Looking for the best good luck meals from around the world? These global dishes are packed with flavor, meaning, and traditions meant to bring prosperity, health, and happiness. From noodles that symbolize long life to beans that look like little coins, these recipes are easy to make at home, perfect for holidays, celebrations, or whenever you want a little extra good fortune.

Remember the last time you made a dish that felt like more than food, almost like a wish? Around the world, families rely on meaningful recipes to welcome luck, health, and abundance into the new year or special occasions.

In the US, many of these dishes have become beloved traditions too: black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day, noodles for birthdays, or citrus for celebrations. These recipes travel across generations and cultures, showing up at potlucks, family gatherings, and weekend cooking sessions.

In this post, you’ll find easy, comforting recipes inspired by global traditions, plus tips and FAQs about good luck foods. Whether you’re planning a holiday menu or just want a hopeful dinner tonight, these dishes bring joy to the table.

Good Luck Meals That Always Work

🍜 Long Noodles for Long Life

In many East Asian cultures, long noodles are more than dinner, they’re a birthday wish. Families serve them at celebrations to represent longevity, and the longer the noodle, the longer the life it symbolizes.

Long Life & Health! Warm Soba Noodle Recipe By Naomi’s Memo👩🏻‍🍳
Grandma, who lived for 100 years used to cook this one on New Year’s Eve to wish for our long life and health for our entire family!
CookpadNaomi’s memo👩🏻‍🍳
Thai Coconut Red Curry Soup With Udon Noodles, Carrots, Green Bell Pepper, Bok Choy & Blackened Tofu Recipe By Angela Mc Williams
Thai soups are surprisingly easy to make. For this one, I added udon noodles & blackened tofu. The flavors are delicious & it’s turns out very colorful, which I always enjoy!
CookpadAngela McWilliams
Dan Dan Noodle (Easy Version) Recipe By Fo Fa
I was looking for a relatively quick, little bit spicy, Asian noodle dish, sort of took a few recipes and came up with this. Most Dan Dan noodles have hard to find ingredients, so made some modifications, and it turned out pretty good.
CookpadFo Fa

💡 Quick Tip: Don’t cut the noodles - keeping them long symbolizes a long life.

🫘 Black-Eyed Peas for Prosperity (USA & West Africa)

Black-eyed peas traveled from West Africa to the American South, where they became a staple of New Year’s Day. The peas swell as they cook, symbolizing growth, wealth, and new beginnings. Today, they’re a cozy comfort dish for many families, especially when paired with greens, which represent paper money.

My Southern Black Eyed Peas With Collard Greens Recipe By Lauren
Great recipe for My Southern Black Eyed Peas with Collard Greens.
CookpadLauren
Black Eyed Pea Salad Recipe By Kostas1213
Buck to gym after a 4 year injury recovery time to go healthy again lol. And it’s a tasty vegan food
Cookpadkostas1213

💡 Quick Tip: Add a splash of vinegar or lemon at the end to brighten the flavors.

🥘 Lentils for Wealth (Italy, Brazil)

In Italy and Brazil, lentils are eaten at the start of a new year because they resemble tiny coins. The belief is that every spoonful invites financial luck. Over time, this tradition made its way into American kitchens, where lentil soups and stews are popular winter comfort foods, both affordable and packed with meaning.

Hearty Cabbage Red Lentil Soup Recipe By Mish
A hearty cabbage soup, combined with red lentils, tomatoes, aromatic herbs, carrots, celery, and sausages! Absolute YUM! Fiber packed, very flavorful and thoroughly satisfying. You gotta try it! For the video go here : https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRKAAvbiXXE/?igsh=MXNmdGkwMjl6Zmk0
CookpadMish
Creamy Lentil Soup Recipe By Lulu Galaviz
A funky, fast and savory combo
CookpadLulu Galaviz

💡 Quick Tip: Add a splash of broth halfway through cooking. Lentils absorb flavor as they soften, so this boosts richness without extra salt.

🐟 Whole Fish for Abundance (China, Vietnam)

Serving a whole fish, especially at New Year celebrations in China and Vietnam, symbolizes unity, abundance, and good fortune from “head to tail.” Keeping the fish intact represents having a good beginning and a good end.

California Farm Barbecued Whole Fish Recipe By Hobby Horseman
We like to grill a whole fish per person, head on, 2/3 pounds, for dinner and leftover fish bouillion, like pompano, butterfish or tilapia. Rubbed inside with soy sauce, barbecued with a slice of lemon inside. These bony fishes grill well, flakey and juicy without oily taste, on the barbecue, cook i…
CookpadHobby Horseman
Grilled Whole Fish With Tamarind, Sweet Soy Sauce And Bento Rice Recipe By Leli Nad
I made this with mom when i was at home yesterday. Ya before eid come we usually give boxes of food for our neighbours (it’s a common tradition here). I actually made 37 portions but here im gonna write for only 2 portions.
CookpadLeli Nad

💡 Quick Tip: Pat the fish completely dry before cooking and rub it lightly with oil, this helps the skin crisp up beautifully while keeping the flesh tender and juicy.

🍎 Round Fruits for Good Fortune (Philippines, Latin America)

Round fruits, like oranges, grapes, and mandarins, symbolize wholeness, prosperity, and blessings in many cultures. In the Philippines and parts of Latin America, people serve 12 round fruits at midnight for luck in each month of the coming year. Citrus salads have become a bright, refreshing way for American cooks to bring this tradition to the table.

Green Apple Salad With Cheese Dry Fruits And Strawberry Sauce Recipe By Ruchita Chauhan
#goldenapron3 #week15
CookpadRuchita Chauhan
Fruit Pizza Recipe By Offroad Girl
So easy to make and turned out to be delicious!
CookpadOffroadGirl
Ami Es Friend Apple Cake Recipe By Armilie
the whole family will love this cake. :positive quick and simple, it’s ideal for a relaxed weekend gathering with family and friends. :nod a cake for picnics, snacks, breakfast or for a lazy lunch. :-) taste so good, everyone will want the recipes. :ohyeaah :cookie
CookpadArmilie

💡 Quick Tip: Use a variety of citrus: oranges, mandarins, and grapes all symbolize good fortune.

❓FAQs About Good Luck Foods

What is the most popular good luck food in the U.S.?

Black-eyed peas with greens are the most common good luck meal in American homes, especially on New Year’s Day.

Why are noodles considered lucky?

Long noodles symbolize long life. In many cultures, cutting them is avoided to preserve the meaning.

What fruits bring good luck?

Round fruits like oranges, grapes, and mandarins symbolize prosperity and good fortune in many cultures.

Are lentils a good luck food?

Yes. Their coin-like shape symbolizes wealth and abundance, especially in Italian and Brazilian traditions.

What fish is good for good luck?

A whole fish is considered lucky because it symbolizes unity, abundance, and a good beginning and end.

No matter where the tradition comes from, good luck meals add something special to the table: hope, connection, and a little extra joy. Whether you’re cooking lentils for prosperity or noodles for long life, these dishes bring warmth and flavor to busy kitchens.

Got a favorite good luck recipe from your family tradition?

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