49 Best New Year’s Dinner Ideas to Ring in 2023
Updated: Sep. 15, 2023For New Year’s dinner, cook an extraordinary meal that your family will talk about for the next 365 days! (If you want some luck for the new year, too, check out these traditional New Year's Day foods.)
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New Year’s Eve is the perfect time to pop open the champagne and prepare a celebratory feast of all those foods you’ve been saving for a special occasion. Whether your New Year’s dinner ideas include broiled lobster tails, spice-crusted steak or buttery grilled shrimp, the last meal of the year is sure to be a memorable one.
Some of our favorite festive New Year’s Eve food is deceptively easy to make, like oysters Rockefeller and seafood-stuffed mushrooms. Those types of New Year’s Eve appetizers work equally well as nibbles before a sit-down New Year’s dinner or passed party food at an all-night soiree.
To drink, you’ll want a selection of celebratory New Year’s Eve drinks—and of course you can’t go wrong with champagne cocktails to ring in the new year (here’s how to open a champagne bottle with ease).
Keep the bubbly theme going with your New Year’s dessert by whipping up a champagne cake. Cheers!
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San Francisco Cioppino
Traditionally, cioppino is made with whatever seafood was caught that day or whatever seafood is on hand. It began as a soup for the working class, but with how delicious it tastes, it’s no wonder this dish made its way into high-end restaurants and hotels. Feel free to use whatever fish, shellfish and seafood you can find. —Barbara Pletzke, Herndon, Virginia
Bonus: If you feel like taking a break from all the holiday cooking, here’s where to order dinner for New Year’s Eve.
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Horseradish-Encrusted Beef Tenderloin
Wow friends and family for New Year’s Day dinner with this tender beef encased in a golden horseradish crust. Roasted garlic boosts the robust flavor even more. —Laura Bagozzi, Dublin, Ohio
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Broiled Lobster Tail
No matter where you live, these succulent, buttery lobster tails are just a few minutes away. Here in Iowa, we use frozen lobster with delicious results, but if you're near the ocean, by all means use fresh! —Lauren McAnelly, Des Moines, Iowa
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Beef Osso Bucco
Treat New Year’s Day dinner guests to elegant comfort food at its best. Our osso bucco beef boasts a thick, savory sauce complemented by the addition of gremolata, a chopped herb condiment made of lemon zest, garlic, and parsley. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Greendale, Wisconsin
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Orange Pomegranate Salmon
A colorful, festive salmon dish makes an impressive addition to your holiday table—and it is as delicious as it is beautiful. What will no one guess? How easy it is to cook. I serve this with roasted baby potatoes and asparagus for a showstopping meal that is wonderful for special occasions. —Thomas Faglon, Somerset, New Jersey
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Eggplant Rollatini
Want to learn how to cook eggplant? Here's where to start. These authentic eggplant roll-ups may take some time to prepare, but the end result is restaurant-quality. Your family will request this recipe time and again. —Nancy Sousley, Lafayette, Indiana
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Spice-Crusted Steaks with Cherry Sauce
If you’re hosting New Year’s Day dinner, these impressive cast-iron skillet steaks are guaranteed to please. They’re perfect for a special-occasion dinner without too much fuss. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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Scallops in Sage Cream
I wanted to show off the ocean freshness of the scallops I bought on the dock from a local fisherman, so I used basic ingredients to showcase them. With sage and shallots, this is the best cream sauce for scallops I've found. —Joan Churchill, Dover, New Hampshire
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Beef Daube Provencal
This dish is a perfect New Year’s Day dinner, especially after we have been out cutting wood or white-tail hunting. If you are lucky enough to have venison, try it here for melt-in-your-mouth goodness. —Brenda Ryan, Marshall, Missouri
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Glazed Cornish Hens with Pecan-Rice Stuffing
Cornish hens bake up with a lovely golden brown shine when they are basted with my sweet and tangy glaze. The traditional rice stuffing has some added interest with crunchy pecans and sweet golden raisins.—Agnes Ward, Stratford, Ontario
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Smoked Brisket
This smoked brisket recipe is always a crowd favorite—it really melts in your mouth! —Jodi Abel, La Jolla, California
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Miso Butter Roasted Chicken
I love this recipe for its simple front-end prep. Spatchcock the chicken yourself or ask your butcher to spatchcock it for you. Then the only work left to do is to chop the veggies. Once it’s in the oven, there’s ample time to set the table and talk. —Stefanie Schaldenbrand, Los Angeles, California
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Traditional Lamb Stew
This lamb stew recipe is a delicious, nourishing and economical dish. The flavor improves if you make the stew the day before you serve it. —Margery Richmond, Fort Collins, Colorado
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Ravioli with Creamy Squash Sauce
Store-bought ravioli speeds assembly of this cozy, restaurant-quality dish that tastes so good for New Year’s Day dinner, your family won’t notice it’s meatless. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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Country Chuck Roast with Mushroom Gravy
This tender, savory roast practically melts in your mouth. It looks a bit complex, but the hands-free oven time makes it my go-to company recipe for New Year’s Day dinner. —Mary Kay LaBrie, Clermont, Florida
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Cheesy Chicken Parmigiana
My husband used to order chicken parmigiana at restaurants. Then I found this recipe in our local newspaper, adjusted it for two and began making the beloved dish at home. After more than 50 years of marriage, I still enjoy preparing his favorite recipes. —Iola Butler, Sun City, California
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Lasagna with White Sauce
I’m an old-fashioned country cook and I love preparing simple recipes like this lasagna. White sauce, tomatoes and beef are kitchen staples I normally keep on hand, so it’s simple to make this dish on weeknights or even for New Year’s Day dinner. —Angie Price, Bradford, Tennessee
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Pork Chops with Apples and Stuffing
The heartwarming taste of apples with cinnamon is the perfect accompaniment to tender pork chops. This dish is always a winner with my family. Because it calls for only four ingredients, it’s a main course that I can serve for New Year’s Day dinner with little preparation. —Joan Hamilton, Worcester, Massachusetts
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Spanish-Style Paella
If you enjoy cooking ethnic foods, this hearty rice dish is wonderful. It's brimming with generous chunks of sausage, shrimp and veggies. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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Easy & Elegant Tenderloin Roast
I love the simplicity of this easy beef tenderloin recipe. Olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper—just add the tenderloin and pop it in the oven. In an hour or so you’ve got an impressive main dish to feed a crowd for New Year’s Day dinner. This leaves you with more time to visit with family and less time fussing in the kitchen. —Mary Kandell, Huron, Ohio
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Black-Eyed Peas & Ham
For New Year’s Day dinner, we have these slow-cooked black-eyed peas to bring good luck for the coming year. —Dawn Legler, Fort Morgan, Colorado
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Gorgonzola Shrimp Pasta
This creamy pasta dish is so quick and easy. It's perfect for weeknights, but feels special enough for company. —Robin Haas, West Roxbury, Massachusetts
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Roast Pork with Apples & Onions
The sweetness of the apples and onions nicely complements the roast pork. With its crisp skin and melt-in-your-mouth flavor, this is my family’s favorite New Year’s Day dinner. —Lily Julow, Lawrenceville, Georgia
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Slow-Cooker Burgundy Beef
When my adult children are coming over for dinner, this is the request. All three of them, and their significant others, love this dish. Yum! — Urilla Cheverie, Alfred, Maine
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BBQ Chicken and Apple Bread Pudding
To me, bread pudding is the epitome of comfort food and is simply too good to reserve only for dessert. This sweet and savory twist on the classic is a delicious new way to enjoy an old favorite. —Shauna Havey, Roy, Utah
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Slow-Cooker Chicken & Dumplings
Here's a homey dish that people just can't wait to dive into! Yes, you can have slow-cooker chicken and dumplings. The homemade classic takes a bit of work but is certainly worth it. —Daniel Anderson, Kenosha, Wisconsin
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Blue Cheese-Mushroom Stuffed Tenderloin
Here’s my go-to entree for New Year’s Day dinner. Filled with a savory stuffing, the sliced tenderloin looks and tastes like a specialty from an upscale restaurant. —Joyce Conway, Westerville, Ohio
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Lemony Scallops with Angel Hair Pasta
This delicate dish tastes so bright with a touch of lemon and tender sauteed scallops. Serve with crusty whole grain bread, and you have an impressive dinner that comes together in a flash. —Thomas Faglon, Somerset, New Jersey
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Glazed Smoked Chops with Pears
My husband would eat pork chops every day if he could. Luckily, they're good prepared in all sorts of ways, including with pears. —Lynn Moretti, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin
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Salmon with Horseradish Pistachio Crust
Impress everyone at New Year’s Day dinner with this elegant but easy salmon that’s delicious and nutritious. You can substitute scallions for shallots if you like. —Linda Press Wolfe, Cross River, New York
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Grampa’s German-Style Pot Roast
Grampa was of German heritage and loved the old-world recipes his mother gave him. I made a few changes so I could prepare this dish in the slow cooker and give it a slightly updated flavor. —Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada
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Bacon-Wrapped Turkey
Thanksgiving isn’t the only occasion that calls for a turkey! If you need a New Year’s Day dinner idea, this one is just novel enough to fit the bill. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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Stuffed Whole Cabbage
My husband’s great about trying new recipes. I had to experiment with thisone before getting just right. —Wyn Jespersen, Suffield, Connecticut
In fact, some even believe that eating cabbage on New Year’s brings good luck into the new year.
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Spicy Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo
I make this spicy shrimp pasta a lot because it's a something my family never seems to get tired of. The sauce is so fast to make I can get it done while the fettuccine is cooking. In the past, I have added red peppers and spinach, but who's to say you could not add mushrooms or more or less spice. —Stephanie Beluk, Sharpsburg, Georgia
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Crown Roast of Pork with Mushroom Dressing
It looks so elegant that everyone thinks I spent a lot of time on this roast. But it’s actually so easy! The biggest challenge is to remember to order the crown roast from the meat department ahead of time. —Betty Claycomb, Alverton, Pennsylvania
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Chicken Potpie Galette with Cheddar-Thyme Crust
This gorgeous galette takes traditional chicken potpie and gives it a fun open-faced spin. The rich filling and flaky cheddar-flecked crust make it taste so homey. It’s lovely for New Year’s Day dinner, but you can enjoy it anytime. —Elisabeth Larsen, Pleasant Grove, Utah
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Bacon-Wrapped Filets with Scotched Mushrooms
I got the idea for bacon-wrapped filet mignon when I saw some on sale in the grocery store. The rest was inspired by my husband, because he once made a Scotch and ginger ale sauce. This elegant recipe is for two, but it can easily be doubled. —Mary Kay LaBrie, Clermont, Florida
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Crab-Stuffed Manicotti
I love pasta, and my husband loves seafood. I combined them to create this dish, and he raved that it’s the best meal ever. —Sonya Polfliet, Anza, California
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Chunky Southwest Chili
What started out as a mild, basic chili has evolved over the years into one with a powerful punch! —Shawn Barto, Palmetto, Florida
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Sausage Florentine Shepherd’s Pie
In this Italian take on traditional shepherd’s pie, sausage takes the place of ground beef (or lamb), and spinach replaces the green veggies. Zesty tomatoes, Italian cheese blend and garlicky mashed potatoes make this dish incredibly long on flavor, even though the ingredient list is short. —Leah Lyon, Ada, Oklahoma
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Bacon & Cheese Meat Loaf
We created this recipe to convince my son to try meat loaf, adding blue cheese and bacon for flavor. It worked! —Lila Allen, Fallon, Nevada
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Beef Enchiladas Verdes
These beef enchiladas verdes are easy to make ahead and refrigerate until you’re ready to bake. After quickly cooking the tortillas in hot oil, I layer them between paper napkins to soak up excess oil. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas
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Traditional New England Clam Chowder
I left a cruise ship with a great souvenir…the recipe for this splendid chowder! It’s a traditional soup that stands the test of time.—Agnes Ward, Stratford, Ontario
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Chicken-Prosciutto Pinwheels in Wine Sauce
We host a large group for New Year’s Day dinner, and these pinwheels always go over well alongside the regular dishes. I often double this recipe and use two 13×9-in. pans. —Johnna Johnson, Scottsdale, Arizona
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Turkey Crepes
This savory crepe recipe has been passed down through many generations in my family. You can also use any leftover turkey filling for turkey pot pie. —Andrea Price, Grafton, Wisconsin
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Honey-Maple Glazed Ham
My graham cracker-crusted ham gets a double coating of a simple honey-maple glaze. The first half melts into the ham while the second half forms a sweet caramelized topping. —Alan Sproles, Knoxville, Tennessee
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Dutch Oven Pizza
We created this Dutch oven pizza to get more use out of our favorite piece of cookware. We couldn’t believe how well it turned out! If you’re not a mushroom fan, feel free to substitute different toppings. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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Mushroom and Sweet Potato Potpie
The last time I was in the U.S., I had an amazing mushroom and beer potpie at a small brewpub. It was so rich and comforting. I tried numerous versions when I got home and I think I’ve come pretty close! —Iben Ravn, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Sausage Ratatouille
You’ll feel like a great chef when you serve this veggie-packed dish party guests will rave about. Don’t let the ingredient list fool you: Pantry staples and an easy-cook method make this one a cinch. —Janine Freeman, Blaine, Washington
Originally Published: December 10, 2020
