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Cozy Slow Cooker Black-Eyed Peas with Ham – 5 Best Tips

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A comforting, budget-friendly slow cooker recipe featuring tender black-eyed peas and smoky ham, perfect for New Year’s luck or any cozy dinner. This set-it-and-forget-it meal delivers rich, soul-satisfying flavor with minimal effort.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound dried black-eyed peas (about 2 cups)
  • 1 meaty ham hock or ham bone (about 1 to 1.5 pounds)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced (about 1 cup)
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 celery stalks, diced (about 1 cup)
  • 1 large carrot, diced (about 1 cup)
  • 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • Salt to taste
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar (optional)

Instructions

  1. Rinse and sort the peas: Pour dried black-eyed peas into a large bowl, cover with cold water, swish, and drain in a colander. Spread on a towel and pick out any stones or shriveled peas.
  2. Soak the peas (optional but recommended): For best texture, soak peas in water for 4-8 hours. For quick soak, bring peas to a boil in water, turn off heat, cover, and let sit for 1 hour. Drain and rinse.
  3. Prep the vegetables: Dice onion, celery, and carrot into small uniform pieces. Mince garlic.
  4. Layer in slow cooker: Place diced vegetables on bottom of a 6-quart slow cooker. Add drained peas on top. Nestle ham hock in center. Add bay leaf, thyme, smoked paprika, and black pepper. Pour in chicken broth and water, ensuring liquid covers peas by about 1 inch.
  5. Cook low and slow: Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours (or on high for 4-5 hours, though low is preferred for creamier texture).
  6. Remove and shred ham: Use tongs to carefully lift ham hock from slow cooker. Let cool slightly, then pull meat off bone, discarding fat, skin, and gristle. Shred with forks.
  7. Season and finish: Return shredded ham to slow cooker and stir. Taste broth and add salt if needed. Stir in apple cider vinegar if using. Cook for another 15-20 minutes on low.
  8. Serve: Remove bay leaf. Ladle into bowls and serve hot. Garnish with fresh parsley or green onions if desired.

Notes

For best texture, soak peas before cooking. Wait until end to add salt as ham and broth are already salty. Don’t lift lid during cooking to maintain heat. Add apple cider vinegar at end for brightness. Leftovers keep for up to 5 days in refrigerator or freeze for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker black-eyed peas, black-eyed peas with ham, Southern black-eyed peas, New Year's black-eyed peas, comfort food, budget-friendly meal, slow cooker recipe

Find it online: https://lolaspoon.com/cozy-slow-cooker-black-eyed-peas-with-ham-5-best-tips/