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Southern New Year’s Menu

Robyn Stone

Published Dec 29, 2025

This Southern New Year’s Menu is perfect for celebrating the first day of the new year! Said to bring money, luck, and prosperity in the new year! Whether it does or not, it is always a favorite family meal full of delicious dishes!

A traditional Southern New Year's Menu - 1

Planning and Serving Tips for Southern New Year’s Menu

  • Estimate the number of people and servings : A traditional Southern New Year’s meal usually includes pork, such as ham or pork roast, turnip greens, black eyed peas, mashed potatoes, cornbread, and a dessert. When I plan to serve my baked ham, I estimate the size of ham I need based upon these guidelines: 1/4 – 1/3 lb. per serving of boneless ham, and 1/3 – 1/2 lb. of meat per serving of bone-in ham. I plan for 4-6 ounces of cooked ham, 1 cup each of turnip greens, peas, and potatoes, and smaller servings of dessert per person.
  • Traditions or superstitions: Pork symbolizes prosperity, some say good health in the coming year. Turnip greens represent money, such as folding money, and black-eyed peas represent coins. Cornbread represents money as well, such as gold.
  • Make Ahead : Prepare as much of the food as possible before the New Year’s Day meal. Many of the recipes below list make-ahead options.
  • Serving : Serve family-style on a buffet for easier access and mingling. Don’t forget the sweet tea!

Southern New Year’s Menu

Warm Brie with Honeyed Fruit Compote

Warm Brie with Honeyed Fruit Compote makes a beautiful, quick and easy appetizer. Made with a honeyed cranberry walnut fruit compote, this warm brie recipe is festive for the holidays! // addapinch.com - 2

Warm Brie with Honeyed Cranberry Walnut Fruit Compote Recipe

Baked Ham

Cola Glazed Ham Recipe - This classic cola glazed ham recipe with brown sugar makes an easy baked ham perfect for any occasion!  // addapinch.com - 3

Best Baked Ham Recipe

Optional: Pork Roast

Pulled pork in a white baking dish with two forks. - 4

Pork Roast Recipe

Turnip Greens

Slow Cooker Turnip Greens - addapinch.com - 5

Slow Cooker Turnip Greens Recipe

Black Eyed Peas

Pot of Black Eyed Peas. - 6

Black Eyed Peas Recipe

Mashed Potatoes

Creamy golden mashed potatoes topped with butter, salt and pepper in a white Dutch oven. - 7

Easy Mashed Potatoes Recipe

Southern Buttermilk Cornbread

Cast iron skillet holds slices of golden southern cornbread. - 8

Southern Cornbread Recipe

Deviled Eggs

Deviled eggs make the perfect appetizer or side dish for family meals, parties, holidays, potlucks, picnics and more. This simple and classic deviled eggs recipe is a family favorite! // addapinch.com - 9

Classic Deviled Eggs

New Year’s Day Desserts

Lemon Pound Cake

Side view of lemon pound cake with lemon buttermilk glaze drizzled on top. - 10

Lemon Pound Cake Recipe

Cinnamon Roll Biscuit Wreath

Cinnamon Roll Biscuit Wreath Recipe - Quick and easy this treat has everything you love about a cinnamon roll with the ease of a biscuit in the shape of a festive wreath! // addapinch.com - 11

Cinnamon Roll Biscuit Wreath Recipe

Hope you and your family have a Happy New Year! Robyn xo

From the Add a Pinch recipe archives. Originally published 2014.