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    Home » Recipes » Side Dishes

    Southern Hoppin' John with Cheese, Tomatoes, and Onions

    January 6, 2022 Updated: January 6, 2022 By Katie Crenshaw 19 Comments

    Jump to Recipe
    This hoppin' john recipe layers black-eyed peas over rice and tops them with cheddar cheese, tomatoes, and green onions. The result is an amazing Southern dish! #hoppinjohn #blackeyedpeas
    The Best Ever Southern Hoppin' John Recipe

    This hoppin' John recipe layers black-eyed peas over rice then tops them with cheddar cheese, tomatoes, and green onions.

    The result is perfection. This will be the BEST Southern hoppin' John you will ever make!

    New Year's Black Eyed Peas Recipe

    What is Hoppin' John?

    Black-eyed Peas is a food staple in many Southern homes.

    Cook them all day in a little ham hock or bacon grease and you got yourself a delicious treat.

    Take your Black-eyed Peas up a notch by layering it over rice, hence the Hoppin' John.  

    Watch how to make

    Ingredients for Hoppin John-black-eyed peas, rice, bacon fat, tomatoes, cheese, green onions

    Ingredients:

    To make this hoppin john recipe, you will need the following ingredients:

    • canned black-eyed peas- This cuts cooking time. If you want to make your black eyed peas from scratch, click here.
    • bacon fat or vegetable bouillon- This is what will flavor your peas. Don't skip this part.
    • rice-I like white rice for this recipe, but you can use brown rice.
    • cheddar cheese- Freshly shred the cheese. This is NOT a corner to cut. That pre-shredded cheese is NOT as moist and tasty as freshly shredded cheese. It takes 5 minutes.
    • tomatoes
    • green onions
    • jalapeno- Jalapeno adds another great great flavor to the hoppin John. However, some people do not like spicy food, so I serve it on the side.
    canned black eye peas

    Canned Peas

    Now for this particular dish, I used canned black-eyed peas. To some that is blasphemy….

    And I would agree if they were served solo. But after simmering them in bacon fat or a vegetable boullion (for the vegetarians), and adding the toppings; no one will know they aren't homemade…. I promise.

    So keep it simple. Make them easy. This is an opportunity to cut corners.

    They are going to be soooooo good. You will thank me! 

    process steps to make hoppin john

    Steps

    1. Cook rice according to directions.
    2. Meanwhile, cook canned black-eyed peas in their liquid with either bacon fat or vegetable bouillon for 20 minutes on a low simmer. Salt and pepper to taste.
    3. Layer black-eyed peas with the liquid over cooked rice.
    4. Layer freshly shredded cheese over black-eyed peas.
    5. Top chopped tomatoes over cheese.
    6. Layer 1 cup chopped green onions over tomatoes. Serve.

    *This post contains affiliate links.

    Note: I use my Panasonic SR-DF101 5-Cup (Uncooked) One-Touch "Fuzzy Logic" Rice Cooker to cook all of my rice. It is one of my favorite kitchen gadgets. My rice comes out perfect every time.

    Tip

    I like to add freshly diced jalapeno on topof the hoppin' John. If you have those that can't take the heat, have some diced jalapeño set to the side.

    Black eye peas Recipe

    If you want, you could eat this all by itself… I wish you could taste this Hoppin' John Dish right now…. I would share if I could!

    Would you like to try some more Southern recipes? Try some of these:

    • Easy Southern Banana Pudding
    • How to Cook Field Peas
    • Carolina Barbecue Sauce
    • How to Cook Collard Greens
    • Slow Cooker Green Beans and Potatoes

    The Best Southern Hoppin' John Recipe

    This Southern Hoppin' John Recipe is the best black eye pea dish you will ever make! It is served over rice and topped with cheese, tomatoes, onions, and a jalapeno. 
    5 from 15 votes
    Print Pin Save Recipe Saved! Rate
    Course: Entree, Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes
    Servings: 10
    Calories: 168kcal
    Author: Katie Crenshaw

    Ingredients

    • 1 ½ cups uncooked rice
    • (3) 15.5 oz black-eyed canned peas
    • 1 tbs bacon fat or 1 vegetable bouillon
    • 1 ½ cup chopped tomato
    • 1 cup chopped green onions
    • 8 oz freshly shredded cheddar cheese
    • salt and pepper to taste

    Instructions

    • Cook 1 ½ cups rice according to directions.
    • Meanwhile, cook three 15.5 oz canned black-eyed peas in their liquid with either 1 tbs bacon fat or 1 vegetable bouillon for 20 minutes on a low simmer.
    • Salt and pepper to taste.
    • Layer black-eyed peas with the liquid over cooked rice.
    • Layer 8 oz freshly shredded cheese over black-eyed peas.
    • Layer 1 ½ cups of chopped tomatoes over cheese.
    • Layer 1 cup chopped green onions over tomatoes. Serve.

    Video

    Notes

    Note: I like to add freshly diced jalapeno on top. If you have those that can't take the heat, have some diced jalapeño set to the side.

    Nutrition- Nutrition info is based on estimation only.

    Calories: 168kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 0g | Saturated Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 54mg | Potassium: 245mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 50IU | Vitamin C: 3.5mg | Calcium: 32mg | Iron: 1.9mg
    Tried this recipe? I want to see it!Mention @aForksTale or tag #aForksTale!

    More Side Dishes

    • Bacon Pea Salad Recipe
    • Stick of Butter Rice
    • Corn Pudding Recipe
    • Old Fashioned Macaroni Salad

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    Katie Crenshaw-A Fork's Tale

    Hi, I'm Katie!

    Thanks for stopping in!! I am a foodie and I LOVE to eat. I am so excited to share my recipes and adventures with you! My recipes are simple and easy for the modern cook.

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