Basic Crock Pot Black Eyed Peas

Written by
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
Learn about our editorial process
Diana Rattray
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Published on 07/08/19 by Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
Learn about The Spruce Eats's Editorial Process

Updated 07/08/19

Slow Cooker Black-Eyed Peas
Diana Rattray
  • Total: 5 hrs 10 mins
  • Prep: 10 mins
  • Cook: 5 hrs
  • Yield: 6 servings
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
106 Calories
0g Fat
21g Carbs
6g Protein
See Full Nutritional Guidelines Hide Full Nutritional Guidelines
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6 servings
Amount per serving
Calories 106
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 1%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 401mg 17%
Total Carbohydrate 21g 8%
Dietary Fiber 5g 19%
Protein 6g
Calcium 91mg 7%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

These simple, tasty black-eyed peas are slow cooked to perfection with water and onions, and there's no need to pre-soak the peas. The peas are vegetarian, cooked without the addition of meat, but diced cooked bacon or ham may be added if you'd like.

The peas are delicious served with hot boiled rice or add them to soups or greens. They make a fabulous meal with freshly baked cornbread and rice or greens; they're an essential part of a New Year's Day meal. They are said to symbolize coins while greens represent paper money. Eating the two on New Year's Day will supposedly bring luck and prosperity in the coming year.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound dry black-eyed peas
  • 1 large onion (quartered and sliced)
  • 2 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 6 cups water
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt (or to taste)

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Vegetarian slow cooker black-eyed peas ingredients
    The Spruce

  2. Rinse the black-eyed peas in a colander under cold running water. Pick them over and remove any damaged or malformed peas.

    Rinsing black-eyed peas
     The Spruce

  3. Put the peas in the slow cooker along with the sliced onion and minced garlic. Add the freshly ground black pepper and the water.

    Black-eyed peas and onions in slow cooker
     The Spruce

  4. Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for about 5 to 6 hours (about 3 hours on high). Taste and add salt or a seasoned salt blend, as desired.

    Cooking black-eyed peas in a slow cooker
     The Spruce

  5. Continue cooking for 15 to 20 minutes. Serve with hot baked cornbread, rice, and cooked greens.

    Slow cooker vegetarian black-eyed peas
     The Spruce

  6. Serve and enjoy.

Tips

  • Peas and beans, for whatever reason, sometimes stay tough in the slow cooker. Many feel that salt and acidic ingredients slow the softening. To ensure tender black-eyed peas, add the salt or a seasoned salt blend after they are tender and then continue cooking for 15 to 20 minutes.

Recipe Variations

  • Add about 1 cup of chopped carrots and celery to the peas along with the sliced onions. Or add canned diced tomatoes when you add the salt.
  • If desired, add diced cooked bacon, ham, or sausage to the peas when you add the salt.

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