3 Easy New Year's Eve Meals

After all the cooking and baking is done for Thanksgiving and Christmas, it can be daunting to cook yet another huge meal for your New Year’s Eve parties and hangouts -- especially since it’s just a week after Christmas. While it may be easy to think about swinging by the store and picking up something already cooked so you don’t have to worry about it, there are plenty of easy recipes out there to make and get stunning results. 

Buffalo Chicken Dip

This may not be a traditional meal, but this go-to dip is popular for any gathering and oftentimes, guests fill up on this delicious treat, so today, it’s being considered an honorary meal.

Ingredients

• 2 (10 ounce) Cans of Chunk Chicken
  • *Or 10 ounce of fresh cooked chicken, cut into small pieces
• 2 (8 Ounce) Packages of Cream Cheese, Softened
• 1 Cup Ranch Dressing
• 3/4 Cup Pepper Sauce (Such as Frank’s Buffalo Wing Sauce)
  • What Sauce You Use Can Vary Depending on How Hot You Want Your Dip to Be
• 1 ½ Cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese
• Vegetables and/or Crackers for Dipping

Instructions

1. Drain cans of chunk chicken if using. If using fresh chicken, bake your chicken. When putting your chicken in the recipe, it should be easy to shred.
2. Heat your chicken and sauce in a skillet over medium heat until it is headed through.
3. Add in cream cheese and ranch dressing. Continue cooking and stirring until it is well blended and warm.
4. Mix in half of your shredded cheddar cheese and then transfer the mixture into a  slow cooker.
5. Sprinkle the other half of the cheese over the top, cover, and cook on low until the mixture is hot and bubbly.
6. Serve your buffalo chicken dip with vegetables or crackers for the perfect eating experience!

Cheddar Chowder

Whether your New Year’s Eve is taking place somewhere hot, cold, or in between, no one can deny the warm fuzzy feeling of a delicious bowl of soup.

Ingredients

• 4 Cup Peeled and Diced Potatoes
• 1 Cup Sliced Celery
• 1 Cup Sliced Carrots
• ½ Cup Chopped Onion
• 1 ½ Teaspoon Salt
• ¼ Teaspoon Pepper
• ½ Cup Butter
• ½ Cup Flour
• 2 Cup Milk
• 2 Cup (8 Ounces) Shredded Cheddar Cheese
• 1 ½ Cup Cooked Ham, Diced

Instructions

1. This recipe involves a lot of cutting up ingredients and dicing, so if you’re short on time, buy some of the items pre-dice/sliced. When I’m in a rush, I’ll buy frozen sliced carrots. You can also buy the ham diced.
2. Begin by peeling and dicing your potatoes. Cook your potatoes, celery, carrots, onion, salt, and pepper in 3 cups of water. Cover and cook until the vegetables are tender.
3. While your vegetable mixture is cooking, you can begin working on your sauce. Make your white sauce with butter, flour, and milk in a non-stick pot. Once that mixture is melted and blended, add in your cheese. Continue to stir until it is all blended.
4. Pour your white sauce in with your cooked vegetable mixture. Do not drain the water that your vegetables were cooking in. 
5. Mix your cheese sauce with your cooked vegetables. Add in your ham and allow everything to heat through and be thoroughly mixed.
6. Your soup is done!

Shrimp and Broccoli Alfredo

The perfect warm and cozy traditional New Year’s meal.

Ingredients

• 8 Ounces Uncooked Fettuccine or Spaghetti
• 1 Pound Uncooked Medium Shrimp
• 3 Garlic Cloves, Minced
• ½ Cup Butter, Cubed
• 1 Package (8 ounces) Cream Cheese, Cubed
• 1 Cup Milk
• ½ Cup Shredded Parmesan Cheese
• 4 Cups Frozen Broccoli Florets
• ½ Teaspoon Salt
• ⅛ Teaspoon Pepper

Instructions

1. Peel your frozen shrimp.
2. Cook the fettuccine or spaghetti according to the package’s instructions.
3. While your pasta is cooking, saute your shrimp and garlic in butter until the shrimp turn pink. Remove from the skillet and set aside in another pot or bowl.
4. In that same skillet you just cooked the shrimp in, combine the cream cheese, milk, and parmesan cheese. Cook and stir until the cheeses are melted and the mixture is smooth.
5. Pour about one inch of water into a saucepan and add the broccoli. Bring to a boil. Then, reduce the heat, cover and simmer until tender (a minute or two). Drain the water.
6. Pour your shrimp and broccoli into the skillet with your cheese mixture and add your salt and pepper. Heat everything thoroughly.
7. Drain and rinse your pasta and serve with your delicious cheesy broccoli and shrimp topping.