Looking for a tasty and lucky dish to serve on New Year’s Day?
This Black Eyed Peas with Bacon recipe is a Southern favorite that’s easy to make, full of flavor, and believed to bring good luck for the year ahead.
Whether you’re cooking for your family or hosting a New Year’s gathering, this hearty dish will please even picky eaters.
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Why Black Eyed Peas Are Considered Lucky on New Year’s
Eating black-eyed peas on New Year’s is a long-standing Southern tradition. Here’s why these little beans are considered lucky:
- Prosperity: Black-eyed peas swell as they cook, symbolizing growth and abundance.
- Money: Greens like collard or cabbage often accompany the peas to represent financial wealth.
- Forward movement: Pork, such as bacon, symbolizes progress since pigs root forward when foraging.
- Gold: Cornbread, another traditional side, represents wealth.
Whether or not you believe in the symbolism, this combination makes a hearty, flavorful, and festive meal for ringing in the new year.
Tips for Adding Flavor to Black Eyed Peas
- Use bacon or ham for a smoky, savory taste.
- Add onion soup mix for a quick flavor boost.
- Fresh herbs like rosemary, sage, thyme, or parsley enhance the flavor.
- Don’t overcook; black-eyed peas should be tender but not mushy.
What to Serve with Black Eyed Peas
Black-eyed peas are versatile and pair well with many dishes:
- Southern classics: Collard greens, cornbread, sautéed cabbage with bacon
- Tex-Mex favorites: Tacos, fajitas, black bean and corn salsa
- Creative options: Use as a base for soups, stews, or curries
This Black Eyed Peas with Bacon recipe is the perfect addition to your New Year’s celebration or any Southern-style meal.
Full of flavor, easy to prepare, and steeped in tradition, it’s a dish your family will enjoy year after year.
Try this recipe for your next New Year’s Day dinner and start the year with flavor, tradition, and a little bit of luck!
Black Eyed Peas with Bacon
Ingredients:
- 1 lb. bag of black eyed peas
- 1 package of onion soup mix
- 1 small onion
- 2-4 strips of bacon
- 1 tbsp. olive oil
- salt and pepper
(Read below for a recipe using canned black eyed peas.)
Directions:
Pour the entire bag of black eyed peas in a colander and rinse beans. This helps to remove any sand or dirt that remained on the black eyed peas.
Transfer beans into a large pot of water and soak overnight or for 8 hours.
Do not drain the water.
Put the black eyed peas on high heat and bring to a rapid boil.
Once up to a rolling boil, keeping boiling for 10 minutes.
Add 1 package of onion soup mix and stir until combined.
Turn down the heat to low.
Dice up the small onion. Saute the onion and olive oil in a skillet until golden brown. Add salt and pepper.
Add the onions to the black eyed peas.
Leave the black eyed peas on low for 2-3 hours or until all peas are tender. Check the beans every 20-30 minutes and stir well each time.
If water gets low, add 1 cup of water. When the black eyed peas are tender, remove from heat.
Cook the bacon strips until crispy. Allow the bacon to cool, then break apart the bacon into bacon bits.
Serve the black eyed peas in a bowl. Top with the crispy bacon bits!
Note: You can cook the bacon by adding it to the pot of beans and allow the bacon to cook with the beans. It’s all about texture preference!
This photo below shows my black eyed pea recipe with the bacon cooked with the beans. Notice it’s not as crispy as the photo above.
FAQs About Black Eyed Peas
Do I need to soak black-eyed peas before cooking?
No, soaking is optional. It reduces cooking time but is not required.
Can I use canned black-eyed peas?
Yes! Drain and rinse them before adding to your recipe.
Can I cook black-eyed peas without bacon?
Absolutely. You can use smoked sausage, ham hock, or keep it vegetarian.
How long does it take to cook black-eyed peas?
Stovetop: 30–60 minutes depending on whether they are soaked.
Pressure cooker: 10–15 minutes.
Can I make this recipe ahead of time?
Yes! Black-eyed peas taste even better when made a day ahead, allowing flavors to meld.
Black Eyed Peas With Bacon
Ingredients
- 1 lb. bag of Black Eyed Peas
- 1 Package of Onion Soup Mix
- 1 Small Onion
- 2-4 Strips of Bacon
- 1 tbsp. olive oil
- Salt and Pepper
Instructions
Pour the entire bag of black eyed peas in a colander and rinse beans. This helps to
remove any sand or dirt that remained on the black eyed peas.
Transfer beans into a large pot of water and soak overnight or for 8 hours.
Do not drain the water.
Put the black eyed peas on high heat and bring to a rapid boil.
Once up to a rolling boil, keeping boiling for 10 minutes.
Add 1 package of onion soup mix and stir until combined.
Turn down the heat to low.
Dice up the small onion. Saute the onion and olive oil in a skillet until golden brown.
Add salt and pepper.
Add the onions to the black eyed peas.
Leave the black eyed peas on low for 2-3 hours or until all peas are tender. Check
the beans every 20-30 minutes and stir well each time.
If water gets low, add 1 cup of water. When the black eyed peas are tender, remove from heat.
Cook the bacon strips until crispy. Allow the bacon to cool, then break apart the bacon into bacon bits.
Serve the black eyed peas in a bowl. Top with the crispy bacon bits!
Note: You can cook the bacon by adding it to the pot of beans and
allow the bacon to cook with the beans. It's all about texture preference!
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