Instant Pot black-eyed peas are a New Year’s Day staple, believed to bring good luck and prosperity in Southern tradition. This vegan recipe is easy to make with simple ingredients, delivering a smoky, savory flavor. Whether served as a side dish or a hearty meal, these creamy beans are the perfect way to start the coming year!
These black-eyed peas are packed with plant-based protein, fiber, and essential nutrients, making them a great addition to a healthy diet. Cooking them in vegetable broth enhances their depth of flavor without needing meat, and using the Instant Pot keeps them tender without excessive oils or fats. I love how it gives a creamy texture to these beans every time—no soaking required!
Contents
hide
❤️ Why you will love this recipe
- Easy to make: The Instant Pot does all the work—just set it and forget it.
- Healthy & hearty: Packed with protein, fiber, and essential nutrients.
- Smoky flavor: A touch of smoked paprika and liquid smoke adds richness.
- Perfect for meal prep: Store leftovers for easy weeknight dinners.
- Good luck tradition: Enjoy on New Year’s Day for a year of good fortune!
🗝️ Key ingredients & substitutions
- Black-eyed peas: Dried black-eyed peas cook beautifully in the Instant Pot without soaking.
- Onion: Adds depth of flavor. Use red, white, or yellow onion—whatever you have on hand!
- Vegetable broth: Enhances the savory flavor. You can also use water with stock cubes.
- Salt: Just a little to bring out all the flavors.
- Water: Helps the peas cook to the perfect tender texture.
🥣 How to make Instant Pot black-eyed peas
- Add ingredients: Place black-eyed peas, onion, vegetable broth, salt, and water into the Instant Pot.
- Seal and set: Secure the lid and turn the valve to the sealing position.
- Pressure cook: Set to HIGH pressure for 20 minutes.
- Natural release: Let the Instant Pot sit for 15 minutes before manually releasing any remaining pressure.
- Check for doneness: Open the lid and test the peas. If they’re still firm, cook for another 10-20 minutes.
- Remove extras: Take out the onion and strain excess liquid if needed.
- Serve and enjoy: Dish up with a splash of lemon juice or hot sauce for extra flavor!
🪄 Recipe notes & tips
- No soaking needed: The Instant Pot does all the work, so skip the overnight soak!
- For softer beans: If you like extra tender peas, add 5 more minutes to the pressure cooking time.
- Save the broth: The leftover cooking liquid is packed with flavor—use it in soups, stews, or chili!
- Add more seasoning: Adjust salt, smoked paprika, or hot sauce to taste.
🫙 Storage instructions
- Refrigerate: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Freeze: Let cool completely, then freeze in portioned containers for up to 3 months.
- Reheat: Warm on the stovetop over low heat or microwave in 30-second intervals, adding a splash of water if needed.
- Repurpose: Use leftovers in soups, stews, or even a black-eyed pea salad!
✨ Variations
- Southern Style: Add a splash of liquid smoke or smoked paprika for that classic smoky flavor.
- Spicy Kick: Stir in some hot sauce, diced jalapeños, extra chili powder, a pinch of cayenne, or Cajun seasoning.
- Herbaceous Boost: Toss in bay leaves or thyme for extra depth of flavor.
- Greens & Beans: Mix in chopped collard greens, mustard greens, or turnip greens for a hearty twist.
- Tomato-Based: Stir in a spoonful of tomato paste or canned diced tomatoes for a rich, stewy texture.
🍽️ What to serve with Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas
- Rice: Serve over a bowl of fluffy white rice or brown rice for a classic combo.
- Cornbread: A slice of warm, buttery cornbread makes the perfect side.
- Leafy Greens: Pair with collard greens, mustard greens, or turnip greens—or cook collards right in the Instant Pot with the peas!
- Crusty Bread: A hunk of crusty bread soaks up all that delicious broth.
- Roasted Vegetables: Serve alongside roasted green bell pepper or sweet potatoes or for extra flavor.
- Pork for Good Luck: In Southern tradition, pork symbolizes progress and prosperity—serve with ham, bacon, or even stir some into your favorite chili recipe for a flavorful twist!
❓ Frequently asked questions
Can I use canned black-eyed peas instead of dried?
No. Canned peas are already cooked, and they’ll turn into mush in a pressure cooker.
How can I make this even creamier?
Mash some of the cooked peas with a spoon before serving, or let them cook a little longer to break down naturally.
😋 More Instant Pot recipes you will love
- Instant Pot Black Beans
- Easy Instant Pot Boiled Peanuts
- Easy Instant Pot Lentil Soup Recipe
- How to Boil Water in an Instant Pot (2 ways!)
- The Best Keto-Friendly Instant Pot Vegan Chili
Have you made this recipe? I’d love to know <3 Tag me (@makehealthyrecipes) on Facebook and Instagram, Pin it on Pinterest, and please give it 5 stars with a review below! Don’t forget to subscribe to the email list (top right of this page) for sparkly new recipes in your inbox.
📖 Recipe
Instant Pot Dry Black-Eyed Peas (No Soak)
Instant Pot black-eyed peas are a New Year’s Day staple, believed to bring good luck and prosperity in Southern tradition. This vegan recipe is easy to make with simple ingredients, delivering a smoky, savory flavor. Whether served as a side dish or a hearty meal, these creamy beans are the perfect way to start the coming year!
Ingredients
- 1 cup dried black-eyed peas rinsed and sorted
- 1/2 medium onion with the skin on red, white or yellow, not chopped but kept as a half
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup vegetable broth or broth of choice, or water (you can add 2 stock cubes)
- 2 cups water
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients to the Instant pot.1 cup dried black-eyed peas, 1/2 medium onion with the skin on, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 cup vegetable broth, 2 cups water
- Pressure cook on high for 20 minutes, and allow the black-eyed peas to sit in the pot for 15 minutes before letting the steam out by flicking the seal to "venting".
- Carefully remove the lid and check on the black beans. Mine are always perfectly cooked at this point, but if your beans are sill a little hard, pop the lid back on and cook for an additional 10-20 minutes.
- Remove the onion and strain the excess liquid. This liquid can be used in soups, stews, and chili!
- Dig in and enjoy!
Notes
- No soaking needed: The Instant Pot does all the work, so skip the overnight soak!
- For softer beans: If you like extra tender peas, add 5 more minutes to the pressure cooking time.
- Save the broth: The leftover cooking liquid is packed with flavor—use it in soups, stews, or chili!
- Add more seasoning: Adjust salt, smoked paprika, or hot sauce to taste.
Storage instructions
- Refrigerate: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Freeze: Let cool completely, then freeze in portioned containers for up to 3 months.
- Reheat: Warm on the stovetop over low heat or microwave in 30-second intervals, adding a splash of water if needed.
- Repurpose: Use leftovers in soups, stews, or even a black-eyed pea salad!
Nutrition
Calories: 99kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 7gFat: 0.4gSaturated Fat: 0.1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.2gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.03gSodium: 359mgPotassium: 323mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 98IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 35mgIron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!