New Year’s Day Food Ideas: 15 Easy Good Luck Foods to Start the Year

These New Year’s Day food ideas are easy, cozy dishes for January 1, many of them linked to old good luck traditions. After a late night on New Year’s Eve, you want food that is simple to make, feeds a crowd and is happy to sit on the stove while everyone wakes up slowly.

Why New Year’s Day food is a tradition

Many families eat the same foods every New Year’s Day. In the American South, black-eyed peas and greens are a must. In parts of Europe, people eat lentils, pork or grapes at midnight. The ideas behind them are fun and simple: round foods look like coins, green foods look like money, and long noodles stand for a long life.

You do not need to follow every tradition. Pick two or three dishes your family likes and build an easy menu around them.

Southern New Year’s Day food ideas

1. Black-eyed peas. The classic Southern good luck food. Simmer them with onion, garlic and a smoked ham hock or a few slices of bacon until tender, about 1 hour for soaked dried peas (or 20 minutes for canned).
2. Hoppin’ John. Black-eyed peas cooked with rice, onion and smoky pork. A whole meal in one pot.
3. Collard greens. Green for money. Cook them slowly with broth, onion and a splash of vinegar.
4. Cornbread. Golden for gold. Bake it in a skillet and serve it warm with butter and honey.
5. Glazed ham. Pork is a lucky food in many places because pigs “root forward.” Our brown sugar glazed ham is easy and feeds a crowd, and the leftovers are great in the black-eyed peas.

Good luck foods from around the world

6. Lentils. In Italy, small round lentils look like coins. Serve them as a warm soup or a side with sausage.
7. Pork and sauerkraut. A New Year’s Day dinner in Pennsylvania and parts of Germany. It cooks low and slow in the oven or a slow cooker.
8. Long noodles. In many Asian traditions, long noodles mean a long life. Our 15-minute garlic butter noodles are an easy weeknight version.
9. Twelve grapes. In Spain, people eat 12 grapes at midnight, one for each month of the year. Set out a bowl for the countdown or for New Year’s Day.
10. Round cakes and ring breads. Round shapes stand for a full circle and a good year. A simple bundt cake or a round loaf works well.
11. Cabbage. Green leaves for money. Roast it in wedges or cook it with the pork and sauerkraut.

Easy New Year’s Day brunch ideas

12. Pancakes. Round and golden. Our fluffy 3-ingredient pancakes are ready in minutes.
13. Cheesy scrambled eggs. Quick, filling and easy for a crowd. Try our cheesy veggie scrambled eggs.
14. Overnight oats. Make them on New Year’s Eve and breakfast is waiting. Our berry overnight oats take 5 minutes.
15. Leftover party food. Warm up leftover dips and meatballs from our easy New Year’s Eve appetizers and set them out for a lazy brunch.

A simple New Year’s Day menu

Here is an easy menu that covers the main good luck foods with very little stress:

• Main: glazed ham or pork and sauerkraut
• Sides: black-eyed peas, collard greens and honey garlic roasted carrots
• Bread: skillet cornbread or our easy dinner rolls
• Something sweet: a round bundt cake or a plate of easy Christmas cookies left over from the holidays

Cook the ham and the peas in the morning, and let the greens simmer while everyone gets ready. Most of this New Year’s Day food also keeps well, so you can eat it again on January 2.

Tips for an easy New Year’s Day

• Prep on New Year’s Eve. Soak dried black-eyed peas overnight, wash the greens and mix the cornbread dry ingredients.
• Use the slow cooker. Pork and sauerkraut or black-eyed peas can cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.
• Cook once, eat twice. Leftover ham goes into the peas, and leftover peas and rice make a quick lunch.
• Store leftovers safely. Put food in the fridge within 2 hours and use it within 3 to 4 days. The USDA leftovers and food safety guide has the details.

When the holidays are over, our easy January dinner ideas keep the cozy, simple meals going.

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This post was developed with the help of AI tools and reviewed before publishing. It may not have been independently kitchen-tested — use your judgment, check for allergens, and cook to safe temperatures. See our AI Content Disclosure. Spotted an issue? Tell us.