Slow Cooked Hoppin’ John

Hoppin’ John, also known as Carolina Peas and Rice, is part of a beloved Southern tradition of eating black eyed peas with rice, collard greens and cornbread on New Years Day. It’s symbolic of wealth, health and prosperity for the new year. This Slow Cooked Hoppin’ John makes preparation easy and allows the cook to relax and make the most of the day.

Easy Slow Cooked Hoppin’ John Recipe

Hoppin’ John is a mouthwatering crockpot filled with down home comfort consisting of black eyed peas cooked with diced onion, bell pepper, diced tomatoes, ham hock or ham and flavorful seasonings. It’s not only a tasty meal to enjoy on New Year’s Day, but any day of the year. There are many theories as to how Hoppin’ John got it’s name though none of which are confirmed or written in stone. It’s a humble, but delicious dish, believed to have been introduced to Southern tables using field peas by African Americans working the plantations in the South. There’s some evidence that it has some Caribbean influence, as well. Very popular in the Carolina’s and beyond it’s primarily a dish of field peas cooked with pork, ham hock, or spicy sausage that’s served with rice. How to make Slow Cooked Hoppin’ John in a crockpot: (Scroll down for full printable recipe.)

• Ham Hock: Prior to cooking: Rinse and scrub ham hock. Place into a pot and cover completely with water. Place on the stovetop and bring to boil. Boil for 2 minutes, then remove from heat and drain. Rinse thoroughly under cold water. Follow recipe for adding to slow cooker.
• Prepare: Pour peas into bottom of slow cooker insert. Center the ham hock in the peas.
• Vegetables – Add the onion, pepper, bay leaves, thyme. red pepper flakes,1/2 tsp seasoned salt, and garlic.
• Liquid – Pour chicken broth over all. Place the lid on securely. Cook on high for 3 hours.
• Shred Meat – Remove ham hock from the slow cooker and pull meat from bone. Discard bone and skin.
• Combine – Return meat to the slow cooker with tomatoes and lemon pepper. Taste and adjust salt to your taste, if needed. Mix well.
• Cover and cook for an additional 1-2 hours or until tender.
• Serve with rice, collard greens and cornbread with hot sauce, if desired.

How to Make the BEST Slow Cooked Hoppin’ John Recipe

• Ingredients you’ll need to make Slow Cooked Hoppin’ John: One pound dry black eyed peas rinsed and picked over, ham hock or ham bone with meat, sweet onion, green bell pepper OR poblano pepper, bay leaves, fresh thyme, crushed red pepper flakes, seasoned salt, garlic, chicken broth, canned diced tomatoes with green chilies (Or plain diced tomatoes), lemon pepper, cooked rice for serving, collard greens optional (See Cook’s note) and hot sauce.
• Kitchen tools you’ll need: 6 quart or similar size slow cooker, measuring cups and spoons, large spoon, sharp knife and cutting board.
• You can adjust the amount of spice in this dish by increasing or omitting the crushed red pepper flakes and using plain diced tomatoes.
• There are many ways to enjoy this simple fare. Some cooks will add cooked collards to the black eyed peas and rice and mix it all together.
• Some may prefer to serve Hoppin’ John ladled over rice with collard greens and cornbread on the side.
• There’s often a bottle of hot sauce nearby for those who like to sprinkle a little on top.
• I like to serve it with the rice and collard greens on the side and allow those eating it to decide if they want to mix it altogether or eat them separately.
• You may also like to add these Cajun Collard Greens with Bacon to your meal.
• Store Slow cooked Hoppin’ John chilled in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• Reheat in single servings in the microwave or in a saucepan on the stovetop over medium heat,

More Southern Side Dish Recipes to Make

• My recipe for Southern Collard Greens is packed with flavor.
• Easy Mashed Potatoes recipe is my go-to for making mashed potatoes.
• This easy Pear Salad doesn’t require any cooking at all.
• Make your own Hush Puppies to go with any meal.
• Stovetop Bacon Mac and Cheese.
• Bacon seasoned Lima Beans.
• Sweet Candied Yams made on the stovetop.

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Helpful Kitchen Items:

• Slow Cooker
• Kitchen Utensils
• Knives and Chopping Board
• Measuring Set

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5 from 2 votes

Slow Cooked Hoppin’ John

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time5 hours hrs

Total Time5 hours hrs 10 minutes mins

Course: Main Course, Side Dish

Cuisine: American, Southern

Keyword: easy-hoppin-john, hoppin-john-recipes, slow-cooked-hoppin-john

Servings: 10 servings

Calories: 295kcal

Author: Melissa Sperka

Ingredients

• 1 lb dry black eyed peas rinsed and picked over
• 1 12 oz ham hock or ham bone with meat
• 1 medium sweet onion diced
• 1 small green bell pepper OR poblano pepper seeded and diced
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 sprig fresh thyme
• 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
• 1/2-1 tsp seasoned salt adjust more or less to your taste
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 6 cups chicken broth
• 1 15 oz can diced tomatoes with green chilies (Or plain diced tomatoes)
• 1 tsp lemon pepper
• Cooked rice for serving
• Cooked Collard Greens optional (See Cook’s note)
• Hot sauce optional

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Instructions

• Prior to Cooking: Rinse and scrub ham hock. Place into a pot and cover completely with water. Place on the stovetop and bring to boil. Boil for 2 minutes, then remove from heat and drain. Rinse thoroughly under cold water. Follow recipe for adding to slow cooker.
• Prepare: Pour peas into bottom of slow cooker insert. Center the ham hock in the peas.
• Add the onion, pepper, bay leaves, thyme. red pepper flakes,1/2 tsp seasoned salt, and garlic.
• Pour chicken broth over all. Place the lid on securely. Cook on high for 3 hours.
• After 3 hours, remove ham hock and pull meat from bone. Discard bone and any skin.
• Return meat to the slow cooker with canned tomatoes and lemon pepper. Taste and adjust salt to your taste, if needed. Mix well.
• Cover and cook for an additional 1-2 hours or until the peas are tender.
• Serve with rice, collard greens and cornbread with hot sauce, if desired.

Notes

Please Note: The ham hock adds a great deal of seasoning and salt to the entire dish. If desired, you may wait to add salt after the Hoppin’ John has cooked for the initial 3 hours, then adjust to your taste.
To Add Rice and Collards to the Pot: After cooking the Hoppin’ John, add 2 cups cooked long grain rice and 1 (16-oz) package frozen chopped collard greens cooked per the package directions. Mix both in at the end of cooking just before serving. Season only lightly with salt when preparing both.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 295kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 36mg | Sodium: 926mg | Potassium: 687mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 136IU | Vitamin C: 22mg | Calcium: 69mg | Iron: 4mg

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