16 Family-Friendly Recipes to Make for New Year's Eve

By Kelly Vaughan
Updated November 20, 2019
Bobbi Lin
There's no better way to celebrate New Year's Eve with the ones you love most than by making these festive, easy, and delicious recipes for dinner.
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Bobbi Lin

New Year's Eve is always worthy of a celebration but it doesn't require a night out on the town. Whether you have little ones or just want to stay in for the night with your friends, we have plenty of family-friendly recipes that are spectacular additions to your New Year's Eve gathering. From appetizers that will last all night long, such as our flavorful Honey-Sesame Popcorn or classic Pigs in Blankets, to main courses ranging from easy to elegant and fabulous desserts (we're looking at you, No-Bake Chocolate-Eggnog Crème Brûlée), there are plenty of delicious options guaranteed to keep your guests satisfied until the ball drops.

One of the most dazzling main courses for the holiday is Pork Wellington with Prosciutto and Spinach-Mushroom Stuffing. It has double the pork, too (slices of prosciutto are layered on puff pastry, which then wraps around two large pork tenderloins)! The recipe serves eight to 10 people, which is ideal if you're hosting a large party. Serve the stunner with Peppery Greens with Meyer-Lemon Dressing and Rutabaga-Sweet Potato Mash with Garlic and Sage. Or make these festive Pomegranate Skirt-Steak Kebabs, pictured here, which can be marinated overnight so all you need to do is grill them—the impressive meal comes together in less than 10 minutes on New Year's Eve.

For a sweet ending to the year, we also encourage you to bake a family-friendly dessert. We think Milk-Chocolate Pudding Cupcakes are the perfect option. With four different kinds of chocolate, who could possibly resist biting into one? Even more festive and just as enticing are our Candy-Cane Sundaes, which combine a classic flavor combination—peppermint and chocolate—in one easy scoop.

Our festive appetizers, comfort food mains, and tempting desserts are sure to help you go out with a bang on New Year's Eve.

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No-Bake Chocolate-Eggnog Crème Brûlée

Lennart Weibull
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This is the most elegant no-bake dessert we've ever seen. The mixture is cooked on the stovetop, then transferred to individual ramekins to chill and set. The addition of brandy, nutmeg, and cinnamon take the cream mixture from classic to egg-traordinary.

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Honey-Sesame Popcorn

CHELSEA CAVANAUGH
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Upgrade your popcorn with a few sweet and savory elements worthy of a New Year's Eve celebration. A low-maintenance caramel made from honey, sugar, water, and butter is poured over the popped kernels, which are then garnished with sesame seeds.

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Pigs in Blankets

Nicole Franzen
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Make a homemade version an the all-time favorite party appetizer. Flavorful cooked sausages are rolled in store-bought puff pastry, then sliced for an easy bite. It's impossible to have just one!

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Roman-Style Thin-Crust Pizzas

Paola + Murray
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Looking for the ease of serving pizza on New Year's Eve but with a slightly fancy spin? Here are three inspired combinations of toppings so everyone can taste what they want—ricotta-peas-prosciutto; spinach-Parmigiano-pepper flakes; and potato-red onion-arugula.

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Rosemary-and-Garlic Lamb Chops

GEORGE BARBERIS
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On a chilly December night, there's nothing more comforting than these braised lamb chops served over mashed potatoes. The best part is that the whole dish comes together in 35 minutes, so you don't have to miss out on the New Year's Eve celebration.

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Milk-Chocolate Pudding Cupcakes

Con Poulos
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Perfect for a crowd, these quadruple-chocolate cupcakes are luxurious and sure to dazzle guests on New Year's Eve. They're chocolate cupcakes filled with chocolate pudding and topped with chocolate ganache and chocolate curls. Need we say more?

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Chicken Cordon Bleu

Bryan Gardner
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Crisp on the outside with rich, savory flavor on the inside, an ordinary ham and cheese sandwich is transformed into a special occasion chicken dinner that is absolutely timeless.

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Eggnog Semifreddo Genoise Cake with Meringue Frosting

Aya Brackett
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Semifreddo, which is a semi-frozen mousse-like dessert, doesn't just have to be served in summer. In fact, it makes a fabulous holiday dessert, especially when covered in a luscious toasted meringue.

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Swiss-Fondue Mac and Cheese

Armando Rafael
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Mac and cheese is the ultimate comfort food and this version is done just right. With three kinds of unique Swiss cheeses, this grown-up pasta is worthy of a celebratory dinner.

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Pork Wellington with Prosciutto and Spinach-Mushroom Stuffing

Lennart Weibull
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This traditional English entrée is the centerpiece of a very special dinner. It's typically made with beef, but we think this version made with pork tenderloin is even better. You can make a portion of the recipe in advance, which eases day-of prep work.

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Candy-Cane Sundaes

Pernille Loof
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Have yourself a merry little ice cream sundae party. Vanilla ice cream takes a trip through the candy cane forest for a minty, festive flavor and is then topped with hot fudge for one sweet scoop.

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Barley Risotto with Mushrooms and Dill

Sidney Bensimon
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Mixed mushrooms, chicken broth, and grated Parmesan cheese add lots of umami flavor to creamy risotto. This version is made with nutty barley, which creates more texture than traditional arborio rice.

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Test Kitchen's Favorite Buffalo Wings

Johnny Fogg
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Before the ball drops, make our food editors' best-ever buffalo wings. The sauce has some serious heat thanks to nearly a cup of Frank's RedHot sauce, so they're sure to get the party started.

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Baked Camembert with Bacon, Rosemary, and Pine Nuts

Marcus Nilsson
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We're declaring this the easiest New Year's Eve appetizer ever. But given how special it looks, you would never guess! Just bake a whole wheel of brie or camembert cheese with rosemary sprigs, then serve alongside chopped bacon and nuts and crostini.

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Oil-Poached Halibut With Fennel, Tomatoes, and Mashed Potatoes

Ryan Liebe
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This attractive preparation of halibut is light, fragrant, and buttery. If you want a restaurant-worthy dish made in the comfort of your own kitchen, this is the answer.

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