This dish is so iconic of the south, the earthy flavorful comfort food we all love. A great southern black eyed peas and collard greens recipe that will have everyone coming to eat with you.

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Collard greens can be found year round, in fresh form, but there are other means to be able to make them. You can find them canned and frozen - fresh produce is always best though.

In the south it's full of superstition and New Year's Day is no different. Black eyed peas are meant to bring good luck into the new year and the collard greens represent financial prosperity (the green for dollar bills).

Both sound great to me, I'm not going to risk any extra luck and wealth I can get!

What makes this recipe so yummy

• It's a simple dish, not too many recipes and most you'll find you already have in your kitchen.
• This recipe doesn't take long to make with little prep time.
• Deliciously tender collard greens are packed full of nutrition, it's a great way to get some of those minerals and vitamins into your diet.

Groceries you'll need: Ingredients

• Black Eyed Peas
• Collard Greens
• Bacon
• Ham
• Chicken Broth
• Red Onion
• Garlic
• Cajun Seasoning
• Salt
• Black Pepper

See recipe card at the bottom of this post for quantities.

Recipe walkthrough: Instructions

This is an overview of the recipe steps. For more detailed instructions visit the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

• Step 1: Chop the bacon into small squares and sauté in a heavy bottomed pot. Apply medium-high heat and cook for a few minutes until some of the fat starts to render.
• Step 2: Add the chopped red onions and cook for a few minutes until softened. Then add the minced garlic and cook another 2 minutes.
• Step 3: While the bacon and onions are cooking prepare the collard greens. Wash well with cold water (they can be very sandy) and cut the thick vein/stem away from the leaf. Chop into 1" squares.
• Step 4: Add the chopped collard greens to the pot, give a stir and cover with a lid. Allow to cook for 5 minutes.

• Step 5: Add the chicken broth, ham and seasonings, give a stir and cover with a lid. Turn down the heat to a medium heat and allow to cook for about 20 minutes.
• Step 6: Add the black eyed peas and cook a further 10 minutes.
• Step 7: Add salt and pepper to taste.

Hint: You can use all bacon if you like, in place of the ham. I like the texture of the soft ham and so like it like this. You could also use it as an opportunity to use up some leftover meats if you have any.
If you use dry black eyed peas this will increase the total time to cook.

Recipe variations and substitute ideas

• Ham Hock - instead of chopped ham.
• Bean Broth - some people actually add the broth from the canned black-eyed peas instead of draining and rinsing.
• Mustard Greens - if you prefer the leafy greens of mustard greens this recipe works great for that too.
• Vegetable Broth - try using vegetable broth instead of chicken stock or bouillon.
• Olive Oil - instead of using bacon fat (bacon grease) you could opt to start the dish with olive oil.
• Bay Leaves - add a couple of bay leaves if you like.
• Bell Pepper - add some chopped bell pepper with the onions.
• Heat - if you like spicy food add some hot sauce, cayenne pepper or maybe some red pepper flakes.
• Smoked Paprika - add a touch for flavor.
• Liquid Smoke - just a touch to add some smoky flavor.
• Lemon Juice - some people like to sprinkle a little lemon juice for serving.
• Smoked Turkey - if you're wondering what to do with your leftover turkey from Thanksgiving (if you froze some) it would be great here.
• Dry Beans - instead of canned beans, you'll need to cook them down though.
• Fresh Thyme - fresh thyme works beautifully with this recipe.

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Necessary gear: Equipment

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I like to use my Dutch Oven for this recipe. It has a good weight, just like a cast iron pot but the enamel helps stop sticking. I love it.

Related Recipes

• Mashed Potatoes
• Crock Pot Hoppin' John
• Cajun Green Beans
• Cajun Cornbread
• Cabbage Rolls
• Cajun Cornbread Dressing
• Crock Pot Pinto Beans
• Chicken and Waffles
• Fried Cabbage and Potatoes
• Dutch Oven Jambalaya
• Tangy Fried Green Tomatoes
• Traditional Colcannon

Also, check out this list of great sides that I recommend to eat with these collard greens and pinto beans.

How to store leftovers

Once cooled completely the black eyed peas and collard greens should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Mel's kitchen notes

This dish is actually great when cooked in either a slow cooker or a pressure cooker. Instant Pot black-eyed peas can be delicious.

If you’ve tried this Southern Black Eyed Peas and Collard Greens Recipe or any other great recipe on my site, let me know in the comment section below, how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers!

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