Slow Cooker Black Eyed Peas Recipe
364 CommentsUpdated Jan 19, 2026
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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.
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“These are the absolute best I’ve ever had! Tried this recipe for New Years this year and they were perfect! Best flavor!”
– a.r.
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.
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 enjoy black-eyed peas. Enjoy!
Key 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.
How to Make Black Eyed Peas
- Dump the peas, broth, tomatoes, bacon, ham, onion, garlic, and spices (no salt yet!) into the slow cooker.
- Cook on HIGH until everything is tender and the pot is bubbling with flavor.
- Season to taste, serve and have good luck all year!
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. See my soaking method in the recipe card.
Sarah’s Tips & Variations
Vegetarian: 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.
Kosher: 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.
Make it Spicy: Add Cajun seasoning at the end of cooking instead of salt. (Don’t want to add anything too salty or the beans won’t soften). Or add 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper at the beginning of cooking.
Can I use Canned Black Eyed Peas?
This recipe was developed for dry black eyed peas. If you are to use canned, you would not need to cook as long or use as much liquid.
Can I use Fresh Black Eyed Peas?
If you’re using fresh or frozen black-eyed peas instead of dried, they’ll cook much faster. Simply add them straight to the slow cooker with the other ingredients and cook until tender, keeping in mind you won’t need as much liquid as you would for dried peas. Season at the end and adjust the consistency however you like.
Serving Ideas
These black-eyed peas pair perfectly with Slow Cooker Collard Greens, which add that classic Southern flavor.
A creamy side like Crockpot Mac and Cheese works great too, especially if you make it in a second crockpot.
For something to soak up the broth, Slow Cooker Cornbread is always a delicious choice.
A fresh Tomato and Cucumber Salad adds a crisp contrast to the warm, hearty beans.
And if you want to make it a full meal, these peas are wonderful served with a Complete Ham Dinner.
Slow Cooker Black-Eyed Peas Recipe
How to Video
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.
Sarah’s Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
Looking for an instant pot black eyed peas recipe, we love this one from 40 aprons.
How to Store and Reheat:
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.
More Crockpot Bean Recipes:
Slow Cooker Charro Beans and Slow Cooker Black Beans are great as sides for Mexican-inspired meals or as a base for burrito bowls. Both cook up tender and seasoned to perfection with minimal effort.
For a comforting, protein-packed meal, try Ham and Beans or 15 Bean Soup with Ham—hearty, filling options that use leftover ham and are perfect for chilly nights.
Crockpot Baked Beans are a classic barbecue side with sweet and smoky flavor, while Slow Cooker Refried Beans are creamy and flavorful—ideal for tacos, tostadas, or as a dip at your next get-together.
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.