How To Host a Midnight Feast for New Year's Eve

What could be better than kicking off the new year with a smorgasbord of delicious foods?

Kicking if off with a smorgasbord of delicious food, drinks and dessert, of course!

Many cultures have a tradition of incorporating food into New Year's festivities, which is why we propose hosting a fabulous New Year's midnight feast for friends and family.

Tips to Host a Midnight Dinner Party on New Year's Eve

Asking your New Year's party guests to hold off on dinner until midnight can be tough, especially when alcoholic beverages and merriment are added to the mix.

Careful planning and a few strategic appetizers are key to ensuring your guests are happy and taken care of without spoiling their appetites for your midnight feast.

Here's a general timeline for the New Year's midnight feast party that will keep everyone satisfied:

9:00 PM - Start of the party; make sure each guest gets a cocktail or beverage of their choice when they arrive.

9:30 - Set out a few trays of small bite appetizers around the party area so guests can nibble for the next half hour. Plan on three to five small appetizers per guest. Items like chicken skewers, mini meatballs, cheese and prosciutto on crackers and bruschetta work well for the early round of appetizers. Avoid putting out large plates of bread and cheese; this encourages guests to eat lightly and retain an appetite for dinner.

10:00 - Clear the appetizer trays to prevent over-eating before the main New Year's feast.

10:30 - 11:30 - Put out a few bowls of nuts in case guests are still hungry. Nuts will give them something to snack on without the risk of getting too full. Make sure guests have a drink of choice in hand along with plenty of water and non-alcoholic beverages so no one gets too tipsy before dinner.

11:30 - 11:45 - Get all of the plates and platters out on a table for the feast; setting food up buffet-style is a good choice for this type of party. It encourages mingling and allows people to self-serve as well as go back for more if they are still hungry.

11:55 - Pass out glasses of champagne to all guests and give a short toast before midnight.

12:00 - Countdown to midnight and allow the feasting to begin.

1:00 - Pass out glasses of sparkling and flat water to guests, and set up a favor bag station near the doorway so guests can grab one on their way out.

Easy Dinner Recipes for a Midnight Feast

Pesto Flat Bread Appetizers

Chicken Goyza

Mini Swedish Meatballs

Chicken and Asparagus Dinner

Veal Milanese

Champagne Honey Carrots