28 Easy New Year’s Dinner Recipes You Need To Try

When New Year’s Day rolls around, most people want to whip up a dish that is extremely tasty, but they usually want to take it easy because New Year’s Eve took up most of their energy.

28 Easy New Year's Dinner Recipes You Need To Try

There are plenty of dishes out there that you can make for New Year’s Day that is incredibly tasty, but they won’t take up too much of your day and they won’t require much physical or mental effort.

We’ve put together a list of 27 New Year’s Day dinner recipes that are easy to make and absolutely delicious. So let’s jump right into the list now!

1. Broiled Lobster Tail

Kicking off this list, we have the broiled lobster tail. This is a wonderful dish to serve up for New Year’s Day because it is tasty and easy to make.

Start your year off with the taste of the ocean with these broiled lobster tails.

Frozen lobster works fine, but if you can get them fresh, you should definitely do that.

2. Beef Osso Bucco

If you’re after some hearty comfort food, then this beef Osso Bucco is perfect for you.

The beef itself is covered in a thick and savory sauce that is sure to please your taste buds.

This is one of those recipes that takes a while to make, but the prep makes it really easy. It’s definitely worth the wait time with this dish.

3. Southern New Year’s Day Dinner Skillet

New Year’s Day is all about comfort and relaxation.

If you don’t want to spend all day slaving over a meal, but you still want something that tastes amazing, then you need to try this dish.

This Southern New Year’s Day dinner skillet is super simple and easy to make and you won’t be in your kitchen for longer than 30 minutes.

This particular dish is filled with all the good luck foods of the season, which include pork, black-eyed peas, and black-eyed peas.

4. Fettuccine Alfredo

If you want to keep your New Year’s Day dinner nice and simple, then this Fettuccine Alfredo is the perfect dish to make.

All you need to make this tasty dish is garlic, butter, cream, and cheese.

It is incredibly creamy and filling and will only take you about 30 minutes to make altogether.

Just because it’s New Year’s Day, that doesn’t mean you have to make an extravagant meal. Sometimes, less is more!

5. Short Ribs With Creamy Polenta

If you want something really meaty, then this recipe is a great choice to go for.

It will take you about 2 hours to make, but the results are definitely worth it.

The ribs are cooked so they are incredibly tender and they are drizzled in a beautiful sauce that is absolutely delicious.

6. Tomato Tagliatelle With Chorizo And Olives

Another beautiful pasta dish, this tomato tagliatelle is quick and easy to make.

It is sweet thanks to the tomatoes, a little spicy thanks to the chorizo, and has a beautiful saltiness to it thanks to the olives.

This is the perfect dish for you to make for New Year’s Day, especially when you’re after something simple but tasty to make.

7. Creamy Cauliflower Soup With Almond-Thyme Gremolata

The whole period around New Year’s Day is the absolute best time to indulge in some creamy and warm soups, and this creamy cauliflower soup is absolutely bursting with flavor.

The beauty of this soup is that besides tasting delicious, it’s also super simple to make and you won’t be spending more than 40 minutes in the kitchen.

The almond/thyme topping only adds to the deliciousness this soup has to offer. You’ll find yourself making it again and again.

8. French Onion Soup

Another variation of soup, this French onion soup is absolutely to die for. The onions are caramelized, so the flavors pop even more.

This soup is one of the ultimate comfort foods that is sure to go down as a treat on New Year’s Day. 

As this soup is slow-cooked, it will take you roughly two hours to make altogether, but you can take it nice and slow and it’s super easy to make, so there will be no stress on the first day of the year.

Don’t forget to add the topping of cheesy broiled toasts to this soup to really enjoy the full flavor!

9. Gluten-Free Spaghetti With Clams And Bacon Crumbs

This gluten-free spaghetti is absolutely delicious and a whole lot healthier than normal spaghetti.

The mixture of the clams and bacon really adds to the overall flavor of this dish and it is absolutely delicious. 

You’ll only be spending about an hour of your time in the kitchen with this one too, so you can spend the vast majority of your New Year’s Day relaxing.

10. Roasted Pork Chops And Pears

This is a perfect dish if you want something light that is the perfect blend of sweet and savory.

The pears work really well with the pork chops and you’re sure to be left feeling satisfied after you’ve had this dish.

It’s got a bit of a “party food” vibe to it, so you can carry the NYE spirit into New Year’s Day with this dish.

The best part about this delicious dish is that it only takes 30 minutes to make, so you’ll be dining in no time at all.

11. Crispy Pork Noodles

If pasta isn’t your thing, then you should get some noodles on the go.

They are super simple and quick to cook and make and with the inclusion of the crispy pork, they taste even more delicious.

This particular recipe is absolutely jam-packed with flavor and it’s perfect for the colder January nights.

This recipe uses ramen noodles that are coated in a creamy peanut sauce and mixed in with a load of other tasty ingredients.

12. Traditional Lamb Stew

Sometimes, traditional is the best way to go, and it doesn’t get much more traditional than this lamb stew!

This recipe is incredibly delicious and warm, bringing you comfort through the lovely flavors on a cold winter’s day.

You’ll only need to put aside an hour of your time to make this dish and it’s super straightforward and easy to make.

13. Country Chuck Roast With Mushroom Gravy

If you do have a bit of extra time that you want to put into cooking an extravagant New Year’s Day meal, then this country chuck roast is a great dish to make.

This is a completely savory roast that is drenched in beautiful mushroom gravy.

You’ll feel warmed up and comforted as you dig into this delicious dish.

It might look a bit complicated when you first view the recipe, but once you get into the flow and leave it to cook, you’ll see that it’s actually a lot more simple than it seems!

14. Lasagna With White Sauce

Another classic dish, you can’t really go very wrong when you whip up a homemade lasagna.

Pretty much everyone loves this dish and it’s super filling and quick to make.

Even if you’ve never made a homemade lasagna before, you’ll find that this recipe is super straightforward and simple, so you’ll have a lasagna made up in no time and your family will definitely be thanking you for it!

15. Black-Eyed Peas & Ham

Black-eyed peas & ham are both very traditional and classic foods to eat on New Year’s Day.

They are both believed to bring you good luck for the whole year if you eat them on January 1st.

This dish combines them together to make an absolutely delicious recipe and it is slow-cooked to perfection.

It might take a bit longer to make, but you can leave it to cook unsupervised, so it won’t force you to compromise your relaxation.

16. Orange Pomegranate Salmon

Though pork and ham are the traditional meats you’d find at the dinner table on New Year’s Day, that doesn’t mean you can’t mix it up a bit and have fish instead (see also ‘17 Rockfish Recipes‘)!

This orange pomegranate salmon is absolutely zesty and citrusy.

The salmon soaks up those tangy flavors of the orange and pomegranate to really create a beautiful taste sensation. 

This dish is also incredibly easy to make and you won’t be spending more than 25 minutes in the kitchen.

17. BBQ Chicken And Apple Bread Pudding

Don’t let the title of “bread pudding” fool you, this dish is 100% a savory one!

Though it is savory, the inclusion of apple does give it a subtly sweet taste, but it is definitely designed to be the main course.

This is the perfect dish to serve in celebration of the year ahead.

18. Blue Cheese-Mushroom Stuffed Tenderloin

This dish is great if you want something that looks a little bit more extravagant, but is super simple to make.

It might look like it was created in a 5-star restaurant, but that isn’t the case at all!

The blue cheese compliments the tenderloin roast beautifully, and the inclusion of Worcestershire sauce gives this dish a subtle tang that just makes it taste even better.

19. Salmon With Horseradish Pistachio Crust

Another salmon dish you absolutely need to try, the horseradish pistachio crust gives the soft salmon a beautiful crunch that will satisfy you with each bite.

This salmon dish not only looks great, but it also tastes great and it’s incredibly easy to make.

In total, you’ll only be spending 30 minutes in the kitchen and the results will be delicious.

20. Sweet Pea Risotto

This sweet pear risotto is perfect if you want a light dish that also tastes fantastic.

It is incredibly creamy and very vegetarian friendly, but even if you’re a meat eater, you can still enjoy this dish.

It is super simple to make and you’ll only have to put aside 45 minutes of your time to make it.

This recipe is perfect for anyone who wants to whip up something quick that is lovely in taste and loved by the whole family.

21. Crispy Caprese Cakes

This is a great recipe if you’ve got some leftover risotto that you want to use.

These crispy Caprese cakes are absolutely bursting with flavor and they are the perfect light dish to serve to your loved ones while you’re enjoying the first day of the year.

This dish does have a lot of ingredients, but you’ll be happy to know that it is super simple to make and you won’t be spending more than an hour making it.

22. Wild Mushroom Risotto

This is one for all the mushroom lovers out there

Risotto is nice and simple to make and it tastes absolutely delicious, but when you throw in some mushrooms, it gives the dish a beautiful crunch that will really satisfy your taste buds and leave you feeling great as you start your year.

One of the other main ingredients for this dish is cheese which really makes this mushroom risotto extra creamy and tangy.

23. Instant Pot Pork Ragu

Pork ragu usually takes quite a while to make, but this instant pot version means that you’ll only have to spend about an hour and twenty minutes in the kitchen instead.

It tastes just like a normal pork ragu and it is incredibly comforting on a cold winter’s evening. Start your year off right with this pork ragu.

24. Mushroom And Brussel Sprouts Pizza

What’s better than enjoying some pizza at the start of the new year?

This particular pizza recipe will have you using mushrooms and Brussel sprouts as your toppings, which may sound a bit anticlimactic, but it’s actually incredibly delicious!

This pizza recipe is actually quite healthy as well, so you can enjoy a tasty pizza completely guilt-free and it will only take you 25 minutes to make.

25. Creamy Broccolini Pasta With Chile Breadcrumbs

Pasta really is one of the best dishes for New Year’s Day because it’s super quick and easy to make and it always tastes amazing.

If you’re wondering what broccolini is, it’s pretty much the same as normal broccoli, but the florets are a lot smaller and the stalks are a lot longer and thinner.

This dish is incredibly creamy and the addition of chili breadcrumbs gives the overall dish a little spicy kick that compliments all the ingredients perfectly.

26. Spicy Radish Salad With Seared Steak

This spicy radish salad is absolutely jam-packed with flavor and each ingredient goes so well together.

The steak and the salad are drizzled in a beautiful fish sauce and the inclusion of the red chili gives the whole dish a spicy kick that only brings out the flavors even more.

27. Spinach And Artichoke Mac & Cheese

Mac & Cheese is another classic comfort food that is absolutely delicious, but when you add spinach and artichoke to this dish, it just enhances the flavor even more.

This dish will only take you 55 minutes to make and it is super easy as well! You’ll be dining on this ultimate comfort meal in absolutely no time at all.

28. Ricotta Gnocchi With Toasted Garlic & Walnuts

And finally, we have this delicious Ricotta Gnocchi.

The toasted garlic & walnuts give it an extra depth of flavor, coupled with a delightful crunch that will keep you satisfied with each mouthful.

The ricotta cheese makes this dish extra creamy too.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Should You Avoid Eating On New Year’s Day?

Lots of people believe that you should avoid eating poultry on New Year’s Day.

This is a superstitious belief that says if you do eat any poultry, your good luck for the year ahead will “fly away”.

If you are superstitious, you may want to avoid eating any poultry on New Year’s Day. Another food you want to avoid for the same reason is lobster.

What Food Brings Good Luck On New Year’s Day?

If you want to keep your luck in a good place, the best things you can eat on New Year’s Day are black-eyed peas and collard greens.

Eating these two things on New Year’s Day is said to bring you good luck and prosperity if you eat them on the first day of the year.

What Meat Should You Eat On New Year’s Day?

If you want even more good luck on New Year’s Day, then the best meat you can eat is pork.

It is believed in lots of cultures that pork will definitely improve your luck and set you up for good fortune throughout the year.

Conclusion

Working out what to eat for your New Year’s Day meal couldn’t be easier with the help of these recipes.

Try some of these dishes out today and see which one will work best for your New Year’s Day dinner!

28 Easy New Year's Dinner Recipes You Need To Try

28 Easy New Year’s Dinner Recipes You Need To Try

Recipe by Jenna

Are you struggling to work out what dish to make for New Year’s Day? Well, click here to find out about 28 easy-to-make recipes you need to try!

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