The final day of 2025 has come and gone, with a new year just around the corner. We’re all eagerly anticipating the bigger bowls, College Football Playoff games, and the NFL postseason ahead.
As everyone wishes luck for their teams and themselves, the New Year offers a chance to whip up a good luck-themed spread. With classic dishes rumored to bring fortune, here are three tasty options that are perfect for feeding a crowd.
Pork and Sauerkraut Sliders
There’s a belief that eating pork is lucky because pigs push forward, which represents progress—something we hope for in our favorite teams. Cabbage also features prominently in New Year’s traditions, as it symbolizes good fortune. You might find some luck with player contracts or salary caps. Serve these hearty sliders on a pretzel bun, as a nod to a German custom where soft pretzels are thought to bring prosperity and health in the new year.
Then there’s Hoppin’ John, a filling stew with pork, black-eyed peas—thought to bring good luck due to their resemblance to coins—vegetables, and rice, which stands for abundance. It’s perfect for tailgates since it can be easily transported in a clay pot. Don’t forget the cornbread, traditionally paired with Hoppin’ John, as its golden hue represents wealth.
Round foods like donuts or bundt cakes symbolize completeness and continuity, and let’s be honest, they’re just plain delicious. Plus, you can easily put a spin on these treats to reflect your favorite teams. For instance, Falcons fans might want to serve beignets when facing the Saints in their final regular-season matchup. Making donuts from scratch can be a bit of a project, so feel free to opt for store-bought. After all, all donuts taste great!
Raise a toast to the new year and sprinkle some extra luck onto your team with a festive pomegranate mimosa, garnished with lucky seeds that represent abundance and prosperity. Or you could make it a mocktail with sparkling cider.
Will these foods guarantee your team’s success in the playoffs? Well, not exactly… but trying to send some positive vibes and enjoying good food certainly doesn’t hurt!
