What type of New Year’s Eve persona are you? Some of us are the partygoers, intent on making the most of the final few hours of the year. Others, like myself, look forward to curling up in my coziest pajamas with a friend, good book, cuddly pet—or preferably, all three!—for company. There are others still who find themselves somewhere in between, either booking a table for two at a favorite restaurant or hosting a small group of friends at home. Whichever describes your NYE plans best, there’s a common ground we can all agree on. While indulging is par for the course when it comes to celebrating the year to come, I doubt any of us want to wake up to either a sugar or alcohol-induced headache. To help us fend off bad 2025 vibes, I rounded up my favorite healthy New Year’s Eve recipes.
21 Healthy New Year’s Eve Recipes
Remember: restriction is not the goal. My hope is to help you fill your plate with all the delicious and nutritious foods that’ll let you celebrate the holiday in whatever way you please while waking up ready to make your 2025 vision board a reality. I found everything from mocktails to satisfying mains to small bites bursting with flavor. Get ready for gluten-free goodness, vegan deliciousness, and veggie-packed apps.
So with abundance on our minds and excitement to try all the healthy food and flavor combos, let’s dive in. Get ready to wrap up 2024 on a high note and ring in the new year to come.
Minty Pomegranate Punch
Pomegranates are the ever-elusive ingredient that I’m desperate to make the most of when they’re in season. Muddling the pomegranate arils with blueberry and mint balances the sweet and tart flavors beautifully. Trust me when I say this will be the best take on a non-boozy mojito you’ve ever had.
Salty Dog Mocktail
Technically this recipe was developed as a cocktail. But thankfully, Camille was thinking ahead and figured many of us would want to ring in the new year with this drink—minus the vodka. It’s refreshing and hydrating, and you can sip on it knowing you won’t wake up with a hangover in the morning.
Bruschetta Board
This bruschetta board is a vibrant spread of crispy toasted baguette slices topped with a variety of fresh, flavorful ingredients like tomatoes, pesto, and seasonal fruit. Perfect for entertaining, it offers a fun, interactive way to enjoy a classic Italian appetizer with a variety of toppings.
Spicy Marinated Olives
This appetizer combines a vibrant mix of herbs, citrus, and garlic for a flavorful dish. Perfect for entertaining or as a savory addition to your NYE meal, these olives are simple to prepare and pack a punch of Mediterranean-inspired taste.
Carrot and Hummus Toasts
One peek at these toasts’ bright pop-of-orange topping and I immediately think healthy. Thankfully, after just one bite, you’ll realize that the flavor follows suit. Crunchy, toasted sourdough serves as the base with a thick smear of creamy hummus and sweet and spicy carrots to finish things off. Proof that virtuous eating doesn’t ever have to be boring.
Smoky Eggplant Spread
Baba ganoush, but with the volume turned up (and that’s saying something). If you think eggplant-based dips are for warm-weather gatherings only, think again. Once your eggplant has been roasted, all that’s left to do is mix its creamy goodness with the ultimate blend of spices and flavorings (think: smoked paprika, thyme, garlic, tahini, and cumin). The resulting flavor is over the top.
Dips & Crudité Grazing Board
With an abundant crudité platter on your table, you can make your eat-more-veggies-in-2025 goal a reality even before the clock strikes midnight. One of the many beautiful things about this healthy New Year’s Eve recipe is that it’s a choose-your-own-adventure-type situation. Follow the template we’ve provided and then let your cravings guide the way.
Holiday Charcuterie Board
I know what you’re thinking—charcuterie… healthy? Here’s the beautiful thing about constructing and snacking on a charcuterie board: the components are totally up to you. Olives and nuts deliver a healthy dose of fats while fresh and dried fruits (grapes, figs, and pomegranate arils) lend a little antioxidant love to the mix. From there, sprinkle in some cheese and dried meats and top your crackers as you please. The tasty, colorful combos are limited only by your imagination.
Kale Pea & Ricotta Spread
Of all the healthy New Year’s Eve recipes I can think of, this might be my all-time fave. Why? First off, let’s talk about the color. Kale and peas yield a bright, vibrant green that’s welcome in the middle of winter. And the texture is beyond creamy, thanks to a healthy dose of the ricotta. Lastly, this spread boasts beautiful flavor with the nutmeg, black pepper, lemon, and red pepper flakes all mixed in.
Ricotta Board with Pears and Honey-Toasted Pistachios
Approved for Instagram and all of your social media pursuits, this ricotta board is beyond beautiful. And thankfully, so simple to put together. With only the most minimal amount of effort required, you’ll have this five-ingredient appetizer on the table within minutes.
Squash & Farro Salad With Apples, Goat Cheese, & Pecans
The salty-sweet combination of this salad’s impressive ingredients is unmatched. Farro is a nutty, toothsome grain that you need to start incorporating into your 2025 cooking, stat. This salad is a perfect entry point, with delicata squash that crisps up in the oven, tangy goat cheese, crisp apples, and a dressing you’ll be putting on everything.
Simple Zucchini Pasta
If your New Year’s Eve gathering is more of a sit-down celebration than a finger food fête, this is the main to make. Pasta is always my go-to when I’m wanting to impress without worrying whether or not my dish will actually turn out. Intentionally rustic, this veggie-packed pasta is inherently and beautifully imperfect. It’s a healthy recipe that feels special enough to welcome in the new year.
Creamy Butternut Squash Pasta
While it might not seem special enough to bring to your New Year’s Eve gathering, this isn’t just any old pasta. This dish is creamy, comforting, and cheesy, but more than that, it’s full of nuanced flavor thanks to the miso and sage. You heard it here first—chickpea pasta is taking over.
Roasted Carrot and Red Pepper Hummus Flatbread
It’s basically a rule: When hummus is on the table, the party has started. But if you’re looking for a main dish that’ll take everyone’s favorite party snack to the next level, this flatbread is your answer. Toasty, charred pita meets creamy and sweet hummus and gets topped with fresh and flavorful veggies. The celebrations really can’t begin until you serve this.
Honey Sriracha Tempeh Spring Rolls
There’s something about these spring rolls that feels perfect for New Year’s Eve. Perhaps it’s because I’ve always associated finger food with the holiday or the fact that the presentation is a surefire stunner. Regardless, these plant-based, protein-packed rolls will satisfy every appetite and pair perfectly with a glass of bubbly.
One-Bowl Salted Chocolate Cake
This grain-free chocolate cake is rich, moist, and decadent, made with simple, wholesome ingredients that everyone can enjoy. Perfect for any occasion—but NYE especially—it’s a delightful treat that satisfies your chocolate cravings while being gluten-free and indulgent.
Cinnamon Baked Apples
I was at a dinner party the other night where someone served spicy, sweet, and cozy baked apples. While the presentation was humble, the flavor and all-around impact were beyond words. A total of nine ingredients (two being water and salt) makes this just about the simplest after-dinner sweet. And because when you’re working with something as wonderfully delicious as apples, there’s not much that can be improved upon.
Gluten-Free Citrus Cake with Strawberries and Cardamom Coconut Cream
When it comes to healthy New Year’s Eve recipes, this dessert takes the literal cake. The recipe is a chic yogurt cake that combines almond flour and gluten-free AP to yield a fluffy, cloud-like confection. It’s a GF twist that’s still dreamy and decadent.
Gluten-Free, Vegan Brownies
Because of their rustic, humble presentation, you might not associate brownies with this sparkly and glitzy holiday. But… that’s where you’d be wrong. When the clock strikes midnight and your guests are a couple of champagne coupes deep, nothing will satisfy the craving for something sweet quite like a chocolatey brownie. And because these are both gluten- and dairy-free, everyone can enjoy.
Healthy Oatmeal Cookies
These healthy oatmeal cookies are one of my favorite 3 p.m. snacks, but their beauty lies in their versatility. Truly, you can enjoy these almost any time of day and for any occasion—New Year’s Eve, included. Enjoy the crispy-chewy texture these cookies offer thanks to the blend of raisins, dark chocolate, walnuts, coconut flakes, and oats. That’s right, these deliver it all.