On New Year’s Eve people from all across the globe gather together in force to celebrate the coming of the new year, and while these celebrations may vary slightly depending upon your location, there are three things that are typically present at every one of these celebrations: alcohol, fireworks, and food. The choice of alcohol, the yield of the fireworks, and the types of food that are served may all vary, but each is a part of the culmination of events that lead us to that inevitable countdown of the clock, the drop of an item representative of the location, the kiss of lovers at the stroke of midnight, and the launch of massive amounts of exploding rockets into the sky over our heads. With so many factors to enjoy during a New Year’s celebration, while hosting your own event it would be a true shame to spend your evening preparing food. This article discusses some possible serving suggestions that will not only make the night much easier on the host but ensure that everyone in attendance enjoys some tasty, though easy to make, party food.

While chips and dip are often commonplace, and we will discuss some variations on that traditional choice in a moment, there are many other easy foods to serve in order to satisfy your guests. The size of the celebration warrants some important choices about what types of food should be served; while it may be more feasible to serve only snack foods at a large gathering, if it is a small celebration a more complete meal may be in order. The key here is to keep it simple and efficient, this includes choosing foods that many people share a taste for.

If your location allows you to spent time outdoors grilling, then the door is wide open for the types of food that can be consumed, and in this case a “Bring Your Own Meat” theme may be appropriate. This would work especially well for a large gathering because it would make the evening easier for the host for a number of reasons, first of all being cost since it is quite expensive to feed a large group of people. Additionally, many people who bring their own food may be more likely to want to cook it themselves on a grill that is already heated and in service, in any case the guests are rarely there solely for the food and are likely to bring something that is easy to cook, such as hamburgers or hot dogs. If the host is the type of person who enjoys the art of grilling, then this may be yet another joyful aspect of the celebration; optionally, if that is the case a more thorough plan may be considered which involves the preparation of a specific delicacy, or personal choice.

The key is to keep it simple though, and this includes a consideration of the cleanup that will inevitably take place following the party. Grilling outdoors, whether using charcoal or propane, does slightly cut down on the amount of cleaning duties that may ensue, but since the holiday falls during the winter this isn’t always feasible. Cooking indoors is the most common practice, which makes a “Bring Your Own Meat” theme much more of a hassle, unless of course you establish a limit on the variety foods that will be cooked. As mentioned before, hot dogs and hamburgers are a common choice and while cooking indoors the ease of their preparation, as well the amount of cleanup to follow, can be reduced by using an electrically powered, counter-top grill. These grills are easy to use, they cook on both sides at one, reducing the time spent checking for wellness and flipping meat, and since the spent juices from the meat are collected in a tray, cleanup is a breeze. By using a grill such as this the ease at which steaks or chops can be produced is increased, as well as spiced or sauce-covered chicken breast.

If you want to go even easier than that however, or perhaps would like to make something with even less cleanup to follow, chips and dip may be more appropriate. There are some variations to consider however, while you could go the typical route and buy some of the more popular varieties of dip and chips to match, you can also make your very own distinct dip quite easily. One popular choice is to mix velvetta cheese and a can of rotell sauce to make what is referred to queso dip, or sometimes even “Superbowl Dip”. These two items are combined, mixed, and then heated together; the finished product makes for a tasty dip which when combined with the correct style of chip results in little cleanup in the way of dishes or spent paper plates. Nowadays a chip referred to as a “scoop” makes for a great compliment to your dip, and if you add items such as ground beef, additional peppers, or other vegetables, scoops make it easier for your guests to enjoy the full compliment of additions to your dip.

Various types of bean or chili dips are also quite popular and there are many recipes to be found on-line, each with their own distinct combination of ingredients. These types of dips also lend themselves to be used as toppings or additions to meats that are cooked separately and combined to make tacos, quesadilla’s, burritos, or anything else that can be made using a simple tortilla wrap or shell.

Some options that don’t involve you even having to cook and can be considered as “finger foods” include precooked shrimp rings, which often come in a container with a packet of cocktail sauce conveniently located at it’s center. Certain types of sushi are also available in a form similar to this, as are platters of chicken wings, or chicken fingers, both of which are commonly found in the deli area of most grocery stores. While seafood may be a bit risky depending upon the taste requirements of your guests, pinwheel sandwiches are another great choice, and are available in a variety of choices, including meat and veggie variations. Fresh fruits and vegetables also make a good addition to your banquet of food. Items such as grapes and strawberries are both easy and healthy, and sliced fruit such as kiwi, cantaloupe, or watermelon may add an unexpected option to some of the more heavy foods and dips that are traditionally served. 

Two other great finger foods, though two that require a bit of hands-on preparation are cheese-filled meatballs, or Portobello Mushoom caps topped with sausage and cheese. Truly this list could go on and on, and as distinct as their regions of the world, people prepare many types of food to be consumed at celebrations. While you can always just put out a few bowls of pretzels, trail mix, chips, or maybe some crackers and a can of spray-on cheese, a distinct dish for your party can add a new dimension to the celebration and impress your guests with your choice of improvised culinary delights.