Hoppin’ John

Take a trip to the deep south with this classic Hoppin’ John recipe. Slow cooked black eyed peas, crispy bacon, tender veggies, and a dash of cajun seasoning served over a bed of white rice make this flavorful meal a family favorite. A long standing recipe, this hearty dish will fill you with comfort all year long!

Serve Hoppin’ John with our made from scratch, cornbread. And after a meal like that, it’s not complete without a side of warm Southern Apple Pie.

Top down view of a bowl of hoppin' john over rice.

Hoppin’ John

Did you know black eyed peas are a symbol of wealth, and it’s a long time southern tradition to eat them on New Year’s Day to bring luck and prosperity to the new year? This recipe hails from South Carolina, but has been enjoyed in kitchens all over the US.

There’s really no better way to enjoy a pot of black eyed peas than to let it simmer for an afternoon and soak up all those flavors! The bacon, garlic, and onion mixed with cajun spices really settle into the beans and solidify a taste that can’t compare with other, albeit faster, methods of cooking. Everything is slower in the south, and they certainly have the right idea when it comes to cooking up comfort food.

How To Make Hoppin’ John

  1. In a large pot (or Dutch oven) cook your bacon over low-medium heat, until it reaches your desired level of crispiness. Use a slotted spoon to remove the bacon from the pot and transfer it to a paper towel lined plate. Reserve 2-3 tablespoons of the drippings.
  2. Now add the diced celery, onion, and bell pepper to the drippings and cook for 3-5 minutes until the vegetables begin to soften. Add your minced garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds to 1 minute until the garlic is fragrant but not burnt.
  3. Add the dried black eyed peas, chicken broth, water, Cajun seasoning, thyme, and oregano, and bay leaf. Stir to combine.
  4. Bring the liquid to a simmer. Cook for 1 – 1 ½ hours or until the black eyed peas are tender. Be careful not to overcook, you don’t want the black eyed peas mushy or overly soft. While the black eyed peas cook, prepare the rice according to the instructions on the package.
  5. Once the black eyed peas have cooked through, pour them through a strainer or colander to remove any excess liquid. Discard the bay leaf. Return the black eyed peas and cooked bacon to the pan. Taste and add salt or extra seasoning if needed.
  6. Serve the Hoppin’ John by stirring in the cooked rice, ladling over the rice, or with a side of greens. Garnish with chopped green onions if desired and enjoy!
Collage showing how to make hoppin' john.

Tips and Variations

  • You can use water instead of broth, or a combination of the two. If using broth, keep in mind the salt content as the bacon and seasonings will already provide plenty of sodium to the dish.
  • Check the black eyed peas for doneness around the 45 minute mark. Add additional liquid if you need to. Some beans cook faster than others and you don’t want to overcook them or dry them out too quickly.
  • Instead of bacon, you can substitute smoked ham or ham hocks.
  • Instead of a bed of white rice, another traditional way of serving Hoppin’ John is over a bed of collard greens.
Large bowl of hoppin john and rice.

Storage and Reheating 

Storage: Hoppin’ John can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days for the best flavor. 

This recipe can also be frozen. Store in a freezer friendly container for 3 months.

Reheating: When reheating, heat Hoppin’ John on the stovetop or in the microwave until warmed through. If frozen, let thaw completely in the refrigerator before reheating and serving.

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Top down view of hoppin john with green onions.

Hoppin’ John

5 from 3 votes
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Author: Kim
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
Additional Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 4 hours
Servings: 4 Servings

Ingredients

  • ½ pound bacon, uncooked, thick cut, diced
  • 2 ribs celery, diced
  • 1 onion, small in size, diced
  • 1 bell pepper, green or red, deseeded and diced
  • 3 garlic cloves, finely minced
  • 8 ounces black eyed peas, dried, picked through and rinsed (about 1 ¼ cups)
  • 2 cups chicken broth, *See Note
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 to 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning, adjust to taste
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
  • salt, to taste
  • 2 cups long grain white rice, cooked
  • 4 to 6 green onions, chopped for garnish

Instructions
 

  • In a large pot or Dutch oven over low-medium heat, cook the bacon until crispy. Use a slotted spoon to remove the bacon to a paper towel lined plate, and reserve 2-3 tablespoons of the drippings.
    ½ pound bacon
  • Add the celery, onion, and bell pepper to the drippings, and cook for 3-5 minutes until the vegetables begin to soften. Add the garlic, and cook for an additional 30 seconds to 1 minute until the garlic is fragrant.
    2 ribs celery
    1 onion
    1 bell pepper
    3 garlic cloves
  • Add the black eyed peas, chicken broth, water, Cajun seasoning, thyme, oregano and bay leaves. Stir to combine. 
    8 ounces black eyed peas
    2 cups chicken broth
    2 cups water
    2 bay leaves
    1 to 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
    1 teaspoon dried thyme
    ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
  • Bring the liquid to a simmer, and cook for 1 – 1 ½ hours or until the black eyed peas are tender (not mushy or overly soft). While the black eyed peas cook, prepare the rice according to package directions.
  • Once the black eyed peas have cooked through, pour them through a strainer or colander to remove any excess liquid. Discard the bay leaves, and return the black eyed peas and cooked bacon to the pan. Taste and add salt if needed.
    salt
  • Serve the black eyed peas by stirring in the cooked rice, ladling them over the rice, or with a side of greens. Garnish with chopped green onions if desired.
    2 cups long grain white rice
    4 to 6 green onions
  • See post for storage options.

Suggested Equipment

Notes

*The calories listed are an approximation based on the ingredients in the recipe card and a serving size of 1 cup of hoppin’ john. Actual calories will vary.
 
*For more information, tips, and answers to frequently asked questions, please refer to the post.
 
*Feel free to use 4 cups of water instead of a combination of water and broth. If using the broth, be mindful of the sodium content, especially with the bacon and seasonings.
 
*Check the beans for doneness around 45 minutes to 1 hour, and add additional liquid if needed. Some beans cook faster than others depending on their age and freshness.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cupCalories: 452kcalCarbohydrates: 43gProtein: 17gFat: 24gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 37mgSodium: 425mgPotassium: 562mgFiber: 6gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 1359IUVitamin C: 44mgCalcium: 60mgIron: 3mg
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