Make a new tradition with this slow cooker black-eyed pea recipe and bring yourself good luck by making these on New Year’s Day! These southern-style black-eyed peas are slow-cooked with ham, bacon, and onion and make a perfect meal.
Pair these delicious beans alongside my Slow Cooker Cranberry Pork Roast and Slow Cooker Focaccia Bread for a complete New Year’s meal.
Why are black eyed peas eaten on New Years Day?
In the years in the past, I always thought to make these New Year’s Day Black-Eyed Peas too late in the day, so get your ingredients ready! Some believe that eating black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day will bring prosperity to the new year. We also make slow cooker collard greens to go with this!
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. Not to mention, the flavors will help even the pickiest eater eat black eyed peas. Enjoy!
Recipe Ingredients
- DRIED black-eyed peas – This recipe is for a one pound bag of dried black eyed peas.
- Chicken broth – 7 cups of chicken broth, be sure to measure it out for the box doesn’t have exactly the amount that is stated on the box.
- Petite diced tomatoes – This is an addition my family loves. It gives the black eyed peas a tangy flavor and more color.
- Cooked bacon – The bacon needs to be cooked and crumbled, do not add it to the slow cooker raw or you will have a flavorless greasy mess.
- Diced ham – This can be leftover ham, just cube it!
- Other flavorings – Diced sweet onion, fresh garlic, oregano, salt and pepper. – Wait to add the salt until the cooking time is up.
Step-by-Step directions
Step One – Add the dried black-eyed peas to the crockpot, no need to presoak! Add the canned diced tomatoes, onion, garlic, ham, bacon, and seasonings.
Step Two – Pour over the chicken broth.
Step Three – Stir everything together until well combined.
Step Four – Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on HIGH for 7 hours without opening the lid during the cooking time. Serve warm and enjoy these absolutely delicious New Year’s black eyed peas!
Should I soak black eyed peas first?
- For my version, you DO NOT have to soak. Just be sure to cook on HIGH for 7 hours.
- However, if you really feel the need to soak your beans overnight you can! Be sure to rinse off the soaking water and add the chicken broth on top. You won’t need 7 cups of chicken broth if you presoak, you will only need 5.
Recipe FAQs
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, and use water or vegetable broth instead of chicken broth. Add a 1/2 teaspoon of smoked paprika and a 1/2 tsp. of liquid smoke. Also, add more salt at the end of cooking time to make up for the saltiness in the ham and bacon.
Try one or more of these meats instead of pork: Smoked turkey kielbasa, chicken thighs, or turkey bacon. Add a 1/2 teaspoon of liquid smoke for more flavor.
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.
Place in Tupperware and refrigerate for up to three days. Or freeze for up to three months. Thaw and reheat on the stove in a small pan or microwave.
For creamy beans remove about a cup of beans and mash with a fork, stir these mashed beans into the rest of the beans.
This recipe was developed for dry black eyed peas. I you were to use canned you would not need to cook as long or use as much liquid.
What can I serve black eyed peas with?
- Southern-Style Collard Greens: Simmered with smoked ham hocks or bacon, collard greens add a rich, savory element that pairs well with the earthiness of black-eyed peas. Try my slow cooker collard greens recipe or try this instant pot black eyed peas recipe.
- Mac and Cheese: We love to make this easy slow cooker mac and cheese recipe in our other crockpot.
- Cornbread: The slightly sweet and crumbly texture of cornbread is a classic accompaniment that complements the heartiness of black-eyed peas. You can make slow cooker cornbread!
- Rice: Steamed white or brown rice is a simple, versatile side that provides a neutral base for the flavorful black-eyed peas.
- Smoked Sausage or Andouille: Sliced andouille sausage or smoked sausage adds a savory kick and a bit of spice, enhancing the dish’s overall taste.
- Okra: Whether fried, sautéed, or stewed, okra brings a unique texture and flavor that pairs well with the creamy consistency of black-eyed peas.
- Tomato and Cucumber Salad: A refreshing side salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, and a light vinaigrette can provide a crisp contrast to the warm and comforting black-eyed peas. Try this wonderful recipe for tomato and cucumber salad that we love.
More great bean recipes you will love:
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Slow Cooker Black-Eyed Peas Recipe
Equipment Needed:
Ingredients:
- 1 lb. dried black-eyed peas
- 7 cups chicken broth
- 14 oz. can petite diced tomatoes
- 6 slices bacon cooked and sliced
- 1 cup diced ham
- ½ cup diced sweet onion
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 1 tsp. oregano
- ¼ tsp. pepper
- about ¼ tsp. salt add to taste at the END of cooking time
Ideas for sides:
- cornbread or garlic bread
- collard greens
- steamed white rice
Instructions:
- Add the dried peas to the slow cooker. NO NEED TO PRESOAK.
- Add the chicken broth, can of diced tomatoes, bacon, ham, onion, garlic, oregano and pepper. Stir. WAIT TO ADD THE SALT.
- Cover and cook on HIGH FOR 7 hours. Do not open the lid during the cooking time.
- Add the salt to taste.
- For creamier beans remove 1 cup of the beans and mash. Add back to the slow cooker and stir.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR IF YOU PREFER TO SOAK YOUR BEANS:
- 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).
- Drain off the water in the morning. You will only need 5 cups of chicken broth for this recipe if you soak your beans. Add the chicken broth and remaining ingredients (except salt).
- Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 10 hours or HIGH for 6 hours. Mash 1 cup of the beans if you want a creamier texture.
How to Video:
Sarah’s Notes:
- 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.
- Smoked turkey Kielbasa
- Chicken Thighs
- Turkey bacon
- Add a 1/2 teaspoon of liquid smoke for more flavor
- 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.
Nutrition Information:
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
For some reason I have been having a taste for black eye peas, found this recipe and I am trying it tonight!
Excellent and simple recipe. Only change was I did not add any salt. Yummy recipe!
Fabulous recipe!
Stayed with the recipe other than straying into one pound of bacon instead of 6 slices. Package only had 9.
Hello Sarah 🙂 Your recipe looks yummy. I live at 9100 feet and have a tough time cooking beans to proper doneness. I’m going to try your black-eyed pea recipe in my crock pot. If they don’t thoroughly cook I’m going to invest in a pressure cooker!
That is crazy! We live on a hill, and our elevation is only 650! LOL. I hope it works for you.
Slow cook recipe is full of flavoured, and nutritional food recipes. The black eye beans are packed with full proteins. Great to know. Thanks for the sharing.
My husband doesn’t like tomatoes. Should I just omit or is there a good substitute?
You can omit it, add about a cup more broth.
Thank you!
I made it a couple days ago with 2 ham hocks. It is the first time I have had black eye peas. Just never got around to fixing it. It was excellent. Gave a couple neighbors some. They enjoyed. Fixed cornbread to go with it. I’m on a gluten free diet. For your information I am a 91 year old widower that lives alone and has cooked most of his life. Will definitely make again, Only 4 stars not because of recipe, but because I had to use garlic powder and use ham hocks. The next time will do it with real garlic and not powder and ham and bacon. Thank you!
The beans turned out great. I did half of the recipe due to my being the only person who eats beans. I need to know how to cut the gas affect from the beans.
these are peas
Hey Brian, I feel your pain with the gas issues but I love my beans! The easiest and most “on hand” way would be to add baking soda to your soak. There are also a few herbs you can add to help eliminate gas from beans. “Epazote”, a Mexican Herb. “Hing” which comes from fennel leaves. It smells horrible, but will absolutely not make your beans taste like it smells LOL I buy it at my local Asian market. I add a pinch for every cup of beans. You can research these online. With black eyed peas, you shouldn’t have any problems. Peas, not beans Happy cooking!
Black eyed “peas” are a bean, actually. Just look it up online. They are called “peas”, but who knows why? https://fruitsandveggies.org/expert-advice/friend-upset-black-eyed-peas-stocked-military-commissaries-vegetable-section-instead-regular-canned-beans-military-category-blacked-eye-pea-vegetable/
This is from Wikipedia:
The black-eyed pea or black-eyed bean[2] is a legume grown around the world for its medium-sized, edible bean. It is a subspecies of the cowpea, an Old World plant domesticated in Africa, and is sometimes simply called a cowpea.
You can use Beano, available at the drug store in capsules. CVS has their own brand that is MUCH cheaper, and I use that. It works!! 🙂
I am making, again, today. I use a turkey leg (my husband doesn’t eat pork). I do not use the tomatoes.
I put chili flakes and a bay leaf.
This was the best black-eyed peas I have ever made.
Wow! Perfect. And if you put in the amounts shown in the photo, you will be fine.