Easy Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas (No Soaking!)

Name: Easy Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas (No Soaking!)
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 2 cups dry black eyed peas; 4 cups chicken stock; 1 leftover ham hock or ham shank; 1 yellow onion (diced); 1 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp pepper; 3 cloves of garlic; 2 cups diced ham (optional)

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Whether you want to eat black eyed peas all year long or to ring in the New Year, this easy, no-soak Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas recipe will be your new favorite!

A close-up shot of the black eyed peas in the Instant Pot with a wooden spoon.

I’m excited to share my Instant Pot black eyed peas with you today! It’s a long-standing Southern tradition in the United States to eat black eyed peas, collard greens, and cornbread on New Year’s Day. Legend has it that black eyed peas resemble coins and the cornbread represents gold – so if you eat both at the start of a new year, you’ll usher in luck, prosperity, and good health!

Growing up, my mom always saved the ham from our family Christmas dinner for black eyed peas and ham for New Year’s Day. She’d start soaking the beans on New Year’s Eve, and then combine them with sautéed onion, broth, and that leftover ham bone in a slow cooker – and the meal would come together effortlessly.

Even in adulthood, this continues to be my favorite way to enjoy black eyed peas. There’s just something so hearty and comforting about this simple dish packed with savory flavor from the most basic ingredients! Just as my mom did for me, I now make this for my family every New Year, but I recruit my ever-loyal Instant Pot to help me out.

So let’s get into this quick, affordable, and healthy recipe and invite good luck and prosperity into the New Year. ✨

For easy soups and salads, check out my 10 Bean Soup, Leftover Turkey Lentil Soup, and Roasted Corn and Quinoa Salad.

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Why You'll Love It
Important Ingredients
Step-by-Step Instructions
Top Tip
Tips for the Perfect Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas
Recipe Variations
💡 Recipe FAQ
Related Recipes
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A close-up of Instant Pot black eyed peas in a bowl with ham and a wooden spoon.

Why You'll Love It

The reasons I love making black eyed peas in Instant Pots are endless, but in summary…

Instant Pot Magic. Get black eyed peas on the table in way less time with the help of your trusty slow cooker. The tender black eyed peas are done in about an hour, and no need to soak the beans for hours beforehand because the Instant Pot will take care of it all.

Simple, Healthy Ingredients. You don’t need fancy ingredients to make pressure-cooker black-eyed peas. Repurpose leftover ham from your Christmas dinner with ingredients you probably have in your pantry already. Easy!

For the Love of Tradition. For generations, people have enjoyed black eyed peas on New Year’s Day to invite prosperity and good health into the upcoming year, and this tasty tradition has certainly withstood the test of time!

Important Ingredients

Humble, low-cost ingredients join forces in this savory, smoky dish to really make a statement!

All the ingredients needed to make Instant Pot black eyed peas.

Black Eyed Peas: With their creamy texture and earthy flavor, black eyed peas in an Instant Pot soften to perfection. Opt for dried beans – remember, we don’t need to soak them overnight because we’re using the pressure cooker!
Chicken Broth: The liquid base of Instant Pot black eyed peas. The beans absorb all that rich, savory goodness.
Ham: One ham hock, to be exact. I always use the leftovers from Christmas dinner to get a more tender, smokier cut of meat.
Onion: Use one yellow onion for natural sweetness and depth, balancing the medley of savory flavors.
Garlic: Combined with onion, garlic’s pungent, complex taste and aroma enhance the overall dish.
Olive Oil: Just a splash to soften up the onion and garlic as they sauté on the stove.
Diced Ham: Optional inclusion for a meatier texture and deeper, smoky flavor.
Salt and pepper to taste.

Swaps and Substitutions

Easy ingredients = easy substitutions. If an item isn’t available, use my simple suggestions to quickly pivot.

Vegetable broth, chicken stock, or beef broth (for a meatier flavor) can be used in place of chicken broth if that’s what you have on hand.
Substitute garlic powder for fresh garlic. You’ll need about 1 ½ teaspoons of powder to replace the three cloves of garlic.
White onion or shallots can be used in place of yellow onion. If fresh onion isn’t available, use one teaspoon of onion powder in a pinch.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Using the sauté function, heat the olive oil and sauté the diced onion and minced garlic in the bottom of the pot.

Step 2: Add in the dry beans, chicken stock, and ham hock.

Step 3: Top the Instant Pot with the lid and set the valve to the sealing position. Pressure cook on high for 8 minutes. Let the remaining pressure naturally release and carefully remove the lid.

Step 4: Remove the ham hock and strain the extra liquid. Stir in the diced ham and enjoy!

Top Tip

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

Tips for the Perfect Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas

Slow cookers take the guess work out of a lot of cooking, but even still, my time-tested tips and tricks make for the perfect Instant Pot black eyed peas recipe every single time.

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Defrost from frozen in the fridge overnight, then reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.
No need to pre-soak! Just toss the dry beans directly into your Instant Pot, and it’ll soften them for you, shaving hours off the prep time you’d spend with the stovetop method.
For chewier black eyed peas with more bite, quick-release after 20 minutes instead of natural release.
Let rest for 10-15 minutes after cooking. This gives the black-eyed peas a chance to absorb more flavor and the broth a chance to thicken slightly.
For a thicker, creamier consistency, mash some of the softened black eyed peas against the side of the Instant Pot.
Serve pressure cooker black eyed peas alongside Jalapeño Corn Casserole, Boursin Cheese and Spinach Stuffed Pork Tenderloin, and Hot Honey Mustard-Glazed Chicken Thighs for a delicious, balanced meal.

An overhead shot of a serving dish of the Instant Pot black eyed peas on the counter with a wooden spoon.

Recipe Variations

You can take black eyed peas in an Instant Pot in any direction! Dive into its Southern roots or adjust a few ingredients to accommodate vegetarian diets.

Hoppin’ John (Southern-Style): You can’t go wrong with this traditional black eyed peas recipe in an Instant Pot! Serve over a bed of white rice and collards, and alongside delicious cornbread for the true Southern experience. You can easily swap out collard greens for swiss chard, mustard greens, or kale if needed.
Vegetarian Black Eyed Peas: Use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth and omit the ham hock for a vegetarian/vegan rendition of this holiday classic.
Flavor Boost: Feel free to add bay leaves, paprika, cayenne pepper, thyme, or Cajun seasoning to take the savory taste to the next level.
Extra Meaty: Load up on the meat and add diced ham, bacon, and/or beef broth to your Instant Pot black eyed peas.

💡 Recipe FAQ

How long do you cook black-eyed peas in the Instant Pot?

Pressure cook black-eyed peas in the Instant Pot for 8 minutes, then let the pressure release naturally before removing the lid.

Why do you soak black eyed peas before cooking?

It's common practice to soak dried peas or beans before cooking, as soaking draws in moisture, reducing 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 a soak and can even be cooked without soaking, especially when cooked in the Instant Pot.

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

With the power of an electric 6-quart pressure cooker, you no longer need to soak your dry black eyed peas overnight. Simply put them under high pressure with some aromatics like sautéed onion, garlic, and chicken broth for about 8 minutes. Let the pressure release on its own to create tender beans full of delicious flavor.

Are black eyed peas healthy?

Yes, black eyed peas are a great healthy pantry staple to enjoy regularly! According to WebMD, a 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 the new year and is good enough to be part of your regular meal rotation.

If you tried this Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas or any other of the delicious recipes on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!

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