Make a new tradition with these Slow Cooker New Year’s Day Black-Eyed Peas and bring yourself good luck! These peas are slow
The years in the past I always think to make these New Year’s Day Black-Eyed Peas too late in the day. Some think that eating black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day will bring prosperity in the new year. We also make Collard greens to go with this!
This year I will be getting everything I need ahead of time to make these special beans.
How to make black-eyed peas in the slow cooker.
You will need these ingredients:
- DRIED black-eyed peas
- chicken broth
- Petite diced tomatoes
- Cooked bacon
- Diced ham
- Diced sweet onion
- Garlic
- Oregano
- Pepper
- Salt
Directions:
- Start by soaking the beans overnight, I do this directly in a 6-quart slow cooker.
- I place the beans in the slow cooker and cover with water. I leave the beans to soak overnight. If you forget to soak your beans overnight, you can use this quick soak method.
- In the morning drain that water off the beans, and add the chicken broth and other ingredients. Stir
How long do I cook Black-Eyed Peas?
- On LOW: 10 hours OR
- On HIGH: 6 hours
Can I make black eyed peas without soaking them?
Yes! You can. Cook them on HIGH for 7 hours.
Can I use a ham hock?
- Yes, omit the bacon and ham.
- Add 1 large or 2 small ham hocks to the pot at the beginning of cooking time.
- When the cooking time is up, remove the ham hocks, shred the meat (discard fat).
- Degrease the fat from the top of the peas by placing a paper towel over the grease and removing quickly.
- Add the shredded ham to the slow cooker. Stir and serve.
Can I make this vegetarian?
- Omit the bacon and ham
- Use water instead of chicken broth
- Add 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Add 1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke
- Add more salt at the end of cooking time to make up for the saltiness in the ham and bacon.
Can I Make this kosher?
Try one or more of these meats instead of pork:
- Smoked turkey Kielbasa
- Chicken Thighs
- Turkey bacon
- Add a 1/2 teaspoon of liquid smoke for more flavor
Can I make this spicy?
- Add cajun seasoning at the end of the cooking time instead of salt. (Don’t want to add anything too salty or the beans won’t soften)
- OR
- Add a 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper at the beginning of the cooking time.
What goes with Black-Eyed Peas?
- Slow Cooker Collard Greens (or instant pot)
- Mac and cheese
- Cornbread or Garlic Bread
- Steamed white rice
More great bean recipes you will love:
- Slow Cooker Spicy Barbecue Cowboy Beans
- Slow Cooker Beanies and Weenies
- Slow Cooker Ham and Beans
- Slow Cooker 15 Bean Soup with Ham
I am not a superstitious person, but I love traditions. Making a big pot of these smoky beans with cornbread will be a fun way to start off my new year. Enjoy!
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New Year’s Black-Eyed Peas
Equipment Needed:
- Slow Cooker- 6 quart or larger
Ingredients:
- 1 lb. dry black-eyed peas
- 32 oz. box chicken broth
- 14 oz. can petite diced tomatoes
- 6 slices bacon cooked and sliced
- 1 cup diced ham
- 1/2 cup diced sweet onion
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 1 tsp. oregano
- 1/4 tsp. pepper
- about 1/4 tsp. salt add to taste at the END of cooking time
Ideas for sides:
- cornbread or garlic bread
- collard greens
- steamed white rice
Instructions:
- Start by soaking the black-eyed peas overnight in the slow cooker. Do this by adding the black-eyed peas to the slow cooker and add water to cover plus a few inches more. Let the black-eyed peas soak for at least 8 hours (don't turn on the slow cooker, just let them soak). See notes if you want to skip soaking the peas.
- In the morning drain the water.
- Add the chicken broth, can of diced tomatoes, bacon, ham, onion, garlic, oregano and pepper. Stir.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 10 hours. OR HIGH for 6 hours. Do not open the lid during the cooking time.
- Add the salt to taste.
- For creamier beans stir and smash some of the beans.
How to Video:
Recipe Notes:
- Add 2 cups of additional broth or water.
- Cook on HIGH for 7 hours without opening the lid during the cooking time.
- Yes, omit the bacon and ham.
- Add 1 large or 2 small ham hocks to the pot at the beginning of cooking time.
- When the cooking time is up, remove the ham hocks, shred the meat (discard fat).
- Degrease the fat from the top of the peas by placing a paper towel over the grease and removing quickly.
- Add the shredded ham to the slow cooker. Stir and serve.
- Omit the bacon and ham
- Use water instead of chicken broth
- Add 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Add 1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke
- Add more salt at the end of cooking time to make up for the saltiness in the ham and bacon.
- Omit the bacon and ham
- Use water instead of chicken broth
- Add 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Add 1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke
- Add more salt at the end of cooking time to make up for the saltiness in the ham and bacon.
- Add Cajun seasoning at the end of the cooking time instead of salt. (Don’t want to add anything too salty or the beans won’t soften)
- OR
- Add a 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper at the beginning of the cooking time.
I made the peas for New Years Day. I omitted the bacon and used a ham hock. They are delicious and the flavors are incredible. If you like black eyed peas, you need to use this recipe.
Ho do I adjust using one can of BEPS
I can’t say without testing it, I apologize.
I have a 15.5 can of black beans. Also have bacon. Not kosher not vegan. How would I adjust the recipe. Sounds delicious!
Hi Judie, sorry I would have to test it out. I’ve never made this recipe canned or a just one can. I think you can do something with what you have, you’ll just need to be creative.
This recipe is amazing! Big hit with my family! So good I made a second batch! Thank you!!
I got off to a late start today.. can I cook on high for 5 hours and and switch to low for another 3??
High for 6 hours should do it.
Made this (almost) exactly as written. Omitted the bacon and used 1 cup of Turkey Kielbasa instead. Added a couple of dashes of Tabasco too. Fantastic flavor and was a big hit! I will be adding this to my regular slow cooker rotation. Paired with some homemade corn bread? Yes please!
I made this recipe on New Years Day. I soaked the peas the night before in salted water. I don’t have a slow cooker so I used my Dutch oven and cooked it in the oven for 10 hours at 200. I used a ham shank instead of bacon and ham. This recipe is so delicious and so easy. It took maybe 10 minutes to add the ingredients to the pot. This recipe is so amazing., it’s my new favorite!!!!
Love the flavor … I made the vegetarian version and used my slow cooker. But my black-eyed peas just WILL NOT get soft! Happens to me no matter whose recipe I use (when cooking legumes with a slow cooker, that is). What am I doing wrong? I soaked my peas literally at least 24 hours, cooked them in slow cooker on high for 8 hours, did not add any salt at all! Nice and hot but still very crunchy … now have them in a pot on top of the stove to get them soft. Why? It’s so frustrating
It could be two things. Either your beans are old, or possibly your slow cooker doesn’t get hot enough. I know when I cook them on low sometimes they can take 10 hours, (maybe yours is cooking more like on low than high.)
Hi Kathy, I made this for the first time and my BEP turned out wonderfully – I soaked overnight, no salt. I cooked for 8 hours on low in my slow cooker and they were perfect. Maybe cook on high for a few hours and switch to low?
Tried my peas in the crockpot for the first time this year, and they were so great! Not at all mushy, as often happens when I cook them on the stove. Plus, I had to much more space for my other New Years cooking! I used my Christmas hambone in place of the bacon and ham, and it turned out great! Thanks so much!
Great! Bean don’t get mushy in the slow cooker because they don’t bounce together like on the stove top. Glad you enjoyed them.
This is delicious! I used Rotel since we wanted a little spice, and left out the ham only because I didn’t have any. The whole family loved it!
How long do I cook them on the stove? No crockpot. I do have a instant pot tho. Thanks Happy New Year.
Hi Colleen, I’m unsure without testing it first. I apologize.
For those not presoaking but cooking for longer in a slow cooker, you’ll likely need more chicken broth. I ended up using an additional 16oz for a half serving (500g black eyed beans/peas). We added paprika by suggestion in the recipe and omitted oregano then topped with sour cream, parsley, and pickled jalapeños. Fab recipe!
Yes, thank you. I’ll add that to the recipe.
I don’t have a slow cooker. Could I make these stove top. How long would I cook for?
Hi, can I use Rotel in place of diced tomatoes? I don’t have plain diced tomatoes on hand. Thanks.
Yes, add those and a little water, I think rotel is smaller is size.
Yes, rotel is 10 oz, so I added 4 extra ounces of water. Thank you and Happy New Year!
They turned out delicious with Rotel. We also added the Cajun seasoning because we like spicy. Thanks for the great recipe!
I made this tonight turned out amazing I smashed some of them and it’s perfect
Do I drain the diced tomatoes?
No
Would this work just as well with dried pinto beans?
Hi Terri! I don’t see why not! I may do that since the store is out of these beans here.
These beans are dried, hence the soaking over night.
Can you make these without the ham hock and ham? I only have bacon.
Yes. If you can, add more bacon than what I have pictured.
I was only able to find canned black eyed peas (not seasoned) – have you made this recipe with canned BEP? If so, what adjustments would you suggest (besides skipping the soaking step)?
You won’t need as much liquid. And a lot less cooking time.
Ok that’s what I suspected! Thanks!
I have fresh black eyed peas. Will these work for this recipe?
I have not tested with fresh, I apologize.