Slow Cooker Hoppin John Recipe

This slow cooker Hoppin John recipe uses canned black eyed peas to skip the soaking! It’s a tasty and hearty dish with smoked sausage, veggies, and rice.

Make this slow cooker Hoppin John recipe for a flavorful and filling comfort food that promises good luck. 

This take on the classic New Year’s dish uses the Crockpot to cook black eyed peas low and slow with smoked sausage, rich beef broth, hearty vegetables, tender rice, and bold spices. 

You don’t need to watch over the dish as it cooks, and expect a less demanding prep work since the canned beans don’t require soaking.

Let’s not delay your prosperity for this year any longer. Here’s our Hoppin John slow cooker recipe, ready to fill those hungry bellies! ?

What Is Hoppin John?

Described as a New Year’s essential, Hoppin John is a classic Southern dish featuring black-eyed peas and rice. I think many will also agree with me if I say that Hoppin John is like a good luck stew. 

This hearty dish is associated with New Year’s because it was believed to bring luck.

But because it’s such a flavorful and satisfying meal that comes together so easily anyway, it doesn’t matter if you’re a follower of traditions. 

You don’t even need to wait for New Year’s Day to enjoy this Southern favorite!

This slow cooker Hoppin John recipe skips the soaking of the beans, so you can make it even on busy days. Just brown the sliced smoked sausage for a few minutes, add it to the Crockpot, and dump all the other ingredients in. 

Walk away and return to the tastiest, slow-simmered Hoppin John.  

It’s as comforting and flavorful as our Crockpot black eyed peas, with the addition of tender rice to really satisfy your hunger pangs. ?

Why You’ll Love This Slow Cooker Hoppin John Recipe

• Easy: Crockpot Hoppin John uses canned black eyed peas, so you don’t need to do the extra work of soaking and rinsing the beans overnight. Just add the ingredients in the slow cooker and let everything simmer into the perfect good-luck comfort food. 
• Filling: Why cook the rice separately when you can just add it directly, like what we did in this Hoppin John slow cooker recipe? You’ll get a hearty, stand-alone dish without washing extra dishes!
• Adaptable: Customize this slow cooker Hoppin John recipe with whatever ingredients you like. You might have some leftover ham hock from the holidays or some nourishing greens on hand.

What Does Crockpot Hoppin John Taste Like?

Slow cooker Hoppin John tastes smoky and savory.

Allowing the dish to simmer away in the Crockpot allows the flavors to develop and meld together into one comforting and hearty meal. 

No ham hock? No problem!

The caramelized smoked sausages make a tasty alternative for this Hoppin John.

The richly flavored beef broth is also brightened by the tomatoes, but my favorite is the green chilies. Their heat complements black eyed peas’ nutty, earthy taste. 

This slow cooker Hoppin John recipe is seasoned with garlic powder, pepper, and Cajun seasoning, but you’re welcome to put your own creative spin and infuse it with your favorite herbs and spices. 

Note to self: Let’s make this Hoppin John with bay leaf and thyme next time!

What Are the Ingredients of Hoppin John?

• Smoked sausages – While most Hoppin John recipes use leftover holiday ham hocks, you won’t be disappointed with smoked sausages. Best of all, they’re available year-round!
• Black eyed peas – This Hoppin John slow cooker recipe uses canned black eyed peas to skip the overnight soaking. 
• Diced tomatoes and green chilies – You can also use regular canned diced tomatoes to cut back on the heat.
• Beef broth – Rich and savory beef broth is the perfect base for this Crockpot Hoppin John. 
• Onion – Let’s go with the stronger-flavored white onion over the sweeter onion varieties for this slow-cooked Hoppin John. 
• Green bell peppers – Any color of bell pepper will work, but the almost bitter and grassy taste of green bell peppers is delicious with the savory flavors of the dish. 
• Garlic powder – Don’t skimp on your seasonings when making Hoppin John in the slow cooker! Garlic powder is an easy choice to give the dish an extra punch. 
• Ground black pepper – You can also season this Hoppin John slow cooker recipe with hotter peppers. 
• Cajun seasoning – Feel free to give your Crockpot Hoppin John a taste test and add more Cajun seasoning if needed. 
• Long-grain rice – For convenience, this recipe uses boil-in-bag white rice.

Tools Needed To Prepare This Slow Cooker Hoppin John Recipe

• Skillet for browning the sausage slices
• Spatula for cooking the sausage slices
• Slow cooker for cooking our Hoppin John

Ingredient Additions & Substitutions For Slow Cooker Hoppin John

What can I substitute for the black eyed peas?

You can make this slow cooker Hoppin John recipe with pinto beans if you don’t have black eyed peas!

Can I use chicken broth instead of beef broth?

Sure. Feel free to swap beef broth with chicken broth for your Hoppin John. 

What vegetables go with Hoppin John?

Enjoy the most nourishing bowl of Hoppin John by adding more veggies to the mix! Try this Crockpot Hoppin John with celery, carrot, or cabbage.

How to Make Hoppin John

Ingredients:

• 1 lb smoked sausages, sliced
• 4 cans black eyed peas (15 oz cans, undrained)
• 2 cans diced tomatoes and green chilies (10 oz Rotel cans, undrained)
• 3 cups beef broth
• 1 cup white onion, chopped
• 3/4 cup green bell peppers, chopped
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
• 2 tsp Cajun seasoning
• 1 1/2 cups boil-in-bag rice, uncooked

Tools you need:

• Skillet
• Spatula
• Slow cooker

Instructions:

STEP 1: Gather the ingredients for this easy slow cooker Hoppin John recipe.

STEP 2: Brown the sausage slices in a skillet over medium-high heat. Then, transfer the caramelized smoked sausage slices to the Crockpot.

STEP 3: Add the rest of the ingredients to the slow cooker. Cover and cook them on low for 6 hours.

STEP 4: Pour the rice into the slow cooker and stir to combine. Cover and cook again for 20 minutes on high until the rice is tender to your liking.

What to Serve with Hoppin John?

You can’t go wrong with serving Hoppin John with cornbread for a classic New Year’s Day feast. Of course, don’t forget your collard greens to ensure prosperity one delicious bite at a time! ?

Some other yummy sides to enjoy with this Crockpot Hoppin John are sweet pickle relish, coleslaw, fried chicken, pork chops, or mashed potatoes, depending on how light or heavy you want your meal to be. 

You can even use your Crockpot for other comforting dishes!

How about some scalloped potatoes and ham?

Or instead of eating plain dinner rolls with your Hoppin John, you can make our turkey bacon ranch sliders.

Tips About Making This Hoppin John Slow Cooker Recipe

• Want a thicker consistency for your Hoppin John? Mash some of the black eyed peas in the dish! On the other hand, you can always add more broth if the Hoppin John is too thick for your liking. 
• Only have dried black eyed peas on hand? Just rinse and soak them overnight for this tasty recipe. 
• For a vegan slow cooker Hoppin John recipe, use vegetable stock instead of beef and omit the sausage. You can also season the dish with bacon salt and smoked paprika after it’s cooked to boost its smoky flavor even without meat. 

How To Store Slow Cooker Hoppin John

• Fridge: Enjoy your Hoppin John for later! Transfer the leftovers to an airtight container and refrigerate it for 4 to 5 days.
• Freezer: You can also freeze your Hoppin John in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months! Just thaw the dish overnight before reheating. 
• Reheating: The best way to reheat your Hoppin John is on the stove. Transfer the dish to a pot and reheat over low-medium heat. I also like adding a few tablespoons of broth until I’m happy with its consistency. 

When to Eat Hoppin John?

Hoppin John is traditionally eaten on New Year’s Day, but because it’s such an easy comfort food to make, you can eat the hearty meal any time you please.

This slow cooker Hoppin John recipe uses canned peas and a few common ingredients, so why not bring good luck throughout the year? ?

But why is Hoppin John eaten on New Year’s Day anyway?

The short answer is “for good luck.”

The black eyed peas represent coins and, together with collard greens to symbolize money and cornbread to signify gold, the delicious meal is thought to bring you a prosperous year. 

What Is the Difference Between Hoppin John and Black Eyed Peas?

We can consider Hoppin John as a variation of black eyed peas.

The Southern dish is also usually made with rice, while some black eyed peas recipes only serve it with rice, and the grains are not cooked in the same pot as the beans. 

Why are black-eyed peas considered good luck?

There are different ideas on why black-eyed peas became the symbol of good luck.

Some said it was because the beans fed people during the Siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi. Thanks to black-eyed peas, many people survived; hence, good luck.

Another account was during 500 A.D. when the black eyed peas were eaten for luck during the Jewish New Year.

FAQ About Hoppin John

Can you freeze Hoppin John?

Yes! You can freeze Hoppin John for up to 3 months in a freezer-safe container. Thaw the frozen dish overnight in the fridge before you reheat it on the stovetop.

Why is it called Hoppin John?

The origin of Hoppin John’s name is unclear. Some said it was because the dish was sold in the streets by a crippled man nicknamed “Hoppin’ John.”

Does Hoppin John have tomatoes?

Yes. With the many variations for Hoppin John, you can find recipes that include tomatoes in the mix. However, it’s also worth mentioning that the core ingredients of the dish are black eyed peas and rice.

What are Hoppin John leftovers called?

Here’s a fun fact: Hoppin John leftovers are called Skippin Jenny!

What to use if I don’t have smoked sausage for Hoppin John?

You can get a delicious smoky flavor on your Hoppin John even without smoked sausage by using bacon. If serving Hoppin John for New Year’s, you can also put your leftover ham hock from the holiday dinner to good use.

Conclusion

This slow cooker Hoppin John recipe promises good luck and happy tummies. 

It comes together easily with a few ingredients, including canned black eyed peas. And because they’re canned beans, you don’t need to soak them overnight!

The flavorful recipe is mostly a dump-and-go meal. Other than caramelizing the smoked sausages, you don’t need to monitor the dish as it cooks. 

Oh, and don’t feel like this wholesome meal is just for New Year’s Day.

Make it whenever you need something comforting and filling. You can easily store the leftovers in the fridge or freezer anyway. 

Looking for more Crockpot recipes for hands-free cooking? Here are some of my favorite recipes, including something sweet: 

• Slow Cooker Beef Stew
• Crockpot White Chicken Chili
• Crockpot Green Bean Casserole
• Crockpot Tortellini Soup
• Crockpot French Toast Casserole