Slow Cooker Black Eyed Peas
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Slow Cooker black eyed peas are the perfect after holiday no-cooking and no-baking dish! Using up your leftover ham or turkey, this “hoppin john” recipe is a dump and go! Full of delicious Southern flavors, you can serve flavorful black eyed peas over rice or with a jiffy cornbread recipe.
Why you should make Black Eyed Peas
This dish is a total winner for a few reasons! First, it’s super easy to make—just toss everything into the slow cooker, no need for pre-soaking or extra steps.
It’s also a great way to use up leftover holiday ham or turkey, so nothing goes to waste. Plus, if you’re into traditions, black-eyed peas are considered good luck when eaten on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day, making this recipe even more special!
Ingredients You’ll Need:
For this slow cooker black-eyed peas recipe, you’ll need a 16 oz bag of dried black-eyed peas (no need to pre-soak), 6 cups of water, and three crushed bouillon cubes and a tablespoon of minced garlic for added flavor. Dice up one onion, one red bell pepper, and seed and dice one jalapeño for kick.
If you have some leftover holiday ham, chop up about a cup of it (totally optional), along with six slices of chopped bacon. To season, mix in 1 ½ teaspoons of cumin, one teaspoon of oregano, ½ teaspoon of cayenne pepper, ½ teaspoon of salt, and ¼ teaspoon of black pepper. As always, feel free to add additional Cajun spices if prefer more heat.
How to Cook Slow Cooker Black Eyed Peas
In a slow cooker, add the dried black-eyed peas, water, and crushed bouillon cubes. Then, toss in the diced onion, minced garlic, bell pepper, jalapeño, chopped ham, and bacon.
Add cumin, oregano, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper. Give everything a good stir.
Set your slow cooker to high and let the black-eyed peas cook for about 6 hours or until they’re tender. I like to check them around the 5-hour mark to see how they’re coming along.
Once the peas are nice and soft, stir everything up. Serve them over a bed of white rice, in a cornbread bowl, or with a slice of skillet cornbread for a complete meal.
Variations and Substitutions
If you don’t have ham on hand, you can substitute for one of the following:
- Cooked ground beef
- Cooked Sausage
- Cooked leftover turkey pieces
- Or just leave the meat out
Frequently Asked Questions
Technically, they’re a type of bean known as “cowpeas,” but the name sticks!
Yes, it’s generally a good idea to rinse dried black-eyed peas before cooking them. Rinsing helps to remove any dust, dirt, or debris that might be on the peas from packaging. While soaking isn’t necessary for this recipe, a quick rinse under cold water will ensure your black-eyed peas are clean and ready to cook.
Black eyed peas are considered good luck because they are supposed to represent coins with collard greens representing money and corn bread representing “gold”. This is why this side dish recipe is served at the beginning of the year on New Years Day.
Hoppin John typically has black eyed peas, pork, and rice and very common in the South . Many people believe its named this way because of a guy nick named “Hoppin John” who used to sell black eyed peas and rice on the streets of Charleston, SC. You can read more about the history here.
More Bean Side Dishes you’ll love!
Slow Cooker Black Eyed Peas
Equipment
Ingredients
- 16 oz. dry black eyed peas rinsed, but not soaked
- 6 cups water
- 3 beef bouillon cubes crushed
- 1 onion diced
- 1 red bell pepper diced
- 1 jalapeno pepper seeded and diced
- 6 slices uncooked bacon chopped
- 1 cup chopped ham optional
Seasonings & Spices
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1-1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Start by rinsing the black-eyed peas in cold water. There’s no need to soak them beforehand.16 oz. dry black eyed peas
- Dice the onion, bell pepper, and jalapeño, and chop the ham and bacon.1 onion, 1 red bell pepper, 1 jalapeno pepper, 1 cup chopped ham, 6 slices uncooked bacon
- Add all ingredients, including the rinsed peas, water, spices, ham, and bacon, to your slow cooker. Stir everything together until well combined.6 cups water, 3 beef bouillon cubes, 1 tablespoon minced garlic, 1-1/2 teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon oregano, 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- Set the slow cooker to high and cook for about 6 hours, or until the black-eyed peas are tender. Start checking around the 5-hour mark.
- Once done, stir again to mix all the flavors before serving over fresh cornbread or rice. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- SERVE OVER: Rice, Cornbread, Collard greens, and hot sauce
- Like Black Eyed Peas less spicy? Skip the jalapeno!
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer: The nutritional data provided here is auto-calculated and intended for your convenience only. As it’s generated via automation, its accuracy may be compromised. For precise nutritional insight, please compute the values utilizing the actual ingredients in your recipe through your chosen nutrition calculator or application.
Did You Make This Recipe?
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Do you cook the bacon first or put it in to cook in the slow cooker?
Hi staci, you leave the bacon uncooked. It will cook in the slow cooker all day.
No baby what is you doing ? You boil you neck bones and hog maws and season. And you let your black eyed peas soak over night get up about 2 am and put them in a crock pot and put the boiled meat in the pot with it and set on slow. Stir yall folk don’t know nothing about no cornbread black eyed peas and greens. Go have several sets. You are talking to. A Mississippi girl by wY of Louisiana. I will put your food to shame Sat down some place
Sunny, I full understand and respect there are a lot of ways, traditionally and culturally, to enjoy black eyed peas. This recipe is very good – however its a more modern recipe. The beans are soaked, but are soaked in a slow cooker versus overnight. Regarding using neck bones and hog, I am positive all of that is delicious but many people do not have access to additional meat with Covid or have limited products at stores – plus the time involved. This black eyed pea recipe is a great alternative to those that are not wanting a totally from scratch recipe and still tastes delicious. As mentioned in the article, yes – Black Eyed Peas are served with greens for good luck, but I personally prefer them with cornbread or rice.
Food isnt a competition, its something we have to continue to share with love knowing that not everyone has the same skill, time, or resources to create and this site is based on helping even the most modest cook create something in the home for their family.
Much love,
trisha
Trisha, can i use garden crowder peas instead? And how would i need to adjust my time?
Carolyn, this was a really interesting question and I didnt honestly know the answer on the substitution.
When I do some research on crowder peas in a crock pot, recipes typically have them in the crock pot 4-5 hours. (like this one – https://www.facebook.com/JanetsAppalachianKitchen/posts/crock-pot-crowder-peasfor-easter-i-fixed-us-a-mess-of-crowder-peas-to-go-with-su/1329647460468421/ )
When I look at my recipe versus crowder peas recipes on timing, it appears they may need a bit shorter time, maxing out around 5 hours over what I do, which is 6. Unfortunately I don’t know the concreate answer without testing, so I would say check them at hour 4-5 and then adjust if you need more time.
Id be interested to hear if this recipe worked for that so if you do make them, let me know!
Can you adjust this to make in an instant pot?
Hi Heather! That would be an entirely different type of recipe and unfortunately, I am not sure the instructions to give you on making black-eyed peas in an instant pot.
This recipe was absolutely delicious! Leftovers were even better the next day. So easy to make I highly recommend it. Good job.
Thank you!! It’s one of my favorites too. I am glad you tried it.
Can leftovers be frozen? Looks delicious and I’m not a big black eyed pea fan!
Typically they can be frozen but I have not tested out to give exact measurements on timing they would keep.
Happy New Year! This is a fantastic recipe. I am a southerner living in the midwest. Black-eyed peas (and the associated menu) isn’t a new year tradition out here. And finding them can be a challenge. I could only find the dry peas and wasn’t feeling confident I could do justice. Your recipe made it SUPER easy and they are so delicious. My mother would be so proud. Thank you! Will definitely keep and do these time and time again.
Made for New years and boy was it good!
Can I put pig feet in with it together
Johnny, this is an interesting question and might bring good flavor to the black eyed peas! I have never slow cooked pigs feet, so I am not 100% sure the answer. A little bit of research showed me that you can slow and low cook black eyed peas – but my only concern is the amount of liquid you may need for them. If you choose to do this, you may want to monitor to add additional broth or liquid.