Slow Cooker Hoppin’ John Recipe

Last Updated on December 13, 2022 by Anne-Marie

A healthy slow cooker Hoppin' John recipe. Make this hoppin' john recipe on New Year's Day in your crock-pot!

Slow Cooker Hoppin' John served in a square green dish with spoons and a plate of hoppin john in the background.

Why this recipe works

It’s a shame that people only eat hoppin’ john recipes on the first day of the new year. You see, traditional hoppin’ john recipes are served on New Year’s Day to bring you fortune in the year to come.

You see, counting the number of peas in your serving predicts the amount of riches you’ll have in the coming year. So eat up!

Ingredients

canned black-eyed peas

chicken broth

smoked turkey sausage

canned diced petite tomatoes with diced green chilies

chopped onion

collard greens

sea salt

bacon salt

ground black pepper

cooked quinoa or rice

How to make this recipe

Make this healthy Slow Cooker Hoppin’ John recipe year-round. Not only is it delicious, but it’s also an easy-to-make dinner in your crock-pot that’s super good for you!

1. Empty the cans of black-eyed peas into a colander and place them in the sink. Drain and rinse until the water runs clear.

2. Place black-eyed peas, chicken broth, and turkey sausage in the six-quart slow cooker.

3. Stir in tomatoes with chilies, chopped onion, and collard greens.

4. Add sea salt, bacon salt, and ground black pepper. Stir thoroughly.

5. Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours until sausage is cooked through.

6. Serve over quinoa or rice.

7. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

A dish and plate of black-eye peas and collard greens hoppin john with sausage.

FAQs

Is Hopping John healthy?

A traditional hoppin’ john recipe can be high in calories since it’s usually cooked with pork and pork fat.

Here’s how this slow cooker black-eyed peas dish is a much healthier recipe:

Using turkey sausage: Traditionally, a smoked ham hock is used in hoppin’ john. Instead, we used lean smoked turkey sausage.

We kept the smoked sausage whole instead of chopping them up. This way, you can keep a better eye on portion size.

Cut the smoked sausage into bite-sized pieces if you like.

Canned black-eyed peas: Black-eyed peas are low in saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium and are a good source of fiber, protein, folate, thiamin, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and copper.

We used canned instead of dried black-eyed peas to make this recipe more convenient for busy folks. You can also use frozen black-eyed peas if you like.

Bacon salt instead of bacon: By using bacon salt, you add flavor without the calories and saturated fat.

Eat your greens: Collard greens are low in saturated fat, very low in cholesterol, and a good source of fiber, protein, and many vitamins and minerals.

You can also add a bag of diced bell pepper if you like to add even more good nutrition.

Broth: if you wish, you can use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.

Salt: If you want, cut back on the sea salt, and add another seasoning - garlic, Cajun seasoning, bay leaves, garlic powder, etc. to this hoppin’ john recipe.

Closeup of a white dish and plate of hoppin john black-eye peas and collard greens with tomatoes and a fork.

How to serve

You can serve the slow cooker hoppin’ john recipe on quinoa or white rice.

Serve it on brown rice, which is used in more traditional hoppin’ john recipes for the New Year.

You can also add your favorite hot sauce or sprinkle on some pepper flakes or Cajun seasoning.

Can I make this into a vegetarian hoppin’ john recipe?

Yes, you can make this into a vegetarian dish! Here’s how:

Use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.

Use vegan sausage instead of turkey sausage.

Then add more seasoning like Cajun seasoning, pepper flakes, some chopped cloves garlic, etc. Or omit them altogether and add more veggies, like a bag of frozen chopped bell pepper.

And yes, bacon salt is vegan!

Do you like Southern comfort food?

Check out this Easy Tomato & Okra Soup recipe if you like Southern cooking.

You’ll also like Raspberry Pecan Pie and Easy Buttermilk Pie.

If you’re a fan of waffles or fried chicken, try this Gluten Free Chicken and Waffles Recipe or Nashville Hot Chicken and Waffles Recipe.

Love corn bread? Serve a batch of this unique Easy Gluten Free Skillet Cornbread Recipe along with this slow cooker black-eyed peas recipe.

And if you’re a pimento cheese fan, check out this Pimento Cheese Spread Recipe, which you can shape into a pumpkin for the fall holidays.

What’s your favorite Southern recipe?

Yield: 10 SERVINGS

Slow Cooker Hoppin' John Recipe

A dish and plate of black-eye peas and collard greens hoppin john with sausage.

Make this crock-pot hoppin’ john recipe a New Year’s Day tradition. This slow cooker hopping john recipe is a snap to make.

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours 20 minutes

Ingredients

  • 4 15.5-ounce cans black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed
  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 1 13.5-ounce package smoked turkey sausage, keep whole
  • 1 14.5-ounce can diced petite tomatoes with diced green chilies
  • 1 medium onion, chopped (about 3/4 cup)
  • 1 bunch collard greens, rinsed, chopped, and ribbed
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon bacon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 cups cooked quinoa or brown or white rice

Instructions

  1. Empty the cans of black-eyed peas into a colander and place them in the sink. Drain and rinse until the water runs clear.
  2. Place black-eyed peas, chicken broth, and turkey sausage in the six-quart slow cooker.
  3. Stir in tomatoes with chilies, chopped onion, and collard greens.
  4. Add sea salt, bacon salt, and black pepper. Stir thoroughly.
  5. Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours until sausage is cooked through.
  6. Serve over quinoa or rice.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

10

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 212Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 24mgSodium: 1056mgCarbohydrates: 29gFiber: 6gSugar: 5gProtein: 14g

Nutritional information is automatically calculated per the ingredients list. Serving size may not be accurate. Please double-check with your preferred nutritional app for the most accurate information.

14 thoughts on “Slow Cooker Hoppin’ John Recipe

  1. SouthernEater

    Tip: For folks who can’t, don’t, or too late for fresh collards……
    There is a version of Margaret Holmes Canned Collard Greens that only has collard greens and water in it, so you can season how you like them.

    Reply
  2. Dan

    I’ve only seen this dish once before – at a barbecue restaurant that offered it as a vegetarian alternative. My cousin ordered it and loved it.

    Reply
    1. Anne-Marie Nichols Post author

      Dan, Hoppin John is usually considered a side dish in the South. I’ve even had it served cold as a salad (they added Italian dressing to it).

      Reply
  3. Kelsey @ K&K Test Kitchen

    Oooh, I actually have a giant bag of black eyed peas in my cupboard right now. This looks like a great use for them!

    Reply
  4. Miz Helen

    Hi Anne Marie,
    We grow Black Eyed Peas and Collard’s so this is a great recipe for us to try, we will just love it! It is fun cooking with you in the SRC!
    Miz Helen

    Reply
    1. Anne-Marie Nichols Post author

      When we move to GA, my husband and son are planning to have a big garden. Maybe I can persuade them to grow some collard greens since I love cooking with them! Thanks for stopping by!!

      Reply

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