Southern Style Hoppin’ John Recipe
Hoppin’ John is a delicious and easy New Year’s dish to serve while honoring the Southern tradition of eating black eyed peas for luck. Hearty black eyed peas, veggies, Cajun spices, all served with fluffy rice.
Slow Cooker Hoppin John
Black eyed peas are a staple in Southern kitchens. Mostly grown in the south, black eyed peas are a common ingredient in tons of dishes and soul food recipes.
I love to eat them all year long, in my black eyed pea casserole and my black eyed pea chili, but they are particularly popular on New Year’s Day.
What is Hoppin John?
Typically black eyed peas are cooked with celery, bell peppers, onion, and flavored with a smoked ham hock. Simmered for a while, the dish is then served over rice.
Some cook the rice in the dish to allow it to soak up more flavor. This way the Hoppin’ John eats more like a jambalaya in my opinion.
Ingredients Needed
Black eyed peas – I like to use canned or frozen black eyed peas. You can use dried, just soak and cook them beforehand.
Vegetables – Onion, celery, green bell pepper.
Ham – Smoked ham, or ham steak, cubed or diced.
Tomatoes – Diced tomatoes or substitute crushed tomatoes. Use V-8 or plain tomato juice.
Seasoning – Cajun seasoning, bay leaves, salt, black pepper.
Pantry staples – Minced garlic, cilantro.
Can I make it vegetarian?
To keep it a vegetarian dish, just leave out the pork. You can add collard greens to enhance the flavor of the dish if you like.
Do I have to use Black Eyed Peas?
No, you don’t. Feel free to use field peas, crowder peas, lady peas, or baby lima beans.
Looking for more leftover worthy dishes? Follow LTB on Pinterest and pin to a board!
How to Make Slow Cooker Hoppin John
First: Add all ingredients except cooked rice to crock pot and cook on low for 2-3 hours.
Second: Remove bay leaves.
Third: Stir in hot cooked rice and garnish. Enjoy!
Chopped green onions tops, chopped cilantro, cherry tomatoes, or crumbled bacon make great garnishes.
For the full recipe and detailed baking instructions, please see the recipe card at the end of this post.
Can I make it on the stove top?
- Sauté the veggies in a large pot or dutch oven in a little bit of oil until they are soft. Stir in the remaining ingredients except the rice.
- Cook for 20-30 minutes or until the beans are tender and the dish is flavorful
- Serve over hot cooked rice and enjoy!
Peas and Rice Variations
- use bacon instead of ham for a smokier flavor
- try diced ham from the deli instead of a ham hock
- if you have some pulled pork, that will taste great too
- add in some diced tomatoes
- greens are good, add kale
- use pinto beans or your favorite beans in place of the black eyed peas
- use regular or spicy V-8, or regular tomato juice depending on your taste
How long does it last?
Store any leftovers, which are called “Skippin’ Jenny,” in the fridge for up to 4 days in an airtight container. Reheat in the microwave or on the stove top until warmed through.
To freeze leftovers, store in an airtight, freezer safe storage container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Serving Suggestions
Where did eating Black Eyed Peas on New Year’s come from?
There are a few different stories of the origins of eating them on New Year’s Day and all of them center around prosperity and good fortune.
I don’t know about you but I could use some good luck and prosperity.
So, if you are a little superstitious, you will enjoy the peas on January 1st. The most common way to serve them is in a dish called Hoppin’ John!
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!
Seasoned with cajun spices, this black eyed pea recipe can be served as a side dish or as the main course. Enjoyed with rice and flavored with pork, it is authentic Southern comfort food at it’s finest!
Hoppin John Recipe
Ingredients
- 15 ounces black eyed peas drained
- 3/4 cups Onion diced
- 3 stalks Celery diced
- 1 small Bell Pepper any color, diced
- 1 cup Smoked Ham cut into small bite sized pieces
- ½ cup Cilantro chopped (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon Cajun Seasoning
- 2 Bay Leaves
- 1 teaspoon Minced Garlic
- 6 ounces spicy V-8 Juice
- 1 cup Water or 1 can Diced Tomatoes optional
- 1 cup Cooked Rice
Instructions
- Add all ingredients except cooked rice to slow cooker and cook on low for 2-3 hours.
- Remove bay leaves.
- Stir in hot cooked rice and garnish. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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