Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

Jumpstart your New Year's Day with a classic Southern recipe: Hoppin' John. Cooked in a Dutch oven with bacon, celery, onion, bell pepper, garlic, and spices - it's a delicious way to begin the year! This classic version of Hoppin' John is made in a cast iron Dutch oven (or large pot).

Hoppin' John FAQ

When is Hoppin' John traditionally served?

Hoppin' John is traditionally served in the Southern United States, particularly on New Year's Day. It's believed to bring good luck and prosperity for the coming year. The dish typically consists of black-eyed peas, rice, and pork, and it's often accompanied by greens like collard greens or kale.

How do you store this Hoppin' John recipe?

To store Hoppin' John:

Refrigeration: Place any leftover Hoppin' John in an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator. It can typically last for 3-4 days when properly refrigerated.

Freezing: If you want to store it for a longer period, you can freeze Hoppin' John. Put it in a freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bag, removing as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn. It can remain good for up to 3 months in the freezer.

When reheating, add a splash of water or broth to help moisten the dish as it can dry out a bit in the fridge or freezer. Reheat it in the microwave or on the stove until thoroughly heated.

Always ensure leftovers are cooled down to room temperature before refrigerating or freezing to prevent condensation and bacterial growth.

If you like this Hoppin' John recipe, you might also like these posts on our blog:

1.) Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas
2.) Braised Collard Greens
3.) Cabbage Recipes

overhead view of a big bowl of Hoppin' John

Hoppin' John Ingredients

*The full, printable recipe is at the bottom of the post.

6 thick-cut bacon slices, chopped
4 (about 1 ½ cups) celery stalks, chopped
1 (1 ½ cups) medium yellow onion, diced
1 (1 cup) green bell pepper, diced
3 (1 tablespoon) garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon fresh Thyme leaves (stems removed)
½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 ½ teaspoon kosher salt, divided
8 cups low-sodium chicken broth (you can substitute water with low-sodium chicken Better than Bouillon brand)
3 cans (4 ½ cups total) of black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed (each can contain 1 ½ cups)
2 tablespoons regular olive oil
1 ½ cups uncooked, long-grain rice (Carolina is good), washed
Fresh scallions, for serving

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Hoppin' John in a bowl and in a Dutch oven

a bowl of rice and beans with green onions

If you try this Hoppin' John recipe and like it, let us know in the comments at the end of the post. Thank you for reading and following along!

a rice and bean recipe over a marble table

Hoppin' John recipe in a white bowl with a gold fork

Hoppin’ John

Yield: 6 servings

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Jumpstart your New Year's Day with a classic Southern recipe: Hoppin' John. Cooked in a Dutch oven with bacon, celery, onion, bell pepper, garlic, and spices - it's a delicious way to begin the year!

Ingredients

6 thick-cut bacon slices, chopped
4 (about 1 ½ cups) celery stalks, chopped
1 (1 ½ cups) medium yellow onion, diced
1 (1 cup) green bell pepper, diced
3 (1 tablespoon) garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon fresh Thyme leaves (stems removed)
½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 ½ teaspoon kosher salt, divided
8 cups low-sodium chicken broth (you can substitute water with low sodium chicken Better than Bouillon brand)
3 cans (4 ½ cups total) of black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed (each can contain 1 ½ cups)
2 tablespoons regular olive oil
1 ½ cups uncooked, long-grain rice (Carolina is good), washed
Fresh scallions, for serving

Instructions

Step 1: On the stovetop, over medium-high heat, cook the bacon in the Dutch oven, until the bacon starts to crisp (about 10 minutes).
Step 2: Add the prepared garlic, onions, celery, bell pepper, thyme, black pepper, cayenne, and 1 teaspoon of salt. Cook the vegetable-bacon mixture until the onions are tender (about 8 minutes).
Step 3: Add the broth and black-eyed peas, and bring to a boil (still over medium-high heat), then reduce to a simmer. If you were using fresh peas this would take 40 minutes until the peas were tender but since these peas are canned and already cooked, this will cut the time.
Step 4: Drain the mixture, reserving the cooking liquid. Add back the pea mixture, plus 1 cup of the cooking liquid to the Dutch oven. Set aside, and cover to keep warm while you cook the rice.
Step 5: In a medium saucepan, heat old over medium-high, add the washed rice, and cook (stirring often) until the rice is fragrant and lightly toasted, now add 3 cups of the reserved cooking liquid and the remaining ½ teaspoon of salt. Bring the rice mixture to a boil and then reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and cook until the rice is cooked and tender which should take 15 to 18 minutes. When the rice is done, fluff it with a fork.
Step 6: Add the cooked rice back into the pea mixture and combine. Serve with sliced scallions and enjoy your Hoppin' John!

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Nutrition Information:

Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 381Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 12mgSodium: 993mgCarbohydrates: 49gFiber: 10gSugar: 7gProtein: 23g

Please note that the Calculated Nutrition is an estimate at best. If you make this recipe and love it, remember to stop back and give it a 5-star rating – it helps others find the recipe!

Recipe Photographed: 1/9/2023
First published: 1/1/2024
Updated & republished: 2/14/2024, 1/1/2025

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Sara Maniez

Owner at Life's Little Sweets

Sara is an architectural designer turned work-at-home Mom. She lives in New Jersey by way of New England and New York, with her husband and 3 kids under 8. She loves design, being creative, and spending time with family and friends. She loves checking out local businesses and eats and being apart of the local farm to table community.

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