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Lucky New Year’s Day Recipes

Stacey Pirtle

by Stacey Published: Dec 30, 2025

This post may contain affiliate links.

It’s easy to start the new year off right when you’re serving up a classic southern New Year’s Day dinner. We’re talking black eyed peas, savory greens and lots of pork- food that’s been showing up on everyone’s New Year’s Day menu all around the south for more than a century.  

a collage of cornbread, black eyed peas, cabbage and pork recipes for New Year's Day.

And while many of us eat those dishes year round, if you’re in the know, then eating them on New Year’s Day means spooning up a plate full of good fortune, prosperity and a little folding money. 

For instance, on January 1, black eyed peas aren’t just a humble garden pea. Symbolizing little coins, eating them on the first day of the year is supposed to bring good luck, or good fortune. 

And what should we serve with those lucky peas? 

Well, nothing goes better with coins than a little green folding money for our pockets. Any leafy green will do, but collard greens or cabbage are what tend to show up most on our plates. Representing stacks and stacks of crisp bills just waiting for us out there in the new year, they are the perfect partner for our black eyed peas. 

Last but not least, we certainly can’t forget about the pork. On New Year’s Day, eating pork is said to bring about all-around prosperity.  Why? Because pigs root forward when looking for food, signifying a forward trajectory in life. No “one step forward, two steps back” kind of year  for those who do New Year’s Day right!

Looking to whip up a little New Year’s wealth and fortune of your own? Here are a few recipes that are sure to have you moving in the right direction with high hopes and a little spending money tucked away.

What To Eat For New Year's Day

1

Deep South Hoppin' John Black Eyed Peas

As Southern as it is delicious, this traditional black eyed pea recipe enjoys the rich flavors of pork, bell peppers, onion, celery, herbs and spices served over rice.  Hoppin’ John is comforting, stick-to-your ribs, real kind of food.  And even though it’s a favorite New Year’s Day dish, just one bite will have you wanting to dig in all year long!

2

Southern Slow Cooker Black Eyed Peas & Ham

No time to tend a pot? No problem! This easy, no-soak, crock pot black eyed pea recipe delivers THE BEST Southern Black Eyed Peas & Ham with a deliciously subtle jalapeno kick. Simple, effortless and oh-so tasty. Your vegetable side dish game is about to change!

3

Southern Black Eyed Pea Salad

This classic Southern Black Eyed Pea Salad combines the savory goodness of creamy black eyed peas with the zesty crunch of crisp red and green bell peppers and purple onion. Marinated in Italian salad dressing, this easy salad is the perfect side dish for every meal from New Year’s Day to cookouts and potlucks.

4

Easy Cheddar Jalapeno Cornbread Muffins

Cheddar Jalapeno Cornbread Muffins are the perfect way to round out almost any meal with a little pizzazz!  This easy to follow cornbread recipe has plenty of cheesy goodness, a hint of sweetness & just the right amount of jalapeno kick all baked right into moist tender, buttermilk cornbread.

5

Southern Cornbread Pudding

A classic southern side dish that falls somewhere between a sweet, buttery cornbread muffin and a creamy, rich soufflé, Southern Cornbread pudding is the ultimate easy comfort recipe. Whipped up quick with Jiffy corn muffin mix, sour cream, sharp cheddar cheese, creamed and whole kernel corn, this simple dish will find it’s way onto your weeknight & holiday tables!

6

Easy Sweet Potato Cornbread

Sweet and earthy with warm spices, a hint of molasses and a humble cornbread crumble, Easy Sweet Potato Cornbread is the perfect side dish for a hot bowl of soup or chili, Sunday’s fried chicken, even Thanksgiving!

7

Skillet Fried Cabbage & Bacon

Fried Cabbage done right is a crisp tender southern side dish loaded with smoky bacon, tender onion and creole seasonings. As it lightly cooks, fried cabbage develops a mellow sweetness that complements just about any main dish. Even if you don’t think you like cabbage, get ready to be won over. You’re going to find yourself loving this classic recipe!

8

Beefy Roasted Cabbage Steaks

Beefy Roasted Cabbage Steaks are tender, roasted slices of cabbage with tempting crispy, caramelized edges and a subtle beefy flavor. They make for a tantalizingly savory vegetable side dish, perfect for almost any meal!

9

Creamy Southern Coleslaw

With just the right amount of that sweet and tangy dressing we all love, this is the best coleslaw recipe! It’s simple, keeps its crunch, has loads of creamy flavor and is perfect for every occasion. Creamy Southern Coleslaw is a quick and easy side dish that’s hard to resist.

10

Creamy Brussels Sprouts Au Gratin

This Brussels Sprouts Au Gratin recipe is made with tender, shredded Brussels sprouts smothered in a rich, creamy cheese sauce made with smoked gouda, shaved Parmesan, garlic and heavy cream. Topped with crisp panko and salty bacon, sub these veggies in for cabbage for a little NYD menu twist!

11

Southern Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

Savory, seasoned beef and pork with rice, onions and peppers are wrapped in tender cabbage leaves then baked in a rich, tangy tomato sauce in this classic Southern Stuffed Cabbage Rolls recipe.

12

Cranberry Bacon Walnut Stuffed Pork Tenderloin with Collard Greens

In this stuffed pork tenderloin recipe, juicy roasted tenderloin wraps around a seasonal filling of bacon, collard greens and walnuts combined with cranberries and goat cheese to create a beautiful holiday and special occasions dish that looks fancy but is so easy to make!

13

Cherry Cola BBQ Pulled Pork

Your family is going to love eating Cherry Cola BBQ Pulled Pork! It’s a simple recipe that can be thrown together and cooked low and slow in the oven or in the crock pot. A little salt and pepper, BBQ sauce and our secret ingredient of cherry cola make for a “fall apart” tender pork roast that you’re going to want to eat all the time!

14

Southern Pecan Crusted Ham

Easy Southern Pecan Crusted Ham is as delicious as it is gorgeous!  This showstopping stunner bakes up golden brown with a rich brown sugar, molasses, apple juice glaze and buttery pecan crust.  Savory, sweet and holiday perfect, you won’t believe how easy it is to bake up this amazing ham!

15

The Perfect Peppered Pork Tenderloin

This easy-to-follow Pepper Crusted Pork Tenderloin recipe uses a simple, wonderfully aromatic cracked peppercorn rub, plus Dijon mustard, to create a delightful main dish that is perfect for family meals or holiday dinners. First, seared in a cast iron skillet to seal in the juices then baked in an oven, this Perfect Pepper Crusted Pork Loin is melt in your mouth tender with a fiery little pepper kick!

16

Skillet Pork Chops & Mustard Cream Sauce

You won’t believe how easy it is to put these juicy, tender, bone in pork chops on your table!  Simple enough for any night of the week, but gorgeous enough for special occasions, these Skillet Pork Chops are cooked to perfection with an irresistible golden sear, then bathed with a flavorful 5 ingredient cream sauce.  15- 20 minutes is all it takes to serve the best pork chops around!

17

Pineapple Red Pepper Jelly & Biscuit Sliders

Sweet & spicy, this quick set jelly is easy to make on the stove with just a little cornstarch.  It keeps in the fridge for up to 3-4 weeks and is perfect over cream cheese as an appetizer, with crackers and a little Gouda, or my favorite, on a ham and biscuit slider.

18

Easy Louisiana Sausage Jambalaya

Sausage Jambalaya is a simple Louisiana classic that delivers deep, rich flavor in every bite!  An easy one pot meal anyone can make, jambalaya simmers smoked sausage, bell pepper, onion, celery, creole seasonings and diced tomatoes with long grain rice to create an undeniably delicious comfort food hearty enough to feed the whole family!  A perfect partner for black eyed peas and cornbread!

19

"No Peek" Pork Chops & Wild Rice Casserole

Get ready for a delectable classic when you bake up this super easy “No Peek” Pork Chops & Wild Rice Casserole. Fork tender pork chops, creamy rice and a rich, savory gravy magically make themselves when you cover it all with foil and pop it the oven! 

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Filed Under: Recipe Collections Tagged With: New Year's

Meet Stacey

Southern Discourse is a place where you can find southern family dishes, along with special recipes & table settings. Bringing connection & friendship back to the table by wrapping everything in the faith & grace from which true hospitality springs! Read More

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Meet Stacey

Southern Discourse is a place where you can find southern family dishes, along with special recipes & table settings. Bringing connection & friendship back to the table by wrapping everything in the faith & grace from which true hospitality springs! Read More

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