Black Eyed Peas Recipe (Slow Cooker + Stovetop)

This Black Eyed Peas Recipe is cooked low and slow with tender smoked turkey. With this recipe, learn how to make black eyed peas using two common methods; the slow cooker and the stovetop. Ring in the New Year with a bowl of this deliciously satisfying southern side dish.

If you need more soul food side dish recipes, try the ultimate Soul Rolls and Red Beans and Rice.

Jump to:

• Why We Love This Recipe:
• Ingredients You Need:
• Instructions to Make Black Eyed Peas:
• Alternatives and Variations:
• Pro-Tips:
• Storing and Reheating:
• Serving suggestions
• FAQ:
• More Soul Food Recipes to Try
• 📖 Recipe
• Be sure to tag me on Instagram or Facebook when you make this recipe! I would love to see your creation, and give you a shoutout!

Black eyed peas are a hearty side dish that are perfect for any occasion. But they are especially important on New Year's Day. As Southern superstition has it, eating black eyed peas on New Year's Day will bring you good luck and prosperity throughout the year.

If have this simmering on your stove in a large pot, in your instant pot, or in your slow cooker, you are lucky no matter the day! Smoky, with bold savory flavor, black eyed peas will complement whatever food you serve them with.

Why We Love This Recipe:

Great Comfort Food! Black-eyed peas are thick, creamy, and warm, making them perfect for cold weather.

A Nutritious Side! They are rich in protein and fiber so they can be a filling standalone meal.

Inexpensive meal! You can find these dried beans for a very reasonable price. Along with a ham hock or smoked turkey, or even bacon! Serve this soul food delicacy during major events, celebrations, and special dinners.

Easy to make! Hoppin' john are a great set-it-and-forget it type of meal. If you are using the crock pot, it makes it even easier!

Ingredients You Need:

• Smoked turkey leg: A great source of flavor.
• Chicken broth: Contributes to the flavor.
• Black eyed peas: Use frozen or dried beans.
• Water: To cook the peas in.
• Onion: They should be roughly chopped.
• Peppers: I used roughly chopped green and red bell peppers.
• Worcestershire sauce: Use this for a rich umami flavor.
• Chicken bouillon: This adds chicken essence. You can use chicken stock or vegetable broth in place of this.
• Seasoning: I used a blend of seasoned salt, garlic powder, black pepper, onion powder, and salt and pepper (to taste).
• Bay leaf: This is optional but highly recommended. Adding aromatics makes this dish fragrant.

Instructions to Make Black Eyed Peas:

Slow Cooker Instructions

Start by cooking the smoked turkey leg. You can add it to the crock pot and let it simmer until it is super tender. If you plan on leaving the food in the slow cooker, cook the turkey leg in a pot on the stove top for 1 hour. 

Once the turkey meat is tender, remove it from the water and place it in a large bowl to let it cool down and then you can remove it from the bone. Now add the dried peas or the frozen peas directly into the instant pot or crockpot that the turkey cooked in.

Add the chopped onion, bell pepper, worcestershire sauce, and all of the seasonings including the chicken bouillon, seasoned salt, garlic powder, black pepper, onion powder, and bay leaves. Then put the lid on the crockpot and cook it for an additional 2 hours. Be sure to stir and check it for water every 45 minutes to an hour. 

While the peas are cooking, remove the meat off of the bone of the smoked turkey leg and add the smoked meat to the slow cooker with the black eye peas. Stir until everything is combined. 

Stovetop Instructions

Place the smoked turkey leg into a heavy bottom stock pot and cover it with the chicken broth. Place the lid on it and bring to a simmer over medium heat for at least one hour. After the hour, remove the turkey leg from the pot and place it in a bowl so that it can cool down. 

Now gently pour your sorted dried, or frozen beans, directly into the slow cooker that the turkey leg cooked in. Pour in the 4 cups of water. 

Add the chopped onion, bell pepper, worcestershire sauce, and all of the seasonings including the chicken bouillon, seasoned salt, garlic powder, black pepper, onion powder, and bay leaves. Stir until fully combined.

Put the lid back on the pot and cook it for an additional 3 hours. BE SURE TO CHECK THE POT EVERY 30 MINUTES. Then stir it up to ensure the peas are not sticking to the bottom of the pot. Add water one cup at a time if the black eyed peas are too thick. 

While the peas are cooking, remove the meat off of the bone of the smoked turkey leg and add the smoked meat to the slow cooker with the black eye peas. Stir it until everything is combined. 

Alternatives and Variations:

• Meat:There are several different alternatives to smoked turkey. Instead of turkey, they can be simmered with diced leftover ham, ham hock, cooked and crumbled bacon, salt pork, or smoked sausage.
• Vegetarian: For a meatless black eyed peas recipe, omit the smoked turkey, chicken stock, chicken bouillon, and Worcestershire sauce. Replace them with vegetable broth, collard greens, and liquid smoke for extra flavor and nutrients.
• Spicy: Kick up the heat by adding jalapenos, red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper or a dash of hot sauce.
• Hoppin' John: This variation is also known as Carolina peas and rice. It is black eyed peas and white rice.

Pro-Tips:

• To thicken up the beans, use a wooden spoon or spatula to gently smash them against the side of the slow cooker while stirring. You can also mix 1 teaspoon of water with cornstarch and mix it into the pot.
• Sort through dried black eyed peas and ensure there are no twigs or debris and rinse before cooking.
• Use dried black eyed peas to get the greatest outcome. These type of field peas tend to get more tender when they are cooked low and slow.

Storing and Reheating:

Once cooled, store leftover black eyed peas in an airtight container. It will last in the fridge for up to 5 days but it surprisingly freezes well. When properly stored, black eye peas can be frozen for up to 6 months.

To thaw from frozen, place in the fridge overnight. Reheat them over medium-low heat for about 10 minutes or in a microwave in 1 minute intervals.

Serving suggestions

Make a side of cornbread to go with these creamy beans. It is so delicious to crumble up your cornbread right into the black eye peas.

You can also serve them over a bed of white rice. With the addition of the turkey or ham hock, you have yourself a complete meal!

FAQ:

Do black eyed peas need to be soaked?

Although it is not necessary, soaking dried black eyed peas overnight shortens the cooking time. Soaking them may also help alleviate any gas-like symptoms after eating them.

Why are black eye peas considered good luck?

In the southern states enslaved people often times only had field peas left to eat. So they considered it "good luck" to have anything to eat.

Now we eat them for New years for our own form of good luck along with collard greens or cabbage for prosperity and wealth.

Are black eyed peas beans or peas?

Although beans and peas are both legumes, black eyed peas are classified as a bean.

What are the side effects of eating black eyed peas?

Black eyed peas may cause bloating and gas. Avoid these side effects by soaking the black eyed peas before cooking.

More Soul Food Recipes to Try

• Smothered Chicken with Grits
• Perfectly Seasoned Fried Pork Chops
• Tried and True Southern Collard Greens
• Sweet Cast Iron Cornbread Recipe
• Southern Fried Cabbage

Be sure to tag me on Instagram or Facebook when you make this recipe! I would love to see your creation, and give you a shoutout!