch them vanish in the blink of any eye. One of the best parts? You can store the fully baked puffs in the freezer for up to two months! Plus, they pair perfectly with Champagne!
Get the Gougères recipe.
Danielle Daly
(Danielle Daly)Spicy Chex Mix
Add a kick to your party starters with this spicy Chex mix that’s seasoned with hot sauce and cayenne pepper. After baking this make-ahead New Year’s Eve appetizer, seal it in an airtight container before either letting it sit at room temperature for up to one week or setting it in the freezer for up to three months.
Get the Spicy Chex Mix recipe.
C.W. Newell
(C.W. Newell)Olive Tapenade
Made with olives, capers, anchovies, and red onions, this multicolored medley will shine brightly at your special gathering. By including this make-ahead New Year’s Eve appetizer at your party, you won’t just be doing yourself a favor. The longer it sits in the fridge (for a maximum of three days), the more flavorful it’ll taste!
Get the Olive Tapenade recipe.
Will Dickey
(Will Dickey)Reuben Egg Rolls
Take classic egg rolls to the next level by giving them a reuben-inspired twist. In these make-ahead New Year’s Eve appetizers (which you can refrigerate up to three days in advance), in addition to crispy dough, you’ll find tender corned beef, tangy sauerkraut, and gooey cheese.
Get the Reuben Egg Rolls recipe.
C.W. Newell
(C.W. Newell)Salsa Verde
After just 15 minutes of broiling and pulsing, you’ll have an eye-catching, flavor-packed dip for your end-of-year festivities. To accommodate everyone’s taste preferences, you can also dial back the heat. If you want to fix up this appetizer early, it’ll keep in the fridge for up to five days.
Get Ree’s Salsa Verde recipe.
Cheese Straws
Twisty bites of golden puff pastry and melted cheeses will be a guaranteed hit at your New Year’s Eve party! Just roll out the pastry, cut it into strips, sprinkle on the toppings, and shape them into spirals. Toss these bites in the fridge a day before or in the freezer one month out.
Get Ree’s Cheese Straws recipe.
C.W. Newell
(C.W. Newell)Sausage Balls
These sausage bites are as snackable as they come! The cheesy filling, the golden exterior, the tangy mustard sauce—it doesn’t get any better! Once they’re done baking, pop them in the freezer up to two months before your party. Pro tip: Heat them up in the air-fryer before serving for an extra-crispy result!
Get the Sausage Balls recipe.
Danielle Daly
(Danielle Daly)3-Ingredient Buffalo Dip
The simplicity of this make-ahead New Year’s Eve appetizer lies in the name: It calls for only three ingredients! Other perks? The recipe will take you five minutes to make, and the finished product will stay nice and flavorful in the fridge for a maximum of two days.
Get Ree’s 3-Ingredient Buffalo Dip recipe.
Alison Gootee
(Alison Gootee)
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