Prepare for your 2024 Lunar New Year feast by making one of these 25+ crowd pleasing recipes. Included in this round up are my favorite appetizers, entrees, and desserts.

Lunar New Year Recipes for 2024

It’s crazy to think that we are at the end of one year and the beginning of another on the Lunar calendar. This year is the year of the dragon! Families from all over the world celebrate this holiday with a feast on new year’s eve that includes a variety of dishes to welcome the new year. Over the many years of celebrating this holiday, I’ve eaten many traditional and some not so traditional dishes, so today, I wanted to share some of my favorite Lunar New Year recipes for this holiday.

What is Lunar New Year and how is it celebrated?

Lunar New Year marks the beginning of a new year according to the lunar calendar which tracks the year in moon cycles. It is celebrated predominantly in Asian countries and cultures like China, Korea, Japan, Vietnam, and Taiwan. Growing up, I always referred to this holiday as Chinese New Year since my family is originally from China. In Vietnam where my parents were born, they refer to it as Tet.

In Chinese cultures, Chinese New Year is celebrated with family and friends gathering for a large feast on New Year’s eve. People usually say “Happy New Year” and/or “Gong Hei Fat Choy” which in Cantonese wishes the recipient prosperity for the new year (you’re basically saying you hope the recipient gets rich lol). And children receive red envelopes with “lucky” money from elders (your parents, grandparents, uncles etc).

red bean puff pastries

What is eaten at the Lunar New Year feast?

There is a lot of symbolism related to the foods eaten at a Lunar New Year feast, and every family does it differently. My family consistently has whole duck, whole chicken, and boiled whole shrimp. It’s important to serve the whole animal because it symbolizes a good beginning and end to the year. Each specific dish also represents something different. For example, chicken represents wealth and wholeness, and duck represents fertility. There is no clear guideline on what can and cannot be served, but typically, I always say serve what your family likes. Below are a few of my personal favorite dishes for Lunar New Year.

Tips on how to have the best Lunar New Year feast

Make it a potluck

Personally, I think it is crazy that 1 person cooks a feast that feeds 10-20 people. That’s a lot! Unless you want to cook the entire dinner, ask guests to pitch in with a dish or two. Sometimes, guests will surprise you and make something you don’t know how to make, so you can try something new!

Buy some of your dishes

One way to reduce your cooking time is to buy some of your dishes. Sometimes, a restaurant will make a dish better than you will. For example, I still can’t make roasted pork with crispy skin to save my life. At least not on the level a true Cantonese BBQ place can make it. One pro trip is to call the restaurant ahead of time and pre-order your dishes because many restaurants are overwhelmed the day of, so they can run out of the dishes you want.

Make some of your dishes a day ahead

There are a lot of dishes, especially desserts, you can make a day ahead of time. Cakes, cookies, and candies will last overnight.

salt and pepper shrimp on a plate

Savory Recipes

My favorite appetizers and entrees to help you celebrate Lunar New Year! Some are traditional. Some are non-traditional. But they’re all guaranteed crowd pleasers!

five spice roasted duck

1. Five Spice Roasted Duck

4.67 from 60 ratings
Duck is something that is eaten for celebrations, so we always have duck at all my family get togethers, especially during Lunar New Year. Cooking duck might seem intimidating at first, but I promise you it is actually not. This recipe makes it extremely easy for you to have the best duck for your feast!
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A plate of cha gio

2. Vietnamese Egg Rolls (Cha Gio)

4.98 from 36 ratings
This yummy appetizer is always a crowd pleaser at family gatherings, especially during the new year. Put these out while you're still preparing the rest of the feast, and they will keep your guests happy as they wait. This recipe makes 50 egg rolls, so you'll have enough for your party and maybe some leftover.
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Hainanese chicken on a plate with rice and 2 dipping sauces.

3. Hainanese Chicken Rice (Com Ga Hai Nam)

3.67 from 3 ratings
This famous chicken rice comes from Singapore, but I gave it a little Vietnamese flair to make it my own. Whole chicken symbolizes luck, wholeness, and a good beginning to a new year.
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banh bao recipe

4. Banh Bao (Vietnamese Steamed Pork Buns)

4.91 from 41 ratings
This is absolutely a crowd pleaser of an appetizer. It takes a little bit more work than others but the flavor is out of this world. The filling is what really makes this banh bao recipe. The combination of pork, Chinese sausage, and egg is just amazing. I have no words to describe how much I love this dish and recipe.
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Chinese steamed fish on a large plate topped with green onions, cilantro, and ginger and served with soy sauce.

5. Chinese Steamed Fish

5 from 3 ratings
This classic Chinese dish is served on all types of occasions including weddings, regular family dinners, and of course Lunar New Year. It is traditional to serve steamed whole fish to signify a good beginning and end to the year.
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Bo kho in a bowl served with a French baguette.

6. Bo Kho (Vietnamese Beef Stew)

4.74 from 49 ratings
This is a non-traditional item that my family always has at celebrations. It's a dish that easily feeds a lot of people. Serve it with a little bit of bread, noodles, or rice, and you're good to go!
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Banh Pate So Recipe

7. Pate Chaud (Banh Pate So)

4.97 from 30 ratings
This is also another stellar appetizer that is really easy to make. The filling comes together in 10 minutes. Stuff it in between puff pastry sheets and bake for 20-25 minutes for the most tender, flakiest meat pie.
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A bowl of bun bo hue served with mint, bean sprouts, lime, and shrimp paste.

8. Bun Bo Hue (Spicy Vietnamese Beef Noodle Soup)

5 from 15 ratings
Bun Bo Hue is always a good idea for Vietnamese family gatherings. Not only does it feed a large crowd, it is also a huge crowd please. People love this dish when done right. And this recipe really does it right!
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vietnamese shaking beef

9. Vietnamese Shaking Beef (Bo Luc Lac)

4.91 from 11 ratings
This easy 30 minute dish is something that's served at celebrations because steak is seen as an expensive ingredient. One of my favorite Vietnamese dishes of all time!
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Chinese eggplant with minced pork

10. Chinese Eggplant with Minced Pork

4.60 from 10 ratings
This Szechuan dish is always a crowd pleaser. The best thing about this dish is the sauce. It's the perfect balance of spicy and savory. Your guests will absolutely love this dish.
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Mushroom stir fry in a bowl served with white rice.

11. Five Spice Mushroom Stir Fry

5 from 3 ratings
This is hands down one of my favorite vegetarian dishes because it's just so darn good. It's so good you don't even notice there's no meat.
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Baked five spice salmon on a bed of white rice served with mini cucumbers.

12. Five Spice Salmon

5 from 1 rating
This simple 30 minute salmon recipe is great for big gatherings as well as weeknight dinners.
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salt and pepper shrimp over white rice

13. Salt and Pepper Shrimp

5 from 4 ratings
Whole shrimp is always served at my new year celebrations. Shrimp represents good fortune as well as a good beginning and end to the year. This salt and pepper shrimp is super easy to make, and a favorite I always come back to any time of the year!
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Chinese sticky rice in a white bowl

14. Chinese Sticky Rice

5 from 3 ratings
This yummy sticky rice recipe has all my favorite ingredients – Chinese sausage (lap cheong), green onions, and soy sauce – all in one dish! What makes this recipe extra special is the addition of pandan leaves to add more flavor to the dish! This dish can be eaten either as an appetizer or during the new year feast.
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Vegetarian Vietnamese spring rolls on a wooden board served with nuoc cham.

15. Vegetarian Vietnamese Spring Rolls (Goi Cuon Chay)

5 from 2 ratings
These vegetarian Vietnamese spring rolls (goi cuon chay) are the vegetarian version of the beloved Vietnamese spring rolls. Filled with addictive lemongrass tofu and fresh herbs, these spring rolls are just as good as their meat filled counterparts.
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goi ga

16. Goi Ga (Vietnamese Chicken Salad)

5 from 12 ratings
For something a bit lighter, make this amazing Vietnamese chicken salad or goi ga for an appetizer. Very easy and barely any cooking goes into it. Serve it with my yummy Vietnamese dipping sauce or nuoc cham, and you're good to go!
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Chopsticks holding up some noodles.

17. Garlic Noodles

5 from 2 ratings
These simple garlic noodles make the perfect base for any savory dish like salt and pepper shrimp or Vietnamese shaking beef!
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sweet and sour chicken on a plate

18. Sweet and Sour Chicken

5 from 4 ratings
This may be an Americanized Chinese invention, but everyone loves this dish as much as they don't want to admit it. It also comes together in just 30 minutes.
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beef chow fun

19. Beef Chow Fun

4.56 from 9 ratings
This dish is just a Chinese classic.
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Dessert Recipes

A good feast is never complete without dessert. Below are my favorite dessert recipes to serve for the new year.

Vietnamese coffee tiramisu

20. Vietnamese Coffee Tiramisu

4.94 from 15 ratings
This dessert is a serious favorite in my household. The coffee taste mixed with the condensed milk make this tiramisu taste like you're drinking a cup of Vietnamese coffee. It's also not too sweet which is the ultimate compliment in an Asian household.
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Chinese almond cookies

21. Chinese Almond Cookies

5 from 3 ratings
These cookies are served at many Chinese New Year celebrations because they symbolize good luck for the new year.
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2 Che Thai on a marble board.

22. Che Thai (Vietnamese Fruit Cocktail)

5 from 5 ratings
This refreshing Vietnamese drink is the perfect dessert item to balance out all the savory dishes from your New Year feast. It's also very simple to make and requires little cooking!
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rice krispie treat recipe

23. Black Sesame Rice Krispie Treats

5 from 16 ratings
These rice krispie treats are a personal favorite of mine. I absolutely love how the earthy flavor of the black sesame seeds balance out the sweetness from the marshmallows and rice krispie cereal.
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Honey sesame cookies on a white surface

24. Honey Sesame Cookies

4.43 from 7 ratings
If you ever loved sesame peanut candy, you will love these cookies. They taste just like the candy without the stickiness.
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Thai tea creme brulee

25. Thai Tea Creme Brulee

5 from 9 ratings
I always see creme brulees as a dessert for celebration. It is also fun watching your guests brulee their own creme brulees.
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Slices of ube pound cake on top of parchment paper.

26. Ube Pound Cake

4.89 from 18 ratings
This buttery, tender pound cake is simply so good. It is also so simple to make. No need to bother with multiple layers or a frosting. It's just good as is.
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matcha cookies

27. White Chocolate Matcha Cookies

4.65 from 496 ratings
These consistently are a reader favorite on the blog, and something I make a lot for get togethers with friends and family. Everyone always loves them, and they're easy to transport as well!
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Did you make any of these dishes?

If you made any of these dishes, I would love to see!

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five spice roasted duck

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25+ Lunar New Year Recipes for 2024, Including Five Spice Roasted Duck

Prep: 8 hours
Cook: 2 hours
Yield: 4 people
Author: Becca Du
Get all my favorite recipes for Lunar New Year 2024 including this super simple recipe for roasted duck marinated in five spice powder and topped with a tea soy sauce glaze.
5 from 2 ratings
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Ingredients
 
 

Roasted Duck

Tea Soy Sauce Glaze

Equipment

Instructions
 

  • Pat dry the duck. Combine five spice powder and salt. Rub the entire duck with the five spice powder mixture. Make sure to rub the seasoning in the cavity of the duck as well.
  • Let the duck marinate in the fridge overnight.
  • The next day, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Next, get out a roasting pan. Add the cut up onions and thyme sprigs to the bottom of the pan. Stuff the shallots into the duck and place it on top. Cover with aluminum foil. Bake for 1 1/2 hours.
  • While the duck is roasting, make the glaze. Combine all the ingredients into a sauce pan and bring to a simmer. Simmer until half the liquid remains. Remove from the heat and set aside.
  • After 1 1/2 hours, remove the aluminum foil. Brush the glaze over the duck and bake for another 30 minutes uncovered until the center is 165 degrees F. Add a new layer of glaze after 15 minutes.
  • Rest duck for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

  • Rest the duck after roasting for the best results. If you don’t rest the duck before serving, all the juices will flow out once you cut into the duck, and you will get dry meat. Resting allows all the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, making for a juicier outcome. This concept actually applies to all meats.
  • Use leftover drippings and aromatics for a quick sauce. I did not include this in the recipe below, but you can use the leftover stuff in the roasting pan for a simple sauce. I whipped up a quick sauce by adding some wine, lemon juice, and a little bit of sugar, and then reducing it until it thickens. It tastes soooo good drizzled over the duck.
Calories: 850kcal, Carbohydrates: 16g, Protein: 26g, Fat: 76g, Saturated Fat: 25g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 10g, Monounsaturated Fat: 36g, Cholesterol: 145mg, Sodium: 2746mg, Potassium: 670mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 6g, Vitamin A: 514IU, Vitamin C: 18mg, Calcium: 95mg, Iron: 8mg
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