The holidays are all about eating whatever we want, right? You’ve spent the last month indulging in sweets and all the comfort foods you love. NYE is the perfect excuse to change things around. To help you start the year right, I have 23+ healthy New Years Eve appetizers that are bursting with flavor.
23+ Healthy New Year’s Eve Appetizers to Start the Year Right
1. Sweet Potato Feta Bites
Ditch the bread, and create your own “crostini” with crispy sweet potato slices. Top with homemade or healthy hummus, diced tomatoes, feta cheese and fresh basil. Fast, healthy and delicious!
I recommend using garlic or red pepper hummus for extra flavor.
2. Baked Artichoke Hearts
Artichokes always seem to make their way into appetizer recipes. But let’s make this delicious ingredient healthier by just baking it with spices and a little bit of breadcrumbs and cheese. Super easy to make. Full of flavor and 100% guilt-free.
3. Spinach Balls
These spinach balls are delicious! The Parmesan and mozzarella cheese pair perfectly with the spinach and spices. The breadcrumbs help keep these bite-sized delights in form. You can serve these with any type of dipping sauce you want: marinara sauce, tzatziki sauce, honey mustard or even ranch dressing.
4. Grilled Peach and Ricotta Crostini
Savory and sweet. This is one of the top healthy New Years Eve appetizers because the combination of flavors is unmatched.
You’ll need fresh, ripe peaches for this dish. If you can’t get your hands on any at this time of year, you can use high-quality preserved peaches instead. Top each crostini with ricotta cheese, a slice of peach and balsamic glaze.
Related: 21+ Delicious New Year’s Eve Finger Food Ideas for Your Party This Year
5. Baked Zucchini Garlic Bites
These zucchini garlic bites are delectable. Fresh lemon, herbs and garlic add so much flavor. You’ll make a tasty homemade dipping sauce for these, but you can also use ranch dressing, marinara sauce or whatever dip you prefer. This recipe bakes the bites, but you can also use an air fryer if you prefer.
6. Elegant Veggie Tray
Look how gorgeous and colorful this veggie tray is! It’s proof that you can serve something that’s just as healthy as it is beautiful. Ingredients like watermelon radishes, red and yellow carrots, purple cauliflower and orange cauliflower add new flavors to this tray while adding bursts of color. Serve with ranch dressing, dill and hummus to give everyone plenty of options.
7. Crispy Brussels Sprouts with Dijon Aioli
It doesn’t get much healthier than Brussels sprouts as an appetizer. This recipe roasts this veggie until it’s crispy and delicious (about 18-20 minutes). Serve with a delicious Dijon aioli made with mayo, olive oil, mustard and spices.
8. Keto Cucumber Caprese Appetizers
These cucumber bites are so elegant and delicious. Top cucumber slices with fresh mozzarella slices, cherry tomatoes, fresh basil and a drop of balsamic vinegar. So simple but irresistible and a healthy choice to serve at your NYE gathering.
9. Avocado Cucumber Shrimp Appetizers
A healthy app choice that’s a little more satiating and fun to make. Perfectly cooked shrimp pairs with delicious avocado with this appetizer. You’ll layer these ingredients on top of cucumber slices for a healthy treat that your tastebuds will love.
I recommend making these just before you’re rushing out the door or your guests arrive, so the avocado holds its gorgeous green color.
10. Pear Blue Cheese Honey Crostini with Walnuts
Who says healthy appetizers have to be boring? I love this recipe because the presentation is beautiful and the flavors are amazing.
Blue cheese and pears are a match made in heaven and the crusty ciabatta is just the icing on the cake. Top with walnuts and a spoonful of honey for an unforgettable healthy app anyone and everyone will love.
11. Melon Prosciutto Skewers
These skewers are the perfect addition to your NYE gathering and a healthy app that doesn’t skimp on flavor. You’ll need a melon baller to scoop out the melon pieces, fresh basil, mozzarella balls, prosciutto and balsamic glaze. Add your ingredients to skewers (these ones are festive) and serve! Easy.
12. Zucchini Rollups Stuffed with Lemon-Basil Ricotta and Tomatoes
These are some of the most elegant, healthy New Years Eve appetizers on this list. Zucchini slices topped with lemon-basil ricotta and rolled up to make the perfect bite-sized treat. Top with a fresh basil leaf and a tasty slow-roasted tomato.
What I really love about this recipe is that it’s so easy to make. The zucchini slices only need to cook for just a few minutes before they’re ready for rolling.
Related: The 25+ Best New Year’s Eve Appetizers for a Potluck Party
13. Asparagus Puff Pastry Bundles
This classic appetizer is healthier than most options out there. Each little puff pastry bundle is stuffed with fresh asparagus tips, melted Gruyere cheese and slices of prosciutto. Bake for just 10-15 minutes, and you’re ready to serve. You can even make these ahead of time to make NYE less stressful.
14. Stuffed Dates with Cream Cheese, Pistachios, and Honey
Sweet and healthy? Count me in. These dates are stuffed with cream cheese and pistachio and topped with honey. It’s as easy as filling the dates with cream cheese, chopping pistachio and pressing them into the cheese and arranging them on a platter.
If you want to add to the taste, drizzle your honey on top and add a pinch of flaky salt.
15. Crab and Cream Cheese Stuffed Snow Peas
Stuffing snow peas with crab and cream cheese is not something I would have ever thought to do on my own. But the author of this recipe knocked it out of the park with this recipe because it’s simple to put together and tastes fantastic.
You’ll slice open the snow peas very carefully – be mindful of your fingers – after blanching the peas. Add your cream cheese, crab meat, parsley, garlic, salt and pepper into a bowl and mix before stuffing the peas.
Allow to cool for an hour and serve.
16. Roasted Olive and Feta Stuffed Mushroom Caps
Cheese and olives stuffed into mushrooms and baked to perfection is the best way to describe this appetizer. You’ll need baby portabella mushrooms, green olives, garlic cloves, thyme, rosemary, olive oil, red pepper flakes, feta cheese, roasted red pepper and flat-leaf parsley for this recipe.
And once assembled, you’ll line a baking sheet with some parchment pepper and bake for about 40 minutes.
17. Veggie Pizza Party Appetizer
I didn’t think pizza would make it on this year’s list of healthy New Years Eve appetizers, but with a veggie pizza, it did. Of course, you won’t enjoy a traditional dough and will use crescent rolls instead.
Swap the mozzarella cheese for cream cheese and sour cream, and then add your fresh dill and chives, salt and pepper and veggies.
Sometimes, you need to compromise with your appetizers, and this is a good compromise if you’re craving pizza.
18. Beet and Goat Cheese Napoleons
You must be a fan of beets or don’t try this recipe. Why? Because you’ll have what looks like a layered cake with layers of alternating beet slices and goat cheese. The author adds a nice twist with hazelnut oil and chopped hazelnuts that add to the flavor of each bite.
19. Crostini Appetizer with Goat Cheese and Pomegranate
How elegant do these crostini look? Something about the goat cheese and pomegranate really give this such a nice presentation and taste. And it’s so simple to make:
- Bake the crostini slices with some olive oil on top for about 8 minutes
- Add your minced garlic and saute in a pan with rosemary
- Combine the cream cheese and goat cheese together
- Add your garlic and rosemary to the mix
- Spread on the crostini
- Top with pomegranate arils and rosemary leaves
And don’t forget to drizzle a dab of honey on top.
20. Spring Garden Bites
Healthy New Years Eve appetizers like these are perfect for a light treat that’s filled with flavor but still good for you. Produce will include carrots, dill, radishes and snap peas. Whipped cream cheese will sit between the produce and will have celery salt, pepper, garlic and onion powder mixed in.
21. Apricot Ricotta Honey Basil Bites
Apricots are your “sandwich” here and will be filled with ricotta cheese, fresh basil and sea salt. You’ll drizzle some honey and balsamic glaze on top. The author calls for Delallo glaze, but you can swap it out for your preferred balsamic glaze.
22. Blackberry Cucumber Caprese Skewers
Bamboo skewers are all you need to make these delightful, fresh skewers. You’ll add your fresh mozzarella balls first, followed by basil, blackberries and cucumbers. Drizzle some balsamic glaze on top for added flavor.
Related: 17+ Classic New Year’s Eve Desserts That Never Go Out of Style
23. Olives and Cheese
What’s not to love with olives and cheese? Pull out your holiday platter and add your marinated olives onto the platter, along with your cheeses. The recipe calls for a package of sharp white cheddar cheese and some cream cheese.
If you like, add toasted slices of a fresh French baguette.
