Ringing in a new year is an exciting time for celebrations and remembrances. It’s also a great excuse to make an elegant meal at home, enjoy the company of loved ones, and toast with champagne at midnight before tucking into bed. But fancy doesn’t have to mean difficult—and these 19 recipes prove it.
After you’ve served up your New Year’s Eve appetizers and cocktails, cook one of these delicious New Year’s dinners to cap off the evening. From impressive Beef Wellington to comforting Swedish Meatballs, you’re sure to find a dinner idea that fits your party’s mood.
Shrimp Scampi with Pasta
DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS
Tender shrimp and buttery herb sauce combine for an ultra-satisfying pasta dish that’s simple enough to pull off with ease, but special enough to serve to company. The shrimp can be prepped ahead of time, and brought together in just a few minutes of active cooking day of.
“Made this today for the first time and my family loved it,” said Allrecipes member Rochelle Smiley. “Will definitely make again. Thank you for an easy to follow recipe that took the fear out of making shrimp scampi”
Chicken Cacciatore
Allrecipes/Qi Ai
There’s no need to go out for an Italian dinner (and fight the crowds) to ring in the New Year when you can make this tender chicken cacciatore at home. Pair with a side of crusty bread and a Caesar salad to round out the meal.
“I doubled the white wine and tomatoes,” suggested one reviewer. “Easy to make, great flavors and the entire family loved it!!”
Beef Wellington
DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS
Yes, Beef Wellington is indeed a fancy dish—but it’s completely doable for the average home cook. Par bake the beef and prep the mushroom duxelle (sautéed mushroom and onion) the day before you serve. Day of, you can just assemble and pop in the oven!
“Thanks to this classic recipe, I made beef Wellington for the very first time and my In laws seriously believe I’m a gourmet chef,” said one reviewer. “They said it is absolutely the best thing they ever had.”
Swedish Meatballs
DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS
If you prefer comfort food favorites to elegant dinner classics, serve up these creamy Swedish meatballs for your New Year’s Eve dinner. Serve over a plate of pasta, rice, or with a side of baked potato. The Allrecipes member who shared this tasty recipe suggests making double and keeping them warm in a slow cooker.
“Followed the recipe with NO changes,” raved Allrecipes member Shirley. “Served over egg noodles and could not have been more pleased. My only complaint would be that it disappears quickly. Be prepared to be amazed!”
Perfect Chicken Piccata
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
Not just any dinner will do for such a special night, but chicken can be made special enough for a holiday menu. Bright flavors like lemon, parlsey, and capers make this a stand-out chicken dish. Serve over pasta, herbed rice, or roasted potatoes.
“We love this recipe,” shared one Allrecipes user. “It’s so fast and easy plus the taste is the bomb! Like others have recommend DOUBLE THE SAUCE RECIPE . We fight over it. Also adding a little corn starch slurry is a nice touch to thicken it a bit.”
Beef Bourguignon
Although you need to prepare ahead for this dish—the beef requires two days of marinating—it’s well worth the effort. Serve this French recipe with a side of egg noodles or mashed potatoes. Of course, a nice loaf of crusty French bread is essential to soak up all that beefy goodness.
“I made it over the weekend for my family and we all loved it!!,” shared one Allrecipes member. “I followed the steps and the measurements for all the ingredients; the only thing I added was pearl onions (husband favorite) instead of the second round of sliced onions. The meat was juicy, tender, and everything tasted magnificent. Will keep in my rotation.”
Baked Salmon in Foil
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
Serving a big cut of fish or meat on a beautiful platter will always be impressive—and your guests don’t need to know how truly easy it was. Prep the olive oil mixtures a day ahead of time, then take it out when you’re ready to bake. Slather your salmon in the mixture and pop in the oven. 20-30 minutes later, you’ll have a show stopping centerpiece.
“Excellent and simple!,” said one reviewer. “The salmon was moist and the blend of seasonings was delicious—and just a little unique. Definitely a ‘keeper’ for my family and an excellent choice for a company or special occasion dinner.”
Easy and Elegant Pork Tenderloin
ALLRECIPES / DIANA CHISTRUGA
Three ingredients are all you need to create this delicious dinner for a New Year’s Eve meal at home. “This main dish is beautiful in its presentation and always comes out tender and juicy even if you overcook it a little,” said recipe creator Susan Burget. Pull it out of the oven when internal temperature hits 145 degrees F and let it come up to 165 degrees F with residual heat as it rests.
“Very tender and flavorful,” said one Allrecipes member. “I’ve made it several times and guests really enjoyed it too.”
Crab-Stuffed Lobster Tail
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
If you want to splurge for your New Year’s Eve dinner, while making it worth every penny, then this recipe is for you. Featuring tender crab and lobster tails all smothered in a buttery crumb sauce, it’s sure to become a holiday favorite.
“Stuck to recipe and came out great for our NYE romantic dinner,” said Allrecipes member Charles Giametta. “Larger tails need just a minute more. Will definitely make again!”
Chicken Paprikash
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
This Eastern European chicken dish is swimming in a savory sauce that should be served with a side of pierogi. “My husband is Hungarian so he grew up on chicken paprikash,” said user Suzanne. “I made this recipe to surprise him and it was even better than his mom’s!”
Surf and Turf for Two
Allrecipes/Qi Ai
Get restaurant-quality surf and turf in the comfort of your own home. Don’t be deceived—this is a simple recipe with many ingredients you’ll likely already have: “This is a simple way to make a special dinner any night of the week. You probably have most of the ingredients in your pantry already,” said recipe creator Staci.
“When it’s time to impress, this recipe delivers,” raved one Allrecipes member. “I followed the directions and the final dish came out beautifully. The flavor of the shrimp was off the charts, absolutely delicious. And the steak turned out tender and decadent. This one’s definitely a keeper, it’ll have you open that bottle of wine that you’ve been keeping for a special occasion.”
Drunken Mussels
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
This mussels recipe is seriously delicious and one of the quickest shellfish preparations known to man. Bring a flavorful, wine-based broth to a boil, add mussels, and cover; cook until they open, and eat. That’s it! Serve with grilled bread for a perfect way to mop up the broth.
“Our ‘go to’ mussel recipe,” said Allrecipes member Denise Kantner. “We use it for family, friends and ourselves and we don’t change a thing. Yup, we love it.”
Tuscan Pork Tenderloin
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
Easy enough for a weeknight, special enough for ringing in the new year—this Tuscan Pork Tenderloin is a real show stopper.
“This was easy, moist & favorable,” shared an Allrecipes member. “I made as directed with no changes. I took the roast out of the fridge, rubbed the seasonings on it & let it sit for about 30 minutes till it reached room temperature before putting it in the oven. Next time I make it I will do the same, not making any changes.”
Halupki (Stuffed Cabbage)
Looking for a warm, comfort-food dinner with shortcut ingredients for your at-home celebration? The search is over. This is Allrecipes member Jillian’s familial spin on the dish, taught to them by their grandma Eugenia. Serve with mashed potatoes for a filling and impressive NYE dinner!
“Yummy, made me think of grandmas,” said David Zellers, an Allrecipes member. “Time consuming but well worth it. Prepared and baked half froze other half for another meal.”
Lamb Braised in Pomegranate
Chef John
Chef John describes this meat main as, “as seasonally appropriate as it gets, and one of the best things I’ve tasted in a long time.” Lamb is braised with pomegranate juice and seeds in this melt-in-your-mouth dish.
“This is my ‘go-to’ special occasion recipe. All guests are always amazed and well fed! I serve with Moroccan Couscous for a complete meal. Well worth the time waiting for it cook!”
Coq au Vin
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
“I make coq au vin with bone-in chicken thighs to create that sticky goodness in the braising liquid. Bacon, Burgundy red wine, and fresh thyme add tons of flavor and depth to this classic French stew. Serve this coq au vin with mashed potatoes or polenta that can soak up all that delicious sauce,” said Chef John.
“Don’t let the fancy name scare you,” warned one Allrecipes member. “This was extremely easy to make and so delicious! I followed the recipe exactly. Next time I will double the sauce because it’s that good!”
Steak with Creamy Peppercorn Sauce
Allrecipes / Qi Ai
Grab your meat thermometer to ensure this steak is cooked to perfection. This strip steak with creamy peppercorn sauce is definitely for pepper lovers. French cooks just have a way with sauces, and rich, flavorful “au poivre” sauce—with pepper—comes together quickly.
“The flavor was actually great and my husband enjoyed it as well!,” said one reviewer. “Several steps, but the end product was tender and worth the effort.”
Easy Paella
DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS
Talk about a centerpiece dish! This classic paella is a fun option for an alternative NYE dinner. Do all your chopping and zesting ahead of time to make this as easy as possible—and make sure to use Spanish (smoked) chorizo instead of the Mexican chorizo typically found in the States.
“Rich with flavor, this version is very much worth the prep,” shared one Allrecipes member. “I had a 16-ounce can of crushed tomatoes on the ready, but it would have overpowered the lemon zest, which was a delightful addition. And, the rice was AH-mazing! Will def make again.”
Coquilles Saint-Jacques
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
Coquilles Saint-Jacques is one of the world’s most delicious dishes. It’s rich and decadent, and yet still light. For something fancy, this is pretty easy to make!
“This does not disappoint,” said Allrecipes member Brad. “Be sure to make extra sauce so you can mop It up with a baguette right out of the pan while the scallops are broiling.”
Dining and Cooking