Installing a new OS on a new SSD on a MBP

I currently have a 2012 MacbookPro running El Cap on my HHD. I just received a new SSD that I want to replace my internal HHD with. What I would like to do is install os Sierra or even High Sierra on my SSD then restore the rest of my HHD with the info via CCC or Time Machine (I use two separate external HHD's for back up). This sounds simple enough but I have read so many conflicting opinions that I am totally confused. I have even thought of just updating my HHD with the new OS then just updating my info via Time Machine (I have done this with the previous updates) and once I verified that everything was copacetic, do another back up of the HHD using Time Machine and CCC. Then, I would just format the new SSD and install the either cloned version or the Time Machine version unto the new SSD. Would that work?