As the New Year rolls in, there's something special about gathering around the table to share Traditional New Year’s Foods steeped in tradition and good luck. From the Southern favorites Hoppin’ John to Black-Eyed Peas, these dishes aren't just delicious-they're a recipe for starting the year on the right foot.
So grab your lucky spoon, whip up one (or more) of these time-honored recipes, and let's welcome a year filled with joy, prosperity, and plenty of good eats!
I have rounded up these tasty and lucky Southern recipes to give you the best chance of a happy and prosperous new year! I’ve also thrown in a festive cocktail recipe because every new year should be celebrated!
Southern Black-Eyed Peas
Black-Eyed Peas are considered a classic New Year’s Day tradition in the South! And, according to tradition, eating Black-Eyed Peas on New Year’s Day will bring good luck and prosperity in the new year!
My healthy Southern Black-Eyed Peas recipe is also perfect for a delicious, low-calorie, nutritional bonanza paired with brown rice!
Black-Eyed Pea Soup – Southern-Style
Black-Eyed Pea Soup, full of carrots, celery, onions, and collard greens, epitomizes a lucky New Year’s Day dish. With black-eyed peas for luck and greens, which symbolize money, you can’t go wrong with this nutritious and delicious soup to welcome in the new year.
Healthy Southern Collard Greens
Healthy Southern Collard Greens are made without traditional ham hocks or other pork products. This simple, straightforward method of cooking the greens enhances the mild flavor of the fresh collards and keeps them crisp and tender.
According to tradition, greens are the same color as money, and making a dish using green, leafy vegetables ensures good fortune for the coming year.
Easy Southern Hoppin’ John
Another New Year’s Day tradition in the South is eating Hoppin’ John for dinner. Hoppin’ John is nothing more than cooked Black-Eyed Peas served over white or brown rice, and this recipe couldn’t be easier.
Some folks also like to serve Hoppin’ John with a side of cooked turnip or collard greens and cornbread to soak up all the delicious juices.
The Best Oven-Baked Baby Back Ribs
Oven-baked baby back ribs are mouthwateringly juicy and fall-off-the-bone tender. When slathered with tangy barbecue sauce, they are plain finger-lickin’ good! According to tradition, the more pork you have on New Year’s Day, the more good luck you will have! And that’s good enough for me!
Easy Boneless Country Style Ribs
These easy, Boneless Country-Style Ribs are a fantastic option for a delicious and versatile dinner or a blowout New Year’s Day meal. Whether you're craving a hearty meal on a cozy night in or planning a backyard barbecue with friends and family, these oven-baked ribs are sure to satisfy.
Black-Eyed Pea Hummus
New Year’s Day is coming up, and we have established that you need black-eyed peas for the best chance for good luck and prosperity. How about serving this hummus as an appetizer on New Year’s Eve and another black-eyed pea recipe for New Year’s Day? You can never have too much good luck.
Best Old-Fashioned Cornbread
Hot out of the oven, this Old-Fashioned Southern Buttermilk Cornbread, with its delicious corn flavor and crispy, crunchy edges, has been a family favorite for generations. And it’s a quick and easy, gluten-free recipe. Classic Southern cornbread made in a cast-iron skillet is a true Southern staple, and according to tradition, it symbolizes gold.
Lucky Black-Eyed Pea Salad
We have already established that eating Black-Eyed Peas on New Year's Day brings prosperity and good luck in the year ahead. This delicious and nutritious dish is called Lucky Black-Eyed Pea Salad.
Baked Ham with Pineapple and Cherries
Nothing says New Year’s Day dinner like baked ham! Lots of it, especially this classic glazed ham with pineapple slices and cherries! You and your family or guests will love this easy-baked ham recipe. Don’t forget the more pork you have, the better your luck will be!
Traditional Southern Cornbread with Buttermilk
This easy traditional Southern cornbread, made with buttermilk and stone-ground cornmeal, has a rich corn flavor and a deliciously crunchy crust. It is a true reflection of Southern goodness, made in a cast-iron skillet. Plan to serve it with your black-eyed peas and collard greens.
Bonus: Meyer Lemon French 75
See, just reading this roundup post about lucky foods has already brought you good luck! You are lucky to find this recipe for an elegant champagne cocktail to welcome in the New Year!
It is a celebration, after all. Not only is this cocktail delicious, but it is a great way to use up some of your Meyer lemons.
FAQ: Traditional New Year’s Good Luck Foods
Many cultures enjoy foods believed to bring luck and prosperity. Common examples include black-eyed peas, greens (like collard greens), pork, cornbread, lentils, and fish. Each food symbolizes wealth, progress, or abundance.
Black-eyed peas are a Southern tradition symbolizing coins and prosperity. Eating them on New Year’s Day is believed to bring financial good fortune for the coming year.
In Spain and Latin America, eating 12 grapes at midnight represents good luck for each month of the coming year. It's a fun tradition that ensures prosperity and happiness.
Absolutely! Black-eyed peas, lentils, cornbread, and greens can all be made vegetarian. Swap pork seasoning in greens for smoky spices or vegetarian broth for a delicious alternative.
Pork symbolizes progress and abundance because pigs root forward as they eat. Many believe that eating pork ensures forward momentum and prosperity in the new year.
Best New Year’s Eve Appetizers
I guarantee all of these recipes are delicious! The lucky part is up to you! I'd love to hear from you! What are your family's New Year's food traditions?
Do you swear by black-eyed peas, or is there a unique recipe that brings good luck to your table? Please share your favorites in the comments, and let's ring in the New Year with a feast of good fortune together!
Thanks for stopping by Grits and Pinecones! Your visit means the world to me. I hope you'll swing back soon for more Southern-inspired goodness. 💛
Linger
Sharon, you always pull together the best recipes for every season. These recipes look great and what a wonderful start for a New Year. I hope yours is wonderful.
Sharon Rigsby
Kristy, thank you so much! I hope you have a wonderful New Year too!
All my best,
Sharon