30+ Kid-Friendly Comfort Food Recipes Perfect for New Year's Day (2024)

New Year’s Day is traditionally the day of new beginnings, resolutions, and changes. But let’s be honest, as a mom, it’s hard to think about anything beyond today. So we resolve to enjoy New Year’s Day and start that resolution of making sure our kids eat more greens on January 2. With that i mind, we’ve rounded up 30+ comfort food recipes to make your New Year’s Day a little cozier—foods your kids will love just as much as you. So get that Netflix marathon started and enjoy these meals in your PJs!

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1.Breakfast Egg Muffins

Start the new year off right with this protein-packed breakfast option! The best part of these egg muffins is that they’re customizable—fill them with your kiddos’ favorite flavors for a breakfast they won’t be able to get enough of.

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2. Fried Mozzarella Sandwiches With Pomegranate Honey

Festive, fun, and delicious. These sandwiches are a flavor-packed treat the whole family will enjoy.

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3. Instant Pot Cheeseburger Mac & Cheese

If you have a Hamburger Helper-loving family, treat them to something even better. Everyone will be asking for seconds (or thirds) of this Instant Pot macaroni dish.

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4. Taco Lasagna

¡Olé to the new year! Morph tacos into this flavorful Mexican-inspired lasagna, layered with tortillas, seasoned ground beef, black beans, and cheese.

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5. Chicken Penne Pasta

A creamy, cheesy pasta dish filled with yummy seasoned chicken–and, many a kid will likely appreciate its absence of exotic flavors or vegetables.

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6. Nacho Baked Potatoes

For the kiddos who love nachos: skip the chips in place of a nutritious potato and present the toppings as DIY so they can load up on all their favorites.

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7. Slow Cooker Mexican Pulled Pork Tacos

The first day of 2024 may not be a Taco Tuesday, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy these unique and tasty tacos together as a family.

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8. Buffalo Chicken Sliders

There’s something about sliders that just scream “celebration” to us. If you agree, try making these ultra-tasty buffalo chicken sliders to ring in the new year.

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9. Cheese and Prosciutto Crescents

All the flavors of a quality charcuterie board with the added bonus of fluffy crescent rolls. Be sure to make a few extra of these—we know you’re going to need them!

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10. Cheeseburger Pizza

We love this creative approach of combining two foods that many kids love–cheeseburgers and pizza. Feel free to play around with the toppings to capture what your kid(s) prefer most.

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11. Instant Pot Korean Beef Tacos

Turn your taco game up a notch by adding a flare of Asian flavor! These tacos are juicy, flavorful, and sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

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12. Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili

Chili is a perfect dish to have when it’schillyoutside. Instead of using the same recipe you have been for years, try something a little different and fun with this white chicken chili.

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13. Cheesy Avocado Quesadillas

Quesadillas are always a crowd-pleaser in my household—who can pass up melty cheese? These are even better because they’re also filled with avocado.

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14. Chicken Parmesan Gnocchi Bake

If you’re looking for a nourishing twist to pasta meals, this recipe of pillowy gnocchi and parmesan seasoned chicken is simple, tasty, and kid-approved.

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15. Sausage and Greens Pizza

Forget takeout, make the tastiest pizza right at home! Top your dough with kale, ricotta cheese, Italian sausage, and more for the ultimate pizza night experience.

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16. Baked Chicken Tenders

Your little ones will love these chicken tenders that rival those of their favorite restaurant. These tenders are made with only seven ingredients, meaning they’re incredibly easy to make and a great option for New Year’s Day when energy may be low.

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17. Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas

The great thing about sheet pan meals is they’re just as simple to make as to clean up. This dish is filled with flavor, and you won’t have to spend all day preparing it.

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18. Lasagna Garlic Bread Bowls

Try something fun and a little more out-of-the-box this New Year’s Day. These bread bowls capture all the flavor of delicious lasagna in a crafty and extra-tasty way.

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19. Homemade Taquitos

If you’ve never made taquitos before, now’s the time! They’re crunchy, delectable, and sure to be a new family favorite. This recipe uses beef chuck roast, but these babies can also be stuffed with shredded chicken or veggies—the options are endless.

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20. Rainbow Veggie Flatbread Pizza

Make it a colorful start to the new year with these festive vegetable-forward pizzas. Your kids may be picky vegetable eaters, but if they see them in the form of this fun pizza, minds and taste buds may change!

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21. Slow Cooker Loaded Baked Potato Soup

Soup season is in full swing, and there’s no better way to start the new year than by cozying up with your family and enjoying an equally cozy meal together. Take the flavor of loaded baked potatoes and make it into this delectable soup.

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22. Homemade Mac and Cheese

A list of kid-friendly comfort foods would certainly be incomplete without the prospect of creating the most scrumptious mac and cheese dish. Bubbling with gooey cheddar cheese fresh out of the oven, you’re giving the boxed stuff a run for its money!

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23. Spinach and Mozzarella Baked Ravioli

If you don’t want your first day of the new year to be spent in the kitchen but still want to treat your family to a delicious meal, try making this five-ingredient baked ravioli dish.

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24. Sweet and Sour Chicken

If your junk drawer is full of takeout menus, we highly recommend trying your hand at making your favorite Chinese restaurant recipe at home. This sweet and sour chicken recipe will be even better than that of your go-to Chinese spot.

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25. Meatball Subs

For a recipe that’s both kiddo- and Joey Tribbiani-approved, try making these meatball subs while watching Friendsreruns. Sounds like a perfect first day of the year if you ask us.

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26. Turkey and Dumplings

When those holiday leftovers are on their last leg, make them into this tasty dish filled with turkey, veggies, and dumplings.

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27. Persian Chicken Noodle Soup

As exciting as the holidays are, this is unfortunately the time of year when our immune systems can take a hit! Start the year off with tons of veggies that are oh-so-good for you with this Persian chicken noodle soup.

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28. French Onion French Dip Sandwiches

If, like us, you can’t help but to say “oh yes” to au jus, these French dip sandwiches are probably calling your name, too. This recipe is extra special because it includes caramelized onions and Gruyère cheese to put a French onion spin on things.

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29. Instant Pot Pot Roast

It’s hard to say exactly what makes pot roast the ultimate comfort food—it could be the tender, juicy beef or the soft veggies. Regardless, this is a perfect recipe for your New Year’s Day.

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30. Swedish Meatballs

One of my favorite family traditions is having appetizers for dinner on NYE. Pair these with everyone else’s favorite appetizers for a fun family meal.

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31. African Chicken Peanut Stew

Manifest a fun year by kicking it off with a new and exciting recipe. This African chicken peanut stew is the perfect option because it’s as delicious as it is simple to make.

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32. Homemade SpaghettiOs

If your little one refuses to eat anything besides Chef Boyardee but you’re not impressed with the ingredient list, we’ve got you covered. These homemade SpaghettiOs taste so good they won’t want to go back to the canned version.

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10 Fun and Easy NYE Celebration Ideas for Families

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30+ Kid-Friendly Comfort Food Recipes Perfect for New Year's Day (2024)

FAQs

What are the 7 lucky new year's food traditions? ›

Food traditions that you can do to bring good luck next year
  • Pork. Pork is thought to bring good luck on New Year's Day. ...
  • Cabbage. ...
  • Black-Eyed Peas. ...
  • Greens. ...
  • Lentils. ...
  • Fish. ...
  • Noodles. ...
  • Grapes and other fruit.
Dec 31, 2023

What is the meal you're supposed to eat on new year's Day? ›

Greens, pork, and cornbread, as well as black-eyed peas, cowpeas, or beans, are some of the typical symbolic foods served on New Year's Day. When planning your dinner menu, add the Southern foods that some say bring good luck and avoid those that may do just the opposite in the new year.

What are the 3 foods to eat on New Years? ›

In the U.S., depending on where you live, the foods you should eat on New Years Day include (but aren't limited to) oatmeal, black-eyed peas, and cabbage (not all at the same meal).

What is traditional New Years party food? ›

Pick and choose a few of these traditional New Year's foods like sesame pork noodle salad (thought to symbolize longevity) or orange-vanilla scones (representing gold and wealth) or opt for a full menu of Southern comfort foods that incorporate some of these ingredients, like Hoppin' John, skillet cornbread, and ...

What not to do on new year's Day? ›

Don't Clean the House on New Year's Day - You will wash away any good luck coming your way.

Why eat pork on new year's Day? ›

Like many other cultures, the Pennsylvania Dutch believe eating pork on New Year's Day brings good luck because pigs root around with their snouts in a forward motion. After all, we want to move forward, not backward, in the new year.

What not to eat on New Year's Day? ›

It's said that you shouldn't eat winged fowl (read: birds like turkey or chicken), bottom feeders (like shrimp or catfish), or any seafood that swims backward or side to side (like lobster or crab).

What is the black new year's meal? ›

Black-eyed peas are served with rice in the traditional Southern U.S. dish called “Hoppin' John” for New Year's Eve. Or, the peas can be part of a soup.

Can you take a shower on New Year's Day? ›

Taking a bath on New Year's is not necessary, but it is a personal choice. Different cultures and superstitions have varying beliefs about bathing on New Year's Day.

Why can't you eat chicken on new year's? ›

Chicken, Squab, or Anything with Wings

If it has wings, it can fly away - and that's what legend says about chicken on New Years. Eating chicken can cause your good luck to fly away, and well - we definitely don't want that. Make that Roasted Chicken later in January, just to be safe.

What is the best meat for new year's Day? ›

Pork. Pork for progress! Pigs root around with their snouts moving in a forward motion, which is why many cultures around the world eat pork on New Year's Day to symbolize progress for the coming year.

Can I wash dishes on new year's Day? ›

We can really get behind this superstition. If you're concerned about "sweeping" or "washing" away any luck coming your way, don't do any cleaning—including dishes and laundry.

Can you eat chicken on new year's Day? ›

Lobster, cows, and chicken are all considered unlucky animals to eat on New Year's because of how they move. Read on for more foods superstitious people try to avoid on the holiday.

Why eat cabbage on new year's Day? ›

Meanwhile, cabbage leaves are thought to bring prosperity to those who eat them on New Year's Day. Long believed to be an antidote to an overzealous night on the town, menudo is part of many holiday celebrations, especially breakfast on New Year's Day.

Why do you eat cornbread on new year's Day? ›

If there was any corn left they made cornbread. So, theses three items have come to represent hope and prosperity for the New Year. The peas represent coins, the greens - paper money and the cornbread, gold.

What foods bring good luck in the New Year? ›

A ubiquitous New Year's Day good luck food in Europe and the United States, leafy greens from kale to collards are eaten to represent money and wealth. In the American South, collard greens especially are eaten with two other New Year's good luck foods, black-eyed peas and cornbread, for some extra fortune.

What not to cook on New Year's Eve? ›

Lobster, cows, and chicken are all considered unlucky animals to eat on New Year's because of how they move. Read on for more foods superstitious people try to avoid on the holiday.

What is the belief for eating round cake in the New Year? ›

Cake: From donuts to more traditional cakes, round or ring-shaped sweets are very popular on New Year's Day. Many people believe round foods symbolize a circle. They may bring good luck that the coming year will go well and come “full circle” around to this same point in time the following year.

Why eat cabbage on New Year's Day? ›

Meanwhile, cabbage leaves are thought to bring prosperity to those who eat them on New Year's Day. Long believed to be an antidote to an overzealous night on the town, menudo is part of many holiday celebrations, especially breakfast on New Year's Day.

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