Description
Hearty Crockpot Black Eyed Peas bring Southern comfort right to dinner tables with minimal effort. Slow-cooked beans mingle with smoky ham and aromatic spices, delivering rich flavors that make comfort dining simple and delicious for home cooks.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein and Legumes:
- 1 pound dried black-eyed peas (soaked overnight or quick-soaked)
- 1 cup diced smoked ham (or a ham hock)
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
Liquid and Seasonings:
- 4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- 2 cups water
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)
- ¼ teaspoon thyme (dried or fresh)
- Optional: ½ teaspoon hot sauce
Instructions
- Sort through black-eyed peas, removing any debris or damaged legumes, then thoroughly cleanse under cool running water.
- Transfer cleaned peas into slow cooker, creating a robust foundation for the hearty Southern-style dish.
- Dice onions and bell peppers into uniform, small pieces to ensure consistent flavor distribution throughout the preparation.
- Mince fresh garlic cloves to release their aromatic essence and enhance the overall depth of the recipe.
- Layer chopped ham or smoked meat into the crockpot, providing a rich, smoky undertone to the legumes.
- Sprinkle dried herbs and spices – including thyme, black pepper, smoked paprika, and cayenne – across the mixture to build complex flavor profiles.
- Pour liquid ingredients – broth and water – over the assembled components, ensuring all elements are well-moistened.
- Insert bay leaf into the center of the mixture, allowing its subtle herbal notes to infuse during slow cooking.
- Secure crockpot lid and set temperature to low, allowing ingredients to simmer and meld together slowly over 7-9 hours.
- Periodically check liquid levels, adding additional broth if mixture appears too dry during cooking process.
- Thirty minutes before serving, sample and calibrate seasoning with salt and optional hot sauce to personal preference.
- Extract bay leaf and discard before presenting the fragrant, tender black-eyed peas alongside steamed rice or warm cornbread.
Notes
- Skip the soaking step by using pre-soaked or canned black-eyed peas to save time and reduce cooking preparation.
- Swap ham with smoked turkey or vegetarian bacon for a lighter protein option that maintains rich, smoky flavor profiles.
- Reduce sodium content by using low-sodium broth and monitoring salt additions during seasoning stages.
- Enhance nutritional value by adding chopped kale or spinach during the last hour of cooking for extra vitamins and minerals.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 12 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg