35 Traditional Southern New Year's Day Recipes

This post may contain affiliate links.

Start the New Year off right with a menu that’s not only delicious, but is sure to bring you wealth, luck and prosperity in the coming year! These 35 Traditional Southern New Year’s Day Recipes are incredibly flavorful, simple to make and ideal for entertaining. Whether you’re having a night in with family, or you’re hosting a huge celebration, folks will be begging you for the recipes.

What Are The Traditional Meals On New Year’s Day?

If you’re interested in making the traditional New Year’s Day recipes, three essential dishes have to be on your menu! Pork, greens, and black-eyed peas are the must-make recipes for New Year’s. Many people also add cornbread to the meal, but that’s really up to your personal preferences. There are symbolic reasons why all three of these dishes are on the menu, here’s why…

Pork – Pigs can only walk forward; they never walk backward. So, the idea is that eating pork on New Year’s encourages you to look forward, keeping your eyes set on the year ahead of you.
Greens – This serves as a symbol of wealth and economic prosperity throughout the year ahead. Generally, I like to serve southern-style collard greens, but you can also make Spinach Salad or Hot Spinach Artichoke Dip.
Black Eyed Peas – Traditionally, you serve Black Eyed Peas as a symbol of luck and good fortune.

A common phrase I’ve heard for these recipes is, “peas for pennies, greens for dollars, and cornbread for gold.” Growing up in the south, eating these classic dishes on New Year’s Day was non-negotiable. Even if you didn’t like collards or black-eyed peas, everyone had to take at least one bite of each traditional recipe. Whether you’re from the South or not, a little bit of good luck is never wrong!

Over the past couple of years, I’ve started adding more recipes to my New Year’s menu that complement the traditional dishes. The recipes in this collection range from the classics like Honey Baked Ham and Collard Greens to tasty additions like Sweet Potato Casserole. I’ve also included family-favorite desserts and sweet treats that are perfect for this time of year!