Crock-Pot Black-Eyed Peas Smoked Turkey (Printable View)

Creamy black-eyed peas simmered with smoked turkey leg in a slow cooker for an easy, comforting Southern dish.

# What You'll Need:

→ Beans & Legumes

01 - 1 pound dried black-eyed peas, rinsed and sorted

→ Meats

02 - 1 smoked turkey leg, approximately 1 pound

→ Pantry

03 - 6 cups water
04 - 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
05 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

# How to Make It:

01 - Rinse and sort the dried black-eyed peas under cold water, discarding any debris or discolored beans.
02 - Place the prepared peas into the slow cooker and position the smoked turkey leg on top of the peas.
03 - Pour 6 cups of water into the slow cooker and add salt and black pepper to taste.
04 - Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW setting for 7 to 8 hours, or on HIGH setting for 4 to 5 hours, until peas are tender and creamy.
05 - Remove the turkey leg from the slow cooker and allow to cool slightly. Shred the meat, discarding skin and bones, and return the shredded meat to the slow cooker.
06 - Stir the contents thoroughly, taste, and adjust seasonings as needed. Serve hot.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It practically cooks itself while you go about your day, filling your home with that deep, smoky aroma that makes people ask what's for dinner before they even arrive.
  • The turkey leg dissolves into the peas, creating a broth so rich and savory you'll skip the gravy entirely and just soak it all up with cornbread.
02 -
  • Don't skip the sorting step or you'll bite into something hard and spend the next five minutes wondering what went wrong—I learned this the embarrassing way at a dinner party.
  • The longer you cook this on LOW, the creamier it becomes, because the peas actually break down slightly and thicken the broth, so resist the urge to rush it on HIGH unless you're in a real time crunch.
03 -
  • If your slow cooker runs hot, start checking the peas around hour five—some cookers cook faster than others, and you're looking for tender beans, not mush.
  • The smoked turkey leg you buy matters; look for one that feels substantial and has good color, because a tired-looking leg will give you tired-tasting broth.
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