This hoppin' john recipe is unbelievably satisfying. It combines perfectly cooked black eyed peas and rice with tender veggies and crispy bacon to make a hearty dish that you are guaranteed to love. The best part though is that this recipe is a one-pot dish that can be made in just 3 simple steps!
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Everyone Loves This Hoppin John Recipe
It's safe to say peas and rice isn't the most exciting dish in the world. But with that said, this hoppin' john recipe is packed with so much flavor that I literally crave black eye peas and rice every week for dinner!
Now, if you've never heard of Hoppin' John before, the recipe is also known as Carolina peas and rice or black eyed peas. It's a southern specialty, and it's incredibly popular to eat on New Year's day. Many people believe eating black-eyed peas as the first meal to start the year with will bring them good fortune and good luck.
In addition to bringing good luck though, this dish also brings you a whole 'lotta deliciousness. The combination of seasoned black eyed peas with bacon, white rice, onion, celery, peppers, and onion makes for an aromatic and super satisfying dish that's honestly just downright addictive.
Seriously it's almost impossible to have just one serving of it. At least I always find myself having a few plates.
By the way, this recipe takes about an hour and a half to make, but most of that time is spent letting your hoppin' john simmer on the stovetop. So that means you'll have plenty of time to make a delicious side dish to go with it - like these Bisquick sausage balls, these sauteed green beans, or even these glazed carrots.
Honestly, all of them pair perfectly with this black eyed peas recipe, but the sausage balls are a family favorite at our house.
Ingredients
The ingredient list for this hoppin' john recipe is pretty straightforward. I usually have most of the ingredients at home, and I'm willing to bet you probably have most of the ingredients you'll need to make at home already!
Anyway, here's what you'll need to make hoppin' john:
- 1 cup bacon
- 1 celery rib, diced
- ½ onion, diced
- ½ green bell pepper, diced
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 ½ cups black-eyed peas
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tsp. dried thyme
- Salt
- 2 cups white rice, cooked
- Green onions to serve
Simple stuff, right?
By the way, you can use almost all of these ingredients to make this Instant Pot black eyed peas. It's another delicious black eyed peas recipe that's perfect to kick off the New Year with.
My Ingredient Substitution and Modification Suggestions
Now, I think this recipe is perfect when it's made with the exact ingredients listed above. But, with that said, there is definitely some room to modify the ingredients to suit your tastes/preferences, or at least save you a trip to the store.
For instance, as far as the bacon goes, you can be swap it for ham hocks, salt pork, or even smoked turkey.
As for the rice, I prefer long grain rice, but really any kind of rice will work in this recipe, including brown rice or even Carolina gold rice.
As for possible additions to this classic Southern dish, I occasionally like to add collard greens, field peas, cayenne pepper, or even just some freshly ground black pepper - though this is optional.
Lastly, when it comes to the black eyed peas, this recipe calls for dried black eyed peas, but if you have canned or frozen black eyed peas, both will work fine.
How To Make Hoppin John
As I mentioned above, this recipe is really, really simple to make!
You basically cook all of the ingredients in one giant pot and then simmer 'em all together until they're tender and perfectly cooked.
Anyway, let's stop wasting time and make some hoppin' john!
Step 1: Prep Work
First, grab a large pot or Dutch oven and set it on the stovetop to medium-high heat. Then, add the chopped bacon to it and cook it until it's nice and crispy. Once it is, you can set the bacon aside.
Up next, add the chopped celery, onion, green bell pepper, and garlic to the pot. Now cook your veggies in the bacon fat for about 10 minutes - or until the onions are soft and slightly translucent - mixing them every once in a while.
Step 2: Cook The Beans
Once your veggies are perfectly cooked, you can add the black eyed peas, bay leaf, thyme, and 3 cups of water - or chicken broth -[-[ to the pot. Then, bring this to a simmer and cook for an hour or so - until the blackeyed peas are tender.
After an hour, return the cooked bacon back to the pot and give everything a good mix so it can all combine.
Step 3: Serve
When you're ready to serve hoppin' john, pile it high on your plate along with your cooked long-grain white rice and green onions on the side. Finally, serve and enjoy!
My Expert Tips To Make The Best Black Eyed Peas
- Soak Your Black-Eyed Peas: For quicker cooking and a creamier texture, soak dried black-eyed peas overnight. If you're short on time, use the quick soak method: boil the peas for 2 minutes, then let them sit for an hour before cooking.
- Use Homemade Stock: For a deeper, richer flavor, swap store-bought broth with homemade chicken or vegetable stock. If you’re feeling adventurous, a smoked ham hock in the stock adds an incredible depth of flavor.
- Don’t Skip the Aromatics: Onion, celery, and bell pepper (the "holy trinity" of Southern cooking) are key to layering flavors. Sauté them until softened to build the perfect flavor base.
- Adjust the Heat: Tailor the spice level to your taste by increasing or decreasing the amount of cayenne pepper or adding hot sauce to the mix. If serving guests, keep it mild and provide hot sauce on the side for an optional kick.
- Rice Choice Matters: While traditional Hoppin’ John calls for white rice, feel free to use brown rice or even cauliflower rice for a healthier twist. Cook the rice separately to maintain the right texture.
- Finish with Freshness: A garnish of fresh chopped parsley or green onions brightens up the dish and adds a pop of color and flavor just before serving.
- Next-Day Bonus: Like many Southern comfort dishes, Hoppin’ John tastes even better the next day after the flavors have had time to meld. Store leftovers in an airtight container and reheat gently on the stovetop.
How To Store Leftover Hoppin John
This recipe for hoppin' john makes 4 large servings, and it's usually plenty for a big family dinner. I even end up with some leftovers too.
So if you happen to have some leftovers, then you should consider yourself lucky! This dish is one of those rare ones that taste even better the day - and days - after you make it.
Anyway, to store the leftovers, simply transfer the hoppin' john to an airtight container and store it in the fridge for 3-5 days.
Alternatively, if you want to store this black eyed peas and rice recipe for even longer you can freeze it in either an airtight container - or freezer-safe bag - for up to 6 months.
How To Reheat Hoppin John
As good as this hoppin' john recipe is cold, it will definitely taste better if you reheat it.
So, to reheat the leftovers, I recommend using the stovetop. Simply transfer your leftovers to a pot and add a little water - or broth - to 'em, and then set your burner to medium heat. Then, you'll want to cook your leftovers until they're fully warm - just make sure to stir them occasionally as they come up to temp.
Alternatively, you can reheat your leftovers in the microwave in 30-second increments, stirring between each one, until they are fully reheated.
My Final Thoughts On This Recipe
Well, that's how to make hoppin' john in just a few simple steps!
You really can't beat this recipe whenever you want to have some black eyed peas and rice. Not only is it a one-pot dish that's effortless to make, but it's packed with tons of flavor. And, honestly, it's just as satisfying to eat this recipe by itself as it is to pair it with something else.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy this hoppin' john as much as I/we do.
As always, if you give this recipe a try, then be sure to leave a comment below and let us know how it went.
More Recipes
If you enjoyed this delicious recipe, and are looking for some more just like it, we have a ton on the blog that you can check out next!
Here are some reader favorites to try next:
- Great Northern beans
- John Wayne casserole
- Cheesy ham and potato casserole
- Mississippi chicken
- Chicken gizzards
Also, for even more deliciousness don't forget to follow us on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. We post new recipes on them every single day.
Hoppin' John Recipe (Black Eyed Peas Recipe)
This hoppin' john recipe is unbelievably satisfying. It combines perfectly cooked black eyed peas and rice with tender veggies and crispy bacon to make a hearty dish that you are guaranteed to love. The best part though is that this recipe is a one-pot dish that can be made in just 3 simple steps!
Ingredients
- 1 cup bacon, chopped
- 1 celery rib, diced
- ½ onion, diced
- ½ green bell pepper, diced
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 ½ cups black-eyed peas
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tsp. dried thyme
- Salt
- 2 cups white rice, cooked
- Green onions to serve
Instructions
- Heat a pot to medium-high and add the bacon. Cook until crispy and reserve.
- Add the celery, onion, green bell pepper, and garlic, and cook in the bacon fat for 10 minutes or until the onions are soft.
- Add the black-eyed peas, bay, thyme, and 3 cups of water. Bring to a simmer and cook for an hour or until the peas are tender. Return the bacon to the pot and mix.
- Serve with white rice and green onions.
Nutrition Information:
Serving Size:
2 CupsAmount Per Serving: Calories: 168Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 0mgCarbohydrates: 28gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 6g
Rachel Schmidt
Our family loved this Hoppin John recipe!!!
Gianna Schillinger
This was my favorite black eyed peas recipe
Carrie
This recipe was phenomenal