29 Realistic New Year's Eve Recipes That Are Just A Tiny Bit Fancy

    Ring in the New Year with a meal that tastes extra special.

    Hannah Loewentheil
    by Hannah Loewentheil

    BuzzFeed Staff

    This New Year's Eve might look a little different for many people, but you can still get a little festive and celebrate at home. Here are a bunch of special New Year's recipes that are just a step above the ordinary but still totally realistic. Because the end of 2020 is something worth celebrating, right?

    1. Bruschetta With Burrata, Brussels Sprouts, and Pancetta

    Three bruschetta topped with Brussels sprouts, pancetta, and burrata cheese.
    Italian Food Forever / Via italianfoodforever.com

    In place of tomatoes, this seasonal bruschetta calls for shaved Brussels sprouts and crispy pancetta on top of creamy burrata cheese.

    Recipe: Bruschetta With Burrata, Brussels Sprouts, and Pancetta

    2. Whipped Feta and Goat Cheese With Hot Honey

    Feta and goat cheese dip with hot honey.
    My Kitchen Little / Via mykitchenlittle.com

    It wouldn't be a holiday without party dips. Or cheese, for that matter. So this feta and goat cheese dip topped with hot honey checks off both boxes.

    Recipe: Whipped Feta and Goat Cheese With Hot Honey

    3. Smoked Salmon Flatbread

    A flatbread topped with cream cheese, smoked salmon, capers, and red onion.
    Cashmere and Cocktails / Via cashmereandcocktails.com

    Start with pizza dough, flatbread, naan, or even crackers as the base of this sophisticated appetizer. Top it with cream cheese, thinly sliced smoked salmon, capers, red onion, and a drizzle of lemon for good measure.

    Recipe: Smoked Salmon Pizza

    Joyful Healthy Eats / Via joyfulhealthyeats.com

    These mini crab cakes are made with lump crab meat, yogurt, lemon, and panko breadcrumbs, then they're baked from start to finish.

    Recipe: Mini Baked Crab Cakes and Sriracha Sauce

    5. Stuffed Mushrooms

    Cooking LSL / Via cookinglsl.com

    White button mushrooms are stuffed with a mixture of diced cornichons, shallots, cream cheese, Parmesan, and mushroom stems that have been sautéed in butter. They're baked in the oven until melty and golden brown.

    Recipe: Stuffed Mushrooms

    6. Mini Lobster Rolls

    Sugar and Charm / Via sugarandcharm.com

    New year's resolutions include: eat more lobster.

    Recipe: Mini Lobster Rolls

    7. Eggplant Rollatini

    The Mediterranean Dish / Via themediterraneandish.com

    Thinly sliced eggplant gets rolled with ricotta cheese, covered in pesto and marinara sauce, arranged in a baking dish, topped with even more cheese, and baked until tender and melted.

    Recipe: Eggplant Rollatini

    Coley Cooks / Via coleycooks.com

    This crispy, roasted cauliflower is a delicious mix of salty and sweet, and it makes for a show-stopping side dish. Or it can be served with pita bread and dips like hummus or romesco, making it a standalone main.

    Recipe: Roasted Cauliflower With Breadcrumbs, Capers, Almonds, and Raisins

    9. Chili Soy Salmon With Crispy Rice and Kale

    A marinated salmon fillet over crispy rice with kale.
    Fresh Fit Kitchen / Via freshfitkitchen.com

    The underrated ingredient in this Japanese-inspired salmon dish is the rice. Pan-sear sushi rice in a thin layer of coconut oil or vegetable oil until it gets golden and crunchy.

    Recipe: Chili Soy Salmon With Crispy Rice and Kale

    10. Spinach Artichoke Stuffed Chicken

    Cafe Delites / Via cafedelites.com

    Recipe: Spinach Artichoke Stuffed Chicken

    11. Grilled Lamb Chops

    Real Food by Dad / Via realfoodbydad.com

    Lamb chops aren't cheap, but for a special occasion they're a real treat. Easy to prepare, you don't have to be an experienced chef to make these taste restaurant-quality.

    Recipe: Grilled Lamb Chops

    Half Baked Harvest / Via halfbakedharvest.com

    These steaks are simply seasoned with rosemary and garlic, then they're pan-seared and topped with an incredibly creamy sauce made with butter, shallots, mushrooms, mustard, milk, and white wine.

    Recipe: Rosemary Beef Tenderloin With Mushroom Cream Sauce

    13. Rigatoni With Sausage and Kale

    Pinch of Yum / Via pinchofyum.com

    The best way to start any new year on the right foot is with a bowl of creamy and hearty sausage pasta, am I right?

    Recipe: Rigatoni With Sausage and Kale

    14. Mushroom Parmesan Shrimp Risotto

    Little Spice Jar / Via littlespicejar.com

    If you don't love shrimp, you could top this creamy risotto with just about anything. Or just stick with the mushrooms and keep it vegetarian.

    Recipe: Mushroom Parmesan Shrimp Risotto

    15. Pork Chops With Dijon Cream Sauce

    Le Creme de la Crumb / Via lecremedelacrumb.com

    While you can use any kind of pork chops for this recipe, thick-cut boneless pork chops are the best option for absorbing lots of the delicious Dijon sauce.

    Recipe: Pork Chops With Dijon Cream Sauce

    16. Baked Gnocchi

    A skillet of cheesy baked gnocchi.
    The Modern Proper / Via themodernproper.com

    If you want to get really fancy, try making potato gnocchi from scratch. Or just grab your favorite store-bought kind.

    Recipe: Baked Gnocchi

    17. Garlic Butter Flank Steak

    Number 2 Pencil / Via number-2-pencil.com

    You don't need many ingredients to whip up this cast iron skillet steak. It's seasoned simply with salt and pepper, then tossed in a pan sauce made with garlic, butter, parsley, and white wine.

    Recipe: Garlic Butter Flank Steak

    Minimalist Baker / Via minimalistbaker.com

    For a vegetarian meal that even meat-lovers will enjoy, these thick and juicy portobello steaks are topped with a herbaceous avocado chimichurri made with parsley, garlic, shallot, olive oil, and lemon juice.

    Recipe: Portobello Steaks with Avocado Chimichurri

    19. Creamy Tuscan Ravioli

    Little Spice Jar / Via littlespicejar.com

    Cheese-filled ravioli is a secret weapon in any kitchen. Tossed in a sun-dried tomato cream sauce and topped with some fresh herbs, it's effortlessly fancy.

    Recipe: Creamy Tuscan Ravioli

    20. Creamy Mozzarella Scallop Pasta

    Creamy pasta with scallops.
    Julia's Album / Via juliasalbum.com

    You can use any seafood you can get your hands on to make this decadent pasta: lobster, mussels, littleneck clams, shrimp, you name it.

    Recipe: Creamy Mozzarella Scallop Pasta

    21. Halibut Piccata

    Breaded halibut topped with caper butter sauce.
    Cook Primal Gourmet / Via cookprimalgourmet.com

    This classic Italian dish is usually made with chicken, but this creative version calls for halibut instead. You can really use any firm, white fish like skate wing, sole, flounder, or even cod.

    Recipe: Halibut Piccata

    Foodie Crush / Via foodiecrush.com

    If you're not a fan of turkey use whatever ingredient you like best for the meatballs: chicken, pork, or even a vegetarian version would taste delicious.

    Recipe: Baked Turkey Meatballs With Creamy Polenta And Marinara

    How Sweet Eats / Via howsweeteats.com

    Holidays call for carbo-loading, and this carbonara recipe with a twist is the perfect way to celebrate.

    Recipe: Bacon, Egg, and Brussels Sprouts Carbonara

    24. Prosciutto Chicken Involtini with Spinach & Ricotta

    A skillet of five chicken breasts rolled with prosciutto, spinach, and ricotta cheese.
    Inside the Rustic Kitchen / Via insidetherustickitchen.com

    If you're tired of boring roast chicken, this recipe is the perfect way to switch things up. Thinly sliced chicken breasts are rolled with zucchini, spinach, ricotta cheese, and prosciutto, then they're cooked in olive oil, white wine, and garlic.

    Recipe: Prosciutto Chicken Involtini with Spinach & Ricotta

    25. Seared Scallops With Mango Salsa

    Plays Well With Butter / Via playswellwithbutter.com

    Recipe: Seared Scallops With Mango Salsa

    26. Easy Pistachio Cake Recipe

    A pistachio bundt cake sliced into pieces on a plate.
    Belly Full / Via bellyfull.net

    This moist and fluffy cake gets its flavor from two secret ingredients: 7Up soda and instant pudding. It might sound strange, but the decadent result will dispel any doubts.

    Recipe: Easy Pistachio Cake Recipe

    27. Mini Key Lime Pies

    Mini key lime pies with whipped cream.
    Peas and Crayons / Via peasandcrayons.com

    The best thing about mini pies is that no one can judge you for having two...or three or four.

    Recipe: Mini Key Lime Pies

    28. French Silk Pie

    The Recipe Rebel / Via thereciperebel.com

    This delicate yet rich pie features a two ingredient chocolate crust and a luscious chocolate filling made of cocoa, cream, eggs, and butter.

    Recipe: French Silk Pie

    29. Milk Chocolate Mousse

    The View from Great Island / Via theviewfromgreatisland.com

    Light and airy yet totally indulgent as all chocolate mousse should be, this dessert calls for just four ingredients: egg yolks, granulated sugar, heavy cream, and milk chocolate.

    Recipe: Milk Chocolate Mousse