The Best Creamy Pea Salad Recipe (2024)

Easter | Easter Dinner | Recipes | Salad

ByJo-Anna RooneyPostedUpdated

Jump to Recipe

This Classic Pea Salad Recipe is a perfect sidefor any meal! Sweet peas, crispy bacon, red onion and chunks of cheese all mixed in a creamy dressing. Pairs perfectly with ham at Easter, or with grilled meats. Creamy and flavourful!

If you’re looking for a delicious and easy pea salad this Classic Creamy Pea Salad is a great side dish. It’s perfect for dinner any day of the week, and it’s especially delicious with holiday meals (with ham or turkey), served at family gatherings, and it’s a perfect summer salad for potlucks and picnics!

The Best Creamy Pea Salad Recipe (1)

About this Pea Salad

This is a cold pea salad that is light and creamy. The sweetness of the peas with the cheddar cheese, red onion, crispy salty bacon, and creamy dressing makes for the most delicious side dish. And it’s so perfectserved with ham.

Simple Ingredients:

  • peas
  • bacon
  • cheese
  • onion
  • mayonnaise
  • sour cream
  • milk
The Best Creamy Pea Salad Recipe (2)

Add this Pea Salad to your Easter Menu!

This salad makes an appearance every year at our Easter dinner, it’s the perfect side dish with baked ham! This salad actually reminds me a lot of the7 layer saladthat we love so much, but it’s more simple and quick to make.

The Best Creamy Pea Salad Recipe (3)

Make ahead or serve right away!

Really, you could make this pea salad in about 15 minutes and then serve it right away (assuming you have some cooked bacon ready to go). Or if you wish, you can prepare this simple side dish up to a day ahead and have it ready ahead of time.It’s so easy to make, and really, the longest part of making this salad is cooking the bacon.

The Best Creamy Pea Salad Recipe (4)

Delicious and simple.

The Best Creamy Pea Salad Recipe (5)

Pea Salad Recipe Tips:

  • PEAS:Use FROZEN sweet green peas. If you use fresh peas, you will have to cook them. Do not use canned peas.For frozen peas, the big question is whetherto thaw or not to thaw?If you want to serve the salad right after you make it, you should thaw the peas in the fridge overnight. OR you can toss the salad with frozen peas if you are planning to serve the salad a few hours later, or even the next day. Sometimes I will let the peas thaw while I cook the bacon as well. Or you can float the sealed bag of peas in a large bowl of cool water to thaw.
  • BACON: I like to cook bacon in the oven. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper, making sure that the paper goes over the edges so the bacon grease will stay in the paper. Lay the bacon out on the paper, making sure not to layer it. Then put it in the oven, and set the temperature to 425 degrees F. Cook for 20 – 25 minutes or until the bacon is cooked enough to crumble.
  • SOUR CREAM: You can also use Greek yogurt as an alternative. I’ve also used ranch dressing in a pinch.
  • MAYONNAISE: I prefer to use real mayo, but you can use miracle whip.
  • CHEESE: Use a sharp cheddar cheese for maximum flavour.
  • ONION: This recipe calls for red onion, but green onion is delicious too.
  • MAKE AHEAD: You can make this salad up to 1 day ahead. Store in an airtight container in the fridge and mix well before serving.
  • LEFTOVERS: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Mix well before serving.
  • VARIATIONS: You can serve with sliced hard-boiled eggs, or substitute the bacon for turkey bacon. This is a very versatile pea salad.

What to serve with Pea Salad:

  • Baked Ham
  • Cheesy Stuffed Turkey Cutlets
  • Scalloped Potatoes
  • Roasted Asparagus
  • Homemade Buns

Print

The Best Creamy Pea Salad Recipe

The Best Creamy Pea Salad Recipe (11)

Print Recipe

5 Stars4 Stars3 Stars2 Stars1 Star

No reviews

This Pea Salad Recipe is a perfect side for any meal! Peas, crispy bacon bits, red onion and chunks of cheese all mixed in a creamy dressing. Pairs perfectly with ham at Easter, or with grilled meats. Creamy and flavourful!

  • Author: Jo-Anna Rooney
  • Prep Time: 35 minutes
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 68 servings 1x
  • Category: Salad

Ingredients

UnitsScale

Salad Ingredients:

  • 1 (750 g) bag frozen peas, thawed (see notes)
  • 1 lb bacon (cooked and chopped)
  • 2 tbsp finely chopped red onion
  • 1 cup small cubed cheddar cheese

Dressing Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tbsp sour cream
  • 2 tsp milk

Instructions

  1. In a salad bowl toss together the thawed peas, onion, cheddar cheese cubes and cooked and crumbled bacon.
  2. In a separate bowl, blend together the ingredients for the dressing: the mayonnaise, sour cream and milk. I like to use a hand blender for this step, you can also use a whisk.
  3. Add the dressing to the peas and mix well.
  4. You can serve this salad right away, or it can chill in the fridge until you are ready to serve it, for up to 1 or 2 days. This salad actually gets better after it has rested. Just make sure to give it a stir before serving.
  5. If you wish, you can season with salt and black pepper to taste.

Recipe adapted from The Pioneer Woman

PIN IT to make later!

The Best Creamy Pea Salad Recipe (12)

More Delicious Recipes for Spring:

I hope you enjoy this easy pea salad recipe as much as we do!Have a delicious day!

The Best Creamy Pea Salad Recipe (13)

The Best Creamy Pea Salad Recipe (14)

Jo-Anna Rooney

Hi I'm Jo-Anna Rooney, the creator, director, baker, maker and home decorator here at A Pretty Life in the Suburbs! I'm sharing a simple home life through fresh and easy recipes and uncomplicated home tips and home decor.

The Best Creamy Pea Salad Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is pea salad made of? ›

Pea salad is a classic American side dish that's as colorful as it is delicious! It's packed with bright green peas, red onion, cheddar cheese, and bacon. Then, all of those ingredients are tossed with a dressing made from sour cream, mayonnaise, red wine vinegar, salt, pepper, and a little pinch of sugar.

How much sugar is in pea salad? ›

Per ½ cup serving: 144 calories; 6.8g total fat (3.1g saturated, 0.1g polyunsaturated, 0.0g monounsaturated); 277mg sodium; 11.9mg cholesterol; 11.6g carbohydrate; 4.0g fiber; 4.1g sugars; 10g protein; 237.4mg potassium.

What is the difference between peas and snap peas? ›

Sugar snap peas are a cross between snow and garden peas. The pods of snow peas are flatter with small, premature peas, whereas sugar snap peas are more rounded. Both have an identical nutritional profile and very similar flavors although sugar snap peas tend to be sweeter and more flavorful.

Is pea good or bad for health? ›

Peas are a good source of vitamins C and E, zinc, and other antioxidants that strengthen your immune system. Other nutrients, such as vitamins A and B and coumestrol, help reduce inflammation and lower your risk of chronic conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, and arthritis.

What type of pea is most nutritious? ›

Green peas are low in saturated fat, cholesterol, and salt. They are a good source of protein, vitamins, and minerals, including vitamin A, vitamin B6, folate, and magnesium. They are also an excellent source of fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K, thiamin, and manganese.

Is it OK to eat green peas everyday? ›

Consuming green peas in excessive amounts may lead to the problem of stomach bloating. According to a study at the Harvard School of Public Health, uncooked green peas include several antinutrients like lectin and phytic that may result in bloating, gas, and flatulence.

What are peas made of? ›

Raw green peas are 79% water, 14% carbohydrates, 5% protein, and contain negligible fat (table).

What is the difference between green beans and peas? ›

Peas and beans do look very similar and fall under the general seed family, but they aren't the same. Peas are generally round while beans have a wider variety of shapes. Color also varies considerably with non-pea beans. Peas don't usually vary that much in color – they're mostly green.

What do pea greens taste like? ›

Young pea greens have a flavor that's similar to pea shoots: They are sweet and pealike. Tender pea greens make a wonderful salad green. We find it best to pair them with delicate vinaigrettes instead of rich and creamy dressings, which mute their flavor and weigh them down.

Can you eat pea greens raw? ›

Pea greens, the young and tender pea vines you may find piled high in tangled bundles at the farmers' market, can be eaten cooked or raw. They often appear in Asian cuisine, but their herbal flavor makes them an appealing garnish for nearly any dish.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Stevie Stamm

Last Updated:

Views: 5846

Rating: 5 / 5 (60 voted)

Reviews: 91% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Stevie Stamm

Birthday: 1996-06-22

Address: Apt. 419 4200 Sipes Estate, East Delmerview, WY 05617

Phone: +342332224300

Job: Future Advertising Analyst

Hobby: Leather crafting, Puzzles, Leather crafting, scrapbook, Urban exploration, Cabaret, Skateboarding

Introduction: My name is Stevie Stamm, I am a colorful, sparkling, splendid, vast, open, hilarious, tender person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.