{No Soak} Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas cook up quickly with the help of your pressure cooker. It’s southern tradition to serve this side dish on New Year’s for good luck!
This post was originally published in 2021. It was updated in 2022 to add new information. The recipe remains the same. Enjoy!
I’ve really embraced the Instant Pot for making beans at home with no soaking. I’ve made Instant Pot Chickpeas and Instant Pot Refried Beans with great success, so I couldn’t wait to try my hand at Black Eyed Peas in the Instant Pot.
Cooking dry beans at home is a great way to save money. I also find that they have much more flavor, since you can flavor them right from the beginning.
Plus, it’s so easy! In less than an hour, you’ll have tender, flavorful beans.
It’s a long standing tradition in the south that eating black eyed peas on new years day brings good luck and a prosperous new year. I don’t know if that’s true, but I do know that I like to flavor my black eyed peas in the style of the south – with bacon, smoked sausage and cajun seasoning.
You’ll want to eat this lucky new year food all year long!
Typically, black eyed peas are served alongside collard greens. But I took a shortcut and cooked them all together in one dish. I love the texture and flavor that the collard greens provide to the dish, and they become so perfectly seasoned when they cook up with the bacon and smoked sausage.
🛒 Ingredients needed
You can make this delicious recipe with just a handful of simple ingredients:
- Dried black eyed peas
- Bacon
- Smoked sausage
- Diced onion
- Celery
- Garlic
- Jalapeno
- Thyme
- Bay leaf
- Chicken stock or vegetable broth
- Collard greens, kale or mustard greens
- Cajun seasoning
- Salt and black pepper
- Rice (to serve)
📋 How to cook black eyed peas in the Instant Pot
- Sauté bacon and smoked sausage using the SAUTE feature.
- Add in onion, jalapeno, garlic, and celery.
- Add broth, peas and collard greens and set pot to seal.
- Pressure cook on HIGH for 30 minutes.
- Allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes, then quick release any remaining pressure.
- Season & enjoy!
🕕 How long to cook dried black eyed peas
- Black eyed peas take about 30 minutes to cook in the pressure cooker. If you would like your beans a bit more firm, try adjusting your cooking time for only 25 minutes.
🧂 How to season black eyed peas
- When the black eyed peas are done cooking, I like to season them with cajun seasoning and additional salt. Because different brands of chicken broth, and different brands of creole seasoning can vary quite a bit in saltiness, I like to start with a small amount of seasoning and adjust from there.
- Other seasoning options include smoked paprika, cumin, and/or cayenne pepper.
- You could also skip the bacon and smoked sausage in this recipe and throw in a couple ham hocks with your black eyed peas instead.
🍽 How to serve black eyed peas
- You can serve these black eyed peas over white rice (as a Hoppin’ John), with cornbread or as a side dish to accompany other meats, like these Shake n Bake Pork Chops, Air Fryer Chicken Breasts, or Smoked Pork Belly.
🥣 How to store
Store black eye peas in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
✔️ More easy Instant Pot bean & legume recipes
- Instant Pot Red Beans & Rice
- Instant Pot Pinto Beans
- Instant Pot Refried Beans
- Instant Pot Chickpeas
- Instant Pot Lentils
Did you try these Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas?
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Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound dried black eyed peas
- 4 slices bacon (chopped)
- 1 cup diced smoked sausage
- 1 large onion (diced)
- 1 stalk celery (diced)
- 4 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 jalapeno (seeded and minced)
- 1/2 Tablespoon dried thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- 6 cups bone broth ( or chicken broth)
- 2 cups chopped collard greens (or kale )
- 2-3 teaspoons cajun seasoning (or creole seasoning)
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
- Rice (to serve)
Instructions
- Set Instant Pot to SAUTE. Once hot, add bacon and cook until brown and crispy, about 4-5 minutes. Add sausage and cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Add onion, celery, garlic, jalapeno, thyme, bay leaf and saute 1-2 minutes longer.
- Add broth and scrape any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Stir in black eyed peas and collard greens.
- Cover and seal the lid – turn the vent to sealing. Hit CANCEL then press the MANUAL (high pressure button and set the timer for 30 minutes. It will take about 15 minutes for Instant Pot to come to full pressure, then the display will show a countdown timer.
- Once the 30 minutes are up, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes, then release any remaining pressure.
- Remove the bay leaf. Taste and season with cajun seasoning and salt and pepper, if needed. Serve with rice.
Equipment
Nutrition
This recipe was originally published in 2019. It was updated in 2021 to add new photographs. The original recipe remains the same enjoy!
You didn’t list collard greens in ingredient list!
So sorry about that! I used 2 cups of chopped collard greens. I’ll adjust the recipe shortly. Thank you so much for the heads up!
My husband got fresh black eyed peas instead of dried. Can I still use the Instant pot to make this recipe or should I just make it in a pot on the stove?
Hi Kate! Unfortunately I’ve never worked with fresh black eyed peas, but from what I’m reading, they still take a bit of time to cook. I think this recipe will work the same for the fresh ones, but I don’t know for sure. I would give it a try!
Delicious! As a southerner who’s eaten good soul food but never cooked it, I am always a bit skeptical of these recipes. This delivered above and beyond and the Instant Pot makes it very easy. Thank you!
I’m so glad you liked them Jenn!
Im making this tonight but using canned yellow eyed peas and frozen collards. How do adjust the cooking time? Thanks
Hi Patricia – Cook time should remain the same.
Erin,
Thanks for the recipe you provided. I only needed to cook the black eyed peas and didn’t know how long to cook them in our Instant Pot. I cooked everything else on the side (bacon, sausage, kale, onion, leeks, garlic). For the stock I cooked ham/smoked pork bones for 24 hours on the stove. Lot of work but it came out great! I think I have enough to feed a small Army but that is okay-sharing is caring, right?
s/f,
Shawn
You are welcome Shawn! Enjoy those leftovers!!!
First time I have cooked black eyed peas in my instant pot. I tried this recipe today and loved it. The seasonings were great. My husband said he loved the flavors. Awesome instant pot black eyed peas. I will use this recipe more than just on New Years Day now.
I’m so happy to hear that Karen. Happy New Year! Thanks so much for stopping by!
Excellent recipe! I used andouille sausage and thick-sliced bacon, and didn’t really need the creole seasoning… just pepper. (My SO used hot sauce.) Served it over rice—delicious! Now my tummy is full and I’m hoping for a prosperous new year. 🙂 Thank you!
Happy New Year Susan! Thanks so much for stopping by!
My first time making black-eyed peas – this recipe is perfect!!!
I’m so glad you liked them Jodi! Happy New Year!!
These are delicious!!! I didn’t even have all the ingredients and used what I had and they still had awesome flavor and lots of it!!! A definite win and will be making often. Thank you so much!!!
I’m so happy you liked them Jennifer!
Made this tonight and it blew our minds! I didn’t have collared greens on hand so I stirred in chopped kale after cooking, and I didn’t have to add any seasonings aside from a sprinkle of salt and pepper. The broth was incredible, the peas were tender and flavorful, and the dish paired perfectly with brown rice. Can’t wait to eat leftovers tomorrow. Thank you so much for this delicious recipe!
You are so welcome Phoebe!
I didn’t see anywhere what size pot this recipe is for. I’m guessing 6 quart? I’m looking to scale it down for a 2 quart.
Hi! I used a 6 quart, but this should work in a 2 quart too. Or you can use the recipe card to adjust the servings. Hope that helps!
I hate to cook partially because I just don’t understand how but I want to do better in 2021. I saw your recipe, found an Instapot on sale and grabbed the ingredients. It came out amazing!! With your website and my new gadget I will be wowing my family in no time!
I’m so happy to hear that Erin! You will absolutely love the Instant Pot!
Excellent recipe. I subbed red pepper flakes for the jalapeño, and kale for collards (after cooking in IP). 4th of July side success… this is a keeper. 👍🏼
We have been cooking this recipe for the New Year for a few years now after discovering it on your page by happy luck. We have lots of extra and freeze to eat later. We love to have it with cornbread. We also prefer the kale because it holds up better. The smoked sausage and bacon really make such a delicious flavor. Mmmmm!
Thank you so much!!!
I have always cooked black eyed peas on the stove top. But wanted to try them in the Instant Pot. Looked a several sites but decided on yours. They came out great. I will never make them on the stove again. Just followed the recipe, wife loved them. Next time going to add some kale. Thank you.
You’re welcome Gary! I’m glad it was helpful!
Do I adjust broth if I do not use greens?