Southern New Year's Day Food - Julias Simply Southern

In this post I’ll be sharing all of my recipes for Southern New Year’s Day Food that bring luck and prosperity during the year ahead.

We could all use a bit of good luck, right? Certainly! The first dinner of the first day of a new year has deep rooted tradition, not only in the South, but for all cultures.

For some it includes eating grapes, fish, rice or sauerkraut. In the South it is pork, collards (or some type of greens) and field peas. Cornbread will be served on the side, of course.

“Collards for Dollars, Peas for Pennies”

The new year’s day meal at my own house will consist of a baked ham, collard green, black eyed peas, mashed potatoes and cornbread. The exact same meal that I’ve eaten every new year’s day my entire life.

I will continue to have this same meal for all of my new years to come too. Why chance it? I’m not going to.

“New year—a new chapter, new verse, or just the same old story? Ultimately we write it. The choice is ours.” —Alex Morritt

New Year’s Eve Food Ideas

Let’s begin with the day before…new year’s eve. I have a few appetizer ideas that would be perfect for your celebration, whether a quiet evening at home, or with friends.

Did you know that some folks believe it is bad luck to eat lobster or chicken on new year’s eve? I’m fairly certain I’ve broken that lobster rule a time or two.

Everything Bagel Cheese Log

Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers

Grape Jelly Meatballs

Chicken Stuffed Celery

Pepper Jelly Cream Cheese Appetizer

Southern Fire Crackers

Black Eyed Pea Dip

Jalapeno Bacon Dip

Holiday Cheese Ball

Orange Balls

“If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.” —Maya Angelou

Traditional New Year’s Day Meal

Perfectly cooked juicy pork roast recipe

Pork Roast with Orange Sauce

A delicious and juicy marinated pork roast with a fresh orange sauce. This is an easy main course for weekday meals and elegant enough for holidays.

Check out this recipe

Pan Fried Pork Chops

Southern pan fried pork chops are a delicious classic meal

Check out this recipe

Tender baked pork country style ribs with barbecue sauce glaze on a white rectangle platter

Easy Country-Style Pork Ribs Recipe with Barbecue and Roasted Garlic

Tender fall apart country style ribs recipe, baked in the oven with roasted garlic, barbecue and a few seasonings for a delicious meal.

Check out this recipe

Garlic and Herb Crusted Pork Roast Recipe - Julia's Simply Southern -

Herb and Garlic Boneless Pork Roast

A simple and elegant crusted pork roast with herbs and garlic, easy enough for weeknight meals and special enough for the holiday table.

Check out this recipe

Crock Pot Holiday Ham - Pineapple Glazed slow cooker ham topped with pineapple rings and cherries on a yellow platter with a serving fork

Slow Cooker Ham & Pineapple Glaze

Easy slow cooker ham recipe with a pineapple cooking glaze. This delicious ham recipe is perfect for family meals or small holiday gatherings.

Check out this recipe

Glazed Ham with a Honey Orange Glaze

Southern style holiday ham with a delicious honey orange glaze. This glaze adds just the right touch and is not sweet blending perfectly with the smokiness of the ham.

Check out this recipe

Southern Style Collard Greens

Southern Style Collard Greens are a savory soul food meal and a new year’s day tradition throughout the South.

Check out this recipe

Cast Iron Skillet with Pink eyed peas and a ham hock garnished with fresh Thyme to bring luck in the new year

Southern Purple Hull Peas

Southern Purple Hull Peas or Pink Eyes are a delicious variety of field peas. While they’re all similar, each adds its own unique quality.

Check out this recipe

Black Eyed Peas Recipe

Black eyed peas, also known as field peas, are among the favorite traditional sides for the new years day meal.

Check out this recipe

Southern Fried Cabbage

Savory Southern style fried cabbage with bacon is a delicious traditional side dish

Check out this recipe

Beautiful swiss chard side dish - recipe and facts about this healthy vegetable

Sauteed Swiss Chard with Garlic

Tender sauteed swiss chard is a delicious and healthy side dish

Check out this recipe

Hoppin’ John

Hoppin John is a traditional Southern dish of peas and rice with vegetables and ham. This is often served as a new year traditional meal.

Check out this recipe

New Year’s Day Dessert Ideas

No Bake Cherry Cheese Pie Recipe. This no bake dessert is always a hit at gatherings.

Cakes and pies seem to be among the favored dessert choices for the new year’s day meal, because they are round, like a circle. Particularly ring shaped such as doughnuts, king cakes, or pound cakes. The ring being an everlasting symbol.

As long as it is round it will work however and here are a few of my favorite dessert recipes.

Coconut Cake

Peach Upside Down Cake

No Bake Layered Cherry Pie

Hummingbird Cake

Thanks for stopping by y’all! I’m sending you love and best wishes for a happy new year!

Here we go marching ahead into a new year and a new decade. Make 2020 a great year for you. You deserve it! We all do!

OH, before I go…I should also mention that there is a superstition that it is bad luck to do laundry on new year’s day. You’ll wash away your luck. So we don’t want to risk that one! (Wink).

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About Julia

Hey Y’all! I’m Julia, the cook and writer behind the recipes here at Julia’s Simply Southern. I began my website so that I could share easy to follow recipes that anyone can use to put a home cooked meal on the dinner table. Thanks so much for stopping by!

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