Black Eyed Pea Casserole

This Black Eyed Pea Casserole is the perfect combination of wild rice, black eyed peas, veggies, and hearty sausage. Serve it as a side dish or as a main dish and hopefully it will bring you luck!

Black eyed peas are one of those veggies that I think are overlooked quite a bit. I am not one to leave anyone out so let’s try a new recipe with them!

Black Eyed Pea Casserole

This southern dish is a great recipe to serve a crowd and made with budget friendly pantry staples. And it’s full of yummy flavors.

Why do you eat black eyed peas on new year’s day?

Peas were thought to represent prosperity. Eating them on the first of the year means good luck for the coming year! Check out this black eyed pea chili recipe and this Hoppin John, as ways to enjoy them.

This dish is a twist on a traditional side dish, like this wild rice stuffing, full of flavor and texture, can be made ahead of time, and serves a crowd.

Ingredients Needed

Sausage – I like to use hot pork sausage but you can use your favorite one. Sage flavor is also a great option.

Black eyed peas – Use frozen black eyed peas for this recipe as they are not too soft when cooked in the casserole. You can also use dried, just be sure to soak and cook them according the package directions.

Cheese – Cheddar cheese is my favorite but you can also use mozzarella!

Rice – Wild rice adds different flavors and textures but you can also use brown or white rice. If you choose to use white rice, you can reduce the cooking time to 30 minutes as white rice cooks faster.

Spinach – I use fresh baby spinach leaves but you can also use kale.

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How to Make Black Eyed Pea Casserole

First: Preheat oven to 375F. In a large dutch oven cook the bacon over medium heat until crisp and remove. Add the sausage and cook until no longer pink.

Second: Remove the sausage and add the onions, garlic, spices, and rice. Cook to toast the rice and soften the onion.

Third: Add the cooked sausage, black eyed peas, tomatoes, and chilies to the pot. Stir to combine. Add the broth and spinach. Bring to a boil. Remove from the heat.

Fourth: Pour mixture into a deep 9×13 casserole dish. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and top with cheese. Continue baking for 15-20 minutes or until the rice is tender.

Remove from the oven and top with crispy bacon. Serve warm!

For the full recipe and detailed instructions, please see the recipe card at the end of this post.

How long does it last?

Store any leftover casserole in the refrigerator, in an airtight container, for up to 5 days.

Reheat in a 350F oven for 15-20 minutes or until warmed through. You can also microwave at 1 minute intervals.

You can freeze this casserole for up to 3 months in a tightly sealed, freezer safe container. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Serving Suggestions

This casserole can be served as a side dish or as a main dish because it contains sausage. This dish also pairs well with ham, greens and beans, and southern style collard greens!

Do you have to cook black eyed peas before using them?

This recipe uses frozen peas that have been par cooked or blanched. You can also use canned peas that are drained.

If you use dried black eyed peas, you will need to soak and cook them first before adding to the dish. Follow the directions on the bag of dried peas for best results.

Tips for No Leftovers

• You can make this vegetarian and vegan. This is also gluten free!
• Bacon is great crumbled on the top but you can totally leave it out. But, as a true Southern dish, would you really want to leave it out ;)?
• Use white rice, brown rice, or wild rice. Using brown or wild rice will increase the cooking time or you can par boil it ahead of time.
• The bell peppers, Rotel, and Southwest seasoning gives it a Tex Mex flavor profile, but you can absolutely leave it out and just use plain diced tomatoes and a simple all purpose seasoning.
• You can prepare the bacon and sausage ahead of time in a large skillet and store in the refrigerator until ready to make the casserole.
• If you don’t want to use pork sausage you can also use ground beef or ground turkey.

If you love this recipe as much as I do, please write a five-star review in the comment section below (or on Pinterest with the “tried it” button – you can now add pictures into reviews, too!), and be sure to help me share on facebook!

This delicious black eyed pea side dish is a delicious casserole that is great to make ahead and serve along with your other favorite dishes! Perfect for New Year’s Day!!

Black Eyed Pea Casserole

This Black Eyed Pea Casserole is the perfect combination of wild rice, black eyed pea, veggies, and hearty sausage. Serve it as a side dish or as a main dish and hopefully it will bring you luck!

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin Rate

Course: Side Dishes

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour

Servings: 15 servings

Calories: 277kcal

Author: Jennifer Stewart

Ingredients

• 5 slices bacon diced
• 1 pound ground pork sausage
• 1 small onion diced ~approximately 1 cup
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1 1/2 cups wild rice mix
• 1 teaspoon cajun seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 10 ounces diced tomatoes
• 4 ounces chopped green chilies
• 30 ounces black eyed peas frozen
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 3 cups fresh spinach
• 2 cups cheddar cheese shredded

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 400F. In a large dutch oven or pot, cook bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove the bacon to a paper towel lined plate.
• Add the pork sausage to the pot and cook until no longer pink. Remove to a bowl.
• In the pork and bacon fat, add the onions, garlic, wild rice, and spices.
• Cook for roughly 5 minutes to toast the rice and soften the onion.
• Add the black eyed peas, diced tomatoes, chopped green chilies, cooked sausage, and broth.
• Bring to a boil.
• Remove from the heat and stir in the spinach.
• If the pot you are cooking in isn't oven safe, carefully transfer the casserole to a casserole dish, cover tightly with foil, and bake for 30 minutes.
• Remove the foil and top with the shredded cheese. Continue baking for an additional 10-15 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the rice is tender.
• If the pot you are cooking in IS oven safe, add the top and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the top and cover with cheese. Bake an additional 10-15 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the rice is tender.
• Remove from the oven and top with crispy bacon.
• Serve warm and enjoy!

Notes

You can make this vegetarian and vegan. This is also gluten free?

Bacon is great crumbled on the top but you can totally leave it out. But, as a true Southern dish, would you really want to leave it out 😉

Use white rice, brown rice, or wild rice. Using brown or wild rice will increase the cooking time or you can par boil it ahead of time.

The bell peppers, Rotel, and Southwest seasoning gives it a Tex Mex flavor profile, but you can absolutely leave it out and just use plain diced tomatoes and a simple all purpose seasoning.

You can prepare the bacon and sausage ahead of time in a large skillet and store in the refrigerator until ready to make the casserole.

If you don't want to use pork sausage you can also use ground beef or ground turkey.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 277kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 47mg | Sodium: 768mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 4g

Here’s more Side Dish Recipes:

• Air Fryer Butternut Squash from Devour Dinner
• Air Fryer Stuffed Mushrooms from Cheese Curd In Paradise
• Bourbon Pecan Sweet Potatoes from Cookaholic Wife
• Brussels Sprouts with Smoked Almonds and Manchego Cheese from A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Buttermilk Biscuits from Family Around the Table
• Carrot Peanut Slaw from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
• Cauliflower au Gratin from Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
• Cheesy Mashed Potato Puffs from Blogghetti
• Chive Buttered Carrots from Jolene’s Recipe Journal
• Hassleback Potatoes from Jen Around the World
• Hearts of Palm Salad from Art of Natural Living
• Loaded Green Bean Casserole from Sweet Beginnings
• Potatoes and Green Beans/Aloo Beans Curry from Magical Ingredients
• Potatoes Au Gratin from An Affair from the Heart
• Southern Collard Greens (Instant Pot) from Palatable Pastime

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