Toasting New Year’s Eve with a glass of champagne and a round of Auld Lang Syne is a tradition when the clock strikes midnight. But, did you know that there are traditional foods you can eat on New Year’s Day to bring you luck? Greens, beans (like black-eyed peas), and cornbread symbolize wealth. Pork is a sign of prosperity. Circle-shaped foods (like a donut or Bundt cake) represent the year coming full circle. We could all use a little bit of luck, so this year try one of these 20 traditional New Year’s Day recipes.
Roasted Pork
“I usually make this when company comes. The problem is after eating they want to stay!” – Giana
Slow Cooker Black-Eyed Pea and Cabbage Soup
“A great, easy way to ring in the new year! Serving black-eyed peas and cabbage on New Year’s Day is a Southern tradition to ensure luck and wealth for the coming year. This has a Southwestern kick for good measure. Pair this with a pan of real Southern cornbread for a delicious dose of New Year’s luck.” – Elizabeth
Southern Cornbread by Renae
“There must be a thousand ways we Southerners make cornbread. This is just mine. My family enjoys it and I hope you will too. It’s a little different than your standard recipe but we like the buttery taste.” – Renae
Freakin’ Good Crock Pot Spaghetti!!
“Ok… my first attempt at making spaghetti in a Crock Pot. I was limited as to what I had in my cupboards and was amazed at how well this turned out. I’ve realized that with a limited income, one becomes more creative with their recipes. This one happened to be a winner!” – Tiffany
Potato Encrusted Fish
“Can use frozen shredded potatoes too. Just remove the excess water.” – Kathy
Hoppin’ John
“It’s traditional in the southern U.S. to eat black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day. It’s supposed to bring prosperity and good luck in the new year. This dish is good at any time, not just for the new year.” – J. White
Green Green Salad
“I developed this salad for a St. Patrick’s Day party. We all brought green food. Someone actually brought green potato soup, but I think some of the other dishes were better received! We all laughed. This one is good and definitely healthy.” – Susan
Cilantro Lime Pulled Pork Tacos
“These Cilantro Lime Pulled Pork Tacos are a dump-and-go Crock Pot meal. Easy and full of so much flavor taco Tuesday will never be the same.” – Debbie
Deep Fried Onion Rings With Dipping Sauce
“I know there are quite a few steps to these yummy golden brown rings, but oh so worth the time and effort. You will get rave reviews from onion ring lovers both young and old. I just like making everything from scratch. It’s just nice to sit back and see the labor of love enjoyed by family and friends.” – Susan
Spinach Feta Croissant Snacks
“If you love spinach and flaky pastry, this is for you. It so simple.” – Denise
Lemon Butter Baked Cod
“This recipe makes any white fish juicy and delicious. Makes a fantastic meal when served with white jasmine rice and steamed broccoli or asparagus!” – Tammy
Dad’s Cake Doughnuts
“Dad made these doughnuts at Halloween for trick-or-treaters when we were little in the early ’50s. You could hand out homemade goodies then! Dad fried the doughnuts in the frying pan with oil, then shook them in a bag of powdered sugar – YUM.” – Lyn
Louisiana-Style Smothered Pork Chops
“This is a great little meal that I love to cook and my hubby loves to eat. This is a typical Louisiana-style recipe that you can cook in a slow cooker.” – Tammy
Cabbage Roll Soup
“All of the flavours of beef stuffed cabbage rolls in a quick and easy soup!” – Kevin
Dragon Noodles With Chicken
“This is one of my family’s favorites. It’s cheaper than eating out and better than most Chinese restaurants. Use chicken, beef, or shrimp. I’ve used a combination of chicken and shrimp on certain occasions – usually when I’m trying to impress someone.” – Anne
Garlic Rubbed Roasted Cabbage Steaks
“If you love cabbage, you are going to freak out about how good this is. Now, if you are on the fence about cabbage, you need to try this because this might be the recipe that converts you to a cabbage lover.” – Sue
Collard Greens & Rice or Lentils
“This has been a family favorite for many years made with rice. We are now eating ‘Slow Carb’ and substitute red lentils for rice and still love it! Make it without the sausage for a side dish or with the sausage for a main dish. Great on a cold night with little time to cook!” – Peggy Sue
Italian Creme Bundt Cake
“One of my favorites – Italian Creme Bundt cake made from scratch!!” – Yolanda
Sugar Donuts From Canned Biscuits
“Since I was young, my mother made these for us and when I married. My daughters always wanted these also. Now my grandchildren look forward to making them, helping to cut the holes, and dipping them in the sugar. They are delicious served warm.” – Kathy