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Wholesome Slow Cooker Black-Eyed Peas with Ham (Easy, 5-Ingredient Recipe)

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A comforting, creamy, and smoky slow cooker black-eyed peas recipe made with just five ingredients and ten minutes of prep. No soaking required, perfect for busy days.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound dried black-eyed peas (rinsed and picked over)
  • 1 meaty ham bone or 2 ham hocks (about 1–1.5 pounds total, smoked)
  • 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced (about 1.5 cups)
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced (or 1 teaspoon garlic powder)
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper (optional)
  • 1 bay leaf (optional)
  • Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)

Instructions

  1. Rinse and pick over the black-eyed peas. Place them in a colander and run cold water over them while sorting out any stones or shriveled peas.
  2. Dice the onion and mince the garlic. A rough dice is fine.
  3. Layer everything in the slow cooker: start with the rinsed peas, then add the diced onion and minced garlic. Nestle the ham bone or hocks into the center. Sprinkle with smoked paprika, black pepper, and bay leaf if using. Pour the chicken broth over everything, adding water if needed to just cover the peas and ham.
  4. Cook on low for 7-8 hours or on high for 4-5 hours, until the peas are tender and the ham is falling off the bone.
  5. Remove the ham bone using tongs. Let it cool slightly, then shred the meat off the bone, discarding any fat, skin, or gristle.
  6. Stir the shredded ham back into the pot. Taste and adjust seasoning, adding a splash of apple cider vinegar for brightness if desired. Remove the bay leaf. If the peas are too thick, stir in extra broth or water.
  7. Let the dish rest for 10 minutes before serving. Serve hot with cornbread or rice.

Notes

No soaking required. Use low-sodium broth to control salt. Add acidity (apple cider vinegar or lemon juice) at the end for brightness. Don’t lift the lid too often during cooking. Leftovers keep for up to 5 days in the refrigerator or 3 months in the freezer.

Nutrition

Keywords: black-eyed peas, slow cooker, ham, easy, 5-ingredient, comfort food, Southern, meal prep

Find it online: https://cookluma.com/wholesome-slow-cooker-black-eyed-peas-with-ham-easy-5-ingredient-recipe/