Celebrating the start of a new year with loved ones over a delicious meal is one of life’s greatest joys, and what better way to kickstart this journey than with a memorable New Year’s Day dinner. As you welcome in the fresh calendar year, it’s time to start planning a gathering that will leave a lasting impression on your guests’ taste buds.
Whether you’re hosting a grand celebration or a cozy night in with family, our carefully curated collection of recipes has got you covered every step of the way. So, take out your pen and paper, and get ready to create a feast that will be remembered for years to come.
Steamed Crab Legs
Discovering the perfect New Year’s Day dinner can be a daunting task, but Steamed Crab Legs offers a rich and decadent solution that’s surprisingly easy to prepare at home. This mouth-watering dish is a great choice for a special occasion, as it yields tender and flavorful crab legs that are perfectly steamed. The versatility of this recipe allows it to be paired with a variety of accompaniments, including a delicious lemon butter sauce that adds a tangy and savory touch.
Overall, Steamed Crab Legs is a delightful and indulgent option to start the new year with a delectable seafood feast, making it an excellent choice for anyone looking to treat themselves to a culinary experience.
Parmesan Arancini
Brimming with flavor and texture, Parmesan Arancini makes an excellent choice for New Year’s Day dinner. This delightful appetizer is comprised of fried risotto balls filled with melted mozzarella, which are then coated in a crunchy layer of panko breadcrumbs. The harmonious blend of flavors and textures creates a truly indulgent experience, making it a must-try dish for any special occasion. Serve the Arancini warm, paired with marinara or pesto, for a delectable start to the meal.
Skillet Hoppin’ John
Cooking up a traditional Southern dish on New Year’s Day is a beloved tradition for many families, and Skillet Hoppin’ John is one of the most iconic and delicious options. This hearty recipe brings together black-eyed peas, crispy bacon, leafy greens, and fluffy rice in a flavorful combination that’s both lucky and satisfying. With its versatility in accommodating meat-eaters and vegans alike, it’s an excellent choice for gatherings big or small.
While the dish’s exact origins are unclear, it’s thought to have originated in South Carolina during the mid-19th century. The black-eyed peas within the recipe symbolize coins, while the greens represent paper money, making it a symbolic and tasty way to attract good fortune and prosperity at the start of each new year.
Black Eyed Pea Casserole
Hearty and flavorful, the Black Eyed Pea Casserole is a creative twist on traditional southern cuisine. Combining rice with smoked sausage, ground beef, and a variety of vegetables creates a rich and filling meal that’s sure to satisfy any appetite. Topped with a blend of pepper jack and cheddar cheese, this dish is then baked to perfection, emerging from the oven golden brown and aromatic.
Southern New Year’s Day Dinner Skillet
Benefiting from the traditions of Southern cuisine, this one-pan meal combines tender collard greens, black-eyed peas, and shredded chicken in a flavorful dish. The added touch of crispy bacon adds a rich depth to the overall taste experience.
Hoppin’ John
Fortunately, Hoppin’ John is a beloved traditional southern dish often savored on New Year’s Day for its auspicious connotations of good luck and prosperity. This uncomplicated recipe harmoniously blends black-eyed peas, diced ham, an assortment of vegetables, and aromatic spices, skillfully presented over a bed of fluffy rice.
Whether you’re a fan of comforting, homestyle cuisine or simply seeking a delicious way to kick off the new year, Hoppin’ John is sure to delight your taste buds with its rich flavors and satisfying texture. Furthermore, its make-ahead convenience makes it an excellent choice for busy households, as it tastes even better the next day when all the flavors have had time to meld together.
Collard Greens
Tracing back its roots to traditional Southern cuisine, Collard Greens hold a significant place on New Year’s Day tables due to their association with good luck and prosperity. This recipe showcases the quintessential preparation of collard greens by cooking them in bacon or pork fat, complemented by sautéed onion and an assortment of seasonings including salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, vinegar, and hot sauce.
Collard Greens and Beans with Bacon
Packed with the essence of Southern cuisine, Collard Greens and Beans with Bacon is an effortless recipe that can be enjoyed on any day of the year. The harmonious blend of crispy bacon, tender collard greens, and rich beans produces a mouth-watering dish that’s sure to satisfy your taste buds. This versatile recipe lends itself perfectly as a side to pair with grilled chicken or pork, while its hearty portions also make it an ideal main course served over a bed of fluffy rice.
By utilizing pre-cooked beans and thinly sliced collard greens, you can significantly reduce the preparation time, making this dish a fantastic option for a quick yet satisfying New Year’s Day dinner or any other occasion.
Instant Pot Pork Roast & Sauerkraut
Delighting your taste buds on a chilly winter evening or New Year’s Day, the Instant Pot Pork Roast & Sauerkraut dish is a true culinary delight. The method begins with seasoning the pork roast with salt and pepper before browning it to perfection in the Instant Pot.
This process sets the stage for the subsequent cooking phase where sauerkraut, apple juice or chicken stock, rosemary, apples, onions, and carrots come together in perfect harmony, resulting in a richly flavored and soul-warming meal. Whether you subscribe to the tradition of consuming pork and sauerkraut for good fortune or simply seek a satisfying dinner, this recipe has proven itself to be a tried-and-true winner.
Southern Collard Greens
Revered for its rich history and cultural significance, Southern Collard Greens have become an integral part of New Year’s Day traditions in the South. This beloved side dish is crafted with a medley of fresh ingredients, including collard greens, crispy bacon, a ham hock, sautéed onion, apple cider vinegar, chicken broth, sugar, garlic powder, and olive oil. The combination of these flavors and textures simmers for 1.
5-2 hours to achieve the perfect level of tenderness, after which the shredded ham hock is reintroduced to infuse an extra layer of depth. These vibrant green greens not only tantalize the taste buds but also serve as a symbolic representation of prosperity, making them a popular choice to kick-start the new year on a hopeful note.
Black Eyed Peas and Ham
Southern cuisine is renowned for its comforting and flavorful dishes, and Black Eyed Peas and Ham is a quintessential example of this rich tradition. Originating as a staple in many Southern households, especially on New Year’s Day, this classic dish has become a beloved culinary custom across the United States.
The essence of the recipe lies in its straightforward yet harmonious blend of ingredients: dried black eyed peas cooked with pork (ham hocks, ham bone, or ham) to infuse rich flavors and depth. As the dish simmers for several hours, the peas tenderize, while the ham shreds and re-absorbs into the mixture, resulting in a satisfying and savory experience. Traditionally paired with cornbread and greens, this Southern favorite is an excellent way to kick-start the new year on a nourishing note.
Slow Cooker Black-Eyed Peas
Generally, traditional southern-style dishes are rich in history and significance, and Slow Cooker Black-Eyed Peas is no exception. This recipe has become a staple for many families on New Year’s Day, believed to bring good fortune and prosperity throughout the year. The combination of dried black-eyed peas, ham, bacon, and onion creates a savory and filling meal, while the addition of petite diced tomatoes adds a burst of flavor and color.
One of the best aspects of this recipe is its ease of preparation and hands-off cooking process, made possible by the slow cooker method. To complete the meal, consider serving it with sides like cornbread, collared greens, or steamed white rice for a truly satisfying experience. Overall, Slow Cooker Black-Eyed Peas is an excellent choice to add flavor and luck to your New Year’s Day dinner.
Good Luck Pork and Sauerkraut
For many families, Good Luck Pork and Sauerkraut is a beloved tradition on New Year’s Day, bringing good fortune and prosperity for the coming year. The harmonious blend of pork, sauerkraut, onion, and apple creates a rich and satisfying flavor profile that warms the heart and soul. This classic recipe can be adapted to suit different tastes by using various cuts of pork, such as pork butt roast, pork shoulder, or kielbasa, allowing for a range of textures and flavors.
The sauerkraut’s tangy, briny taste perfectly complements the tender, succulent pork that is achieved through slow cooking. Served alongside mashed potatoes, Good Luck Pork and Sauerkraut makes for a delightful and symbolic meal to usher in the new year.
Slow-Cooker Southern-Style Blackeye Peas
Nestled in Southern culinary traditions, Slow-Cooker Southern-Style Blackeye Peas are a beloved dish often served on New Year’s Day to bring good luck and prosperity. By combining dried blackeye peas with the rich flavors of smoked ham hocks, sautéed sweet onion, and aromatic seasonings, this slow-cooker recipe is surprisingly easy to prepare.
Quick Southern Collard Greens with Bacon
Often associated with traditional collard green recipes, this version cuts down cooking time without sacrificing flavor. The key to its success lies in thinly slicing the greens, allowing them to cook up quickly and absorb the rich flavors of the bacon and vinegar. Adding crispy bacon on top creates a delightful contrast of textures that will leave you wanting more. This recipe is an excellent choice for special occasions like New Year’s Day or any time you’re craving authentic Southern cuisine.
Instant Pot Hoppin’ John
Always a popular choice on New Year’s Day, Instant Pot Hoppin’ John is a traditional Southern dish that combines the good fortune of black-eyed peas with the comforting flavors of ham and spices.
Filet Mignon
Fancy fine dining often calls for dishes that exude elegance, and Filet Mignon with Sauteed Asparagus and Hollandaise Sauce certainly fits the bill. This decadent dish is perfect for special occasions or as a way to treat yourself to something truly special. The filet steaks are tender and cooked to perfection after being seasoned with garlic and herb butter, adding an extra layer of flavor.
The accompanying asparagus is sauteed with garlic, creating a delightful contrast in textures, while the creamy hollandaise sauce adds a rich and indulgent touch. This recipe is not only delicious but also makes for an impressive choice for a special dinner party or celebration, such as New Year’s Day, when you want to start the year off on a luxurious note.
