Little bites, dips and handheld snacks are the best way to start off a spectacular party (along with a few celebratory cocktails, of course). Whether you're sticking to a spread of small bites or setting out some appetizers before your New Year's Eve dinner, these ideas are sure to be crowd-pleasers. Regardless of what you add to your menu, these stuffed mushrooms are a must. They're filled with savory Italian sausage and Parmigiano—and ready in just 35 minutes!

Here’s a fun way to take store-bought stuffed olives and transform them into an addictive hors d’oeuvre for your next cocktail party. Stuffed with blue cheese and rolled in a crunchy coating flavored with rosemary, garlic and chili flakes, these warm olives would go perfectly with a cold martini. You can fry the olives ahead of time and keep them warm in a low oven.

Ree Drummond’s charcuterie board bites turn your favorite meats, cheeses and accompaniments into festive, bite-sized snacks that are perfect for New Year’s Eve grazing.

These marinated feta and olive skewers by Ellie Krieger are a simple yet elegant appetizer, perfect for kicking off your New Year’s Eve celebration with bold Mediterranean flavor.

This crowd-pleasing shrimp cocktail is about to become your go-to recipe; shrimp are infused with tons of flavor after a quick poach in court bouillon, and the cocktail sauce comes together in minutes.

This decadent starter is an example of less is more. We cut strip steaks into logs, then quickly pan roast until medium rare and finish with a basting of butter, garlic and thyme. After a quick rest, the steak is cut into cubes, put on small skewers and finished with a sprinkling of truffle salt.

This twist on classic spinach artichoke dip is sure to be a winner at any holiday dinner or get-together. Rachael Ray serves it with sesame breadsticks, celery hearts and pita crisps for dipping.

Gougères are a traditional French hors d’oeuvre made from a choux pastry mixed with cheese, typically Gruyère. This twist uses flavors of pimento cheese. Cheddar is used in place of Gruyère, along with chopped pimentos, cayenne and paprika for a little kick. A perfect party or cocktail snack that’s both elegant and fun.

These sausage balls are the perfect bite-size combination of cheese, meat and biscuits — all rolled into one. A staple around the holidays in the South, they are perfect on their own as an appetizer, or served as a side dish at your holiday table.

A dish of chilled, shucked raw oysters is a fun and festive way to start an evening. This version simply involves stirring together a Bloody Mary-inspired mixture loaded with punchy horseradish as a mignonette-like topping. Serve ice-cold and wash them down with your favorite celebratory beverage.

This twist on fried chicken is a fun way to start your New Year’s Eve party. Open a bottle of sparkling wine for the batter and enjoy the rest with friends or family while you serve up these crispy fried morsels with a creamy caviar dip. As a bonus, the rice flour and cornstarch in this batter help the coating stay crisp much longer than a traditional all-flour batter. Just make sure to use plain rice flour (as opposed to sweet or glutinous rice flour). Inexpensive black caviar is fine for this recipe, but you could also go all out and use the good stuff—it's up to you.

Mushrooms stuffed with garlicky, cheesy breadcrumbs make a perfect appetizer for parties and gatherings. Best of all, there's no need for pots, pans or an oven!

With just four ingredients, you can create crispy, cheesy polenta triangles that are great for a party.

These easy baked appetizers come together quickly and the result is not one, but four very different hand-held bites. The ice cube trays make stuffing and shaping the puff pastry super simple and once you learn the method, you can get creative with your own fillings.

Soy sauce, smoky bacon and sweet brown sugar dress up water chestnuts for a festive party appetizer. The crunchy centers are a great counter to the crisp, meaty bacon and the sticky-sweet glaze.

Ina Garten roasts her shrimp before displaying with a chili cocktail sauce.

Give your evening Spanish flair with a selection of tapas, including fried olives, Manchego cheese and Serrano ham.

Make an easy-to-serve appetizer with store-bought French bread dough and slices of prosciutto rolled into a log.

There's no hors d'oeuvre more classic than Deviled Eggs. This version sticks to the fan-favorite combination of egg yolks, mayo and fresh herbs like parsley, chives and tarragon.

Tyler Florence stretches often-pricey beef tenderloin to feed an entire crowd for an appetizer spread that feels super luxurious.

Elevate the appetizer spread for New Year's with these fried peppers and olives. Soak up the sage, garlic and lemon oil with crusty bread.

Spread goat cheese and mascarpone on a roll and top with a lamb or Italian sausage mini burger.

Wrap shrimp with pineapple and bacon and saute until the bacon is crispy. It's a great sweet and salty bite.

Toast bread under the broiler and brush with olive oil and roasted garlic for a quick appetizer.