Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas Recipe
Black eyed peas are a Southern tradition - especially on New Year's Day! But once you try this Instant Pot black eyed peas recipe, you'll want to make it all year long. Prepared with bacon and ham, then cooked to perfection in your pressure cooker, this delicious bean recipe is sure to be a hit with everyone in the family.
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn a commission on qualifying purchases.
Reasons You'll Love This Recipe
Whether you're continuing a family tradition or discovering this classic for the first time, here are some compelling reasons why this Instant Pot black eyed peas recipe will become your new favorite comfort food.
- Incredibly Simple Ingredient List: The recipe calls for dried black eyed peas, chicken broth, cooked cubed ham, bacon, yellow onion, salted butter, minced garlic, salt, pepper, and fresh parsley. This simplicity means you can whip up this satisfying dish on any weeknight without extensive meal planning or shopping trips.
- Perfect Texture Every Time: The Instant Pot's pressure cooking technology ensures your black eyed peas achieve that ideal tender-but-not-mushy consistency that's often difficult to master with stovetop cooking.
- Rich, Smoky Flavor Profile: The combination of bacon and ham creates an incredible depth of flavor that transforms these humble beans into something truly special. The bacon renders its fat during cooking, infusing the entire dish with smoky richness, while the cubed ham adds substantial meatiness and saltiness.
- Significant Time Savings: Traditional stovetop black eyed peas can take hours of simmering, but your Instant Pot dramatically reduces cooking time without sacrificing flavor. What would typically require 2-3 hours of careful monitoring and stirring becomes a largely hands-off process that takes a fraction of the time. This efficiency makes it possible to enjoy this Southern comfort food even on busy weeknights when time is limited.
- Nutritional Powerhouse: Black eyed peas pack impressive nutritional value, offering high levels of protein, fiber, folate, and potassium. A single cup provides about 13 grams of protein and 11 grams of fiber, making this dish both filling and beneficial for digestive health. The addition of ham and bacon contributes additional protein, while the onions and garlic provide antioxidants and immune-supporting compounds.
What Do I Need to Make This Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas Recipe?
Since this easy recipe draws its flavor from a short list of simple ingredients, it's a great option for any night of the week. All you need to make your own black eyed peas at home are these supplies:
- Dried black eyed peas
- Chicken broth
- Cooked cubed ham
- Bacon
- Yellow onion
- Salted butter
- Minced garlic
- Pepper
- Salt
- Minced fresh parsley
How Do I Make This Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas Recipe?
While cooking dried beans on the stovetop often takes hours, you can have a delicious batch of black eyed peas ready to go in under an hour with the help of your Instant Pot! Just follow these three simple steps:
Step One: Cook the Bacon
Start by prepping the bacon in the Instant Pot. Set the pot to Saute mode and add the butter. When the butter is fully melted, toss in the chopped bacon, minced garlic, and diced onions. Stir to mix the ingredients and saute until the bacon gets color and begins to get crispy, around 10 minutes.
Step Two: Add the Beans
Turn off the Instant Pot and stir in the black eyed peas, ham, salt, pepper, and chicken broth. Mix the ingredients together until they're well combined, making sure all the beans are submerged in liquid.
Step Three: Pressure Cook the Peas
Would you like to save this?
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
Place the lid on the pot and seal the vent, then set the Instant Pot to the pressure cooker setting and cook for 15 minutes. When the cook time is up, let the pot naturally release pressure for 20 minutes, then perform a manual release to remove the remaining pressure. Garnish the black eyed peas with fresh parsley before serving.
Should I Soak Black Eyed Peas Before Cooking in the Instant Pot?
Soaking dried beans before cooking is often recommended when you cook them on the stove. That's because it helps reduce the cook time and improves digestibility. But taking the time to soak your beans isn't essential if you cook them in the Instant Pot. That's because the pressure cooker cooks the beans quickly, removing the need to soak the beans in water before cooking.
But if you notice that you digest your black eyed peas more easily after soaking, you can take the time to pre-soak your beans before cooking them in the Instant Pot. To soak your black eyed peas, place them in a large pot and cover them with at least one inch of water. Bring the water to a boil, then remove the pan from heat and cover it. Allow the beans to rest overnight, then add them to the Instant Pot when you're ready to start cooking.
How Do I Store Black Eyed Peas?
Whether you're enjoying your black eyed peas as a New Year's Day tradition or just a warm and hearty dinner, they're sure to be a hit when they're cooked in the Instant Pot! But if you have leftovers when you're finished eating, they should be stored in the refrigerator.
Transfer the leftovers to an airtight container and keep them refrigerated. They'll stay good for up to one week.
You can also store the cooked beans in the freezer for more long-term storage. Make sure to allow the beans to cool completely, then place them in a freezer bag or freezer-safe container. The beans will stay good frozen for up to three months.
To reheat your black eyes peas, allow the frozen beans to thaw completely in the refrigerator overnight. After that, you can warm them up in the microwave or in a saucepan on the stovetop over medium-low heat.
Instant Pot Black Eyed Pea Recipe Ideas
Once you see how quick and easy it is to make black eyed peas in your Instant Pot, you'll never want to make them any other way! And with the help of these delicious recipe ideas, you'll find plenty of substitutions and adjustments you can make to create a delicious meal for your family.
- Use any type of ham you have on hand. This recipe is great for using up holiday ham leftovers! But if you don't have any leftovers on hand, there are a few other options you can use. Try adding a chopped ham steak, packaged cubed ham, or even a ham hock to add flavor to your peas.
- Mix in some vegetables. Round out your meal with the help of some vegetables! Add chopped carrots or celery to the bacon and onions to give your black eyed peas an added boost of nutrition.
- Sub water for broth. Don't have any chicken broth on hand? Don't worry! You can also make your black eyed peas in the Instant Pot using water. You'll need the same amount of water as broth. But it's a good idea to add a little bit of extra salt to the pot to make up for the salt found in the broth.
Perfect Side Dishes to Serve with Black Eyed Peas
From traditional Southern pairings to creative modern twists, here are some delicious side dishes that will perfectly complement your black eyed peas.
- Classic Southern Cornbread: Nothing pairs better with black eyed peas than a warm, golden piece of cornbread. This traditional Southern staple serves as the perfect vehicle for soaking up the savory, smoky broth from your beans.
- Collard Greens with Smoked Turkey: Collard greens are another New Year's Day tradition that pairs beautifully with black eyed peas, as the greens symbolize money and financial prosperity. These hearty, slightly bitter leaves are typically slow-cooked with smoked turkey or ham hocks until tender.
- Creamy Coleslaw: The cool, crisp texture of coleslaw provides a refreshing contrast to the warm, hearty black eyed peas. This classic side dish cuts through the richness of bacon and ham in your pea recipe while adding a satisfying crunch to your meal.
- Fluffy White Rice: Rice serves as an excellent neutral base that allows the bold flavors of your black eyed peas to shine. This pairing is particularly popular in Louisiana Creole cooking, where black eyed peas and rice create a complete protein.
- Pickled Okra and Cucumbers: The bright acidity of pickled vegetables provides an excellent palate cleanser between bites of rich, smoky black eyed peas. Pickled okra and cucumbers add a tangy crunch that cuts through the heaviness of bacon and ham while stimulating your appetite.
Creating the perfect meal with black eyed peas is all about balance-combining textures, flavors, and temperatures that complement rather than compete with each other. These eight side dishes will help you build memorable meals that honor Southern tradition while satisfying modern palates. Ready to start cooking? Grab your Instant Pot and gather these simple ingredients to create a feast that'll have your family asking for seconds all year long.
Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas Recipe
Equipment
- 6 quart Instant Pot
Ingredients
- 1 Pound Dried Black Eyed Peas sorted and rinsed
- 6 Cups Chicken Broth
- 2 Cups Cooked Cubed Ham
- 8 Ounces Bacon chopped
- 1 Medium Yellow Onion diced
- 2 Tablespoons Salted Butter
- 2 Teaspoons Minced Garlic
- 1 Teaspoon Pepper
- ½ Teaspoon Salt
- Minced Fresh Parsley optional garnish
Instructions
- Set the instant pot to saute. Add the butter and once it has fully melted, add the chopped bacon, minced garlic, and diced onion. Saute until the bacon gets color (about 10 minutes).
- Add the black eyed peas, ham, salt, pepper, and broth.
- Set the instant pot to the pressure cooker setting and cook for 15 minutes. It will take a few minutes to come to pressure before it starts counting the 15 minutes down.
- Let it naturally release for 20 minutes, then perform a manual release.
- Garnish with minced fresh parsley, if desired, and enjoy!
Notes
• This recipe is great for using up leftover ham! If you don’t have any leftover ham, grab a ham steak or a ham hock.
• If you have leftover veggies from the holidays, such as celery and carrots, you can dice those up and add them in as well.
• You can use water or veggie broth in place of the chicken broth. If you use water, be sure to add some extra salt to adjust for the missing flavor.
One Comment