What to Serve with Black Eyed Peas? 10 BEST Side Dishes

Black-eyed peas make a great meal item because they are rich in protein, vitamins, and dietary fibers.

Also, they are incredibly easy to make.

Also known as black-eyed beans or cowpea, black-eyed peas is an Old World shrub that originated in West Africa.

They are available in wide varieties, while the California Blackeye is the most common one.

Many parts of the world, including the Americas, Africa & Middle East, Europe, and Asia & the Pacific, have culinary uses for this legume.

Read on to learn about what to serve with black eyed peas if you plan to serve them for dinner.

Why Consider Serving Side Dishes with Black Eyed Peas?

These legumes are nutritious and filling, but they aren’t very distinct when it comes to flavor.

They taste best when cooked with bacon or ham and are best served with side dishes.

While thinking about what to serve with this legume, you can opt for traditional sides or pick something more unique and exciting.

After all, it’s always good to expand your ideas and skills.

Serving side dishes with your main course also helps you prevent the meal from becoming bland.

Try pairing them with some of the following sides to put together a meal your guests won’t forget.

What to Serve with Black Eyed Peas? 10 BEST Side Dishes

1 – Spicy Collard Greens with Bacon

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What’s a more classic combination than black eyed peas and collard greens? This combo is popularly served during New Year’s for fortune and good luck.

Whether you’re hosting a New Year’s dinner or just having a weekend get-together, spicy collard greens with bacon and black eyed peas won’t let you down.

It is the perfect comfort food that requires basic ingredients like bacon, collard greens, chicken broth, and onions.

Within a few minutes, you can create a hearty and filling side dish that everybody at dinner will love.

For the seasoning, we love to use brown sugar, red pepper flakes, cider vinegar, and Tabasco sauce.

2 – Texas Caviar with Avocado and Shrimp

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If you want to serve a side dish that’s remembered for life, try Texas caviar with avocado and shrimp.

This dish is loaded with corn, avocado, black-eyed peas, jalapeno, black beans, tomatoes, and shrimp.

Toss the ingredients with a zesty lime dressing to create a side dish that blows everybody’s taste buds.

Add chili powder for extra spice.

It is an ideal recipe if you want to make a unique side dish in just thirty minutes.

3 – Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork

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No one can deny that magical combination of black eyed peas and pulled pork with a barbeque flavor.

This side dish might require a little extra work from you, but it’s worth the effort if you want to serve something that’s filling and hearty.

Since slow-cooker pulled pork requires eight hours of marinating, it’s ideal for those planning for dinner in advance.

However, you can reduce the marinating time to two hours if you’re in a hurry and still want to serve it.

4 – Baked Mushroom Rice

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Rice and black eyed peas are an unbeatable combo.

But that doesn’t mean you have to serve plain rice.

Try baked mushroom rice to elevate your side dish and complement the main course elegantly.

The juices from the mushrooms as they cook blend into the rice and give the dish an umami flavor that works beautifully with the main course.

The best part about this dish is that it takes minimal work.

You only need to assemble the ingredients, mix them, and leave them to cook.

Portobello mushrooms work best for this side dish.

But you can use any type of mushrooms at your disposal.

5 – Brown Gravy Meatloaf

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Want to make your weekend dinner special? This meatloaf is all you need.

The secret to making this recipe perfect lies in the onions.

You should caramelize your onions before incorporating them into the meat mixture so that they melt right into the mixture while cooking.

If you don’t want a rubbery meatloaf, you shouldn’t overmix the ingredients.

Brown gravy meatloaf works excellently with black eyed peas if you want a meaty and hearty side dish to accompany your main course.

This side dish is sure to impress your guests if you’re serving it on a cold day.

6 – Deep-Fried Catfish

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Enjoy the naturally-occurring sweet flavors from the catfish as you prepare it to serve with your main dish.

You might not have thought of this unusual combination, but believe us, they are a match made in heaven.

Catfish is a versatile item that goes well with many starch and protein-based foods.

Frying it might add some calories, but it will be worth it.

Avoid over-crowding the pan if you don’t want a soggy exterior.

With its sweet flavors and protein-packed goodness, catfish makes a great side dish for black eyed peas.

7 – Pork Chops and Rice

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Another meaty side dish that compliments the main course well- pork chops and rice.

It is easy to make and great for when you don’t have a lot of time to cook.

You can use boneless pork, pork tenderloin, or bone-in pork chops for this side dish.

Also, we prefer making the rice Mexican-style for the best flavors.

Use chicken broth to enhance the flavor of the rice.

You might also want to add chopped green onions, cheddar cheese, and salsa to this dish.

TIP: Ensure you’re keeping an eye on the cooking time when using instant brown rice or brown rice.

The latter requires more cooking time.

8 – Hoppin’ John Risotto

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Want to enjoy a healthier alternative to your traditional hoppin’ john? Try our version of this side dish to pair with your legume- hoppin’ john rissoto.

It uses turkey bacon instead of pork.

This Southern side dish is a great option if you want to make a unique dish.

To make hoppin’ john risotto, you’ll need- turkey bacon, olive oil, red pepper, chicken broth, honey, black eyed peas, maple syrup, cheddar cheese, and brown rice.

Use your favorite spices and seasonings to add flavors to the side dish.

9 – Buttermilk Chicken Tenders

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Want to create a chicken tenders side dish that beats the restaurant versions? It’s far from impossible.

Get the perfect texture for the chicken- soak it in a marinade containing buttermilk.

It helps the meat to become moist and tender.

You’ll enjoy a protein-loaded meal with buttermilk chicken tenders.

They are a great side dish to pair with black eyed peas, regardless of the occasion.

TIP: use a meat thermometer to ensure your chicken is perfectly cooked, as overcooking it will dry it out.

You can also serve it with a dip if you want to be extra.

10 – Pan-Seared Fillet Mignon

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If you wish to give your guests a restaurant-quality experience while dining at your home, we can’t think of anything better than pan-seared fillet mignon.

Sear the steaks in butter until they brown, and serve them with a Dijon mustard-red wine sauce for a rich experience.

This side dish is a great option because it’s perfect for special occasions- it features French flavors, and is easier to make than you might think.

Conclusion

These are the ten best side dishes we recommend serving with black eyed peas.

Of course- there are many other options to explore.

But if you don’t know where to start, the mentioned recipes won’t disappoint you.

Black eyed peas make a heart-warming meal.

But you need to pair the dish with complementing flavors and textures to keep the meal from becoming boring.

Since the main course has subtle flavors, it pairs well with many sides.

Feel free to add your flare to the sides and make them unique.

Just remember to ensure they match your main course’s flavors and enhance it without overpowering.