Black Eyed Pea Salad

This Black Eyed Pea Salad with Italian Dressing is bright, zesty, and colorful featuring tender black eyed peas, and crisp vegetables marinated in a homemade Zesty Italian Dressing!  This make-ahead side dish is great for potlucks or any occasion.  It's also vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free!

Black Eyed Pea Salad with Italian Dressing

This Black Eyed Pea Salad with Italian Dressing is my healthy, veggie-packed, and colorful take on a classic Marinated Black Eyed Peas Salad or the traditional Southern Cowboy Caviar.  My version amps up the vegetables with sweet tomatoes, rich bell peppers, and crunchy celery -- making a gorgeous side-dish everyone will be asking for again and again.

This recipe is as simple as opening a few cans of black eyes peas, chopping some vegetables, and tossing in some dressing.  Make your own Zesty Italian Dressing or use your favorite bottled Italian Dressing in a hurry.  Either way, it tastes delicious.

What are black eyed peas?

Black Eyed Peas are medium-sized legumes that are sometimes called cowpea.  It's pale with a black spot.  They have a similar savory and earthy taste to white beans.  They are slightly nutty with a creamy consistency.

They are super healthy! One cup of peas has 160 calories, 5 grams of protein, and vitamins like calcium, potassium, magnesium, zinc, folate, vitamin A, vitamin K, and manganese.

You can find them in most grocery stores dried or canned. This recipe uses canned because they taste great and are so much easier to prepare.  Look for low sodium ones, if salt is a concern for you.

In Southern culture, black-eyed peas are often eaten on New Year's Day and considered good luck to do so.  Although not traditional, this recipe can be a fun and fresh way to eat them on New Year.

Also, try my Vegetarian Black Eyed Peas and Collard Greens Soup for New Year's Day!

Why You'll Love this Black Eyed Pea Salad Recipe...

• This Black Eyed Pea Salad with Italian Dressing is fresh and healthy with lots of vegetables!
• It can be made in less than 10 minutes.  It's truly an EASY recipe.
• Since it doesn't have dairy, it's great for a potluck.
• It's healthy and light... coming in at around 110 calories per serving.
• It's great for making ahead and actually tastes better when you let it marinate for a while.
• It features totally delicious and underrated and budget-friendly black-eyed peas!
• You can serve it as shown like a side dish OR more of an appetizer as a salsa with chips and dip.

Ingredients:

Here's an overview of what you'll need to make my Black Eyed Peas Salad with Italian Dressing, but keep scrolling for the full ingredient list.

• Black Eyed Peas: I like to use canned black eyed peas for this recipe because it's easy!  Rinse and drain them well.
• Green Bell Pepper: A green bell pepper adds lots of flavor and color to this salad.
• Yellow Bell Pepper: I like mixing up the bell pepper colors to add more colors, vitamins, and interest to this dish.  The yellow really pops!  You can use any two bell peppers you have on hand thought including red bell pepper.
• Cherry Tomatoes: Not all marinated Black Eyed Peas Salads have tomatoes, but I love the added texture and sweet flavor.  For a more traditional recipe or if tomatoes aren't in season, you can leave this out.
• Celery: Celery is a traditional ingredient found in this recipe and adds a nice color and crunch you just can't find else ware.
• Red Onion: Red or purple onion gives the salad a depth of flavor and bite.
• Parsley: The fresh parsley really elevates the flavor and color.
• Italian Dressing: Use your favorite store-bought Italian Dressing or make my homemade Zesty Italian Dressing. You can also just use nice olive oil, red wine vinegar, and garlic.
• Salt & Black Pepper

Favorite Italian Dressings

If you don't want to or don't have time to make your own dressing, here are a few of my favorite store-bought ones.

• Primal Kitchen Italian Vinaigrette
• Italaian Romano Vinaigrette
• Ken's Steakhouse Zesty Italian

Instructions:

Here's an overview of how to make my Black Eyed Peas Salad with Italian Dressing, but keep scrolling for the full printable recipe.

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the rinsed black eyed peas, green bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, cherry tomato, celery, and red onion.
2. Mix together your dressing following my directions for Zesty Italian Salad Dressing or use store-bought.
3. Pour the dressing over the black eyed peas mixture and stir until well combined.  Add the fresh chopped parsley.
4. Cover and refrigerate for 3-4 hours or up to overnight.

Variations

I love this Black Eyed Peas Salad with Italian Dressing recipe as written, but here are some fun variations.

• Mix up the Veggies: You can use different hard veggies for this salad like white onion, cucumber, or corn!
• Mix up the Dressing: This would also be tasty with a Red Wine Vinaigrette Dressing.
• Make it Black Beans: Mix it up by using one can of black eyed peas and one can of black beans.  You could also use white beans or navy beans.
• Make it Meaty: Add bacon.
• Make it Cheesy: Add parmesan, feta, or shredded cheese.
• Make it Spicy: Add some chopped jalapeno peppers to make it spicy.

FAQ

Can I make this Black Eyed Pea Salad ahead of time?

Yes! This is one recipe that actually tastes BETTER made ahead of time because of the marinating with the Italian Dressing.  Make it 3-4 hours ahead of time or up to overnight for your party, dinner, or potluck.

How do I store leftovers?

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Can I make this with dried black eyed peas?

Yes! You don't need to pre-soak black eyed peas to cook them but it does help.  You can soak them overnight in cold water.  When ready to cook put about a cup of black eyed peas in 3 cups of salted water and bring to a bowl.  Reduce the heat and simmer for around 20-30 minutes or until the beans are tender.  From there prepare the salad as written.

Can I make this with frozen black eyed peas?

Yes! Just follow the instructions to thaw and cook the black eyed peas on the bag, and then follow the rest of the instructions for this recipe.

This Black Eyed Pea Salad is a Party Favorite!

This Black Eyed Pea Salad with Italian Dressing is a party favorite because of how easy it is to make!   I also love that it's one of those dishes that tastes better when you make it ahead.  Plus, it's budget-friendly using canned beans.

Serve it at your next potluck, picnic, BBQ, or even holiday dinner!  This would be unexpected and delicious at Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year.  It's one of those dishes that doesn't really have a season.

It's great as a side dish or salad OR serve it like salsa or dip with tortilla chips.

I honestly even love it over a bed of greens as an everyday lunch.

Here are some other ideas to make it a meal.

Make it a Meal:

• Rosemary Baked Salmon
• Lemon Pesto Salmon
• Blackened Mahi Mahi
• No Boil Slow Cooker Mac & Cheese
• Oven Roasted Portobello Mushroom Steaks
• Lemon Pepper Baked Tilapia

More Healthy Bean Based Salads:

• Fresh White Bean Salad
• Mediterranean Chickpea Salad
• Black Bean Salad
• Rainbow Chickpea Salad

If you make this Black Eyed Pea Salad with Italian Dressing, I’d love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and a star rating ★ below. Make sure to follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook too!

Black Eyed Pea Salad with Italian Dressing

Julie Wunder

This Black Eyed Pea Salad with Italian Dressing is bright, zesty, and colorful featuring tender black eyed peas, and crisp vegetables and marinated in a homemade Zesty Italian Dressing!  This make-ahead side dish is great for potlucks or any occasion.  It's also vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 10 minutes mins

Servings 8

Calories 111 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 2 cans black eyed peas - 15.5 ounce, rinsed and drained
• 1 green bell pepper, diced (about 1 cup)
• 1 yellow bell pepper, diced (about 1 cup)
• 1 cup cherry tomato, halved
• ½ cup celery, diced
• ½ cup red onion
• parsley, chopped
• ⅓ cup Zesty Italian Dressing

Instructions

 

• In a large mixing bowl, combine the rinsed black eyed peas, green bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, cherry tomato, celery, and red onion.
• Mix together your dressing following my instructions for the Zesty Italian Dressing or use store bought.
• Pour together the dressing over the black eyed peas mixture and stir until well combined. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley.
• Cover and refrigerate for 3-4 hours or up to overnight before serving.

Notes

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days.

Use my Zesty Italian Dressing recipe or buy your favorite store-bought brand.

Nutrition

Calories: 111kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 5gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 0.4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.01gSodium: 108mgPotassium: 311mgFiber: 5gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 217IUVitamin C: 45mgCalcium: 26mgIron: 2mg

Tried this recipe?Mention @Julie_Wunder or tag #RunninginaSkirt!

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