The Best Instant Pot Hoppin John Recipe is your ticket to a flavorful and traditional Southern dish, perfectly cooked with minimal effort. This easy-to-follow guide will walk you through creating a satisfying meal that’s both delicious and steeped in culinary heritage, making it a must-try for your next family dinner or New Year’s Day celebration.
Key Ingredients for Best Instant Pot Hoppin John Recipe:
To create the perfect Best Instant Pot Hoppin John Recipe, you’ll need the following:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 large yellow onion, chopped
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 pound dried black-eyed peas, rinsed and sorted
- 6 cups chicken broth (or vegetable broth for a vegetarian option)
- 1/2 pound smoked ham hock or 4 ounces smoked sausage, sliced (optional, but highly recommended for flavor)
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for a little kick)
- 2 bay leaves
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish (optional)
- Hot sauce, for serving (optional)
- Cooked white rice, for serving
How to Make Best Instant Pot Hoppin John Recipe:
This Best Instant Pot Hoppin John Recipe offers an incredibly easy, delicious, and deeply satisfying way to enjoy a classic Southern comfort food. Its key features include minimal hands-on time thanks to the Instant Pot, yielding perfectly tender black-eyed peas infused with smoky flavors, and a rich, hearty sauce that’s both comforting and flavorful. Expect about 15 minutes of prep time and around 45 minutes of cooking, making it an ideal choice for a weeknight meal or a special occasion.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Sauté Aromatics: Press the “Sauté” button on your Instant Pot. Once hot, add the olive oil. Add the chopped onion, celery, and green bell pepper. Sauté for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables soften.
- Add Garlic and Spices: Stir in the minced garlic, dried thyme, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper (if using). Cook for another minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
- Incorporate Remaining Ingredients: Add the diced tomatoes (undrained), rinsed and sorted black-eyed peas, chicken broth, smoked ham hock or sliced smoked sausage (if using), and bay leaves to the Instant Pot. Stir everything gently to combine.
- Pressure Cook: Secure the lid on the Instant Pot, ensuring the venting knob is sealed. Select the “Manual” or “Pressure Cook” setting and set the time for 25 minutes on high pressure.
- Natural Release: Once the cooking cycle is complete, allow for a natural pressure release for 15 minutes. This is crucial for achieving perfectly tender peas without them bursting.
- Quick Release and Finish: After 15 minutes of natural release, carefully turn the venting knob to the “Venting” position to release any remaining pressure. Once the float valve drops, open the lid.
- Remove Ham Hock and Season: Carefully remove the ham hock (if used) and bay leaves. If using a ham hock, shred any meat from the bone and return it to the pot. Stir the Hoppin’ John, then taste and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper as needed. The ham hock or sausage will add a lot of salt, so taste before adding more.
- Serve: Ladle the hot Best Instant Pot Hoppin John Recipe over a bed of cooked white rice. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and serve with hot sauce on the side, if desired.
Why You’ll Love This Best Instant Pot Hoppin John Recipe:
You’ll absolutely adore this Best Instant Pot Hoppin John Recipe because its main feature is the incredible depth of flavor achieved with minimal effort, transforming humble ingredients into a celebratory dish. Not only is it remarkably easy to prepare in the Instant Pot, making it perfect for busy weeknights or a stress-free New Year’s Day tradition, but it also offers significant cost savings compared to dining out or buying pre-made versions. The smoky richness from the ham hock (or sausage) combined with the tender black-eyed peas creates a truly satisfying and heartwarming experience.
The magic of this dish lies in the flavorful toppings and ingredients that elevate it beyond a simple meal. Think a dash of hot sauce for a spicy kick, a sprinkle of fresh parsley for brightness, or a side of cornbread to soak up every last drop of that savory broth. It’s far more robust and flavorful than a typical bowl of plain black beans, offering a complete and nourishing meal. Do yourself a favor and try this irresistible Best Instant Pot Hoppin John Recipe at home – your taste buds will thank you!
Storing and Reheating Tips:
Proper storage is key to enjoying your Best Instant Pot Hoppin John Recipe for days to come. Once cooled completely, transfer any leftovers to an airtight container. It will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
For longer storage, Hoppin’ John freezes beautifully. Allow the dish to cool completely, then transfer it to freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags, leaving about an inch of headspace if using containers. It can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw frozen Hoppin’ John overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
To reheat, simply warm individual portions on the stovetop over medium-low heat, adding a splash of broth or water if it seems too thick, until heated through. Alternatively, reheat in the microwave in 1-minute intervals, stirring in between, until hot.
Final Thoughts:
This Best Instant Pot Hoppin John Recipe delivers a truly authentic and satisfying Southern classic with incredible ease and flavor. Don’t hesitate to invite this comforting and lucky dish into your kitchen; you’ll be delighted by how simple and delicious homemade tradition can be. Enjoy!
try also :
- Lentil and Sweet Potato Salad
- Cranberry Brie Bites
- Crispy Sweet Potato Bites
- Matcha Cake Recipe
- find more in Pinterest
Best Instant Pot Hoppin John Recipe
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Press the “Sauté” button on your Instant Pot. Once hot, add the olive oil. Add the chopped onion, celery, and green bell pepper. Sauté for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables soften.1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 large yellow onion, 2 celery stalks, 1 green bell pepper
- Stir in the minced garlic, dried thyme, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper (if using). Cook for another minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.4 cloves garlic, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Add the diced tomatoes (undrained), rinsed and sorted black-eyed peas, chicken broth, smoked ham hock or sliced smoked sausage (if using), and bay leaves to the Instant Pot. Stir everything gently to combine.1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, 1 pound dried black-eyed peas, 6 cups chicken broth, 1/2 pound smoked ham hock or 4 ounces smoked sausage, 2 bay leaves
- Secure the lid on the Instant Pot, ensuring the venting knob is sealed. Select the “Manual” or “Pressure Cook” setting and set the time for 25 minutes on high pressure.
- Once the cooking cycle is complete, allow for a natural pressure release for 15 minutes. This is crucial for achieving perfectly tender peas without them bursting.
- After 15 minutes of natural release, carefully turn the venting knob to the “Venting” position to release any remaining pressure. Once the float valve drops, open the lid.
- Carefully remove the ham hock (if used) and bay leaves. If using a ham hock, shred any meat from the bone and return it to the pot. Stir the Hoppin’ John, then taste and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper as needed. The ham hock or sausage will add a lot of salt, so taste before adding more.1/2 pound smoked ham hock or 4 ounces smoked sausage, 2 bay leaves, Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Ladle the hot Best Instant Pot Hoppin John Recipe over a bed of cooked white rice. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and serve with hot sauce on the side, if desired.Cooked white rice, Fresh parsley, Hot sauce