Hosting a New Year’s Eve dinner for a group of friends can quickly become a real challenge with dishes to serve, cooking times to manage, and limited kitchen space. But with finger foods—the classic bite-sized treats you eat with your hands—everything gets so much easier. Especially if you use an air fryer, which handles various cooking methods quickly and is easy to clean!
In this article, we’ll share plenty of ideas for creating delicious finger foods to enjoy on New Year’s Eve or as appetizers during the holiday season. But first, let’s explore why setting up a buffet like this is the ultimate party-saving solution.
Creating a finger food buffet encourages socializing because guests aren’t tied to their seats at the table. They can move around, chat with whomever they like, and toast freely.
Finger foods allow you to offer a wide variety of tastes and flavors. You can cater to everyone’s dietary preferences, including those who follow specific diets (vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, etc.).
Finger foods are eaten with hands or small toothpicks, reducing the need for plates and cutlery. In short: fewer dishes to wash!
Many finger foods can be prepared in advance and served quickly. Some can be stored in the fridge or reheated just before guests arrive, cutting down on last-minute stress.
Finger foods are the ideal companion for wine, sparkling drinks, and cocktails—essentials during any celebration. They’re also great as an appetizer before a traditional meal.
Here are some video recipes from our food blogger Papilla Monella to help you organize a rich and delicious New Year’s Eve buffet.
All the dishes in these videos are made using the Friggisano 2.0 air fryer by G3 Ferrari, a compact and affordable model that has everything you need for crispy, fast, and oil-free cooking. But G3 Ferrari offers many more air fryer models—check them all out on our website!
Potato and Bacon Snacks
Tasty bites of seasoned potatoes wrapped in crispy bacon.
Savory Bites with a Delicious Filling
Flavorful puff pastry balls stuffed with feta, honey, and aromatic herbs.
Pizza-Style Bread Cannoli
Crispy rolls filled with mozzarella and tomato, made easily with sandwich bread.
Swordfish and Zucchini Skewers
A great seafood main dish in finger food form, perfect for eating while standing.
Fish and Vegetable Skewers
A delicious variation featuring fish and mixed vegetables seasoned with lemon.
Spring Rolls with Filo Pastry
A classic Chinese dish made at home with minimal oil.
No-Rise Pumpkin Focaccia
A colorful focaccia that doesn’t require rising and bakes in just 20 minutes.
Chicken Skewers with Beer Sauce
Irresistible skewers roasted in no time using the Friggisano 2.0 skewer tool.
Potato Croquettes with Tomato Mayonnaise
A healthy homemade version of croquettes served with a special dipping sauce.
Oriental-Style Salmon Skewers
Salmon is a must for New Year’s Eve, and here it’s served with an ethnic twist.
Crispy Ravioli with Tomato Sauce
A creative finger food take on classic stuffed pasta, perfect for dipping in tomato sauce.
As you can see from these recipes, finger foods are not only practical and easy to make but also fun, versatile, and perfect for creating a festive atmosphere!