Instant Pot Black-Eyed Peas

These Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas are pressure cooked with smoked sausage and collards in a flavorful broth. Tender, full of smoky flavor and oh so satisfying. This is serious comfort food!

Cowboy Caviar and White Bean, Black Eyed Pea, and Avocado Crostini are two other super easy Black Eyed Pea recipes we love this time of year.

I’m here to tell you that this easy Black Eye Pea Recipe with Sausage and Kale is one of the most comforting and comforting recovery/detox foods out there. It’s the perfect choice on a cold New Year’s Day when you just want to curl up on the couch and watch movies.

And it’s so easy to make! Just the right thing for the day after a hectic holiday.

Easy Hoppin’ John

This Black-Eyed Peas recipe is an easy version of the Southern classic, Hoppin’ John, made in an Instant Pot. There are a ton of variations on this recipe, but the main ingredients are black-eyed peas, onions, and some sort of smoked pork. Hoppin’ John is usually served with collards and spooned over rice.

Using your pressure cooker is the fastest, easiest way to cook tender black-eyed peas without the need for soaking.

Happy Black Eyed Peas

Old southern tradition dictates that eating Black Eyed Peas and collards on New Year’s Day will bring good luck in the coming year. Collards represent prosperity due to their green color. I think we could all use a little bit of both!

The tradition began after the Civil War when people in the South were lucky enough to have black-eyed peas available to help them survive the winter months. It has evolved over time and now people everywhere are preparing black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day as a kind of good luck charm for the new year.

Not only are you lucky to have found this recipe – you will be lucky after you eat it!

Notes on ingredients

• Dried black-eyed peas – Despite being called peas, black-eyed peas belong to the legume family and are actually beans. You can find them in grocery stores with all the other bagged dried beans.
• bacon – Regular bacon, not thickly cut, is best for this recipe.
• Smoked Sausage – Fully cooked smoked sausage typically sold as a rope sausage by brands like Johnsonville and Hillshire Farms.
• vegetables – Yellow onion, celery and garlic.
• jalapeno – For a mild result, be sure to remove the seeds and cut off the ribs on the inside of the peppers.
• cajun spice – My homemade Kickin’ Cajun Spice Blend is hands down my favorite spice blend. You can use a store-bought Cajun or Creole seasoning if you like.
• Extra spice – Dried thyme, black pepper and bay leaf. You can season with a little salt after cooking if you feel you need to, but most Cajun seasoning mixes have plenty in them.
• Low sodium chicken broth – It’s always best to use a low-sodium broth and add extra salt if needed.
• collards – In the produce section of your store, you can find clumps of kale near the other dark leafy greens. They also come chopped, pre-washed and boxed. If you can’t find cabbage, you can substitute kale.
• To serve – Cooked white rice and hot sauce, such as Tabasco.

How to Make Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas

This is a quick overview of how to prepare this recipe. You can find detailed instructions in the recipe card at the end of this post.

1. Cook the bacon on the sauté setting in your Instant Pot until brown and crispy.
2. Add the sausage and cook until lightly browned.
3. Add onion, celery, garlic, jalapeno, Cajun seasoning, thyme, and pepper and sauté 1 minute longer.
4. Add the broth and scrape any browned bits off the bottom of the saucepan. Stir in the black-eyed peas and kale, then tuck the bay leaf into the mixture. Cook at high pressure for 25 minutes. Then allow the pressure to naturally drain away for 10 minutes. Finally, vent to manually release the remaining pressure. Remove the bay leaf and season with salt and additional pepper if needed.

serving suggestions

Serve Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas over a pile of cooked white rice for a super filling, high-protein entree. I make this recipe for our New Year’s Day lunch and I always make Tabasco for those who want to add some spiciness.

It is also common to serve black eyed peas with cornbread as a side dish. My Rustic Sweet Cornbread or my Pumpkin Cornbread would both be delicious.

Black-eyed peas make a great side dish. They’re a great way to top up a menu!

Storage and reheating tips

Transfer leftovers to an airtight container and refrigerate within 2 hours. For best quality, they should be used within four or five days. For longer storage, Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas can be frozen for up to three to four months.

Reheat leftovers in the microwave or on the stovetop over low heat. If frozen, thaw completely in the refrigerator before reheating. You can add a splash of water or chicken broth to thin the mixture if desired.

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