Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas

Black-eyed peas are a Southern staple known to bring good fortune. My Instant Pot black eyed peas pressure-cook to perfection to deliver a one-pot meal with a smoky flavor that will leave you feeling lucky.

What are Black Eyed Peas?

Black-eyed peas, also known as cowpeas, belong to the bean family. The beans are small, creamy-white with a black spot resembling an eye, hence the name ‘black-eyed peas.’ Despite the name, black-eyed peas are not peas but beans, similar to Jamaican rice and peas.

The History of Black Eyed Peas or Hoppin’ John

Black-eyed peas, also called Hoppin’ John, can be traced back to West Africa. The classic Southern dish originates from enslaved Africans. These resilient women and men, forcefully brought to the American South, preserved their food culture by planting and cooking peas to make traditional soups and stews.

Today in the United States, black-eyed peas continue as a staple of Gullah Geechee and Southern cuisine, often eaten on New Year’s Day as a symbol of luck and good fortune for the coming year. More importantly, the dish celebrates the courage and perseverance of those who cooked and provided for one another amid tragic circumstances. They chose to remember their roots through the meals they prepared using the simple ingredients available to them.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Create a tasty and affordable meal using simple ingredients. Here’s what you need to get started.

• Black-Eyed Peas: I use dry black-eyed peas, but you can use canned black-eyed peas if you reduce the cooking time.
• Olive Oil: Saute the vegetables in olive oil.
• Vegetables: Cook the peas with vegetables like yellow onion, green bell pepper, garlic, and tomato. 
• Jalapeño: Jalapeño chiles are a great addition to the recipe and provide the perfect amount of heat.
• Tomato Paste: A spoonful of tomato paste intensifies the flavor. Bloom the paste first by sautéing it before adding the other ingredients.
• Spices: Add flavor to the vegan black-eyed peas using cayenne, smoked paprika, and Kosher salt for seasoning.
• Vegetable Broth: I like using high-quality vegetable broth for this recipe. I usually make mine from home using vegetable scraps and herbs from my kitchen. If you’re in a hurry, combine warm water and Vegetable Better than Bouillon or purchase store-bought vegetable broth. 
• Liquid Smoke: Since I don’t cook the beans with meat, I create a smoky flavor by adding a few taps of liquid smoke. 
• Bay Leaves: Enhance the flavor the peas with a bay leaf. 

Additions and Substitutions

• Replace the vegetables in the recipes with cleaned and chopped collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens, or okra.
• Increase the heat by flavoring the dish with Cajun seasoning or blackened seasoning.
• Substitute the black-eyed peas with black beans.

How to Make Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas

The full recipe with measurements is in the recipe card below.

Step 2: Drain and rinse the peas, and set them aside; warm oil in an Instant Pot in saute mode.

Add onions and bell peppers, and cook until the onions become translucent and soften, for about 10 minutes.

Step 3: Stir in the garlic and jalapeños; cook for 3 minutes.

Then, add the kosher salt, cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, and tomato paste; saute until it becomes aromatic, for 30 seconds.

Step 4: Deglaze the pot with crushed tomatoes and vegetable broth. Add liquid smoke, bay leaves, the thyme sprig, and the reserved peas. Then, give the mixture a quick stir.

Step 5: Bring the mixture to a boil in saute mode. Secure the lid and set the Instant Pot to manual high pressure for 15 minutes with a 10-minute natural release. Remove the foam from the top layer and enjoy!

Expert Tips

• Soak the dry peas in water overnight for a shorter cooking time. Skip this step if using canned black-eyed peas.
• The amount of salt will depend on the amount of sodium in the vegetable broth you use. I recommend lightly seasoning in the beginning and tasting as you go.
• To prevent the peas from sticking to the bottom or burning, avoid overfilling the Instant Pot.
• After cooking, let the pressure release naturally for about 10 minutes before a quick release; this helps prevent the peas from becoming mushy.

If you enjoy the Instant Pot black eyed peas, try one of these Southern recipes!  

Shrimp Étouffée

Southern Potato Salad

Blackened Mahi Mahi

Serving Suggestions

Enjoy the savory Instant Pot black eyed peas with a buttery chunk of cornbread, seasoned collard greens, or Dutch oven mac and cheese. Spoon the flavorful beans over dirty rice, grits, and white rice or as a side dish to round out your favorite entree.

What to do with Leftovers

• Refrigerate: Black-eyed peas taste even better as leftovers the next day. Store them in an airtight container for 3-5 days.
• Freeze: Let the dish cool, then transfer it to a freezer-safe container or bag. Instant Pot black eyed peas freeze for up to 6 months.
• Thaw: Defrost the black eyed peas in the refrigerator overnight.
• Reheat: Warm the leftovers in the microwave or stovetop, and enjoy! If the dish thickens once chilled, stir in a small amount of vegetable broth before warming it up.
• Repurpose: Use the black eyed peas to fill shepherd’s pie or puree them to make homemade veggie burgers.

Frequently Asked Questions

More Instant Pot Recipes:

• Instant Pot Beef Ribs
• Instant Pot Tortellini Soup
• Instant Pot Pot Roast
• Instant Pot Potato Soup