24 Best New Years Dinner Ideas (Great for New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day)

If you’re planning a shindig at your place to ring in the new year, here are some recipes for a five-star meal your guests will love. From mouthwatering mains to flavorful sides, these are our favorite recipes for your New Year’s Eve menu.

What is The Traditional New Year’s Day Dinner?

There are loads of traditional meals from around the world to celebrate the new year with. In the southern parts of America, black-eyed peas, cornbread, and other satisfying dishes are essential. Other parts of the world may celebrate with noodles, dumplings, or even grapes.

Best Recipes for New Year’s Dinner

Jiffy Cornbread

Tender and savory, this Jiffy cornbread recipe is great for your big dinner. It’s easy to prep and everyone is sure to love it.

Perfect Sea Scallops Recipe

Seared to perfection, these tender and succulent scallops are a perfect appetizer or side. The best part? They only take 15 minutes to prep.

Boiled Lobster

Skip the restaurant and impress your guests with this savory boiled lobster. Filler with succulent meat, this lobster recipe is five-star quality and a cinch to prepare.

Oven Baked Bone-in Ham

New to the kitchen? No worries. Even a beginner chef can bring this tender ham recipe together. It can look intimidating, but it’s so easy to roast this piece of tender, bone-in meat.

Boneless Rib Roast

Tender and juicy, this rib roast is mouthwateringly delicious. Your guests will drool over this perfectly cooked piece of beef.

Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

Sweet and savory, this slow-cooked, garlic-infused, honey chicken is irresistible. It only takes 15 minutes to prep and the slow cooker will do the rest. 

Smoked Chuck Roast

Smoked to perfection, this tender and succulent piece of chuck roast is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. This fall-off-the-bone recipe is sure to leave your guests with empty dishes and full stomachs.

Black-Eyed Peas for New Year’s Dinner

Seasoned with bacon, garlic, and thyme, this tasty side of black-eyes peas is hearty and delicious. This legume symbolizes luck and prosperity, so the New Year’s table is the perfect place to serve it.

Lobster Bisque

This creamy and savory bisque is loaded with chunks of succulent, garlic-infused lobster. It’s easy to make and ready to serve in less than an hour.

Longevity Noodles for Chinese New Year

These traditional Chinese noodles symbolize longevity. They’re a common dish at Chinese New Year gatherings and are usually served alongside dumplings, fish, and savory spring rolls.

Lamb Stew Recipe

This scrumptious lamb stew is melt-in-your-mouth, fall-off-the-bone delicious. Stewed with tender potatoes and hearty vegetables, this stew is easy to prep. The secret to the taste is in the slow cooking style. Bonus: it’s a one-pot meal!

Southern New Year’s Day Dinner Skillet

There’s no better way to kick off a new year than with America’s favorite good luck foods. Sautéed in a single skillet, this tasty meal is always a hit.

Best Porterhouse Steak

Forget the dinner reservations. Make your own porterhouse steak with this flawless recipe. There is no better way to enjoy this high-quality cut of meat.

Easy And Quick Fettuccine Alfredo

In just 15 minutes, this garlic and parmesan Fettuccine Alfredo dish is ready to serve. Creamy and delicious the whole family is sure to love this one.

Honey Glazed Salmon Recipe

Honey-glazed salmon is the only way you’ll ever want to eat this fish again! With a splash of lime and some fluffy white rice on the side, this hearty and healthy dish is loaded with rich flavor.

Beef Shanks

Slow-cooked to perfection, these tender beef shanks are five-star quality and your guests will beg for seconds.

Classic Champagne Cocktail

Made with bitter-soaked sugar cubes and a hint of citrus, this bubbly is perfect for ringing in the new year!

New Year’s Stew

Made with a handful of hearty and healthy ingredients, this savory stew is a great meal for your New Year’s celebration. Easy to make and loaded with flavor, the whole family will love this one.

Classic Coq Au Vin

This classic French-style stew is made with tender chicken and a savory red wine sauce. Serve with mashed potatoes, noodles, or polenta for a hearty, filling, and comforting meal.

Easy Homemade Ricotta Gnocchi

Bet you didn’t know you could whip up your own gnocchi from scratch in just 30 minutes. Authentic and delicious, these handmade gnocchi are beyond delicious. Serve with a fresh tomato sauce or browned butter sage sauce.

Butternut Squash Mac And Cheese

This is the time of year when squash slips its way into every meal and it’s always a hit. This creamy mac ‘n cheese dish is hearty and delicious. Plus, it’s healthier, too.

Sweet Pea Risotto With Basil & Pancetta

Creamy and flavorful, this sweet pea risotto is topped with basil, parmesan cheese, and pancetta. What’s not to like?

Pork Chops With Apples And Cider Pan Sauce

Made with sautéd apples and a thick, sweet, flavorful cider pan sauce, this is the best way to get perfectly juicy pork chops.

New Year’s Eve-Day Lentil Soup

Did you know lentil soup could be this delicious? Once you try it, you’ll totally understand why Italians begin and end each year with a hearty and delicious bowl of this savory soup.