This Vegan Smoky Sweet Potato Black-eyed Pea Soup is full of flavor, plant-based protein, is oil-free, dairy-free and made with delicious whole foods! A total bowl of comfort that is easy to make and will leave you feeling satisfied!
Who’s ready to ring in the New Year with an amazing, comforting bowl of good-for-you soup? Me. *Raises both hands*. I think you all know by now my affinity for soups. They are my favorite thing to eat…..and create for that matter. This Smoky Sweet Potato Black-eyed Pea Soup is almost a stew because it is a fabulously, thick and hearty soup that is slow-cooked, but regardless what you call it, you will love it.
There are a ton of black-eyed pea soup recipes out there I’m sure, so I simply created mine based off of ingredients I love and would want in my own soup. I personally think a balance of sweetness goes incredibly perfect with a slightly spicy soup. One of my very first recipes I wrote for blogging, and one of my favorite soups, is my 1 Pot Sweet Potato Lentil Soup. I immediately remembered that one and how incredible the flavors were, so I decided to use that one for inspiration.
This vegan Smoky Sweet Potato Black-Eyed Pea Soup is not only incredibly healthy and good for you, it is also oil-free, low-fat and 1 pot! It’s, of course, just 8 ingredients (+ salt & pepper & water). You do need to soak the beans the night before, this produces the best texture and flavor. Sometimes canned beans just don’t cut it.
Speaking of the New Year, are you one to make traditional new commitments or plans, or do you not fall into that? I, personally, think it’s dependent on one’s personality. Some people like the new year as a new start, but I don’t need a new year for that. When I decide I want to make a change, I attempt to do it right then and there. I find if you wait until a specific date or this or that, it doesn’t tend to really stick as much. If you want something, go for it now!
Kind of like this soup, go start soaking your dried black-eyed peas now!
HOW DO YOU MAKE BLACK-EYED PEA SOUP?
To make this Smoky Sweet Potato Black-eyed Pea Soup, first you will add your dried beans to a large pot. Cover with water. Put the lid on and soak overnight or 8 hours max. Drain and rinse them well and remove any rocks or debris. Add them back to the pot and add the 6 cups warm water.
Bring the beans to a boil and as soon as it is a rolling boil, turn to low simmer, cover with a lid and cook for 60 minutes. While it is cooking, chop your bell peppers, onion, garlic and sweet potato. Gather the salsa, cumin, paprika and salt & pepper). Note: You can also prepare the cornbread muffins at this time if you want.
After the 60 minutes is up, add the remaining ingredients. Stir well and bring it back to a boil. Once boiling, turn down to medium-low heat, cover with the lid slightly tilted allowing steam still to escape and let it cook 15-20 minutes just until the potatoes are tender.
Serve this soup alongside my Magic Skillet Cornbread. But to make things a bit quicker and easier, I made them as muffins. Easier to dip into each bowl.
Let me know below what you think of this vegan, gluten-free Smoky Sweet Potato Black-Eyed Pea Soup by leaving feedback and doing the star rating please!! It means the world to me. Thank you and Happy New Year!

Smoky Sweet Potato Black-eyed Pea Soup
Ingredients
- 1 lb (16 oz bag) dried black-eyed peas, soaked 8 hours (overnight) covered in water
- 6 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
- 2 cups (280g) chopped bell peppers (I used 1 red and 1 green)
- 1 1/2 cups (195g) finely diced onion
- 4 (2 1/2 tablespoons minced) x-large garlic cloves
- 3 cups (470g) of 1/2 inch chunks peeled and chopped sweet potato
- 3/4 cup (120g) medium heat salsa (use mild for less spicy)
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 2-3 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 2-3 teaspoons or more salt (This makes a HUGE pot, so that is why you need more salt than normal and will greatly vary depending on the broth used)
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- OPTIONAL: This is great served with any of my cornbread recipes listed below.
- I use this scale.
Instructions
- I like to serve this with cornbread. You can use any of these, all will be delicious. Vegan gluten-free Skillet Cornbread, Cornbread Muffins or Pumpkin Cornbread.
- Time-saving tip: The day before I cooked the soup, when I placed the beans to soak I also chopped the bell peppers and onion and placed them in the freezer, so all I had to do was add them the next day and chop the sweet potato and garlic. Made it simpler.This recipe is written based on the large amount of water used with the dried beans. I don't recommend canned, as it will totally change everything else about the recipe. This makes a huge pot, which is how I like to make a good soup at New Year's for leftovers.
- Add your dried beans to a large pot and cover in water. Put the lid on and soak overnight or 8 hours max. Drain and rinse them well and remove any rocks or debris.
- Add them back to the pot and add the 6 cups vegetable broth.
- Bring the beans to a boil and as soon as it is a rolling boil, turn to low simmer, cover with a lid and cook for 60 minutes (set your timer). While it is cooking, chop your bell peppers, onion, garlic and sweet potato. Get all your remaining ingredients ready as well (salsa, cumin, paprika and salt & pepper). Start with 2 teaspoons or so of salt.Note: You can also prepare the cornbread muffins at this time if you want. They add a wonderful slightly sweet taste and texture to the soup. Come on, make them.
- After the 60 minutes is up, add the remaining ingredients. Stir well and bring it back to a boil. Once boiling, turn down to medium-low heat, cover with the lid slightly tilted allowing steam still to escape and let it cook 15-20 minutes just until the potatoes are tender. The beans should be done at this point as well. If you follow each step as I've noted, the beans should be done. If not, let them cook just a few minutes more.
- Taste and add any more salt if needed. This can greatly vary depending on the broth that is used. You may need 1-2 more teaspoons, it will depend.
- Remove from the heat and serve with cornbread!








Thanks, Brandi for another great recipe which I tried out today. The best part besides it being extremely easy and quick (if you don’t count boiling beans)? I used up the left over salsa (didn’t have enough so added a small tomato) and the black eyed peas which I already had boiled and had left over. I kind of eyeballed amounts so I think I oversalted it abut but added more water and it turned out really good. Both my husband and brother in law (both meat eaters) loved it and had seconds (that’s my test if the dish was successful :)). Yet another recipe that will go into menu rotation 🙂 Saving into bookmarks! Thanks.
Yay! I’m so happy to hear this soup scored approval by both your hubby and brother who are meat eaters and they loved it, that makes me happy! Thank you so much for the feedback Milda!
while a new year does come with some renewal, I tend to practice my ‘resolve’ whenever it hits, ha! new years resolutions don’t really appeal…
this soup, however – DOES appeal! I love the sound of this – saving to try soon!
This was the best ? it is very flavorful but simple to make! It makes a nice big pot so there is enough for lunches for the week . Thank you Brandi
I’m so happy you enjoyed it Bev, thank you so much for the feedback!
This soup looks so hearty and delicious and I love that you added so much garlic. Perfect to ward off the sniffles in the new year.
I’m so glad you like it Mel, thank you so much! Yes, the more garlic, the better, and it’s a HUGE pot, so it needed a substantial amount 🙂
I love smoky food and there’s nothing better to go with black-eyed peas. Yum!
Made this today and absolutely loved it! Such great flavor, and so easy to make. Being new to plant based living it has been such a blessing finding your recipes. Everything has been outstanding! Thank you Brandi ?
I’m thrilled you loved it Karen! I’m so glad to connect with you through Facebook, thank you for sharing your story and so glad my recipes have all been hits so far for you and your husband. Thanks so much for the feedback, so happy to hear it!
You nailed yet another one with this Brandi! Photos are coming soon on Instagram. Perfect mix of smoke and heat. I did deviate (who me???) and added a teaspoon of Marmite to it which gave it an umami factor. It worked well with my Sweet Heat Collard Greens and, of course, the Pinole Azul cornbread to round out the classic Southern tradition with an added Tex-Mex flair.
Oh that sounds so wonderful Kim!! Thank you so much for the wonderful feedback, I’m so happy you loved the soup so much! So glad to hear, thank you for letting me know and for rating the recipe 🙂
Made this today and absolutely loved it! Such great flavor, and so easy to make. Being new to plant based living it has been such a blessing finding your recipes. Ending has been outstanding! Thank you Brandi ?
Stunning pictures!!! I gotta try your soup. I am a big soups LOVER too. 😉
Aww thank you so much Cris! I’m so happy you like the pics, that means a lot to me and yes, let me know if you try the soup! 🙂
Made this last night, it was wonderful, & very easy! Im a huge fan of less than 10 ingredients & one pot dinners ? thanks for the great recipe!
We just did a taste test and it gets high marks! A great new recipe to ring in the New Year. Thanks for a new inspiration Brandi!
Yay! So happy to hear that, thank you so much for letting me know Peggy! 🙂
I so want this to start my new year with a big bowl of this! So many great ingredients!
What a beautiful big bowl of black eyed peas (and friends). This should bring lots of good luck in the new year!
I love black eyed peas! I make them in my Instant Pot, not soaked, and they take about 17 minutes!! It’s awesome! Love the smoky flavor in here with the sweetness of the potatoes. And those big mug/bowls are super cute! I could devour a big bowl of this soup!
I really, really need to get an instant pot, I’ve heard amazing things about it! That would save time too! Thank you so much Jenn!
We love our IP. As a matter of fact, hubby asked last night why we weren’t making this wonderful soup in the IP. We’re all in if you want to explore the IP with your fabulous recipes.
I don’t have one yet, but may need to get one! I also wonder how the liquid amount would vary? 6 cups is needed to slow cook it over the stove.
I was going to ask if you could instapot this recipe because that is the way I would make it ! Thank you!
Guess what’s on the menu for tomorrow? Was just thinking how to prepare some black-eyed peas for the New Year and this popped up! All ingredients are on hand so stay tuned. Thanks Brandi!
Oh yesss! Perfect timing! Can’t wait to hear what you think!
I love black eyed peas. This soup looks so healthy, warm, and satisfying!
You’re absolutely right, if you want to make a change you should do it immediately. No excuses. Happy New Year, Brandi!
Thank you Linda! I agree completely, if we want a change, why bother waiting? 🙂
YUM! Thanks for all your great healthy food ideas. Happy New Year!
If I did n’t have my black eyed peas on New Years….I would cry! Haha! Fantastic soup dear!
This soup looks amazing Brandi!
Thank you Becky!
I could seriously go for a bowl of this hearty and healthy soup right now girl. It looks like the perfect comforting soup to ring in twenty-sixteen!!! I love black eyes peas and they go so absolutely perfectly with sweet potatoes too! YUMM!!!
Wishing you a very happy new year my friend 🙂
Thank you so much Ceara! The sweet potatoes really made it so delicious and a little bit different than traditional New Years soups! Happy new year girl!
Hahaha I love the bean-soaking to life changes metaphor, so true! I agree, I’m not much for resolutions I’d rather just make the changes now than set deadlines to make the changes later. But one change I did not make is stocking my pantry with black eyed peas before this week because i have been seeing so many awesome recipes I want to try with them. I love this chunky soup/stew (I vote stew, I just like stews better :))! With potatoes AND cornbread I’m sold <3 Happy New Year's Brandi!
OHH my gosh, I’m ready!! I want this!!
Wow Brandi, yesterday I was so excited about your new recipe with black -eyed peas! So glad it’s already posted and I can comment! Love that you use black-eyed peas as you know I had a hoping john recipe on my blog in which I used these little power beans, so I’m convinced and already a fan. Love that you use salsa. It’s all about the flavors, so the idea of adding salsa is just gorgeous and brilliant. Your pictures make me just hungry. I want to dive into a bowl right now! I’m craving this right now, can you make this for me? Happy new year my friend. 🙂
Aww thank you so much Florian! You are so kind! Thank you for the compliments. I know salsa and sweet potatoes aren’t traditional, but I really love the flavor they added!
Totally love this soup! I have all these ingredients so will definitely have to give it a try. Beautiful photos! Happy 2016 to you, and thanks for sharing so many great recipes with all of us this year!:)
Thank you so much Heather! So nice of you to say that! Let me know what you think after you make it!
Smoked paprika is one of my FAVORITE spices! It’s got such incredible depth and flavor. This soup looks amazing! I am a huge fan of black-eyed peas! 🙂 Happy New Year!
Omg, me too! I LOVE anything smoky, I have so many smoky recipes, it’s borderline obsession, haha! This one was inspired by my smoky lentil soup. I just can’t get enough of that smoky flavor. Thank you so much!