Instant pot black eyed peas. A southern New Year’s tradition. This features smoked turkey meat, expertly boiled and spiced until tender. Then stewed with black-eyed peas, chopped veggies, and simmered to perfection. Pressure-cooked until soft and creamy and served over white rice, this dish is more than a recipe—it’s a warm hug on a plate. Experience the quintessential black-eyed peas dish, the only recipe you need for a comforting and flavorful meal.
The Instant Pot has quickly become one of my favorite kitchen appliances. Right next to the air fryer. It’s a multi-feature appliance that allows you to pressure cook, saute, steam and so much more. Meals that usually take hours to cook in the oven now can be done in 1/2 the time.
Black Eyed peas is such a cozy comforting meal. It literally feels like a welcome home hug. I like to serve it over rice with a slice of honey butter cornbread. The depth of flavors is unreal. Sweet. Savory. Smokey. Spicy. Baby you experience it all.
I know black-eyed peas don’t have the greatest rep. But this recipe changes all of that. I hate to toot my own horn, but every person who hated black eyed peas growing up, LOVED mine. Which brought me so much joy. toot toot.
NOTE– With all my recipes, feel free to use this as a guide. Season and use what you like.
Ingredients to make Black Eyed Peas
Black eyed peas- make sure to soak your beans for at least 6 hours. Sift and remove the bad beans.
Smoked Turkey- I used smoked turkey necks and wings.
Chopped seasoning- blend of diced onions, celery and green bell pepper.
Garlic– the more the merrier.
Seasonings– I used a ton of pantry staples. Kinder’s Garlic and Herb seasoning, Tony’s No Salt seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper and crab boil.
Chicken broth- I prefer using low sodium/ unsalted chicken broth. That way I can control the amount of salt
Hot Sauce
How to Make Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas
I start off by soaking the beans for at least 6 hours. Once they’re soaked, I sift through and remove any bad beans. Next, I boil smoked turkey wings and turkey necks in crab boil and cajun seasoning using a light hand. (you don’t want to OVER season. You just want subtle flavor). Remember the smoked turkey necks and sausage already have a flavor from being smoked. Boiling them makes them extra tender and flavorful and by the time they pressure cook in the pot, the meat is falling off the bone tender with so much flavor.
Next, I cook turkey sausage until browned. I like to use Jalapeño smoked turkey sausage from HEB. It has the perfect kick and the flavors work so well together.
Once the sausage is browned, I add the chopped seasoning blend into the pot with a little more oil. Sauté until fragrant. Then I added in the boiled turkey, black-eyed peas, chicken broth, water and season everything really well according to taste. Pressure cook on high for 45 minutes. Once done, let it sit for at least 10 minutes before venting the Instant pot. Next, I like to mash some of the beans down to get a creamy texture. Then I serve it warm over white rice. And boom you have the most coziest, creamy pot of black eyed peas. Perfect for a winter day.
Tips to make the best Black Eyed Peas
- Make sure you SEASON your beans.
- Whatever meat you use has flavor and salt. So be mindful of that. I love using Tony’s No Salt Seasoning. It gives flavor without being too salty. I have the freedom to add as much salt as I need.
- You can always add more salt/seasonings as your beans cook.
- Use my recipe as a guide, but feel free to season and spice it to your taste. Whether you like it mild or with a bit of heat, make it your own. After all, the best dishes are the ones that speak to your palette!
What to serve red beans with?
More recipes to try
Biscuits & Seafood Gravy
Easy 20-minute Chili Garlic Ramen
Air Fried Hennessy Wings
Crispy Fried Chicken Sandwich
If you try these Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas please be sure to leave a comment, and or tag me on Instagram @cookwithci. I would love to see your recreations and hear your thoughts.
Black Eyed Peas
Equipment
- Instant Pot
Ingredients
- 1 lb Dried black eyed peas
- 32 oz low sodium chicken broth
- 2-3 cups water
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/3 green bell pepper diced
- 1/3 sweet onion or yellow diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced or garlic paste
- 1 stalk celery diced
- smoked jalapeno turkey sausage link cut into half moons
- 1 tbsp Tony's no salt seasoning
- 1 tbsp Kinder's No Salt Garlic & Herb
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp crab boil
- salt + pepper to taste
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1 tbsp Louisiana Hot sauce use more if desired
- green onion to garnish
Turkey
- 1 smoked turkey wing
- smoked turkey necks
- 6-8 cups water
- 1 tsp crab boil
- 1 tsp Tony's No Salt creole seasoning
Instructions
- In a large bowl, add beans and cover with water. Soak for at least 6 hrs or overnight.
- Fill a large pot with water and add smoked turkey wings and turkey necks, 1 tsp of crab boil and 1 tsp of Tony's no salt seasoning and bring to a boil. Boil for about 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, prep the ingredients for the beans. Dice chopped seasoning blend (onions, celery and green bell pepper). Mince 4 cloves of garlic and cut smoked jalapeño sausage into half moons.
- In an instant pot using the 'saute' feature on 'normal' heat, add 1 tbsp of olive oil and cook smoked sausage until browned. Add in chopped seasoning with more oil and saute for a few minutes before adding in garlic. Saute until fragrant.
- Remove boiled, turkey meat from the pot and add to the Instant pot. Add rinsed beans, chicken broth and water. Season with seasonings of choice. (I used Tony's no salt seasoning, Kinder's no salt garlic and herb seasoning, cayenne pepper, onion powder, crab boil, fresh thyme, 3 bay leaves, hot sauce, salt and black pepper.
- Mix to combine the ingredients. Taste and adjust seasonings to taste. Add instant pot top and pressure cook on high for 45 minutes.
- After 45 minutes, allow the beans to sit for 10 minutes before pressure release.
- Remove bay leaves and thyme from pot and excess liquid if need be. Mash beans down with a masher to get a creamy texture.
- Serve warm over white rice. And enjoy.
Notes
- Start by browning the sausage in your pot.
- Add the chopped seasoning and sauté until fragrant.
- Stir in the rinsed beans and your smoked or boiled meats.
- Add all the remaining ingredients to the pot, mixing everything together thoroughly.
Did you make it?
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