30-Minute New Year’s Appetizers Perfect for Champagne Toasts

Easy, flavorful bites to kickstart your New Year's Eve festivities and keep the party rolling past midnight.

By
Mimi Young
Mimi Young
Mimi Young
Editor
Mimi Young is an editor and pastry chef. She has also curated and written numerous recipe roundups for Serious Eats.
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Published December 28, 2025
Dipping a chip in the caesar dip

Serious Eats / Two Bites

I’ve probably spent more New Year’s Eves working than celebrating, so I know a thing or two about what makes a great party appetizer—the kind that disappears the moment it hits the table. My favorites are always the ones that not only taste amazing but are easy to assemble…and replenish. So we’ve curated a list of New Year’s appetizers that take about 30 minutes to prep and can all be made well in advance, including buckwheat blinis, salmon rillettes, shrimp cocktail, broiled bacon-wrapped blue cheese–stuffed figs, and Caesar dip. You’ll spend more time partying and less time fussing in the kitchen.

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  • Great Deviled Eggs

    20110915-deviled-eggs.jpeg
    Photograph and video: J. Kenji López-Alt

    Think of a great deviled egg recipe as the hors d’oeuvre equivalent of an LBD—a classic you should always have on hand to dress up for any occasion. Homemade mayo, extra yolks, plenty of acid and mustard, crunchy sea salt, and flavorful extra-virgin olive oil elevate simple steamed eggs to new heights. Want to make them even fancier? Try one of these variations.

  • Buckwheat Blini Recipe

    20181204-blini-vicky-wasik-61
    Vicky Wasik

    If you’re going to serve caviar—and New Year’s Eve is probably the only time many people get to taste it—then buckwheat blinis are essential. Unlike the traditional yeasted variety, these little savory pancakes are leavened with baking powder and baking soda, so they come together in no time. Buttermilk adds a pleasantly mild tang, while whipped egg whites create a light texture.

  • Classic Mignonette Recipe

    20181115-how-to-serve-oysters-vicky-wasik-20
    Vicky Wasik

    There are countless ways to embellish raw oysters on the half shell beyond a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. Mignonette, by far the simplest and most elegant, consists of just three ingredients: finely minced shallots, a mild white vinegar (such as Champagne), and whole toasted, crushed black peppercorns. An extra-sharp paring knife is key to making precision cuts that let the natural sweetness of the shallots shine.

  • Plump and Tender Shrimp Cocktail

    Shrimp cocktail on a ceramic plate with cocktail sauce and sliced lemons, on a stone background with a yellow dish towel.

    Serious Eats / Debbie Wee

    A platter of tender, plump shrimp cocktail is the quintessential New Year’s Eve appetizer. For the juiciest, bounciest, most flavorful bite, dry-brine the shrimp with baking soda and salt, then gently cook them in an aromatic broth and chill. Whip up a batch of homemade cocktail sauce with ketchup, prepared horseradish, fresh lemon juice, and a few seasonings—or crack open a jar of your favorite store-bought variety—and garnish with plenty of lemon wedges.

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  • Salmon Rillettes With Chives and Shallots Recipe

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    Vicky Wasik

    The great thing about salmon rillettes is that you can make this luxurious fish spread with any fatty part of the salmon, such as the belly or head. Gently poach diced pieces in an aromatic stock until just cooked through and easy to flake apart. Then stir in mayo, butter-sautéed shallots, fresh lemon juice, chives, and a pinch of spice.

  • Cheesy Papillons Recipe

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    Kerry Saretsky

    Cheesy puff pastry butterflies are a festive upgrade from the usual puff pastry straws—and they’re quicker to form, too. One twist in the center of each strip and they bake up into gloriously large, crispy, irresistibly salty party bow ties.

  • Bacon-Wrapped Figs With Blue Cheese and Bourbon Recipe

    20180307-bacon-wrapped-stuffed-bourbon-figs-overhead-morgan-eisenberg
    Morgan Eisenberg

    I’m all for any hors d’oeuvres wrapped in bacon, but these broiled fresh figs stuffed with blue cheese are chef’s kiss—a dynamic combination of sweet, savory, funky, creamy, and crispy. A buttery, bourbon-spiked caramel glaze provides the perfect finish, complementing and enhancing the salty, smoky, and sweet flavors.

  • Olive— and Rosemary—Spiced Cashews

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    Daniel Gritzer

    Strategically placed bowls of spiced nuts are an easy snack to have on hand for guests to nibble as they move about the room. Here, microwave-dehydrated rosemary and olives give cashews a savory, salty, herbal kick that’s balanced by a light candy coating.

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  • Savory Caesar Dip

    Dipping a chip in the caesar dip

    Serious Eats / Two Bites

    If you prefer the assertively garlicky, anchovy-rich flavor of Caesar over the mildness of classic ranch dressing, this cream cheese–based dip is right up your alley. Mashing garlic and anchovies with salt into a paste ensures even distribution, yielding a creamy dip with no sharp pockets of raw garlic. A tangy trifecta of softened cream cheese, mayo, and sour cream creates a more complex flavor profile.

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