How Long To Soak Black Eyed Beans Before Cooking

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This Black Eyed Peas recipe is full of flavor and has stovetop, slow cooker and Instant Pot methods! They are a Southern classic dish and family favorite! Delicious year round, they are traditionally served on New Year's Day to bring luck.

Black Eyed Peas make a Southern favorite and are traditionally served on New Year's Day to bring good luck. This recipe provides both stove-top and slow cooker methods! // addapinch.com

Black Eyed Peas are one of the most comforting, amazing dishes in southern history. Well, at least they are in my family. Thankfully, they are one of the easiest, most budget-friendly, nutrient-rich dishes to prepare, too.

Growing up, there were many weeknights that we had supper with my grandparents and all my grandfather would want for supper was peas, cornbread, and a glass of milk.

Black Eyed Peas Recipe

Time after time, that was the meal grandmother loving prepared for him with black eyed peas simmering on the stove throughout the afternoon for that night's supper. I always thought he didn't know what he was missing by not eating whatever she'd prepared to go along with it for the rest of us.

Now that I'm older, there are many nights that a big bowl of these peas on top of a hunk of southern cornbread and a little bit of pepper sauce is all I want for supper, too. I get it and thankfully, they are something that my whole family enjoys. I guess that's just one more thing I should've listened to my grandparents about. At least I know now.

How to Make Black Eyed Peas Recipe

I've included stove top, slow cooker, and Instant Pot methods for cooking them! Regardless of which method there are a couple of steps that you'll want to take for the best black eyed peas!

Rinse

You'll want to make sure to rinse and pick over your peas to make sure they are clean and prepped! Place them into a colander under cool running water. Rinse the peas, being sure to move them around in the colander with your fingers. As you are rinsing, remove any peas that are overly darkened as well as any other items from the peas that doesn't belong.

Soak (for Stove Top and Slow Cooker Methods)

There are two soaking methods for peas that work perfectly: overnight soaking and quick soaking.

Overnight Soaking Method

Add your peas to a stockpot and cover with cool, clean water, plus about 2 inches. Allow to soak, uncovered, overnight. The next morning, pour your peas into a colander to drain away the soaking liquid.

Quick Soaking Method

Add your peas to a stockpot and cover with cool, clean water, plus about 2 inches. Bring your black eyed peas to a boil and continue to boil for two minutes. Pour your peas into a colander to drain away the soaking liquid.

Cooking Black Eyed Peas

Once your peas have been prepped, you are ready to proceed with your favorite cooking method.

Stove Top Black Eyed Peas

Add your peas back to your stock pot and cover with water, plus about 2 inches. Add in your ham bone, bacon, or salt pork, if using. If you prefer a vegetarian or vegan method, use 2 tablespoons olive oil. Set over medium-low heat on your stove. Bring black eyed peas to a simmer and continue to keep at a low simmer, adding water and stirring occasionally as needed, until the black eyed peas are fork tender, about two hours. Remove ham bone and serve.

Slow Cooker Black Eyed Peas

Add your peas back to your slow cooker and cover with water, plus about 2 inches. Add in your ham bone, bacon, or salt pork, if using. If you prefer a vegetarian or vegan method, use 2 tablespoons olive oil. Cover and cook on low setting for 8 hours. Remove ham bone and serve.

Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas

There is no need to soak your black eyed peas using the Instant Pot, making them even easier. Of course if you would like to soak them anyway, you certainly can.

Add your peas back to your Instant Pot and cover with water, plus about 2 inches. Add in your ham bone, bacon, or salt pork, if using. If you prefer a vegetarian or vegan method, use 2 tablespoons olive oil. Cover and cook on high pressure for 20 minutes. Allow the pressure to release naturally, about 20 more minutes. Remove ham bone and serve.

Here's my black eyed peas recipe for the stock pot, slow cooker or Instant Pot! Regardless of the method you use, I hope you love them as much as we do!

Black Eyed Peas Recipe

Side Dish — 2 hrs 10 mins

Black Eyed Peas //addapinch.com

Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 2 hrs

Servings 8

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

This Black Eyed Peas recipe is full of flavor and has stovetop, slow cooker and Instant Pot methods! They are a Southern classic dish and family favorite! Delicious year round, they are traditionally served on New Year's Day to bring luck.

▢ 1 pound dried black eyed peas (16-ounces)
▢ 1 ham bone leftover and frozen from previously cooked ham recipe or about 7 strips of thick-sliced bacon or salt pork
▢ salt and pepper to taste

Stove Top Black Eyed Peas

Rinse black eyed peas in a colander, discarding any peas that are discolored or any small pebbles that may be in the dried peas.
Pour rinsed black eyed peas into a large, heavy-bottomed stock pot and soak using one of two soaking methods. Quick Soak: Cover with water, plus about 2 inches. Bring to a boil and boil for 2 minutes. Overnight Soak: Cover with water, plus about 2 inches. Allow to soak in the stockpot, uncovered overnight. Once soaked, pour black eyed peas through a colander again to remove them from the soaking water.
Add peas back to the stock pot and return to stove over medium-low heat. Add enough water to the stock pot to cover the black eyed peas, plus about 2 inches. Add in ham bone, bacon or salt pork, if using. If you prefer a vegetarian or vegan method, use 2 tablespoons olive oil. Bring black eyed peas to a simmer and continue to keep at a low simmer, adding water and stirring occasionally as needed, until the black eyed peas are fork tender, about two hours.
Remove and discard ham bone, leaving bits of ham that would have cooked into the black eyed peas in the peas. If using bacon or salt pork, remove and discard. Salt and pepper to taste.

Slow Cooker Black Eyed Peas

Rinse black eyed peas in a colander, discarding any peas that are discolored or any small pebbles that may be in the dried peas.
Pour rinsed black eyed peas into a large, heavy-bottomed stock pot and soak using one of two soaking methods. Quick Soak: Cover with water, plus about 2 inches. Bring to a boil and boil for 2 minutes. Overnight Soak: Cover with water, plus about 2 inches. Allow to soak in the stockpot, uncovered overnight. Once soaked, pour black eyed peas through a colander again to remove them from the soaking water.
Add black eyed peas to the slow cooker and cover with water, plus about 2 inches. Add in ham bone, bacon or salt pork, if using. If you prefer a vegetarian or vegan method, use 2 tablespoons olive oil. Place the lid onto the slow cooker and cook for 8 hours on low setting.
Remove and discard ham bone, leaving bits of ham that would have cooked into the black eyed peas in the peas. If using bacon or salt pork, remove and discard.

Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas

Add rinsed black eyed peas to Instant Pot and cover with water, plus about 2 inches. Add in ham bone, bacon or salt pork, if using. If you prefer a vegetarian or vegan method, use 2 tablespoons olive oil. Secure the lid to the Instant Pot and cook under high pressure for 25 minutes. Allow the pressure to release naturally, about 20 more minutes. Remove and discard ham bone, leaving bits of ham that would have cooked into the black eyed peas in the peas. If using bacon or salt pork, remove and discard.

Enjoy!
Robyn xo

From the Add a Pinch recipe archives. Originally published 2011.

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Robyn Stone

..where I share sweet, savory and southern recipes, as well as home and garden tips and tidbits of travel.