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Instant Pot Southern Soul Food Black Eyed Peas

Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas The Southern Soul Food Way

My Instant Pot black-eyed peas deliver deep, smoky, slow-simmered flavor, without soaking or all-day cooking. Tender peas, savory broth, and bold, soulful seasoning come together fast, making this a comforting, make-it-your-way classic perfect for New Year’s Day or easy weeknight soul food.
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Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Pressure Release Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Soul Food, Southern Food
Servings: 8
Calories: 143kcal
Author: Shaunda Necole • The Soul Food Pot®

Equipment

  • Instant Pot electric pressure cooker

Ingredients

  • 1 pound black eyed peas dried
  • 6 cups chicken stock use vegetable stock for vegans & vegetarians
  • 1 cup red onion diced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • ½ teaspoon thyme dried
  • 2 teaspoons chicken bouillon for a vegan or vegetarian recipe, use Creole seasoning
  • 1 ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 cup collard greens finely chopped, fresh or pre-cooked (optional)
  • 2-3 slices bacon (optional)

Instructions

  • Open the Instant Pot lid and pour the chicken stock into the stainless steel inner pot.
  • Add the black-eyed peas, onion, garlic, bay leaf, paprika, red pepper flakes, thyme, chicken bouillon, salt, pepper, collards (optional), and bacon (optional).
  • Stir the ingredients to combine.
  • Make sure the beans are soaking and covered in the liquid broth.
  • Close the Instant Pot lid (make sure the valve is up – in the position for sealing) and pressure cook on high for 15 minutes.
  • When the cooking time is finished, allow a natural pressure release for at least 10 minutes.
  • To open the Instant Pot lid, move the valve to ‘venting’ and manually release any remaining pressure, if applicable.
  • Remove the bay leaf, stir, serve right away, and enjoy!

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 143kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 704mg | Potassium: 400mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 390IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 38mg | Iron: 2mg

❤️ Why trust this recipe?

Created + tested by Shaunda Necole, creator of The Soul Food Pot® (real cook, real kitchen). Rooted in African American culinary traditions, with modern shortcuts that don’t sacrifice flavor or legacy. No AI-generated instructions — measurements, timing, and techniques are written, cooked, and verified by Shaunda. Make-it-your-way guidance included, so you can cook confidently with the tools you have.

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