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Creamy Pea Salad with Bacon is always a favorite side dish at barbecues or potlucks. The creamy dressing and crunchy, crispy bacon are so good!
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Green Pea Salad with Bacon is one of our favorite spring and summertime side dishes. Crisp green peas are a staple around our house, whether we grow our own or raid our mom’s garden! But even on the years we don’t plant peas, we love to make this vibrant, crisp and creamy salad. The dish just adds the right amount of color and flavor to so many summer meals. It’s easy, low carb, completely gluten free, and so yummy! Make this salad for your next patio picnic, spring luncheon or neighborhood potluck supper.
Ingredients in Pea Salad
- Frozen Peas – you can also use fresh or canned peas.
- Mayonnaise – To make this pea salad a bit more healthy, you can substitute Greek Yogurt for the mayo in the sauce. If you like the flavor of Miracle Whip instead, swap that for the mayo too. Another sauce option is to whisk in Ranch dressing or Italian dressing. It won’t be as creamy but it’s really delicious!
- Sour Cream
- White Vinegar – Add a little extra vinegar to give the sauce a bit more zing. You can also use apple cider vinegar.
- Kosher Salt and Black Pepper – one teaspoon salt and pepper, or more to taste
- Bacon – Use turkey bacon instead of regular bacon if you wish.
- Cheddar Cheese – I think sharp cheddar cheese has the best flavor for this salad. If you want to use less cheese, you can shred the cheese instead of using chunks. That’ll make it go further too!
Variations to this Pea Salad Recipe
I have seen this pea salad recipe made about a dozen different ways at least. Everyone seems to have a preference with their pea salad. Some just like it creamy, some like it to have some crunch. It really just depends on your taste. Personally, I just like it how it is. “If it ain’t broke.. ” ya know? Anyway, for those of you who want to add a little something more, here are some common mix-in ideas:
- boiled egg
- diced ham
- peanuts
- cashews
- smoked almonds
- green onion or chives
- chopped red onion – to make sure the onion doesn’t overtake the flavor of your pea salad, soak the diced onion in cold water for 5-10 minutes and then drain before adding.
- chopped mint or other fresh herbs
- feta cheese
- blue cheese
- pickles
- water chestnuts
- minced garlic
- fresh dill
Using Frozen Peas
When making this salad, I almost always reach for a bag of frozen peas. I love fresh peas, but when they’re not in season frozen is perfect! They’re easy to prepare because they’ve already been blanched before freezing. So all you have to do is just run them under some cool water, or let them thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Perfectly green, crisp, and flavorful every single time.
What to Serve with Pea Salad
Pea salad pairs perfectly with anything from backyard burgers to Sunday roasted chicken. It’s the perfect side dish for just about any meal. It tastes delicious alongside a honey ham dinner, steaks, fish, chicken, anything at all! Pea salad is also a delicious light supper all on its own, especially when you add diced ham, chicken or hard boiled eggs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Place the frozen peas in a colander in the sink and rinse with cold water.
No, frozen peas are pre-cooked. The just need to be thawed.
Store leftover creamy pea salad in an airtight container in the fridge. Eat leftovers within 5 days of making the salad.
Read Next: 35+ Best BBQ Side Dishes
More Tasty Salads
For more scrumptious side dish recipes beyond this pea salad for your next barbecue or potluck, try some of these amazing salad recipes:
- Best Potato Salad Ever
- Mom’s Traditional Macaroni Salad
- Pizza Pasta Salad
- Blueberry Jello Salad
- Snickers Apple Salad
How to Make Pea Salad
Creamy Pea Salad with Bacon
Ingredients
- 2 pounds frozen peas (about 4 cups)
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup sour cream (or Greek Yogurt)
- 1 Tablespoon white vinegar
- Kosher salt to taste
- ground black pepper to taste
- 10 slices bacon cooked and chopped (or crumbled)
- 8 ounces cheddar cheese cubed
Instructions
- Place frozen peas in a colander and rinse with cold water to thaw. It doesn't need to thaw completely. Just enough so the peas aren't sticking together. Place peas in a large bowl and set aside.
- Combine mayonnaise, sour cream, vinegar, salt and pepper in a small bowl.
- Add mixture to peas and gently stir with a rubber spatula until well combined.
- Gently stir in the crumbled bacon and cheese until combined.
- Add more salt and pepper, to taste, if needed.
- Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Notes
- To make this pea salad a bit more healthy, you can substitute Greek Yogurt for the mayo in the sauce.
- If you like the flavor of Miracle Whip instead, swap that for the mayo too.
- Another sauce option is to use Ranch dressing or Italian dressing. It won’t be as creamy but it’s really delicious!
I made it for the first time. Before I got creative the dressing was very bland. I did add the water chestnuts for needed crunch and I used minced fresh rosemary, parsley and garlic powder. It’s a good basic recipe that needed some UMPH but came out fantastic. Made it today for service tomorrow. Should improve over night.
I would have never of thought bacon and peas went so well together, thanks for sharing!
This is such a quick and easy salad recipe. I think adding nuts would make this even better. 🙂
This does look delicious as is but adding cashews, mint, or water chestnuts also sounds good!
This pea salad recipe is always a hit at our house. Peas, cheese and bacon – what’s not to love! I’ve never added water chestnuts, but that’s such a great idea. Thank you for sharing!
This looks like a great recipe to take to family gatherings – everyone loves sweet peas! And bacon!! That puts it over the top!