Instant Pot Black-Eyed Peas are so delicious, and they are a fast cooking bean! Don’t even bother soaking them, just season them with great ingredients, and have a fortuitous bowl of good-luck-bringing, pressure cooked black-eyed peas. Don’t forget the collard greens, this recipe has them as a tasty option! Make pressure cooker black eyed peas and Steam in the New Year!
Originally published 12/29/2017
Instant Pot Black-Eyed Peas
A long held tradition in the Southern United States is eating black-eyed peas and collard greens on New Year’s Day for good luck. The more black-eyed peas you eat, the more luck you will have.
The peas (actually beans) swell when cooked, so they symbolize prosperity; the greens symbolize money; the pork, because pigs root forward when foraging, represents positive motion (according to Wikipedia).
This tradition is very popular, and black-eyed peas appear in recipes such as Cowboy Caviar in Texas, to Hoppin’ John in Alabama, to Peas with Ham up in North Carolina (according to Southern Living).
The Black-Eyed Peas are usually cooked with some kind of pork, for flavor, and though I was told that a good Southerner does not cook collard greens with the black-eyed peas, I did anyway. I’m from Seattle (Mom from the South).
This Instant Pot Black-Eyed Peas recipe is fast cooking, for a dry beans recipe, so it makes sense, and tastes great, to cook the collards with the beans. However, if you do not like that method, I have a fabulous Instant Pot Collard Greens recipe that you can make separately!
If you like a more traditional version of black-eyed peas, try my Southern Black-Eyed Peas recipe
Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas with Collard Greens (or without) are a delicious meal to enjoy any time of the year!
This has been a fun and also challenging year for me, and I’m curious to see what the next year will bring!
I want to thank you all for reading my blog posts, trying my recipes, and supporting Simply Happy Foodie in this first couple of years of being an official food recipe blog. If you ever have ideas or requests, please reach out to me. You can find me on Facebook, Pinterest, or leave me a comment here.
Happy New Year!
Southern Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas
Instant Pot Collard Greens
Instant Pot Ham Hock and Bean Soup
Instant Pot Red Beans and Rice with Sausage
Instant Pot Baked Potatoes
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If you make this amazing pressure cooker black-eyed peas recipe, please leave a comment with a star rating below. I’d love to know how you liked it!
Instant Pot Black-Eyed Peas are so delicious, and they are a fast cooking bean! Don't even bother soaking them, just season them with great ingredients. Don't forget the collard greens, this recipe has them as a tasty option!
- 1 Tbsp Olive Oil
- 1 small Onion, chopped
- 2 Celery Ribs (Stalks), diced
- 1 Bell Pepper, red or green
- 2 small Bay Leaves
- 2 sprigs Fresh Thyme, or 1/2 tsp dried
- 3 tsp Smoked Paprika
- 1/2 tsp Black Pepper
- 1 tsp Coarse Salt, or 3/4 tsp table salt
- 4 cloves Garlic, pressed or minced
- 1 Jalapeño Pepper, seeded and diced small
- 3 1/2 cups Chicken Broth, low sodium
- 2 tsp Balsamic Vinegar
- 1-2 slices Bacon, chopped
- 1 small Ham Hock (or meaty ham bone)
- 1 1/4 cups Black-Eyed Peas, dry*
- 2 cups Collard Greens, (optional) chopped in 2" pieces
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Turn the pressure cooker on to the Sauté function. When the display reads Hot, add the oil.
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Add the onion, celery, and bell pepper, and bay leaves. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion starts to turn translucent.
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Add the thyme, smoked paprika, pepper, and salt. Stir.
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Add the garlic and jalapeño. Cook for about 30 seconds, stirring frequently.
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Add the broth, balsamic vinegar, bacon, and ham hock.
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Stir in the black-eyed peas, and collard greens, if using.
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Place the lid on the pressure cooker, locking it in place. Set the steam release knob to the Sealing position. Cancel the Sauté function.
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Press the Pressure Cook/Manual button (or dial) and use the + or - button (or dial) to select 17 minutes (for firmer beans choose 14 minutes). High Pressure.
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When the cooking cycle has ended and the pot beeps, let it sit undisturbed for 15 minutes (15 minute Natural Release), then turn the steam release knob to the Venting position to release the remaining steam/pressure.
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When the pin in the lid drops down, open it and give the contents a stir. Discard bay leaves and ham hock (the ham hock won't be tender, it is for flavor, but if you can get some meat off of it, add it to the pot!).
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Serve over rice for a Hoppin' John, or as is. Enjoy with cornbread to sop up that yummy broth! Happy New Year! Or, any time of year!
*If you soaked the Black-Eyed Peas, reduce the cook time by about half. You can always add time if you need to.
This recipe doubles nicely. Don't double the cooking time.
If you want a more traditional black-eyed peas recipe, Try my Instant Pot Southern Black-Eyed Peas recipe.
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Mary
Fantastic! I doubled it. I think I might have made to much. Can i freeze it?
Sandy
Yes, this freezes well!
Jason
Man that’s the best. With this recipe new Years won’t be the only time we eat cow peas.
Christina
I live in Chicago but am from the south and I use this recipe every New Year’s Day. Always turns out great and my son loves it too!
Katherine
We looooove this recipe. Make it every year. This year I couldn’t find dried black eyed peas, just fresh, which I’m excited about, but I need some tips on how to cook this same recipe, get the same intense flavors, but without the pressure. Any ideas? Any one used the same ingredients list with fresh peas?
Thanks! HNY!
Sandy
You can reduce the cook time by a few minutes. Maybe reduce the liquid a little. Add more if you think it needs it.
Trudy Kannenberg
I made this today and just finished my first serving with cornbread, and it is amazing. I appreciate your step-by-step directions. It helps me a lot. I took half of it out before adding the meat for as I won’t be eating meats in the next few days, but I can still enjoy this flavorful goodness.
MsTrini
Tried this recipe and loved it. Cooked my peas a few minutes longer.
Larry
These were the most amazing black eyed peas I have ever eaten! Thanks for the great recipe and step-by-step instructions.
Kia
I got home from work late and didn’t think I would have time to make traditional black eyed peas and greens for new years – this recipe is better than what I was going to make and came together so fast. I substituted 6 oz of salt pork since the store was out of ham hocks. Delicious!
Lydia Gilchrist
This is a great recipe; especially if you don’t like traditional black eyed pea recipes and my family prefers this one over all others. I leave out the bacon and ham hock. In place I use good quality ham that I cut into cubes. I’ve made it dozens of times and it always comes out delicious. Thank you for sharing your recipe!
Sandy
I’m so happy you like this version! I wanted something different, so I came up with this, which my family also prefers!
Lourde Jones
Holy cow! These beans are awesome! I grew up in the Deep South and this recipe is leagues beyond any black-eyed dish I’ve ever had.
Truly extraordinary.
Di
Should I soak the beans first and for how long
Sandy
No need to soak them