Description
This Slow Cooker Hoppin’ John is a hearty and flavorful Southern dish featuring smoked sausage, black-eyed peas, diced tomatoes with green chiles, and Cajun seasonings slow-cooked to perfection. Served over tender rice, it’s a comforting meal perfect for gatherings and family dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Sausage
- 1 lb smoked sausage, sliced
Beans and Vegetables
- 4 (15-oz) cans black-eyed peas, undrained
- 2 (10-oz) cans diced tomatoes and green chiles, undrained
- 1 cup finely chopped onion
- ¾ cup chopped green bell pepper
Liquids and Seasonings
- 3 cups beef broth
- 2 tsp Cajun/Creole seasoning
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp black pepper
Rice
- 1 family-size package boil-in-bag rice (about 1½ cups uncooked)
Instructions
- Brown the Sausage: Cook the sliced smoked sausage in a large skillet over medium heat for about 5 minutes until browned. This step is optional but adds extra flavor.
- Combine Ingredients in Slow Cooker: Transfer the browned sausage to the slow cooker. Add the black-eyed peas (with liquid), diced tomatoes and green chiles (with liquid), beef broth, chopped onion, bell pepper, Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, and black pepper. Stir to combine. Cover and cook on LOW for 6 hours to allow flavors to meld.
- Add Rice and Finish Cooking: After 6 hours, pour the uncooked boil-in-bag rice directly into the slow cooker and stir well. Cover and cook on HIGH for an additional 20 minutes, or until the rice is tender and fully cooked. Serve warm.
Notes
- Skipping browning the sausage is possible, but it improves the flavor and texture.
- The boil-in-bag rice used here simplifies timing and cooking within the slow cooker.
- You can adjust the Cajun seasoning amount to taste depending on spice preference.
- For a milder version, consider using diced tomatoes without green chiles.
- Leftovers store well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and freeze nicely.
