Slow Cooker Hoppin John
Hoppin’ John is a delicious New Year’s dish that honors the Southern tradition of eating black eyed peas for luck. Hearty black eyed peas, vegetables, and Cajun spices served with fluffy rice. This crockpot version makes it even easier!
Black eyed peas are a staple in Southern kitchens. Mostly grown in the South, they’re common in a bunch of soul food recipes. And while it’s traditional to eat them on New Year’s day, I love them all year long.
The most famous way of eating black eyed peas is in a dish called Hoppin’ John. It’s black eyed peas that are simmered with celery, bell peppers, onion, and a smoked ham hock. Once the beans are tender, it’s served over rice. Or you can cook the rice in the dish like you would with jambalaya.
Black eyed peas aren’t just for new years, check out my black eyed pea casserole and black eyed pea chili to switch up your regular menu.
Build You New Year’s Feast
Southern Sides: Collard Greens | Crack Green Beans | Baked Rice
Bread: Iron Skillet Cornbread | Jiffy Corn Casserole
Salads: Cabbage and Apple Slaw | Orange Fluff
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See recipe card for complete information on ingredients and their quantities.
Ingredient Notes
- Peas – You can use dried, canned, or frozen black eyed peas. If using dried, be sure to soak and cook them beforehand. You can also substitute pigeon peas or zipper peas.
- Ham – Smoked ham, ham steak, or bacon will work.
- Tomatoes – I use a combination of diced tomatoes and V8 juice. Substitute crushed, pureed tomatoes, or even tomato juice.
- Seasoning – This recipe keeps it simple with Cajun seasoning, bay leaves, salt, and pepper.
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How To Make Slow Cooker Hoppin John
- Dice the vegetables and add them to slow cooker pot.Add all ingredients except cooked rice to crock pot and cook on low for 2-3 hours.
- Stir in the remaining ingredients, minus the rice, and cook on low for 2-3 hours.
- When done cooking, remove the bay leaves.
- Stir in the cooked rice and serve with your favorite garnishes. I like chopped green onions, bacon, or jalapeno peppers
For the full recipe and detailed instructions, please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Serving Suggestions
This recipe makes the best leftovers! Store any, if you have them in the refrigerator in an airtight container. They will last up to 4 days.
You can reheat them in the microwave or on the stove top in a skillet. I like to use the skillet method because you can get some crispy edges on the white rice.
By the way, leftovers of this are called “Skippin’ Jenny!” I love that because my name is Jennifer and my husband calls me Jenny.
You can also freeze the leftovers for up to 3 months. Just thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Hoppin John Variations
There are plenty of ways to switch up the traditional recipe. Here are few of my favorite ways:
- Bacon instead of ham for an extra smoky flavor.
- Use a smoked ham hock instead of regular ham.
- Pulled pork is also a great way to switch up the texture and flavor.
- Stir in some kale or collard greens for more vegetables.
- Use pinto beans, great Northern beans, or even lima beans.
- Try spicy V8 juice instead of the regular tomato juice.
Frequently Asked Questions
The name may be weird, but it’s just black eyed peas cooked with celery, bell peppers, onion, and smoked ham hock. It’s simmered until tender, then served over rice. Some cook the rice in the dish so it soaks up more flavor like you do with jambalaya!
There are several different origin stories, but they all center around prosperity and good fortune. It’s been a Southern tradition for a very long time. Hoppin’ John is the most common way to serve them on January 1st and wishing for good luck in the new year!
Yes! Just leave out the pork. Add collard greens to enhance the flavor if you want more vegetables. Use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
Nope! Try field peas, crowder peas, lady peas, or even baby lima beans. All of these taste delicious but field peas taste the most similar to me.
Absolutely! Sauté veggies in large pot with a little olive oil until soft. Stir in remaining ingredients except the rice. Cook 20-30 minutes until beans are tender and serve over hot cooked rice.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Ham swaps – Use bacon for smokier flavor. Try diced deli ham instead of the ham hock. Pulled pork tastes great too!
- Add extras – Toss in some extra diced tomatoes, kale, or collard greens for more vegetables and more color.
- Bean swaps – Use pinto beans or your favorite beans instead of black eyed peas.
- Adjust spice – Regular or spicy V-8, or regular tomato juice all work depending on what you like.
This Crock Pot Hoppin’ John recipe is the simple way to make this seasonal dish! Serve it with all your favorite southern side dishes.
If you love this recipe as much as I do, please leave us a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ five-star review in the comment section below. Thanks!
Hoppin John Recipe
Ingredients
- 15 ounces black eyed peas drained
- ¾ cups onion diced
- 3 stalks celery diced
- 1 small bell pepper diced
- 1 cup ham but into pieces
- ½ cup cilantro chopped, optional
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon garlic minced
- 6 ounces spicy V-8 Juice
- 1 cup water substitute diced tomatoes
- 1 cup white rice cooked
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
- Ham swaps – Use bacon for smokier flavor. Try diced deli ham instead of the ham hock. Pulled pork tastes great too!
- Add extras – Toss in some extra diced tomatoes, kale, or collard greens for more vegetables and more color.
- Bean swaps – Use pinto beans or your favorite beans instead of black eyed peas.
- Adjust spice – Regular or spicy V-8, or regular tomato juice all work depending on what you like.
Nutrition
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