Easy Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas (No Soaking!)

Whether you want to eat black eyed peas all year long or you're making them to celebrate New Year's Day, this recipe for easy Instant Pot black eyed peas will be your new favorite!

I remember my mom always saving the ham from Christmas dinner. On New Year's Eve, she'd start soaking black eyed peas.

When we finally got up on New Years Day, she'd sautee onion and then add the soaked peas, leftover ham bone, and broth to a slow cooker and let it cook all day.

We'd either eat this dish while the beans are still whole or blend them into a creamy soup.

There's something so hearty and comforting about this super simple dish packed with savory flavor from the most basic ingredients. It's quick, affordable, and healthy. What's not to love?

Why do we eat black eyed peas on New Year's Day?

It's a long-standing Southern tradition to eat black eyed peas on New Year's Day. One popular dish is called Hoppin' John and has been eaten for generations. It includes black eyed peas usually cooked with ham and collards served over rice with a side of cornbread.

It's said that the peas resemble coins and the cornbread represents gold. If you eat black eyed peas and cornbread on the first day of the new year, you'll be ushering in a year of luck, prosperity, and good health.

Although Southern black eyed peas usually include collard greens, you can adjust this tradition to your own personal tastes and preferences. 

This recipe is my favorite way to enjoy black eyed peas and comes together quickly with items you already have in your pantry!

Easy Black Eyed Peas In The Instant Pot

I created this dry beans recipe to help get my black-eyed peas on the table in way less time. These pressure cooker black eyed peas taste just like mom made, but in way less time.

The best part is that these tender black-eyed peas are done in about an hour, including the time it takes for them to come up to pressure, release the pressure naturally, and everything!

Black Eyed Peas and Ham Ingredients

2 cups dried black eyed peas

5 cups chicken broth

1 ham hock

1 yellow onion, diced

1 tablespoon olive oil

3 cloves of garlic, minced

2 cups diced ham (optional)

How To Cook Black Eyed Peas

1. Using the sauté function, heat the olive oil and saute the diced onion and minced garlic in the bottom of the pot.
2. Add in the dry beans, chicken stock, and ham hock.
3. Top the instant pot with the lid and set the valve to seal. Pressure cook on high for 8 minutes.
4. Let the remaining pressure naturally release and carefully remove the lid.
5. Remove the ham hock and strain the extra liquid.
6. Stir in the diced ham and enjoy!

Substitutions

Feel free to substitute garlic powder for fresh garlic. You'll need about ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder to replace the 3 cloves.

Use vegetable broth instead of chicken stock if that's what you have on hand.

Consider adding strips of fresh collard greens for a more Southern-style dish.

Feel free to add a bay leaf or two for an extra dose of savory flavor.

The type of pressure cooker doesn't matter.  This black-eyed peas recipe is great for the instant pot pressure cooker or any other electric pressure cooker brand. Just make sure you can cook under high pressure.

Try serving this recipe over brown rice for a filling, fiber-rich meal.

Since black eyed peas are common in the southern United States, you may have a hard time finding them in other regions. In this situation, the best substitute is a small white bean like navy beans or Great Nothern beans. You'll likely need to let the beans cook under high pressure for closer to 25 minutes.

Why do you soak black eyed peas before cooking?

It's common practice to soak dried peas or beans before cooking as soaking them draws in moisture, leading to a shorter cooking time.

Soaked black eyed peas may also be easier to digest.

Unlike most dried beans though, black eyed peas typically don't require as long of a soak and can even be cooked without soaking.

Do I need to soak black-eyed peas before cooking?

With the power of the electric pressure cooker, you no longer need to soak your dry black eyed peas overnight.

Simply put them under high pressure with some aromatics like sauteed onion and garlic and rich chicken stock for about 8 minutes. Let the pressure release on its own to end up with tender beans full of delicious flavor.

How long does it take to pressure cook dry peas?

Don't worry about soaking your dried beans or peas! Simply allow them to cook under pressure for about 8 minutes. Allow the pressure to release naturally and the residual heat will cook the beans until fully tender.

Best Main Dishes To Serve with Black Eyed Peas

Especially after the indulgence of the holidays, you may find yourself wanting to eat just a bowl of these black-eyed peas and nothing else! Well, maybe a big hunk of cornbread...

Make a full family dinner out of this side dish by adding a flavorful, protein-rich entree:

Leftover ham with jalapeno corn casserole - You'll appreciate how well the instant pot black-eyed peas pair with leftover ham, but make yourself a fresh batch of my jalapeno corn casserole for a complete meal. The little hit of spice and the sweetness of the corn will bring everything together!

Boursin cheese and spinach stuff pork tenderloin - If you're feeling sick of ham, you'll love this Boursin cheese and spinach stuffed pork! It's fancy enough to serve at Christmas dinner or to ring in the new year! Turn any leftover mashed potatoes into these cheesy potato fritters, too. You can thank me later!

Hot honey mustard glazed chicken thighs - With so many roasts around the holidays, it's nice to have something a little lighter with a bright, spicy flavor. This recipe will transport you back to summer for sure! I love this with a light salad to get some greens in, too.

Are Black Eyed Peas Healthy?

Black eyed peas, also known as black-eyed beans or cow peas, are a great healthy pantry staple to keep around all the time!

According to WebMD, one half-cup serving of black-eyed peas has only 99 calories, 7 grams of protein, and 6 grams of fiber.

They're also high in antioxidants and folate acid!

This simple food really is a great way to usher in health in the new year and is good enough to be part of your regular meal rotation!

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