New Year's Day Black-Eyed Peas: Where to Find Them Cheap
Save per serving with $1.39-$1.89 dried bags and check store stock early for Jan. 1 cooking.
For cheap New Year's Day black-eyed peas, check dried store-brand bags at Walmart, Target, and Kroger-family stores. Walmart lists its Great Value dried Black Eyed Peas, 1-lb bag, at $1.72 with about 13 servings per bag Walmart product page. Black-eyed peas are small, cream-colored field peas cooked with rice and pork as Hoppin' John.
Missouri Extension describes the Jan. 1 custom as food for wealth and good fortune, with cornbread standing for gold and greens for money.
Verification note: Program terms and availability can change. This page was checked against linked sources on November 05, 2026.
Why do families eat them January 1?
Cornell Botanic Gardens traces Hoppin' John to kitchens of enslaved Africans. The dish pairs black-eyed or red field peas with rice and pork. Many Southern families still eat it Jan.
1 for luck. Arkansas Extension ties the custom to the Civil War. Union troops stripped Southern farms but left black-eyed peas, seen as cattle feed.
The spared field peas became a survival food and later a New Year symbol.
Do dried peas save more than cans?
Dried bags usually cost less per serving than cans because they hold more servings per dollar. A 1-lb dried bag makes many cups cooked, enough for a family meal plus leftovers. Cans save soaking and cooking time when you need one quick pot.
Store-brand cans still help for small households or single dishes. Buy one dried bag for the main batch and one can as backup for Dec. 31 cooking.
Where do shoppers find low prices?
Target lists Good & Gather Dry Blackeye Peas, 1-lb bag, around $1.79-$1.89 Target listing. That gives shoppers a second national store-brand option beside Walmart. Check the dry-beans aisle first, then holiday displays near rice and broth.
Fry's listings, from the Kroger family, show Kroger peas around $1.39-$1.59 and Bush's 15.8-oz around $1.99 Fry's listing. Listings include 15.5-oz cans and 16-oz dried bags. Bush's site notes 15.8-oz and 111-oz cans plus a find-in-store locator for local checks Bush's product page.
How to plan before January 1 sellouts?
Shelf prices and holiday displays vary by store and often sell out near Jan. 1. Missouri Extension notes that timing pressure makes early shopping practical.
Buy dried bags in November or early December if you have storage space. Skip the old coin-in-the-pot trick. Missouri Extension warns coins in cooked peas are a choking hazard.
Rinse dried peas, check local stock with the store locator, and keep a can backup.