Potlucks are my favorite type of party because there’s always something new and interesting to try. This NYE, if you’re invited to a potluck, don’t stress. I have 25+ amazing New Years Eve appetizers for a potluck party that everyone will adore.
The 25+ Best New Year’s Eve Appetizers for a Potluck Party
1. Jalapeno Popper Hash Brown Cups
Add a little spice to the party with these savory jalapeno popper hash brown cups. These crispy bites are stuffed with bacon, cheddar cheese, jalapenos and spices. I recommend using frozen hash browns for this recipe to save time, but you can always make your own if you have the time.
You’ll need a muffin pan for this recipe. I suggest using a silicone pan because you never have to worry about your hash brown cups sticking.
2. Cranberry Bacon Jam Crostini
Homemade cranberry bacon jam and gooey Gruyere cheese atop crusty crostini. What more could you ask for? This appetizer will impress everyone, and they’ll devour them in minutes. The jam is made with bacon fat as the base, and you’ll add a pinch of brown sugar, sherry vinegar and fresh herbs to the mix. It’s an explosion of flavor!
3. Chicken Artichoke Bites
Flaky phyllo cups stuffed with a savory chicken and artichoke filling. Add bacon and cheese to the filling, and you have an irresistible appetizer for your potluck.
Just fill, bake, serve and enjoy!
4. Cranberry, Brie and Prosciutto Crostini
Looking for elegant New Years Eve appetizers for a potluck party? These crostini are perfect! Top crusty bread with slices of Brie cheese, prosciutto and a spoonful of cranberry sauce. Add chopped walnuts, a drizzle of balsamic glaze and a sprig of mint or arugula.
5. Mini Reuben Bites
All of the delicious flavors of a Reuben sandwich in bite-sized form – perfect for a potluck party. The best part? They take minutes to assemble and look so elegant if you spend a little time on the presentation. Top cocktail rye bread with Swiss cheese spread, quality stone ground mustard, corned beef and a dollop of sauerkraut.
6. Cheddar Bacon Garlic Crostini
I love crostini (can you tell?), and this variation is so perfect for a potluck because it’s a little bit different than the usual options. You’ll top slices of crusty bread with a cheesy spread mixed with bacon, green onions and spices. You can serve these pre-spread, or you can serve the topping in a bowl and let everyone build their own crostini.
7. Maple Caramel Bacon Crack Bites
These bites really are addicting! Flaky phyllo cups stuffed with a savory-sweet filling of bacon, brown sugar and maple syrup. Super simple but bursting with flavor. Just bake for 10-15 minutes, and you’re ready to serve.
8. Sheet Pan Smoked Sausage Cranberry Bites
We love bringing these sausage bites to potluck parties because they’re always a hit, and the combination of flavors is unbeatable. They couldn’t be simpler to make, either. Top roasted smoked sausage slices with a slice of cheddar cheese, a drop of cranberry sauce and a parsley leaf. Add this stylish toothpick to hold it all together.
Related: 21+ Delicious New Year’s Eve Finger Food Ideas for Your Party This Year
9. Smoky Pimento Cheese Balls
Forget the usual cheese ball appetizers. Shake things up with these smoky pimento cheese balls. Blend grated sharp cheddar cheese, crushed cheddar cheese crackers, pimentos and spices in a food processor. Roll each ball into a bowl of crushed crackers, top with a green olive and hold it all together with a toothpick.
10. Spinach Puffs
An easy appetizer that doesn’t skimp on flavor. Crispy puff pastries stuffed with cheesy spinach filling that takes just a few minutes to make. Use a muffin pan to make these puffs bite-sized and easy to transport to your potluck.
11. Baked Brie and Bread Wreath
Here’s an appetizer that’s so festive and fun to bring to a potluck. It’s a labor of love, but worth every minute. You’ll make the pillowy-soft bread yourself, along with the Brie dip. The pull-apart herbed bread and tasty cheesy dip will be the talk of the party.
12. Pretty Prosciutto Rose Appetizers
These are beautiful New Years Eve appetizers for a potluck party. And they only require four ingredients – rice crackers, fresh dill, whipped cream cheese and prosciutto. Roll the prosciutto slices to make pretty roses, and use a piping bag to make your cream cheese look extra-fancy.
13. Jalapeno Popper Crescent Rolls
These crescent rolls look gorgeous on a serving platter, but they won’t last long because they are divine. Buttery crescent rolls stuffed with cheese, jalapeno and bacon – need I say more? They’re ready in just 15 minutes, so even if you’re in a rush, you can still bring something tasty to the party.
14. Baked Mashed Potatoes Bites
Crispy potatoes really do make the best appetizers for NYE. But instead of using tator tots, this recipe bakes a savory mashed potato mix until it’s perfectly crispy. Fresh parsley, Parmesan cheese, prosciutto and spices add so much flavor to these potato bites. They’re baked in a muffin tin to make them the perfect size for snacking.
15. Carmelized Onion Tartlets
These tartlets are savory, flakey and sure to be the favorite appetizer at the potluck. Stuff phyllo cups with Brie cheese and top with caramelized onions and fresh thyme. You can make these ahead of time, so you’re not rushing the day of the party.
Related: 17+ Best New Year’s Eve Drink Ideas for Every Guest Type on Your List
16. Mac and Cheese Cups
Everyone will love these mac and cheese cups – especially the kids. And you’ll be amazed by how easy they are to make. You’ll make your own cheese sauce for this. Panko breadcrumbs and fresh grated Parmesan cheese make these little cups crispy and flavorful. You’ll bake these bites in a muffin tin to make them just the right size.
17. Cream Cheese Chicken Crescent Rolls
These crescent rolls are one of my favorite New Years Eve appetizers for a potluck party. Why? Because they’re more substantial than some other bite-sized apps. Crescent rolls are stuffed with a filling of cheesy chicken, peppers, onions and ranch dressing.
18. Boursin Deviled Eggs
Deviled eggs are a classic appetizer for a potluck, and these ones are gorgeous. The filling features delicious Boursin cheese mixed with mayo and brown sugar. Top with mustard caviar, a sprig of parsley and a fresh pansy.
19. Brie Phyllo Cups with Blackberry and Thyme
Brie phyllo cups with blackberry, thyme, fresh preserves and honey are overflowing with flavor. You’ll place the phyllo cups on a baking sheet, fill with jam, Brie and a few other ingredients and bake for 6 to 8 minutes until the Brie melts.
Add your blackberries, thyme and drizzle with honey.
20. Herbed Goat Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms
Mushrooms. Goat cheese. What’s not to like? You’ll remove the stems of your cremini mushrooms, and then fill with a mixture of goat cheese, shredded fontina cheese, grated Parmesan cheese, chopped thyme, fresh sage, chopped chives and salt and pepper.
It’s as easy as removing the stems, filling with herbed goat cheese and baking in the oven for 20 to 25 minutes.
21. Goat Cheese and Roasted Fig Tartlet
Simple and elegant, these goat cheese tartlets are a delight for the tastebuds. You’ll roast the figs to make them sweeter and juicer. Phyllo cups, goat cheese, whipping cream, honey, chopped chives and lemon zest are also required.
It’s as easy as preheating your oven, lining the sheet pan with parchment paper and roasting the figs before drizzling honey on top.
22. Luxury Caviar Canape Vol au Vents
Puff pastry, egg, caviar, creme fraiche filling and chives add a lovely flavor to this dish. Pair with cold vodka or aged champagne. While this dish is fancy, you will only need cookie cutters, piping bag and a lined oven tray.
23. Mini Lasagna Appetizer
New Years Eve appetizers for a potluck party that include a mini lasagna? I’m in. You’ll make the filling out of whole milk ricotta, lemon zest, eggs, thyme and a handful of spices. In a large bowl, you’ll mix all of the filling ingredients, cook the noodles, add the sauce and cheese and bake for up to 20 minutes.
24. Peking Duck Bites
I’ve never had Peking duck before, but there’s a first time for everything, right? Each bite is filled with flavor, and since the recipe calls for just mini muffin tins, a large saute pan and some tongs, you likely have all of the equipment you need to make these.
But you will need some interesting ingredients, such as duck breasts and Chinese five spice powder (Amazon has this one).
25. Herby Olive Goat Cheese Tartlets
Tartlets are cute, tasty and easy to assemble. Savory and satisfying, you’ll make the shells from egg yolk, heavy cream, all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, sea salt, ground pepper and butter. For the filling, you’ll make a goat cheese filling out of:
- Goat cheese
- Heavy cream
- Lemon zest
- Chopped parsley
- Chives
- Sea salt
- Ground pepper
And you’ll top everything off with a marinated olive topping.
Related: 25+ Delicious New Year’s Eve Food Ideas for Your Party This Year
26. Antipasto Terrine with Provolone, Pesto and Tomato
Layers of delectable pesto, tomato capsicum and cream cheese go extremely well together. And these are almost like small delightful “cakes” that you put on crackers and eat. You’ll need a loaf tin for this recipe, along with quite a few ingredients.
27. Purple Potato Bites
I had to make sure this recipe was real the first time I came across it because – just look at it – they’re purple potato bites. But they are real and use purple potatoes, creme fraiche, chopped chives, dill, horseradish, salt and pepper and black caviar.
Cooking is as easy as boiling a pot of water, letting the potatoes cook until tender and mixing the creme fraiche with other ingredients.
