Quick Hoppin' John (Black Eyed Peas With Ham)

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
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Updated on 08/25/21
Quick Hoppin' John (Black Eyed Peas With Ham)

The Spruce / Christine Ma
Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 15 mins
Total: 30 mins
Servings: 4 to 6 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
345 Calories
4g Fat
58g Carbs
19g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories 345
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 4g 6%
Saturated Fat 1g 7%
Cholesterol 16mg 5%
Sodium 255mg 11%
Total Carbohydrate 58g 21%
Dietary Fiber 11g 38%
Total Sugars 7g
Protein 19g
Vitamin C 3mg 13%
Calcium 53mg 4%
Iron 5mg 28%
Potassium 589mg 13%
*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.)

If you want to start the New Year on the right foot, this dish of black-eyed peas and ham is a good bet. This Hoppin' John is a quick and easy version of the popular "lucky" dish that's traditionally eaten on New Year's Day. Canned black-eyed peas, leftover ham, and hot cooked rice make a fast and easy meal; all you need to complete the good luck dinner is a skillet of cornbread and some cooked Southern-style greens or cabbage. Coleslaw is another great way to incorporate the cabbage. Many Southerners like chow chow—a relish made with cabbage, green tomatoes, and some other garden vegetables—or corn relish with their peas.

Whatever you choose to serve them with, you'll soon find out why Southerners love their peas. They're satisfying, flavorful, and with rice make a complete meal.

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Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon bacon drippings

  • 1 cup chopped onion

  • 2 (16-ounce) cans black-eyed peas, slightly drained

  • 1 cup chopped cooked ham

  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

  • 3 cups hot cooked rice

  • 1 dash salt, or to taste

  • Thinly sliced sweet onion or red onion, optional

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Quick Hoppin' John (Black Eyed Peas With Ham) ingredients

    The Spruce / Christine Ma

  2. Heat the bacon drippings in a large saucepan over medium heat.

    Heat the bacon drippings in a large saucepan

    The Spruce / Christine Ma

  3. Add the chopped onion to bacon drippings and cook until tender and translucent, stirring frequently.

    Add the chopped onion to bacon drippings in the pan

    The Spruce / Christine Ma

  4. Add the the drained black-eyed peas, diced cooked ham, and cayenne pepper; stir to blend thoroughly.

    Add the the drained black-eyed peas, diced cooked ham, and cayenne pepper to the onion mixture in the pan

    The Spruce / Christine Ma

  5. Simmer for 10 minutes; then stir in hot cooked rice and salt, to taste. Alternatively, serve the rice in a wide bowl or on a plate and top with the peas.

    bean mixture on top of rice in a bowl

    The Spruce / Christine Ma

  6. Garnish the black-eyed peas with thinly sliced onion, if desired, and serve the dish with cornbread and greens.

    Quick Hoppin' John (Black Eyed Peas With Ham) in a bowl

    The Spruce / Christine Ma

Tip

  • You can use about 3 cups cooked black-eyed peas instead of the canned version. If you choose to cook dry black-eyed peas, it's really very easy; it just takes a little more time. You can cook them a day in advance and finish the Hoppin' John the next day. To cook them, put the black-eyed peas in a large stockpot or Dutch oven and cover them with about 10 cups of water; place the pot over high heat and bring to a boil. Boil the peas for 2 minutes. Remove the peas from the heat and set aside for 1 hour to soak. Drain the peas and cover them with 10 cups of fresh water. Add 2 teaspoons of salt, place the pot over medium-high heat, and bring them to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer the peas for about 30 to 45 minutes or until they are tender. Drain the peas, refrigerate them, and use them in recipes.