23 New Year’s Day Dinner Ideas That Look Fancy (but Are Secretly So Easy)

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, high protein
• Serves: 4

"I don't care if it's basic," former PureWow senior food editor Katherine Gillen writes. "I love Caesar salad with my whole heart. It's crisp, creamy, garlicky and packed with all the right toppings." She's not wrong, and it's a great way to ease into your New Year's resolution to eat more vegetables.

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• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly, sheet pan recipe
• Serves: 4

If you're exhausted (read: hungover), a sheet pan recipe is an easy way to get a fresh meal on the table without pushing yourself too hard. "It only takes about 30 minutes to make from start to finish, and with less than ten ingredients," Gillen adds. What are you waiting for?

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• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 6

This meaty main never gets old, but I promise you'll welcome the lentil-based twist on the O.G. "They're just as quick-cooking and convenient for weeknight dinners, and even kids won't miss the ground beef," Gillen assures. "Top them with coleslaw and a sesame seed bun for the full effect."

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, no cook, beginner-friendly, high protein
• Serves: 2

If you want to kick the year off with a healthy dish that won't be a pain to prepare, look no further than this no-cook gem. It's packed with protein in the form of raw salmon, but you could substitute mushrooms, tempeh or tofu to make the meal vegan.

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 2 to 4

Last night's noodles have never looked better. With the help of eggs, a few pantry staples and plenty of Parmesan cheese (or Pecorino, if you'd prefer), lackluster leftover pasta is transformed into something filling *and* delicious.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: sheet pan recipe, high protein, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4

No one wants to turn a new leaf with a sink full of dirty dishes. Dig into this unexpected sheet pan mix of chorizo and spuds to avoid a lengthy cleanup. (They're crowned with queso fresco, scallions and romaine lettuce, in case you need more convincing.)

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, special occasion-worthy, vegetarian
• Serves: 4 to 6

Complete with pickled chard stems for a punch of acidity. Use agave nectar or maple syrup in the dressing instead of honey to make it vegan, or boost the protein content with grilled chicken, pan-fried fish or goat cheese.

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: high protein, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 2 to 4

Comforting, decadent and spicy, this is the ultimate winter warmer for a lazy January 1st. The chicken thighs offer stick-to-your-ribs savoriness, while a generous dose of chili crisp infuses every bite with umami-laced heat.

• Time Commitment: 55 minutes
• Why I Love It: high protein, make ahead, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4

Protein, grains and veggies unite in this stunning dinner salad that’s an appetizer, side and entree all in one. Make the yogurt dressing, chop the produce and cook the couscous in advance to save time before New Year's Day dinner, so all you'll have to do is assemble.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, vegetarian, kid-friendly
• Serves: 4

Sautéed eggplant and a simple homemade sauce, stirred into hot pasta in the pan right before serving, makes this dish feel extra fancy. I won't tell if you substitute dried parsley and basil instead of springing for fresh (or if you add crumbled sausage to the mix).

• Time Commitment: 55 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, high protein
• Serves: 6

A classic and foolproof French dinner in less than an hour? I see you, Julia Child. Even better, you'll get to sip the leftover white wine while the chicken simmers. Thank me later, friend.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 6

Low-key is the name of the game for a chilly January evening. Skip boiling the gnocchi to make it even easier; it'll brown beautifully after a few minutes in a hot, oiled skillet. Pass the Parm, will ya?

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly
• Serves: 4

Spaghetti may feel a bit pedestrian after the hundredth time, so give your meatballs an upgrade with polenta. No one needs to know it’s ridiculously easy to make. (Seriously—you'll only need to stir it every once in a while to keep it from sticking to the pan.)

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients, <30 minutes
• Serves: 4

Five ingredients + 20 minutes + one pot = infinite yum. No one will have any complaints about this ridiculously easy staple (even picky kids). Splurge on the Pecorino Romano for a higher-quality dish.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, one pan
• Serves: 6

Shrimp, chorizo, clams—what a way to end New Year's Day dinner. The best part of making paella is that there's no stirring required. Let the rice simmer to perfection as it cooks into a gorgeous dinner that feeds six.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, sheet pan recipe, beginner-friendly, vegetarian
• Serves: 8 to 10

This New Year's Day dinner is almost as easy as ordering a pie for delivery, but so much tastier. Feel free to riff on the toppings; I'm betting crispy shards of prosciutto would pair beautifully with the briny olives and sharp red onion.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, make ahead
• Serves: 8

The baked pasta dish of your dreams has arrived. Consider using a few different kinds of store-bought ravioli for an element of surprise, like beef, ricotta and sausage. (P.S.: The casserole is a cinch to assemble ahead or freeze for a later date.)

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: high protein, beginner-friendly, one pan, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 4

The drool-worthy skin on these chicken thighs is plain revelatory, and the trick to getting it that way is simple. Ideally in a cold cast iron skillet, you'll cook them low and slow, undisturbed, until they're shatteringly crisp on the outside. Then, you'll serve them with rice, pasta, pita or greens.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: high protein, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 4

Homemade salsa, which is as simple as it is tasty, amps up these steak tacos. That being said, I'd totally understand crowning them with pickled onions and avocado (or better yet, guacamole). Top 'em with hot sauce and sour cream—but you already knew that.

• Time Commitment: 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, vegetarian
• Serves: 2

Five minutes are all you need to prepare this life-changing recipe you'll crave all season long. Use any chewy noodles you'd like, such as dao xiao mian, lo mein or udon. Add a side of pickled veggies or steamed broccoli for a dose of freshness as well.

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, one pan, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 6

Let's not spend post-New Year's Day dinner at the sink. This one-skillet meal is equal parts sophisticated and cozy, plus it leaves you with minimal chores to do after eating. A flourish of lemon juice and fresh rosemary offers bright, herby flavor to the Insta-worthy dish.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly, high protein
• Serves: 3 to 4

All three components of this elegant meal will be ready to devour in under an hour—and each bite will straight-up soothe your soul. I'm talking Parmesan risotto, expertly cooked scallops in brown butter and garlicky greens. Thoroughly dry the shellfish before searing it for a flawless outer crust.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 8

It’s filling, it’s fast and if you use the image as inspo and layer the puff pastry, it’s pretty fancy-looking, too. The masterpiece comes together in your trustiest oven-proof pan. Use store-bought rotisserie chicken instead of cooking your own for maximum convenience.