Best Crockpot Black Eyed Peas Recipe

This Crockpot black eyed peas recipe is super easy and doesn’t require soaking the beans. Enjoy a comforting and hearty blend of smoky and savory in every bowl!

Make this Crockpot black eyed peas recipe to greet the new year with something cozy and delicious effortlessly. 

You don’t need to soak the beans. Just dump everything in the slow cooker, and it’ll do the rest for you!

This recipe for slow cooker black-eyed peas is also a great way to use up your leftover ham from previous holiday gatherings, so don’t throw out the ham bone. ?

And with the promise of good luck when eaten on New Year’s, this Southern classic is a custom that will satisfy your superstitious soul and hungry stomach.

What Is Crockpot Black Eyed Peas?

Whether you like following traditions or not, I’m sure you’ll find it hard to refuse a bowl of black eyed peas.

In this Crockpot black-eyed peas recipe, the beans are slow-cooked in a savory chicken broth with spices and smoked meats until they’re creamy and, quite frankly, irresistible.

But what’s the deal with black eyed peas on New Year?

The short answer is that it was believed that eating the stew on New Year’s Day would bring good luck. In the South, black eyed peas are even served with veggies to symbolize prosperity!

It’s a delicious and hearty dish, so the abundance they said it would provide is definitely just a bonus. 

Without further ado, let’s check out this easy recipe so we can load up our plates ASAP.

Why You’ll Love This Crockpot Black Eyed Peas Recipe

• For New Year and Beyond: Perfect for your New Year’s feast, you can easily make a big batch of these black eyed peas in the slow cooker for effortless entertaining. They easily pair well with different dishes, and their cozy flavors are a sure hit in any gathering year-round. 
• Dump and Go Dinner: Crockpot black eyed peas recipe turns the delicious New Year’s tradition into a set-it-and-forget-it meal. It’s great for multitasking, and before you know it, the smoky, savory dish is ready to be enjoyed. 
• Make It Your Own: Make your slow cooker black eyed peas with different spices and aromatics! You can even try it with different meats or come up with a vegan-friendly version of the hearty stew. 

What Do Black Eyed Peas Taste Like?

Black eyed peas themselves taste nutty and earthy.

The magic is when they are cooked slowly until they’re creamy, perfect for absorbing the savory and smoky flavors of this Crockpot black eyed peas recipe.

This is also why we don’t want to add the salt too early. It can affect the softening of the beans!

The 7-hour wait is worth it as the beans will soak up all the yumminess from the onion, garlic, tomatoes, ham, and bacon. The aromatic veggies, the acidity of tomatoes cutting through the saltiness of the stew, and the smoky, fatty goodness of the meats are just *chef’s kiss. 

Using rich chicken broth instead of water further boosts the flavor of the black eyed peas! ?

Can you imagine a better dish to kickstart the new year?

Ingredients For Slow Cooked Black Eyed Peas

• Black eyed peas – This Crockpot black eyed peas recipe calls for dried black eyed beans and not canned or frozen beans.
• Chicken broth – We opted for low-sodium chicken broth, so it’ll be easier to control the dish’s saltiness.
• Diced tomatoes – Adds color to the slow cooked black eyed peas. The tangy-sweet taste of tomatoes also goes well with the earthy and smoky flavors in the stew. 
• Bacon – The secret to making black eyed peas in the Crockpot without it turning greasy? Cook your bacon first!
• Ham – If you’re making this black eyed peas Crockpot recipe for the New Year and have some leftover ham from Christmas, it’ll also be perfect to give the dish a decadent pork flavor!
• Sweet onion – Even though this is a set-it-and-forget-it Crockpot black eyed peas recipe, it’s still packed with delicious layers of flavor, so don’t skip the onion and garlic. 
• Garlic – Say it with me: fresh is best. Opt for fresh garlic when making black eyed peas in the slow cooker.
• Salt – Only add the salt in the last few minutes of making this Crockpot black eyed peas and ham recipe to keep the beans from getting tough. You don’t need to add too much salt anyway because we have ham and bacon in the mix.
• Pepper – There are so many aromatics and flavor enhancers you can play around with when making black eyed peas. But if you’re overwhelmed with the choices, just go with good old salt and black pepper.
• Oregano – A solid spice to add depth of flavor to the slow cooked black eyed peas.

Tools Needed To Prepare Slow Cooker Black Eyed Peas

• Slow cooker for cooking the black eyed peas

Ingredient Additions & Substitutions For Black Eyed Peas

Meats

For black eyed peas that are full of flavor, I suggest using smoked meat for this Crockpot black eyed peas recipe. Try the dish with ham hocks or smoked pork jowl!

More spices 

When making black eyed peas in the slow cooker, don’t get shy with the spices. 

I like this hearty classic with a kick, so Cajun seasoning is the perfect substitute for salt.

Can’t stand oregano? Dried thyme also makes a delicious alternative.

Can I add collard greens to Crockpot black eyed peas?

Can I add collard greens to this Crockpot black eyed peas and ham recipe?

Of course! The best way to add greens is at the last hour.

How to Make Black Eyed Peas in Crockpot

Ingredients:

• 1 lb dried black eyed peas
• 7 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 can diced tomatoes (14.5 oz)
• 6 bacon strips, cooked and chopped
• 1 cup ham, diced
• 1/2 cup sweet onion, diced
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1/4 tsp kosher salt
• 1/4 tsp black ground pepper
• 1 tsp oregano

Tools you need:

• Slow cooker

Instructions:

STEP 1: Gather the ingredients for our Crockpot black eyed peas recipe.

STEP 2: Add the black eyed peas, chicken broth, and tomatoes to the slow cooker.

STEP 3: Add the rest of the ingredients EXCEPT the salt.

STEP 4: Stir, then cover the Crockpot and cook the black eyed peas for 7 hours on high. Resist the urge to open your slow cooker!

STEP 5: Taste and season with salt. Serve warm.

What Goes with Black Eyed Peas?

What to eat with black eyed peas?

Since this Crockpot black-eyed peas recipe is essentially a dump-and-go meal, you can use your free time (and hands ?) to easily prepare various sides to enjoy with it.

Some classic favorites to serve with black eyed peas are rice, cornbread, and fried cabbage. 

Rice makes a satisfying meal with a generous serving of black eyed peas, cornbread’s sweetness will always be delicious with the slow cooked black eyed beans, and greens complement the earthy flavor of the beans.

You can also enjoy your slow cooker black eyed peas with the rich and decadent mac and cheese. 

And to end the comforting, savory meal, treat your taste buds to Mexican hot chocolate mousse. This dessert is a blend of rich chocolate and cayenne pepper.

Tips About Making Black Eyed Peas in the Crockpot

• You don’t need to pre-soak the beans for this black eyed peas Crockpot recipe. However, soaking them overnight is a handy trick to reduce the cooking time to 6 hours. Just rinse the beans, add them to the slow cooker, and use less chicken broth.
• For creamier beans, remove a cup of beans, mash them up, then stir them back into the dish.
• Make your black eyed peas in the Crockpot with smoked turkey! Or, for a vegan version, swap chicken broth with vegetable broth, and use smoked paprika or liquid smoke to give your black eyed peas a smoky flavor without meat products.

How To Store Crockpot Black Eyed Peas

• Fridge: For make-ahead and leftovers, transfer your Crockpot black-eyed peas to an airtight container and refrigerate them for 3 to 5 days.
• Freezer: Slow cooked black eyed peas are freezer-friendly! You can freeze them in a freezer-safe container (I suggest using serving-size containers for convenience) for up to 3 months. Don’t forget to leave some headspace for expansion.
• Reheating: Reheat your leftover beans on the stove over medium heat. If you want a fast and convenient method, microwave the meal on medium power. If frozen, thaw the black eyed peas for at least a day.

How Long to Soak Black Eyed Peas?

You don’t need to soak the black eyed peas for this Crockpot black eyed peas recipe. But you can soak the beans overnight for those who want to cut the cooking time. 

Then, drain the soaked beans and use less broth when you cook the dish in the Crockpot.

How to Season Black Eyed Peas?

These slow cooked black eyed peas are already brimming with flavors from the ham and bacon, so all you’ll need are salt and pepper. 

However, there’s a trick when seasoning black eyed peas with salt:  Don’t add it early into the dish, or the black eyed peas won’t soften beautifully.

Add the salt at the end when the beans are already tender. 

And if you want to spice things up or add depth of flavor to your homemade black eyed peas, try making the dish with red pepper flakes, bay leaves, or rosemary, just to name a few.

FAQ About Crockpot Black Eyed Peas

Conclusion

This Crockpot black eyed peas recipe makes it easy to bring good luck in the new year. 

You don’t need to soak the delicious beans for this recipe. Just add the ingredients to your slow cooker and come back to the perfect meal, whether for gatherings or ordinary evenings.

These black eyed peas got their amazing flavor from being cooked slowly in a rich, spiced broth with bacon and ham. 

Get lucky and treat your taste buds with this classic dish!

Looking for more slow cooker meals that are also meal prep-friendly? Forget takeouts and fast food deliveries on busy weeknights. Enjoy these satisfying Crockpot dishes instead:

• Easy Crockpot Green Bean Casserole
• Healthy Crockpot White Chicken Chili
• Crockpot Shepherd’s Pie Recipe
• Crockpot Tortellini Soup With Cream Cheese
• Slow Cooker Beef Stew with Onion Soup Mix