Name: What To Serve With Black Eyed Peas
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 1 portion black eyed peas

Table of Contents

If you’re wondering what to serve with your black eyed peas, you’ve come to the right place.

In this article, I list 33 of the most popular side dishes for black eyed peas.

In a rush? Here’s the short answer.

The best side dishes to serve with black-eyed peas are baked mushroom rice, skillet cornbread, spicy collard greens, fried okra, and buttermilk chicken tenders. You can also go for Southern baked mac and cheese, fried catfish, mashed sweet potatoes, or brown gravy meatloaf.

Ready? Let’s get started!

Brown gravy meatloaf

This meatloaf is guaranteed to make your Sunday dinners more special.

The trick to perfecting this recipe is in the onions.

You need to caramelize them before you add them to the meaty mixture, so when it cooks they melt right into the beef.

But most importantly: don’t overmix the meat mixture or it will turn rubbery.

Why we love this recipe: this will make your kitchen smell amazing.

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Brown gravy meatloaf
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Spicy collard greens

Collard greens and black-eyed peas are traditionally served together during New Year’s for good luck and fortune.

But they’re a delicious pairing all year-round.

I especially love pairing these legumes with spicy collard greens – it keeps you on your toes.

Why we love this recipe: it’s healthy comfort food.

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Spicy collard greens
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Fried cabbage

Skillet cornbread

There are a lot of versions of cornbread, but this has to be my favorite.

It’s a no-frills recipe that yields deliciously crisp, buttery cornbread with a super moist crumb – perfect for soaking up all of your black-eyed peas’ savory flavors.

The key to this dish is using a cast iron skillet, it gives you a crust that you can’t get from other cooking methods.

Why we love this recipe: it’s a forgiving recipe that has rooms for substitutions.

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Skillet cornbread
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Buttermilk chicken tenders

Even fast food chicken tenders can’t beat this homemade version.

The key to perfecting the recipe lies in soaking your chicken in a buttermilk marinade – this step tenderizes the meat and helps keep it moist.

Enjoy these tenders with a side of black-eyed peas for a protein-loaded meal.

Why we love this recipe: kids and adults will love it equally.

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Buttermilk chicken tenders
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Southern fried chicken
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Slow cooker baby back ribs

If you want a no-frills main dish, these slow cooker ribs are the way to go.

It’s a “prep, set, and forget dish” – you just have to rub your ribs with the spice mixture, set your slow cooker, leave it to cook low and slow, then broil to crisp the outside up.

Eight hours later, you’ll have juicy, fall-off-the-bone ribs.

Why we love this recipe: it has a 4.5 rating out of 112 reviews.

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Honey balsamic mashed sweet potatoes

Even without adding butter, these sweet potatoes are extra creamy.

This recipe calls for additions like honey, balsamic vinegar, and red pepper flakes, giving you sweet-but-spicy flavor that contrasts the savory black-eyed peas.

Psst… use a food mill or a potato ricer (and some elbow grease) to get a super smooth mash.

Why we love this recipe: it takes a simple ingredient and makes it delicious.

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Southern fried okra

If you want a crispy bite with your black-eyed peas, fried okra is the way to go.

I always think fried sides will take ages to make, but you only need 15 minutes for this recipe.

And don’t worry – the slimy okra texture disappears when you fry it!

Why we love this recipe: it’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

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Baked mushroom rice

Pasta is never served plain, so I don’t get why we always serve rice plain.

Ditch the boring white rice and go for this baked mushroom rice instead.

As the mushrooms bake, they release their juices into the rice and each grain becomes infused with a delicious umami flavor.

Why we love this recipe: it requires zero hands-on cooking.

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Southern baked mac and cheese

Indulge yourself with some Southern baked mac and cheese.

It’s extra creamy and cheesy, thanks to four different kinds of cheese. Each cheese plays a different role, so don’t try and skip one.

There’s also five different spices mixed in, which gives the the mach and cheese great depth of flavor.

Why we love this recipe: it’s warm and cozy.

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Fried catfish

Catfish has a natural sweetness to it which works really well with the earthy flavor of black eyed peas.

It’s filled with good-for-you nutrients as well, although frying adds a fair few calories.

Pro-tip: don’t overcrowd your pan while frying to avoid soggy fish.

Why we love this recipe: it shares many tips and tricks to achieve perfectly fried fish.

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Red potato salad

Red potatoes have firmer flesh than other varieties, making them perfect for a potato salad because they hold their shape.

And leaving the skin on gives the salad a rustic feel.

The creamy dressing will provide a nice cooling contrast to the black eyed peas.

Why we love this recipe: it’s a great make-ahead salad.

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The best side dishes to serve with black eyed peas

Brown gravy meatloaf
Spicy collard greens
Skillet cornbread
Buttermilk chicken tenders
Slow cooker baby back ribs
Honey balsamic mashed sweet potatoes
Southern fried okra
Baked mushroom rice
Southern baked mac and cheese
Fried catfish
Red potato salad