Celebrated by more than 90 percent of Americans, New Year’s Eve is a pretty popular holiday in the US. Some choose to celebrate it in front of the TV, others with a small group of loved ones, and some choose to go all out and host a party. If you fall into the latter camp, and you’re planning a big get-together to see in 2024, you’re going to need some delicious food. But don’t worry if you haven’t started planning yet, we’re here to help. Here are some of our favorite vegan appetizers, and we’re pretty sure you and your guests will love them, too.
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How to cater a vegan party
If you’re planning on hosting a vegan party that your friends will be talking about for years to come (for all of the right reasons), you need a few things.
First, great drinks. If you need animal-free cocktail inspiration, check out our guide to the 10 best vegan cocktail and mocktail recipes. And it doesn’t hurt to have some wine and beer on hand, too. Check out The VegNews Ultimate Guide to Vegan Wine and The VegNews Ultimate Guide to Vegan Beer for tips and recommendations.
Sweet treats are also crowd-pleasers, too, and you can’t go wrong with cake. We love this classic vegan chocolate cake with raspberries, for example, and this vegan espresso cake with espresso cream cheese frosting.
But without a doubt, you also need something savory to keep your guests satisfied while they’re drinking their cocktails and bubbly. If you’re not planning on catering a sit-down meal, vegan appetizers are a great party-friendly choice. Here are some of our favorites.
The best vegan appetizers for your New Year party
1 Vegan Baked Thai Chili Cauliflower Bites
Healthier than fried, these baked crispy delights are the perfect combination of sweet and spicy. Coated in a panko and sesame seed mixture, and served with a decadent peanut sauce, they’re guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser.
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Hannah Kaminsky
2 Loaded Cheesy Vegan Nachos
When you’re hosting, one dish that is guaranteed to please everyone is nachos. These tortilla chips, served with plenty of gooey, dairy-free cheese, and toppings like tahini nacho sauce, black beans, tomatoes, jalapeños, and more, will be gone in a flash.
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Lauren Toyota
3 Crispy Vegan Crabless Cakes
This recipe for vegan crabless cakes will transform your evening into a five-star foodie experience. Guests won’t be able to get enough of these crispy cakes, which are best when fried to golden perfection and served with tangy, fiery horseradish aioli dip.
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Dustin Harder
4 Quick Vegan Cheese Pizza Cups
Delight adults and kids alike with these crunchy, thin-crust mini bites of cheesy goodness, which take less than 20 minutes to make. Personalize with plant-based pepperoni, sausage, pineapple, or dairy-free parmesan for a crowd-pleasing appetizer that’s quick, easy, and utterly delicious.
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Ashley Hankins
5 Stuffed Vegan Chili Cheese Dog Bites
Impress your guests with this flavorful, hearty appetizer, which consists of baked, cheesy, meaty rolls and your favorite vegan sausages. It combines the best of chili cheese dogs in an easy-to-eat, bite-sized format.
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Eat the Rainbow
6 Crispy, Golden, Baked Vegan Chickpea Nuggets
Crafted with chickpeas, oats, and tofu, these nuggets boast a satisfying crunch thanks to the cornflake-panko coating. Ready in just 30 minutes, they make the perfect party appetizer, especially when paired with ketchup and served alongside homemade fries or crispy roast potatoes.
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Jackie Sobon
7 Vegan Cauliflower-Cashew Crostini With Tapenade
Served on toasted baguette slices, these crostinis, garnished with basil, are a delectable, plant-based party appetizer. The cauli-cashew cream, featuring steamed cauliflower and soaked cashews, offers a velvety base, while the portabello tapenade of Kalamata olives, mushrooms, capers, and lemon juice brings a delicious burst of flavor.
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Hannah Kaminsky
8 Vegan Furikake Baked Avocado Fries
In this recipe, pieces of ripe avocado are coated in a nutty furikake blend without any added oil, offering a unique twist on traditional fries. They’re crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside, and totally delicious.
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9 Vegan Italian Arancini
Small and easy to eat, these arancini balls—which are crispy on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside—are the perfect party appetizer. If you’ve got the time, take them to the next level by filling them with gooey vegan mozzarella.
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Nadine Horn and Jörg Mayer
10 Vegan Tandoori Tofu Skewers
These succulent skewers, marinated in a fiery blend of spices, promise to win over even the staunchest tofu skeptics. Pair them with a refreshing cucumber-mint-dill yogurt sauce for a party appetizer your guests will be raving about all through January.
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Ashley Hankins
11 Vegan Crab and Cheese-Stuffed Mushrooms
You don’t need real crab to create a delicious seafood appetizer. Instead, enhance tender hearts of palm with Old Bay Seasoning and combine with vegan cream cheese, fresh herbs, and breadcrumbs. Bake to golden perfection, and you’ve got yourself a pretty impressive party dish.
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HealthyGirl Kitchen
12 Wontons With Sesame Dipping Sauce
Whether air-fried or pan-fried, these tasty plant-based wontons, which are stuffed with cabbage, carrots, and tofu, are a crowd-pleaser. Pair them with a tasty sesame dipping sauce for a delicious balance of flavor.
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13 Golden Vegan Jackfruit Empanaditas
These bite-sized empanaditas combine the meaty texture of shredded jackfruit with a savory spice blend and a slightly sweet, crispy corn flour dough. Perfect for parties, they are easy to handle and most importantly, delicious.
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For more vegan appetizers and snacks, read:
Nicole Axworthy is the News Editor at VegNews and author of the cookbook DIY Vegan.
