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There’s actually a correct way to cook frozen peas, and it isn’t boiling! You can have sweet, crisp, vibrant green peas in less than ten minutes. Never mushy, never bland. Try them tonight!
I hate to break it to you, but you have probably been cooking peas wrong your entire life. I admit, I am guilty of ripping open a bag of frozen peas and throwing them into a pot of boiling water 5 minutes before dinner. Sure, it gets a a vegetable on the table fast, but did you know you can have your peas and enjoy them too?
I never hated peas, but never loved them either. Until I went to Epi’s (My favorite restaurant in Meridian, Idaho). On Thursdays, Epi’s offers free peas as an additional side dish to any meal and people specifically go there on Thursdays JUST for the peas. Strange right? But, after trying the tender, perfectly cooked peas, I understood. They were delicious! So I figured out just what makes those peas taste delicious and now I can share it with you!
Ingredients for Perfect Peas
Just a bag of frozen peas isn’t enough, not for show-stopping, succulent peas like these. Here’s what you need:
- Peas – Use frozen green peas for this recipe. They are firm and will soften in minutes.
- Butter – Salted, sweet cream butter is a rich and flavorful butter that gives you just enough deliciousness to the peas that is not overbearing.
- Sugar – I know it sounds weird, but it won’t make the peas too sweet, I promise!
- Garlic – Use fresh, crushed garlic for optimal aroma and flavor.
Step By Step Instructions
- First, empty a bag of frozen peas into a large skillet.
- Add six tablespoons of butter, garlic, and sugar on top.
- Sauté on medium heat until the butter is melted and the peas are cooked through.
- Salt and pepper, then serve!
Basic Tips for Green Peas on the Stovetop
These tips work for any frozen vegetable, not just peas. Try them when cooking green beans, corn, snow peas, snap peas, asparagus, etc.
- Don’t boil! Just don’t do it. I know the package tells you to, but don’t. Trust me.
- Add a little sugar to the peas. Just enough to enhance the natural sweetness of the peas. It’s ok, it won’t taste weird and it will bring out the natural sweetness.
- Don’t add salt until ready to serve. Salting them too early can dehydrate them and they (obviously) won’t be as sweet. Salt them after they have cooked and you can salt to taste.
Additional Ingredients to Try
Mint – If you want to try something different, try coarsely tearing up a few mint leaves and throwing them in the pan with the peas while cooking.
Cream– For a creamier texture, add a splash of heavy cream. If you want really creamy peas try our creamed peas recipe.
Onion – Add a little bit of minced onion during the cooking process.
Lemon – Add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice to the finished product.
Parmesan Cheese / Parmigiano Reggiano – Sprnkle on a little fresh Parmigiano Reggiano over the top
Petite peas are usually smaller, sweeter, and more delicate than regular peas. Regular peas are meatier, but the skin on them is a little tougher.
If you are using our method for cooking frozen peas, just a little garlic, sugar, salt, and pepper is all you need. If you want to make the peas a little more fancy, try adding some mint.
Believe it or not, frozen peas taste better than fresh ones when cooking. Why? Frozen peas are flash-frozen at the peak of ripeness. You can depend on the sweetness and soft texture. Store-bought fresh peas tend to become more firm and starchy from the time they are picked to the time they are purchased. Unless they are picked fresh from your garden, frozen peas are the way to go!
READ NEXT: The Best Traditional Easter Dinner Ideas
More Peas, Please
Try some more favorite recipes with peas! They are a great filler and help give you a delicious and healthy meal combination.
Creamed Peas
Creamed Peas and Potatoes
CrockPot Split Pea Soup
Basil and Sweet Pea Soup
Creamy Pea Salad with Bacon
Beef and Snow Peas
How to Cook Frozen Peas (the RIGHT way)
Video
Ingredients
- 1 pound frozen green peas
- 6 tablespoons butter salted, sweet cream
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 3 cloves garlic fresh, crushed
- kosher salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Combine peas, butter, sugar, and garlic in a medium-sized skillet.
- Cook at medium heat until butter is melted and peas are heated through about 5-7 minutes. Stir occasionally.
- Add salt and pepper. Serve.
Notes
- Don’t boil! Just don’t do it. I know the package tells you to, but don’t. Trust me.
- Add a little sugar to the peas. It’s okay, it won’t taste weird and it will bring out the natural sweetness.
- Don’t add salt until ready to serve. Salting them too early can dehydrate them and they (obviously) won’t be as sweet. Salt them after they have cooked and you can salt to taste.
When I was a kid and for most of my years, I hated peas. I’ve had them in cold salad and it wasn’t as bad as the canned peas I was given in my youth. This recipe was interesting AND turned out to be delicious. Thanks for sharing!
So glad you liked it!
I never thought much of frozen peas and never thought to make them solo as a side dish but wow definitely making this again and again, especially with how easy it was!! This might be my new pregnancy food fixation 😂
Not too blown away by this recipe….the peas were okay.
Love love love this super simple recipe! They are perfect every time! Thank you 😊
I have never liked little green peas until I made this recipe for my family who does like them. They were delicious and we are having them again today. I followed the recipe exactly and I did not let them boil!
I followed the directions and they were not good! They were hard; felt and tasted like they were made from dried peas that hadn’t cooked long enough. Terrible waste of my organic peas.
I am so sorry this didn’t work out for you. Were they frozen organic peas?
Delicious! Peas were super flavorful, without getting mushy! Easy recipe, with excellent results!
Who knew! I will never boil or microwave my peas again. I cut back on the butter some, but I loved them. Thank you!
Adding sugar to peas tastes very weird, I couldn’t eat them. Just salted is best.