Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas

Did you know black eyed peas are the SAME as black eyed beans? Yep! Same cow pea, just called by a different name in different regions of the world.

Now, black eyed peas vs. Purple Hull Peas is a slightly different story. Both are cow peas but the purple hull peas are light green with pink ring around the eye with a creamy flavor compared to the tan black eyed pea with a more earthy flavor.

Black eyed peas are a classic Southern side. But they are also a protein-packed legume (peas and beans are legumes) that is naturally gluten-free you can add to soups and salads.

Dried black eye peas are an inexpensive (cheap) ingredient to stretch your family dollar and can be stored in your pantry for up to one year.

I'm also giving you cooking times for fresh and frozen black eyed peas in the Instant Pot so keep reading!

Shortcuts

• The Instant Pot is shortcut cooking all by itself, reducing cooking time in a fraction of the time cooked on the stovetop.
• No Soak- No soaking needed before cooking dried black eyed peas in the Instant Pot.
• No need to cook onions first when using onion powder.

Tip: Instant Pot is a brand name for an electric pressure cooker, so you can also use a stovetop pressure cooker with same cooking times.

Ingredients

What you need to make Instant Pot black eyed peas with ham, bacon or ham hocks.

Scroll down to printable recipe for exact ingredient quantities.

• Black-eyed peas- Although they are called "black" eyed peas, the center can be also be brown, pink, green or red. Other small dried peas and beans like Navy beans and baby lima beans can be substituted in this recipe.
• Broth, stock or water- I use chicken broth or stock for added flavor. You can use beef or vegetable broth, too. Water can also be used but results in a lot less flavor.
• Water- You can use all 6 cups of liquid as broth or I like to conveniently use 1 (32-ounce) carton of broth (4 cups) and add the remaining liquid as 2 cups of water. It saves me from buying a second carton to use only half of it.
• Ham, ham hock or bacon- For Southern-style black eye peas, one of these smoked pork elements is needed. You choose your favorite. I use whatever I have in the freezer at the time. Ultimately, they are optional.
• Seasonings- I guess these can be optional, if you are using a flavorful stock.
• Salt- I prefer to use unsalted broth to cook the peas, then add salt after cooking.

Pro Tip: Salt and acid can inhibit the cooking of dried peas and beans and make them tough or too firm. Use unsalted broth, stock or water to cook them, then add salt after cooking. (If using salted broth, just add 2 minutes to the pressure cooking time.)

How to make Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas

When you cook dried black eyed peas in an Instant Pot, it requires less liquid than the stovetop method because steam does not escape.

Scroll down to the bottom for the printable recipe with detailed instructions.

• Rinse and sort through dried peas for dirt, stones and dark peas.
• Combine all the ingredients in the Instant Pot or pressure cooker and stir. Choose bacon, ham or ham hock for flavoring or leave it out
• Seal the lid and cook according to times on printable recipe below.

• After 10 minutes of Natural Release time, remove the lid and stir.
• Done. It's that easy!

Tip: When you're cooking black eyed peas in the Instant Pot or pressure cooker, it's normal for the peas to continue to soak up a little broth or water the longer they sit. So, don't skimp on the liquid.

Black eyed peas Instant Pot cook time

• 2 cups dry beans, not soaked: 20 minutes, 10 minute natural release
• 2 cups dry beans, soaked overnight: 12 minutes, 10 minute natural release
• 4 cups frozen, not thawed: 12 minutes, 10 minute natural release
• 4 cups fresh: 7 minutes, quick release

If you want peas that are slightly firm to hold up in salads, cook them slightly less than the times above.

Substitutions & Variations

Trade "this" for "that" in this black eyed peas Instant Pot recipe.

• Peas and beans- If your store shelves are empty because everyone is buying dried black eyed peas for New Years, any dried small pea or bean can be substituted.
• Onion and garlic - Replace onion and garlic powder with ½ cup chopped onion and 1 clove minced garlic.
• Smoked turkey- Smoked turkey wings and legs and can substituted for smoked pork.
• Bouillon and Water- Create your own broth by dissolving bouillon cubes or granules in water.

Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas Vegetarian: Do not add ham, ham hock or bacon. Cook the peas with water or vegetable broth.

Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas and Ham Hock: For one pound of dried black eyed peas, I recommend a small ham hock. You can also get the smokey flavor imparted with bacon and chopped ham.

Helpful Information

What to serve with Instant Pot blackeyed peas

• Rice is a common side dish to serve with or stir into black eyed peas. Stirred together with ham and rice, you have yourself a version of Southern Hoppin' John.
• Traditional New Year's Day fare is black eyed peas, collard greens, cornbread, and ham.
• Any kind of greens like mustard greens or turnip greens. You could add 1 ½ cups of cooked black eyed peas to my Shortcut Turnip Greens Soup instead of the can of beans.
• Pork chops, sliced ham, and fried chicken

Storage Tips

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Nutrition analysis on GritsAndGouda.com recipes are mostly calculated on an online nutrition calculator. I am not a dietitian and nutritional information is an estimate and can vary based on products used.