Pour and cook Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas recipe cooks up fast and creamy. It's a fast way to make a dish that used to take all day on the stove! Omit ham hocks for a Vegan version.
I've lived in Texas for 30 years. In fact, I've lived longer here than I have in any other part of the world. Jobs, marriage, children, joint custody etc. all make it so I just stayed here, and I have very much come to appreciate life here.
Part of the life, of course, is the food in the South. Nothing is more Southern than Black Eyed Peas. Everyone has their own way of making it, but I wanted to share mine.
What are Beans and Greens?
It's a recipe comprised of exactly what it sounds like. A combination of dark greens (typically kale, spinach, or collard greens) and beans (cannellini beans, black-eyed peas, navy beans etc). It's a very simple recipe that's affordable and a big part of a tradition in the south.
How Do You Make Pressure Cooker Black Eyed Peas With Ham And Greens?
- Add Ingredients. Place all ingredients except finishing ingredients into the inner liner of your pressure cooker.
- Cook. Set your Instant Pot at high pressure for 10 minutes.
- Natural Release. Allow it to release pressure naturally for 10 minutes and then release all remaining pressure slowly. If it foams, let it sit for a few more minutes.
- Remove ham hocks. (Skip this step for vegan version) Using two forks, remove the skin and fat. Shred the meat and put it into the beans and stir well.
- Add. Pour apple cider vinegar, liquid smoke, and hot sauce, and taste. Season to adjust.
- Serve. Plate your Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas and Ham and enjoy.
Black Eyed Peas Instant Pot Variations
Make it once as this recipe calls for, and then go crazy with your own variations.
- Beans: Black eyed peas, Butter beans, navy bean, cranberry beans, cannellini beans
- Meats: smoked turkey wings, ham hocks, andouille sausage, bacon
- Greens: Collard greens, turnip greens, mustard greens, kale, or mixed greens of whatever you have lying around
- Vegetables: Add tomatoes, especially for the vegan version to get some additional flavor
My version uses black-eyed peas and collard greens because that's what I had on hand.
How To Make This Recipe Vegan
- Skip the meat. I know this is obvious, but I have to include it.
- Increase the liquid smoke. This will help increase the flavor in the dish since you removed the meat.
- Add some tomatoes. This makes it a more hearty dish. Plus tomatoes pair beautifully with black eyed peas.
Can I Make Pressure Cooker Black Eyed Peas With Ham In Advance?
Absolutely. Some people will ONLY make them this way. This is because the flavors in the black eyed pea recipe marry in the fridge and get better over time. Making them a day or two before your meal will only make them better. So, go for it.
Stovetop. Simmer beans in a pot of water on the stovetop for 30-45 minutes or until they are the desired texture. Drain water and serve or add to a recipe.
Instant Pot. Cook black eyed peas with two cups of water under high pressure in your Instant Pot for 10 minutes. Allow pressure to release naturally. Drain water and serve or add to a recipe.
In my opinion, the Instant Pot is the best way to cook them. It is so fast and you can prep the rest of the recipe you plan on adding them to while they cook.
Soaking the beans decreases the cooking time. If you plan on cooking the beans on the stovetop, you may want to soak the beans in hot water for a few minutes before boiling.
If you're cooking the black eyed peas in your Instant Pot, you can skip this step.
Want some more Instant Pot Recipes?
- Texas Caviar - this is a dish that Texans love - and for good reason.
- Green Beans and Bacon - the Instant Pot makes this dish SO easy.
- Instant Pot Tex-Mex Chili - this chili is so good it's won chili cook-offs.
- Kenyan Kunde- a filling Vegan Instant Pot recipe.
- Vegetarian Black Eyed Peas Recipe- a great Vegetarian meal.
- Butter Chicken- my most famous recipe.
- Instant Pot Iced Tea- you'll never make it any other way.
I can't wait for you to try this classic Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas recipe. Once you get comfortable with the base recipe, you can start making your own variations to love! If you love it as much as I do, share it with your friends on Facebook and Pin it to make again later.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup (172 g) dried black eyed peas
- 4 cups (144 g) Collard Greens, torn into pieces
- 1 (1) Onion, Chopped
- 6 cloves (6 cloves) Garlic
- 2 (2) Smoked Ham Hocks, omit for vegan version
- 1 teaspoon (1 teaspoon) Kosher Salt
- 1 teaspoon (1 teaspoon) Ground Black Pepper
- 2 cups (500 g) Vegetable Stock
- 1-2 tsp (1 tsp) Red Pepper Flakes
- 2 (2) Bay Leaves
- 1 teaspoon (1 teaspoon) Dried Thyme
For Finishing
- 2 tablespoons (2 tablespoons) Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1-2 teaspoons (1 teaspoons) Louisiana Hot Sauce , or other vinegar-based hot sauce
- 1 teaspoon (1 teaspoon) Liquid Smoke, May need to increase for vegan version
Instructions
- Place all ingredients except finishing ingredients into the inner liner of your pressure cooker. You want to set those aside so you can get a fresh zing of flavor after the beans and greens have pressure cooked.
- Cook at high pressure for 10 minutes. Allow it to release pressure naturally for 10 minutes and then release all remaining pressure slowly. If it foams, let it sit for a few more minutes.
- (Skip this step for vegan version) Remove ham hocks and using two forks, remove the skin and fat. Shred the meat and put it into the beans and stir well.
- Add apple cider vinegar, liquid smoke and hot sauce and taste. Season to adjust.
-
POPULAR VARIATIONS ON PRESSURE COOKER BLACK EYED PEAS:
- Beans: Black eyed peas, Butter beans, navy bean, cranberry beans, cannellini beans
- Meats: smoked turkey wings, ham hocks, andouille sausage, bacon
- Greens: Collard greens, turnip greens, mustard greens, kale, or mixed greens of whatever you have lying around
- Vegetables: add tomatoes
- These are traditionally served with corn bread or over rice
Get support & connect with our community on Facebook!
Nutrition
Originally Published June 26, 2019
Don't forget to check out my other Best-selling Instant Pot Cookbooks!
Indian Instant Pot, Keto Instant Pot, Instant Pot Fast and Easy, Healthy Instant Pot & Vegetarian Instant Pot.
Ashley
Just made this recipe for New Years Day. My family always tries to eat black eyed peas and collard greens and SO glad to finally get a recipe where I can just cook them together. And WOW it was delicious. Even my husband who rolls his eyes about the tradition enjoyed them. I ended up doubling the black eyed peas to 2 cups, added a 3rd cup of broth (did bone broth), used some leftover bacon instead of ham hock, and cooked it an extra 5 minutes. I also didn’t have bay leaves, thyme or liquid smoke and it was still delicious. Adding this to the yearly rotation, for sure.
Logan
Delicious! Some of the best collards and black eyed peas that I’ve had.
Pat
This really was absolutely delicious! I had some leftover ham to use up so I decided to give this a try. I pretty much followed the recipe except I didn't use any salt at all and didn't need it. I used kale instead of collard greens cause that's what I had. We really enjoyed it on a miserable cold snowy icky day
Sue Hopf
Used this recipe once and now it's my favorite. Never thought I could make beans and greens in one pot and so fast.
Elijah
I do not knoᴡ whether it's just me or if рerhaps everyone else expеriencing issues
with your website. It appears like some of the wreitten text on your
content are runnіng off the screеn. Can someone ｅlse pleaѕe provide fеedback and let mе know if this is happening
to thdm as well? This could bbe a issuе with mʏ weeb
browseг because I've had this happen before.
Mannү thanks
URVASHI PITRE
Hi I haven’t heard this from anyone else?
Karen
Try viewing this from your phone. I have no problem seeing the entire recipe. Good luck.
Sue Hopf
I don't have that issue but I have a big problem with the ads all over the recipe I am trying to make. I have the cookbook and wanted to share this with my friend since I don't have a scanner.
TwoSleevers
If you scroll to the bottom of the recipe to the recipe card, it gives you the option to print off a copy of the recipe ad free!
Think Travel Eat
I decided to make this recipe with what I had on hand... kale, cranberry beans, and chicken sausage. Wow! Delicious! Because I used cranberry beans, I had to roll the Instant Pot at high pressure for 35 minutes with a full natural release. My kale and sausage held up well despite the increase in time at pressure. I love the flexibility of this recipe. It's a keeper!
Christy
This is an excellent base recipe. I typically don't follow recipes exactly and changed this one up a bit but not much. It is super. I did use my 6 qt instant pot. I sautéed onion and garlic before adding chicken stock to deglaze bottom of pan. I only used one large ham hock and added it with onion and garlic and sautéed as well. I used black eyed peas, collards, and radish tops as I had them in the fridge. I also did add one can of stewed tomatoes. I cooked for 20 minutes and released for 15 minutes. Not a fan of firm beans. They were perfect, not mushy at all. With the "finishing" I added 2 T of brown sugar as that is what my dad always did. Came out amazing. Just amazing.