Place the black-eyed peas in a large bowl, cover with water, and soak overnight. Drain well before cooking.
Heat a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the diced bacon and cook for 10–15 minutes, or until crisp.
Transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate, leaving the bacon grease in the Dutch oven.
Add the onion and sauté in the bacon grease for 7–10 minutes, or until soft and translucent.
Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute, until fragrant.
Stir in the drained black-eyed peas, chicken broth, Creole seasoning, and bay leaves.
Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover and simmer for 60–90 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the peas are tender.
Remove and discard the bay leaves. Stir in the cooked bacon.
Serve warm and enjoy.
Notes
Recipe Tips
Prepare Black Eyed Peas - Remove any debris from the dried peas until adding them to the pan. Wash and allow them to soak overnight.
Bacon - Remove the bacon from the pan and place on a plate lined with paper towels to remove excess grease. Leave the bacon grease in the pan.
Cooking Time - Cooking time will vary. Make sure to continue to stir the black eyed peas while it is cooking. Keep the black eyed peas covered while cooking. This will help to cook them evenly.
Meal Prep - If you are looking for a meal to take for lunch for the week, this can be prepared as a side dish or as a main meal idea.
Thicker Broth - If you prefer a thicker broth, mash some cooked black peas in a blender or a food processor. Then add them back to the pot of black eyed peas to thicken.
Variations Ideas
Change Meat - We love the flavor of bacon, but you can also use ham hocks, smoked sausage, shredded pork, or leftover turkey. All are great options and provide so much flavor.
Seasoning - Change the seasoning to what you prefer. You can easily add in red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, or smoked paprika. You can also use cloves garlic instead of minced garlic.
Collard Greens - For added flavor and luck, add in collard greens to the black eyed peas mixture.
Vegan - If you prefer this dish to be vegan, substitute the chicken broth with vegetable broth. You can even added in carrots and celery for added flavor.