Southern Black Eyed Peas Recipe or Hoppin’ John is a hearty, warm and soulful food. This black eyed peas recipe is smokey, spicy with a deep yet not too overwhelming bacon flavor. A Southern traditional dish served on New Year’s Day to bring good luck!
I love anything beans! Perhaps, it all started back in grade school when my mother would cook beans for dinner in it’s humble rusticity – onions, salt and oil, nothing fancy. Just that simple recipe took all of my troubles away like magic.
My mom’s generosity and skill as a cook were unique. Her kitchen was the the one everyone wanted to be in, she cooked with grace and talent. The reason I love beans so much is because it’s one of those times, while cooking that I feel truly connected to her.
It’s said that black eyed peas were first cultivated in West Africa and eventually became popular all over the world especially in Asia then in the Southern part of the U.S. in the 17th century.
Southerners believe that black eyed peas bring good luck and a slew of other great things when you eat this on New Year’s Day. And I couldn’t agree more!
This easy and simple yet flavorful dish is a bowl of healthy goodness with a handful of others. It’s packed with smoky flavor and a subtle heat that brings all the warmth to welcome the New Year.
If you want to go all-out vegan, you may omit the meat and replace chicken broth with vegetable broth. Or you can also consider having this Black Eyed Pea Salad.
Serve it with cornbread or with these black eyed peas fritters or akara for a double good luck for the coming new year! How awesome is that?
Happy New Year, everyone! Welcome 2019! Don’t forget to add this collard greens to your list RECIPE HERE
Tips and Notes:
- If you want to substitute smoked turkey with smoked ham hocks, make sure to adjust the cooking time as ham hocks take longer to cook.
- Leave out the Jalapeños if desired, not traditional but it adds some heat which I personally love.
- Do a taste test to make sure it’s cooked thoroughly. Black eyed peas should be tender with a bite but not mushy.
- You may sub dried beans with canned black eyed peas. Rinse it in a colander to remove any liquid and excess salt. Make sure though to adjust its cooking time. Canned black eyed peas cook faster than the dried ones.
- Collard greens is optional.
Watch How to Make It
Southern Black Eyed Peas Recipe or Hoppin’ John is a hearty, warm and soulful food. This blacked eyed peas recipe is smokey, spicy with a deep yet not too overwhelming bacon flavor. A Southern traditional dish served on New Year’s Day to bring good luck charm throughout the year!
- 1 pound (453grams) black eyed peas
- 4 -5 thick bacon slices , chopped
- 1 cup smoked sausage or turkey , diced
- 1 large onion , diced
- 1 stalk celery , diced
- 2-3 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 Jalapenos , minced (optional) replace with cayenne pepper
- 2 teaspoons fresh thyme , minced
- bay leaf
- 1-2 teaspoons creole seasoning
- 7-8 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups or more Collard greens , sub with kale
- Salt and pepper to taste
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Rinse dry black-eyed pea beans and pick through and discard any foreign object. (I did not have to do this because I used the package beans,). Add beans to a large pot covering with 3-4 inches of cold water. Cover and let sit for about 2-3 hours.
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In a large, heavy sauté pan, saute chopped bacon until brown and crispy about 4-5 minutes, then add sausage saute for about 2-3 more minutes. Remove bacon and sausage mixture, set aside.
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Throw in the onions, celery, garlic, jalapenos, thyme and bay leaf and saute for about 3-5 minutes, until onions are wilted and aromatic.
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Then pour in the chicken broth or water.
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Drain the soaked beans, rinse, and place the beans in the pot. Season with creole seasoning and salt to taste. Mix and bring to a boil.
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Reduce heat to a simmer and cook, uncovered, for about 20 minutes.
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Throw in the collard greens, and bacon and sausage into the pot, continue cooking for another 10 minutes or more, stirring occasionally, or until beans are tender and slightly thickened to your desire.
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Add more stock or water if the mixture becomes dry and thick, the texture of the beans should be thick, somewhat creamy but not watery.
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Remove the bay leaves.
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Taste and adjust for seasonings with pepper, creole seasoning and salt if needed. Serve over cooked rice and garnish with green onion.
Rinse dry black-eyed pea beans and pick through and discard any foreign object. (I did not have to do this because I used the package beans,). Add beans to a large pot covering with 3-4 inches of cold water. Cover and let sit for about 2-3 hours.
In a large, heavy sauté pan, saute chopped bacon until brown and crispy for about 4-5 minutes, then add sausage and saute for about 2-3 more minutes. Remove bacon and sausage mixture, set aside.
Throw in the onions, celery, garlic, jalapenos, thyme and bay leaf and saute for about 3-5 minutes, until onions are wilted and aromatic. Then pour in the chicken broth or water.
Drain the soaked beans, rinse, and place the beans in the pot. Season with creole seasoning and salt to taste. Mix and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook, uncovered, for about 20 minutes.
Throw in the collard greens, and bacon and sausage in to the pot, continue cooking for another 10 minutes or more , stirring occasionally, or until beans are tender and slightly thickened to your desire. Add more stock or water if the mixture becomes dry and thick, the texture of the beans should thick , somewhat creamy but not watery.
Remove the bay leaves. Taste and adjust for seasonings with pepper, creole seasoning and salt if needed. Serve over cooked rice and garnish with green onion.
My friend and I are making this (vegan) in a pressure cooker as I type- I will report back with results
Can’t wait Sonia.
I’m going to cook this today. Peas are soaking now. I was reading all the comments and I think I will add a can of rotel tomatoes. Some thick cut pork chops and cornbread to go with it. Sounds good to me!
Hope you enjoy it, Lisa! Happy weekend. =)
This is my new FAVORTE black-eyed pea recipe. I like doing recipes that have multiple ingredients and this one did not disappoint. It was so good, my son was eating with his face nearly in his bowl. I added some “already cooked” collard greens and that put that little “umph” to the recipe. Also substituted crushed red peppers for the jalapeño . I gave some away to a couple I love and they couldn’t say enough about it, so I have promised to make it again. This is going to be my NY tradition for the future.
Yaaay! Thank you for the awesome feedback, Bonnie! I’m so glad you like it.
This is so yummy and simple to make. Thank you for my new go to black eyed pea recipe!!
I made this for New Years Eve. First time and decided to make again for dinner tonight. My mom came by and she absolutely loved the beans fir NYE!! Going to add Jalepenos this time.
Thanks again!!
Thank you for dropping by, Liza. I appreciate it.
Well this is my story…….. I opened a can if black eyed peas in mistake for something else, so decided not to waste them and found this recipe. I live on my own so halved the quantity. Oh my goodness what an amazingly tasty dish!!! I love it and have shared with my family and friends. I’m so pleased I opened that can by mistake!!! Thank you.
Hi Jenny.
I am so happy you opened that can- Lol. Thanks for the feedback!
Delicious! I shared your recipe with friends.
Thank you for sharing this one out, Mary. I truly appreciate it! 🙂
Yumm! This was very good. I added a little more celery and used a 12 oz. package of andouille sausage and cooked a little longer to my taste.
Thank you for dropping by, Kathy. Glad you like it.
I just made this and it is so delicious! Thank you so much for this wonderful, easy to follow recipe! I probably threw in more bacon, sausage and kale (I’m in the PNW) than what you have listed, but I wanted it to be hearty. I also used Cajun spices because I couldn’t find Creole, and 2 qts of chicken stock and it’s incredible. Here’s to luck, coins and dollar bills for everyone in the new year!
Happy happy New Year, Jen! More bacon is a big yes for me. 😉 Thank you for dropping by.
Loved this. Made a vegan version using Field Roast Apple Sage Sausage, vegetable broth and vegetable broth. Absolutely wonderful. Served over brown and wild rice with stewed tomatoes.
Thank you for sharing those substitutions. It’ll surely be of help to those who’d take the vegan route for this recipe. Happy New Year!
My husband has been shoveling snow allll day and he can’t wait to taste this yummy dish that smells so goood! And I know it is, becuse I’ve been tasting as I go. Delicious! Thank you for sharing this with us all 😀 I’m pairing it with fried pork chops for our new years dinner. Going to be warmed through here really soon <3
What a lovely pairing! Happy happy New Year, Lauren!
This recipe was delicious! We just had our bowl for the new year and we will definitely use the recipe again. I didn’t have sausage, but I did have leftover ham – that was a tasty substitute. Thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome, Sarah. I’m happy you love this recipe as much as I do.
Have you ever done this in a slow cooker? Just wondering if I would still saute everything first? Thanks this looks delicious!
Yes, it’s best to saute everything first before adding to the slow cooker, for maximum flavor.
I’m gonna try this for new year’s, it sounds amazing. I didn’t see thyme listed as an ingredient, but the directions call for thyme. So, how much do i add?
Thanks, shelly
Hi Shelly,
It’s 2 teaspoons minced thyme. Thanks for bringing this to my attention.
Happy New Year!!!
It actually does say thyme
I decided to double the recipe for my first try and served it for Christmas dinner to 14 people. Everyone liked it and we still have lots of leftovers. For broth I made my own from smoked ham hocks in the instant pot. This one is a keeper!
Tip: if using salty meats, wait until it’s all well cooked before adding salt.
Thank you for sharing that tip, Shaul. Glad it turned out well for you.
Will definitely save this recipe for New Years Day <3
This is indeed perfect for New Year’s Day, Linda. I’ll be sharing too a list of some New Year’s Day recipes.
Black Eyed Peas is healthy. Instead of using pieces of onion and tomato you can use tomato onion paste and cook this paste first for 2-3 minute then add black peas to it. This also gives delicious taste.
Thanks for the tips! Will try it your way some other time. Have a good one!
Love your recipes ! Do you have a recipe for Tamale pie.
Sorry I don’t have one at the moment. Hopefully soon.
Would I use one or two pounds of black eyed peas? Thanks
Hi Wells! It’s one pound of black eyed peas. Thanks!