No time to tend a pot? No problem! This easy, no-soak, crock pot recipe delivers THE BEST Southern Black Eyed Peas & Ham with a deliciously subtle jalapeno kick!
What You Need to Make Southern Slow Cooker Black Eyed Peas
- dried black eyed peas
- water
- chicken broth
- cubed ham
- yellow or white onion
- jalapeno pepper
- salt
Growing up, when fresh beans or peas weren’t in season or when we had eaten all the fresh peas that had been frozen for that year, we ate dried ones. So I learned very early on how to tend a pot of peas. They would simmer on the stove all day, filling the house with warm smells of home cooking, while the “extra water” that had to be added regularly simmered right along with them on the small burner at the back of the stove top. It was a back and forth dance of adding water, keeping those pots boiling and not letting those peas cook too far down.
But all that tending kept me tied to the stove. And let’s be honest. That’s not always practical. Or even possible. Thank goodness for slow cookers! They are a life saving tool when we want to put good, home cooked food on the table even if we have to spend our days at ball games, music practice, working in the yard or putting in hours at the office. And they are perfect for cooking dried black eyed peas to a delicious, creamy perfection.
While I do rinse and sort out any discolored peas, I don’t soak dried black eyed peas before cooking them in the slow cooker. Chalk it up to the length time the peas spend in the crock pot bathed in all that broth and ham and peppered goodness. They just don’t need it. A quick 5 minutes in the morning yields beautifully tender peas just as if Mom stood all day at the stove and cooked them!
What to serve with Southern Slow Cooker Black Eyed Peas
While black eyed peas go with almost any dish, here are a few proteins or dishes that they pair up with really well!
- Perfect Peppered Pork Loin
- Easy Crock Pot BBQ Boneless Chicken Thighs
- Cherry Cola BBQ Pulled Pork
- Ultimate Okra & Tomatoes Skillet with Smoked Sausage
- Louisiana Dirty Rice
Add these Side Dishes to your meat & peas for a whole meal!
- Southern Macaroni Salad
- Horseradish Mashed Potatoes with Cream Cheese and Garlic
- Tuscan Tortellini Salad
- Creamy Dill Potato Salad
IF YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE, BE SURE TO LET ME KNOW!
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Southern Slow Cooker Black Eyed Peas & Ham
Equipment
- slow cooker/ crock pot
Ingredients
- 16 oz dried black eyed peas
- 4 C water
- 2 C chicken broth
- 8 oz cubed ham
- 1/2 medium yellow or white onion, quartered
- 1 jalapeno, sliced
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
Instructions
- Rinse & sort peas, removing any discolored ones. Add all ingredients to crock pot and stir. Cook on low for 8-10 hours or on high for 4-5 hours.
***PIN to SAVE this Black Eyed Pea Recipe***
Hello…..I didn’t have chicken broth so I substituted with beef broth ….I hope that it turns out great
Hi, Terri! I think it would be great! Let me know how it goes.
I’m making this today. Headed to the store now👌🏼
Awesome! I can’t wait to hear about it!
No time to tend a pot? No problem! This easy, no-soak, crock pot recipe delivers THE BEST Southern Black Eyed Peas & Ham with a deliciously subtle jalapeno kick!
Will this recipe fit in a 4.5 quart crockpot
Hi, Karen! Yes, this should fit in a 4.5 quart crock pot. I hope you enjoy this recipe!
Could I use bacon instead of Ham?
Hi, Lynda! Yes, I would use a thick cut bacon. Should be delish!
I did a smoked turkey shoulder and 4 cups of chicken broth and 2 cups of water. The last 10 minutes I added rinse sauerkraut . Yum!! New Year Day good luck dinner
So glad I came across this crock pot recipe! I am usually the one standing over the stove all day stirring the pot! Made these today for New Years! They turned out amazing! Full of Flavor and timing was perfect! I would cut salt measurement maybe by half, I think our ham was a little salty so they came out a tad bit salty for our liking but full of flavor and so easy and so good! This will be my “go-to” recipe and preferred method of cooking Black Eyed Peas from now on!
Hi, Chelsea! This made my day! I am so glad that this recipe freed you up to enjoy New Years Day with your family; that was my hope when sharing it!