These Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas are so tender and flavorful you would think they were slow-cooked for hours. Black eyed peas are added to sauteed onions, bell peppers, smoked turkey and spices then pressure cooked until soft and tender. They’re perfect as a side dish, to eat over rice or with cornbread!
Black Eyed Peas are considered a staple recipe for New Years Day, but this delicious and super flavorful recipe is perfect for Sunday dinners, Thanksgiving or any occasion. This recipe comes together quickly thanks to the Instant Pot. No need to soak your peas overnight. The pressure cooker does all the work for you. Once it's done the smoked turkey is falling off the bone and adds a ton of flavor to these black eyed peas!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Easily cook soft, tender & flavorful black eyed peas in just an hour in your Instant Pot.
- No need to soak the peas overnight when using a pressure cooker.
- Perfect for Sunday dinners, holidays and of course New Years Day.
Ingredients Needed For Black Eyed Peas
- Black Eyed Peas - 1 pound bag of uncooked black eyed peas.
- Smoked Turkey wings or leg - I prefer smoked turkey wings as they fit a little easier in a 6qt Instant Pot.
- Onion, Bell Pepper and Garlic
- Water + Chicken Broth - chicken broth will help cook the peas and add extra flavor at the same time.
- Seasoning - a combination of salt, garlic & onion powder and lemon pepper. The lemon pepper helps bring out the flavor of everything. This is a secret ingredient that my mom shared with me years ago. It instantly made the recipe better!
How To Make Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas
Full instructions are included in the recipe card below, but here’s a quick overview. The Instant Pot makes everything super simple!
Step One: Thoroughly rinse your black eyed peas in a colander to remove any dirt, debris or bad peas that may have fallen into the bag. This step is very important.
Step Two: Saute your onion, bell pepper and garlic on the saute mode in the Instant Pot. Next add the smoked turkey wings or leg to the Instant Pot.
Step Three: Add your rinsed peas to the Instant Pot then add the rest of the ingredients including the seasoning, broth and water.
Step Four: Seal the Instant Pot and pressure cook. Once done, allow Instant Pot to do a natural pressure release. Remove the lid. Take a couple of spoonfuls of the cooked black eyed peas and mash them in a separate bowl. Return the mashed peas to the instant pot and stir. This will help thicken the black eyed peas slightly. Pull apart some of the smoked turkey to eat with the peas. Enjoy!
Do I Need To Soak Black Eyed Peas?
Nope. When using the Instant Pot you don’t need to soak your black eyed peas. You can skip this step! But make sure you still give them a good rinse in your sink before adding them to your Instant Pot so you can remove any dirt or debris.
Can You Cook Black Eyed Peas On The Stovetop?
Sure you can. For this method you WILL need to soak your black eyed peas in a bowl of water in the refrigerator for eight hours (or overnight) prior to cooking. This way the peas can soften a bit. You can skip the soaking when using the Instant Pot.
After the black eyed peas have soaked in the refrigerator overnight or eight hours, drain the peas and give them a good rinse. Proceed with sautéing the onion, bell pepper and garlic in a large soup pot on the stove on medium-high heat. Next add the smoked turkey or leg, drained black eyed peas, spices, chicken broth and water. Give everything a stir, place a lid on the pot and bring it up to a boil. Once boiling, turn the heat down to medium-low and let the black eyed peas simmer for 1 hour or until tender to your liking. Proceed with step 9 and step 10 below and enjoy!
Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas
Ingredients
- 1 lb. uncooked black eyed peas rinsed
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 yellow onion diced
- 1 green bell pepper diced
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon lemon pepper
- 1 lb. smoked turkey wings or turkey leg
- 6 cups chicken broth
Instructions
- Rinse the black eyed peas in a colander to remove any dirt or debris that may have fallen into the bag. Set them to the side.
- Turn your Instant Pot to the saute function. Add olive oil and butter to the Instant Pot, then add the diced onion and bell pepper. Sauté for 3 minutes. Next add the minced garlic and saute for an additional 30 seconds. Then turn off the sauté function.
- Add the seasoning (salt, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and lemon pepper) to the Instant Pot. Mix the seasoning in with the vegetables.
- Add the rinsed black eyed peas to the pot.
- Now add the smoked turkey wings or smoked turkey leg to the Instant pot.
- Next pour the chicken broth into the Instant pot. Gently stir everything together.
- Seal the Instant Pot and pressure cook on high for 40 minutes. It will take the Instant Pot about 8-10 minutes to come to pressure before it starts pressure cooking.Â
- After 40 minutes are finished, allow the Instant Pot to naturally release its pressure for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, quick release any remaining pressure and carefully remove the lid.
- Remove the turkey wings or turkey leg from the pot and pull the meat from the bone, then add the meat back to the pot.
- Next, take a couple of spoonfuls of the cooked black eyed peas and mash them in a separate bowl. Return the mashed peas to the instant pot and stir. This will help thicken the black eyed peas slightly. Serve warm with your favorite cornbread recipe or over rice and enjoy!
LaZundra M says
This is the second year in a row that I’ve followed Maple Jubilee’s Instant Pot Black-Eyed Peas recipe, and it’s a winner every time. I didn’t even like black-eyed peas growing up, but this recipe completely changed my mind. The flavor is rich, well-seasoned, and perfectly cooked. Even better—my whole family loves them too, which says a lot! This has officially become a New Year’s (and beyond) staple in our house.
Michelle says
Thank you. You gave me back my life. No more soaking the night before, no more standing over the stove, cooking the meat, stirring the peas.
45 minutes cooking
15 minutes cleaning
Perfect use of an hour.
LaZundra says
The Instant Pot (novice user) black-eyed peas recipe was a hit! The tenderness and flavor were spot-on, earning compliments from everyone at the table. Looks like the Instant Pot might become a staple in my kitchen.
Marsha says
I'm so glad you enjoyed the recipe. Thanks for sharing your feedback!:)
Rhonda Evans says
I haven't had black-eyed peas in years. With this recipe, it will start becoming part of my regular meals! They were delicious and seasoned to perfection!! Thank you Marsha!!
Marsha says
It's definitely one of my favorites too. I'm so glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing 🙂