Instant Pot Black-Eyed Peas Recipe (2024)

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Instant Pot Black-Eyed Peasrecipe for a prosperous New Year.Dried beans willnow be one of your favoriteInstant Pot recipes.

Cooking dried beans in the Instant Pot is so easy.

Forget about soaking dried beans and waiting hours to cook them.

Now you can enjoy all your favorite dried beans in mere minutes when you pressure cook them in the Instant Pot.

Instant Pot Black-Eyed Peas Recipe (1)

These smokey flavored black-eyedpeas are made with leftover ham from a holiday meal.

Serve them with southern style skillet cornbreadand a side of greens.

Don't have an Instant Pot yet?

You can also make Crock Pot Black-eyed Beansand ensure good luck all year long.

Why Do We Eat Black Eyes Peas on New Years?

Black-eyed peas are a Lucky New Year food in the south.

Black-eyed peas have a very interesting historical story as to why the South eat them on New Years Day for good luck.

No one knows for sure how this Southern legend got started.

The popular belief is that during the Civil War when the North was pillaging the South they left black-eyed peas and salted pork untouched.

They thought these two southern food items were animal food unfit for human consumption.

When the war ended people of the South rejoiced in their luck.

The only food they had was black-eyed peas and salted pork.

The people of those ravished southern towns survived because they had black-eyed peas to eat.

Instant Pot Black-Eyed Peas Recipe (2)

Traditional Southern New Years Recipe

Black-eyed peas are a traditional southern recipe eaten on New Years Day.

This simple but delicious dried bean recipe is said to bring good luck in the new year to anyone who eats it on New Year's day.

Traditionally served with collard greens and cornbread black-eyed beans are a staple in most Southern homes.

At least it is in Georgia where I first enjoyed black-eyed peas.

Head over to my Instant Pot Recipe page for more easy Instant Pot recipes

How To Make Instant Pot Black-Eyed Peas

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 large carrot, diced
  • 1 cup diced onion
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon diced garlic
  • 2 large bay leaves
  • 3 cups diced ham or a leftover ham bone
  • 1 lb dried black-eyed peas, rinsed and picked through (cowpeas)
  • 6 cups chicken stock

Directions

  1. Melt the butter in the Instant Pot inert on the saute setting.
  2. Add the diced onion, diced carrots, salt and ground pepper to the melted butter and saute for about 3 minutes to sweat the onions (link).
  3. Add the minced garlic to the Instant Pot and saute for 1 minute.
  4. Add the diced ham, black-eyed peas and bay leaves to the Instant Pot.
  5. Add the chicken stock and stir with a large spoon to combine.
  6. Place the lid on the Instant Pot making sure it has locked into place.
  7. Check the pressure valve and make sure it is set to the sealing position.
  8. Press the manual button on the Instant Pot and set the time to 30 minutes. Pressure cook for 30 minutes and then naturally release the steam for 15 minutes.
  9. After 12 minutes carefully push the Instant Pot valve to the releasing setting allowing any steam to release.
  10. Open the lid carefully, away from your face to prevent a steam burn.
  11. Serve with white rice, crusty french bread or crackers.
  12. Makes 8 servings.
Instant Pot Black-Eyed Peas Recipe (4)

Print the Instant Pot Black-Eyed Peas recipe below

Instant Pot Black-Eyed Peas Recipe (5)

Email questions or recipe requests to flouronmyface@gmail.com. Follow me on Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook.

Instant Pot Black-Eyed Peas Recipe (6)

Instant Pot Black-Eyed Peas Recipe

Arlene Mobley - Flour On My Face

Instant Pot Black-Eyed Peas recipe is a no-soak dried bean recipe that is packed full of smoky ham flavor with melt in your mouth black-eyed peas.

Black-Eyed Peas are also called Cowpeas and Black-Eyed beans. Black-Eyed Peas are a traditional Southern recipe eaten on New Year's day that is said to bring luck in the new year.

4.97 from 26 votes

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 40 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 large carrot (diced)
  • 1 cup diced onion
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon diced garlic
  • 2 large bay leaves
  • 3 cups diced ham or a leftover ham bone
  • 1 lb. dried black-eyed peas (rinsed and picked through)
  • 6 cups chicken stock

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Instructions

  • Melt the butter in the Instant Pot inert on the saute setting.

  • Add the diced onion, diced carrots, salt and ground pepper to the melted butter and saute for about 3 minutes to sweat the onions (link).

  • Add the minced garlic to the Instant Pot and saute for 1 minute.

  • Add the diced ham, black-eyed peas and bay leaves to the Instant Pot.

  • Add the chicken stock and stir with a large spoon to combine.

  • Place the lid on the Instant Pot making sure it has locked into place.

  • Check the pressure valve and make sure it is set to the sealing position.

  • Press the manual button on the Instant Pot and set the time to 30 minutes. Pressure cook for 30 minutes and then naturally release the steam for 15 minutes.

  • After 12 minutes carefully push the Instant Pot valve to the releasing setting allowing any steam to release.

  • Open the lid carefully, away from your face to prevent a steam burn.

  • Serve with white rice, crusty french bread or crackers.

  • Makes 8 servings.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1BowlCalories: 398kcalCarbohydrates: 44gProtein: 30gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 38mgSodium: 1190mgPotassium: 1038mgFiber: 7gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 1544IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 84mgIron: 6mg

Tried this recipe?Share a picture on Instagram and tag @flouronmyface2

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About Arlene Mobley

Arlene Mobley author of Flour On My Face-a Food & Lifestyle website helping busy families get dinner on the table by serving easy recipes every week.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jean

    Instant Pot Black-Eyed Peas Recipe (11)
    I have made this several times; always delicious; but this year I subbed a generous amount of crisp-cooked thick sliced bacon, chopped, for the ham & omitted salt; best ever!!!

    Reply

  2. Cathy

    Instant Pot Black-Eyed Peas Recipe (12)
    Arlene thank You very much for this recipe. They are the best I have ever cooked and I been cooking them every New Year day for many years. Happy New Years

    Reply

    • Arlene Mobley

      Cathy so glad to hear you enjoyed the recipe! Happy New Years!

      Reply

  3. TONI

    Instant Pot Black-Eyed Peas Recipe (13)
    Delicious! Black eyed peas were perfectly cooked. Keeper recipe!

    Reply

  4. Susan Mikulecky

    Instant Pot Black-Eyed Peas Recipe (14)
    Yummy this New Years' day! I made yesterday and it solidified so much I scooped out the amount I wanted to serve today as cups of soup, added chicken broth and reheated on stove top.
    Delicious with our leftover Christmas smoked ham bone.
    Note: I found the timing notes on # 8 and 9 confusing on the natural release.

  5. Heather

    Instant Pot Black-Eyed Peas Recipe (15)
    so easy and the most flavorful black eyed peas ever!! this is the ONLY recipe i use (although i’ve never added the bay leaf)

    Reply

  6. Belinda

    My instant pot defaults to cook on high pressure. I hope this turns out ok. Beans sometimes don’t get tender enough in this gadget for me. 🙂 stay tuned.

    Reply

  7. Michelle

    Instant Pot Black-Eyed Peas Recipe (16)
    I didn’t have ham so I substituted a handful of diced bacon. My daughters and I sampled the first batch and it was so delicious we made a second batch to ensure we would have leftovers. Even the grandchildren ate two bowls! Thank you for posting this recipe

    Reply

    • Arlene Mobley

      Nichelle Thanks I'm happy to hear everyone loved the recipe!

      Reply

  8. Naomi

    Instant Pot Black-Eyed Peas Recipe (17)
    I made this yesterday. I soaked the peas for roughly an hour while prepping the veggies, so I adjusted time for 10 minutes since they didn't soak very long, with the 15 minute natural release. It was perfect. I did sub some liquid smoke for the ham since I eat kosher, but this was a wonderful recipe. Will keep this recipe to use again - thanks so much!

    Reply

    • Arlene Mobley

      Naomi

      Glad you enjoyed the recipe!

      Reply

  9. Naomi S.

    Instant Pot Black-Eyed Peas Recipe (18)
    Instant hit with my family! Even my seven year old picky eater loved it. Definitely a keeper!

    Reply

  10. Kathy Boggs

    Instant Pot Black-Eyed Peas Recipe (19)
    My first try at this traditional New Year's Day dish. Just two of us so I halved the recipe (but still added 3 cups of ham). Skipped the bay leaves. Served with garlic parmesan toast and a bottle of hot sauce on the table.

    Reply

    • Arlene Mobley

      Instant Pot Black-Eyed Peas Recipe (20)
      Kathy

      Thank you for stopping by and letting me know how much you loved my Instant Pot black-eyed peas recipe! Have a Happy New Year!

      Reply

  11. Nora Nix

    I made this recipe for New Year's today. Followed it to the letter. Let me just say...it was the best darn black-eyed peas I have ever cooked, and I have been a Southern cook for a long time. Thank you so much for my mother-in-law's comment of them being the "best I've ever had!" Ta Dah!

    Reply

    • Arlene Mobley

      Instant Pot Black-Eyed Peas Recipe (21)
      Nora

      Happy New Year! Thank you for the lovely compliment on my recipe! It is always great when you can impress our Mother-in-law!

      Reply

  12. Misti

    What if the peas have already been soaked? Thank you!

    Reply

    • Arlene Mobley

      Instant Pot Black-Eyed Peas Recipe (22)
      Hi Misty I have not pressure cooked soaked beans in the Instant Pot yet but the Instant Pot website says to cook soaked black-eyed peas for 4-5 minutes.

      Reply

  13. Laura

    So yummy! I added a jalapeno, to give it a bit of kick. Realized it really needs two.
    My husband was VERY impressed.
    Thanks for making this available!

    Reply

    • Arlene Mobley

      Instant Pot Black-Eyed Peas Recipe (23)
      Laura

      You're very welcome! I love topping off a bowl of beans with some pickled jalapeno's! Have a Happy and prosperous New Year!

      Reply

  14. Helen

    I have an 8 qt Insta pot. Can this recipe be doubled and what would the cooking time be?

    Reply

    • Arlene Mobley

      Instant Pot Black-Eyed Peas Recipe (24)
      Hi Helen

      This is what the Instant Pot website says about cooking dried beans

      "Dried beans double in volume and weight after soaking or cooking. To avoid overflow, please do not fill the inner pot more than to the ½ mark to allow for expansion."

      I do not think this recipe should be doubled in the 8 quart Instant Pot because it will fill the Instant Pot more than halfway.

      Reply

  15. O,ivia

    Your recipe doesn’t include when to add the chicken broth. Please explain. I’m guessing you just left it out by mistake, and that it should be added with the other ingredients.

    Reply

    • Arlene Mobley

      Olivia

      Thank you for pointing that out!

      Reply

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Instant Pot Black-Eyed Peas Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the ratio of black-eyed peas to water? ›

Ratio = 1 part black eyed peas : 3 parts water. Cook Time = 8-10 minutes.

How long do you cook black-eyed peas for? ›

Soaked black eyed peas take about 45 minutes to 1 1/2 hours to cook, depending on the age of the beans, how long they were soaked for and how soft you prefer them. If you're starting with frozen black eyed peas, microwave until thawed before adding them to your dish.

How many cups of water do you put in a cup of black-eyed peas? ›

For every 1 cup of dry peas, add 5 cups of water. Bring the peas and water to a boil and boil for 2 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat, cover it and let it stand for 2 hours.

What happens if you don't pre soak black-eyed peas? ›

Not soaking the black-eyed peas can slightly impact the texture, as they can take longer to cook and may be slightly firmer compared to soaked ones. However, the taste will remain similar whether you soak them or not.

Can you overcook black-eyed peas? ›

Drain them the next day and bring them to a boil in cold water, then reduce the heat so the water barely simmers: dried black-eyed peas can overcook, and a rolling boil could cause them to break apart. Taste the peas often to check their doneness: They should be creamy but retain their shape.

How much does 1 lb dry black-eyed peas make? ›

The Conversion Ratio for Dried Beans and Canned Beans
Type of BeanWeight DriedEquivalent Cooked
Red Kidney1 pound2 lb. 7 oz. (6.5 cups)
Pinto1 pound2 lb. 5 oz. (6.5 cups)
Black1 pound2 lb. 5 oz. (7 cups)
Black-Eyed Peas1 pound2 lb. 13 oz. (6.5 cups)
2 more rows

How do you know when black-eyed peas are done? ›

Be sure to test a black-eyed pea to make sure they are cooked thoroughly. A properly cooked black-eyed pea should be tender but still have a bite, not mushy. Canned black-eyed peas are best in recipes that don't require slow cooking or a long cook time, which can make them mushy.

Do you cover black-eyed peas when cooking? ›

Place beans in a large pot and cover them with 4 inches of chicken stock. Simmer, covered, for about 1 hour. Start checking after 45 minutes to see if they are tender and add more broth or water as necessary to keep them covered. Add in a ham bone if you have one for even more flavorful black-eyed peas.

Should I add baking soda to black-eyed peas? ›

Your Beans Will Cook Faster

Well, creating an alkaline (or basic) environment by adding a small amount (about 1 teaspoon per cup of dry beans) of baking soda to your soaking/cooking water can actually help your beans cook faster.

What thickens black-eyed peas? ›

Smash more of the peas up against the inside of the pot again (this helps the broth thicken). Simmer for 10 minutes more. Check the consistency of the black-eyed peas: If they are not creamy enough for you, smash a few more peas. If the broth is too thick, thin out with a little more water.

How do you jazz up black-eyed peas? ›

Add a tangy dressing of olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and herbs for a flavorful salad. Hoppin' John: A traditional Southern dish, Hoppin' John is made by simmering black-eyed peas with rice, onions, celery, and spices like thyme, bay leaves, and black pepper. It's often served with ham or bacon for added flavor.

Why are black-eyed peas still hard after cooking? ›

If your water is acidic, the beans will remain hard. You can add some baking soda to the water to eliminate the acidity.

What happens if you forget to rinse beans before cooking? ›

If you're a relatively healthy person though, enjoying canned beans without draining or rinsing them first is fine. That's because our bodies require sodium to function. It's only when we go above and beyond what we need that it becomes a problem.

Should I rinse canned black-eyed peas? ›

It is recommended to rinse canned black-eyed peas before cooking. Rinsing helps remove any excess sodium or brine that may be present from the canning process. Additionally, rinsing can help reduce the gas-producing carbohydrates that can cause discomfort.

How much water do you need for a pound of black-eyed peas? ›

Place 1 pound dried black-eyed peas in a large bowl or pot and add enough water to cover by 5 inches.

Do you add water to canned black-eyed peas? ›

To cook canned black-eyed peas, start by rinsing them thoroughly under cold water. Then, you can choose to heat them on the stovetop or in the microwave. For stovetop cooking, place the peas in a saucepan, cover with water or broth, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for about 10-15 minutes.

How long to boil black-eyed peas after soaking? ›

Drain your beans from the soaking liquid and give them a quick rinse under cold water. Place beans in a large pot and cover them with 4 inches of chicken stock. Simmer, covered, for about 1 hour. Start checking after 45 minutes to see if they are tender and add more broth or water as necessary to keep them covered.

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