Looking for new years day food ideas that go beyond one big dinner? Think black-eyed peas, golden cornbread and little ham sliders with plenty of melted cheese.
These pictures give you lots to choose from, whether you’re planning a sit-down meal or setting out a few things to share.
You can keep it simple or go all out. Pick a main dish, add a side you love, then leave a little room for those powdered-sugar treats!
New Year's Day food ideas worth saving
black-eyed peas and sausage
We’re starting off strong with this bowl of black-eyed peas and chunky sausage pieces. I love how thick the sauce looks, with the peas tucked all around those browned slices.
If you want something alongside it, I’d choose a wedge of cornbread for scooping up what’s left in the bowl.
peas with greens
Want your greens and black-eyed peas together? This version has both, plus browned sausage rounds throughout the pot.
There’s golden broth showing between all those chopped leaves and peas.
Bring out deep bowls for this one rather than flat plates.
rice with peas and ham
This rice dish may just be one of my favorites here. I love the big pink ham cubes mixed through the black-eyed peas, with little green onion pieces on top.
Unlike the bowls above, the rice is already part of the mix. I’d pair it with a separate dish of greens.
cornbread and cabbage plate
If you like keeping each part of dinner separate, this one is for you. A thick cornbread wedge sits beside black-eyed peas, cooked cabbage and shredded meat.
That long white plate is a lovely serving idea too. Give each dish its own little spot instead of piling everything together.
roast with apple wedges
How good does that browned roast look? It sits in a slow cooker surrounded by shredded cabbage and apple wedges, with pieces pulled away at the front.
I especially love the apple slices left in larger wedges. Keep that detail if you’re choosing a similar roast recipe for your table.
sliced ham platter
Don’t want to go overboard with your serving setup? No problem!
Overlap slices of ham down a white platter like this, then leave a little space around the edges.
The green sprigs and red fruit make this arrangement so pretty. You could use rosemary and cranberries for a similar festive finish.
Read also: 20 Winter Breakfast Ideas From Cinnamon Rolls to Savory Skillets
saucy cabbage rolls
I love this tray of cabbage rolls with their browned tops and reddish sauce. The folded leaves are still visible around each little parcel.
Choose a cabbage roll recipe with a filling you like, then borrow this close-together arrangement for serving. A wide serving spoon would be handy here.
a bowl of lentil soup
If you’re looking for a bowl-based meal instead of a big platter, go with lentil soup. This one has a brown broth, visible vegetable pieces and a pale crumbled topping.
I’d put some bread on the table alongside it and let the soup be the main event.
pomegranate and avocado salad
How pretty is this salad? I am obsessed with the red pomegranate seeds scattered among the avocado chunks and leafy greens.
The fine purple stems and white crumbles make it even more colorful.
Bring out your biggest serving bowl if you want to follow this piled-high presentation.
brownie clock platter
The little brownie clock is such a cute idea! White icing numbers turn the squares into a clock face around the edge of a round platter.
You could borrow this for a New Year's Day dessert table too. Keep any decorative clock hands separate from the brownies, or make an edible version with chocolate.
powdered-sugar doughnut bites
Don’t want to decorate individual desserts? No problem there!
These round, golden-brown doughnut-style treats are piled on a platter with a generous dusting of powdered sugar.
I love the snowy tops against the browned edges. For your own table, keep the ribbon beside the platter rather than among the food.
red and green grape skewers
This is such a fun way to display fruit. Long skewers of red and green grapes stand upright in a clear jar, so you can see the colors all the way down.
Try keeping each skewer one color like these, or alternate the grapes if you want a different pattern.
golden breaded platter
If you are looking for a platter with lots of golden color, then this one is for you. Breaded pieces overlap on a bed of lettuce, with lemon wedges dotted across the top.
You could use this presentation for your favorite breaded fish or cutlets. I’d keep the lemons within easy reach rather than putting them all in the middle.
mac and cheese bites
Okay, that macaroni center looks so good! The opened bites show little pasta elbows in cheese sauce beneath a golden crumb coating.
The green onion rings and fine white shavings are a pretty finishing touch. Save this one if you’d rather serve mac and cheese as a snack than a big casserole.
noodle soup with egg
This noodle bowl has so many lovely little details. There are long noodles, dark greens and egg halves with bright orange centers, plus pink-swirled slices at the side.
Read also: 19+ Easy Vegetarian Lunches That Beat Takeout
I’d keep the halved egg right on top when serving a similar bowl. It’s too pretty to hide under the noodles.
a pot full of tamales
Want to put tamales on the menu? This pot is packed with husk-wrapped bundles arranged in a ring, with reddish and green fillings showing at the open ends.
If you’re offering different fillings, label them on the serving table so everyone can choose without unwrapping each one.
black-eyed peas over rice
This is another rice and black-eyed pea idea, but it’s a little different from the mixed version above. Here, the peas and browned meat pieces sit on top of white rice.
I love the chopped green onions scattered over everything. Keep the rice underneath if you like this layered serving style.
pecan-topped sweet potatoes
The pecan topping is my favorite part of this sweet potato casserole. Whole halves and smaller pieces cover the orange base, with a spoonful lifted out at the front.
If you’re planning to serve ham, this would be a lovely side to add. Bring it to the table in its baking dish for a simple presentation.
ham and cheese sliders
I am obsessed with that cheese pull. Folded ham fills these little rolls, with melted cheese stretching back into the dish as one slider is lifted.
The browned tops have a speckled seasoning layer too. I’d choose these for a casual lunch with a salad on the side.
a little of everything
Last but definitely not least, we have this full dinner plate. There’s rice under dark glazed meat, black-eyed peas with sausage, cooked cabbage and golden cornbread.
The separate little dish of browned mac and cheese is such a good addition. If you like a few different sides with dinner, this gives you plenty of ideas to choose from.
Just a little note - some of the links on here may be affiliate links, which means I might earn a small commission if you decide to shop through them (at no extra cost to you!). I only post content which I'm truly enthusiastic about and would suggest to others.
And as you know, I seriously love seeing your takes on the looks and ideas on here - that means the world to me! If you recreate something, please share it here in the comments or feel free to send me a pic. I'm always excited to meet y'all! ✨🤍
Xoxo Emily