Description
Slow Cooker Hoppin John is a hearty, comforting Southern dish featuring smoky sausage, tender black-eyed peas, and flavorful vegetables simmered to perfection. This easy slow cooker recipe infuses robust Cajun spices and savory broth into every bite, making it an ideal meal for cozy family dinners or gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Sausage
- 1 pound Smoked Sausages (smoked turkey sausage or ham hock can be used for variation)
Beans and Vegetables
- 2 cups Black-Eyed Peas (canned eliminates soaking time)
- 1 can Diced Tomatoes and Green Chilies (can use fresh cherry tomatoes for milder flavor)
- 1 medium White Onion (can substitute with shallots)
- 1 medium Green Bell Pepper (can use other bell pepper colors)
Liquids and Seasonings
- 4 cups Beef Broth (substitute with chicken broth if desired)
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder (can substitute with fresh garlic)
- 1/2 teaspoon Ground Black Pepper (adjust to taste)
- 2 tablespoons Cajun Seasoning (add cayenne for extra spice if desired)
Rice
- 1 package Boil-in-Bag Rice (quick-cooking variety)
Instructions
- Gather Ingredients: Start by collecting all your ingredients for the Slow Cooker Hoppin John to ensure you have everything ready before cooking.
- Brown the Sausage: Slice the smoked sausages into pieces. Heat a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat and brown the sausage slices for 5-7 minutes. Browning adds depth of flavor to the dish.
- Combine Ingredients in Slow Cooker: Transfer the browned sausage to your slow cooker. Add the black-eyed peas, diced tomatoes and green chilies, chopped white onion, diced green bell pepper, beef broth, garlic powder, ground black pepper, and Cajun seasoning. Stir gently to combine all ingredients uniformly.
- Cook on Low: Cover the slow cooker and cook on the low setting for 6 hours. This slow simmer allows flavors to meld and ingredients to tenderize beautifully.
- Add Rice: After 6 hours of cooking, stir in the boil-in-bag rice. Change the slow cooker setting to high and cook for an additional 20 minutes, allowing the rice to heat through and absorb flavors.
- Adjust Consistency: If the mixture is too thin, mash some of the black-eyed peas to thicken the stew-like consistency. If it’s too thick, add extra broth to reach your desired texture.
Notes
- Using canned black-eyed peas reduces prep time as no soaking is required.
- Smoked turkey sausage or ham hock are excellent alternatives to smoked sausage for varying flavors.
- Adjust Cajun seasoning quantity based on your spice preference; adding cayenne pepper can increase heat.
- Optional: Use fresh cherry tomatoes instead of canned diced tomatoes for a milder flavor.
- Stir occasionally during cooking if possible to prevent sticking on the edges.
