11 Traditional Good Luck Recipes for the New Year (2024)

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, is the epitome of 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!

Black-Eyed Pea Hummus

New Year’s Day is coming up, and we have established that you need black-eyed peas so that you will have the best chance for good luck and prosperity. How about serving this hummus as an appetizer on New Year’s Eve, and then 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. That’s why this delicious and nutritious dish is called Lucky Black-Eyed Pea Salad.

Brown Sugar Bourbon-Glazed Ham

Nothing says New Year’s Day dinner like baked ham! Lots of it, especially this classic bourbon-glazed ham with pineapple! You and your family or guests will love this easy-baked ham recipe.

It’s complete with traditional pineapple rings and maraschino cherries. Don’t forget the more pork you have, the better your luck will be!

Traditional Southern Cornbread

Easy traditional southern cornbread, made with buttermilk and stone-ground cornmeal, has rich corn flavor and a deliciously crunchy crust.

A true reflection of Southern goodness, this cornbread is made in a cast-iron skillet. It’s versatile, easy to prepare, and a welcome addition to any meal. 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.