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Creamy Pea Salad with Bacon is a popular southern dish that is filled with crunchy peas, crispy bacon, chopped red onions, and cheddar cheese. This is an easy to make side dish that is perfect for your next potluck!
I am a lover of “salads” of every variety! Fruit salad, pasta salad, actual salad, you name it and I’m here for it. If you are like me, then you are going to love this California Spaghetti Salad, this delicious Ambrosia Salad, and this crowd-pleasing Pistachio Salad.
Creamy Pea Salad
Peas. You either love them or hate them right? I love peas. One of the only veggies I actually like to eat. Even if you don’t like peas, this creamy pea salad is a potluck staple. I have been making some classics here on the blog lately. Ones that I have grown up with and are always at a potluck or family gathering (like this cheesecake salad and this bacon ranch potato salad). This creamy pea salad is one of them. It is a southern favorite and really popular. And filled with bacon, it makes it even better!
I love this pea salad because it is so simple to make. I am usually in a hurry to make something quick for a barbeque and that is why I love to make this dish. You just have to add in some thawed peas, bacon, cubed cheese, and red onion and toss it in a creamy mixture. It is ready to go out the door in no time at all.
Ingredients
The basic ingredients in this best ever creamy pea salad are what makes this recipe one I make all the time. It’s so simple to throw together and it’s always a hit. I don’t have this on the list, but you can definitely add some freshly cracked black pepper over the top. I usually do! You can find the measurements below in the recipe card.
- Peas: I like to use frozen because that is the most convenient. Let them thaw before using.
- Red Onion: Because you won’t be cooking the onion, it’s a good idea to use purple onion. They are mild and crisp.
- Cheddar Cheese: Buy a block of cheese and cut it into cubes.
- Bacon: This is super delicious with the peas. You can leave it out if you want to, or use ham as a substitute. You won’t need to add salt because of the bacon.
- Parsley: Fresh parsley adds great flavor and color.
- Sour Cream: This is part of what makes it so creamy and delicious.
- Mayonnaise: Mix mayo with the sour cream for the perfect taste.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: This is the ingredient that makes this different from all of the other salad recipes out there. It’s fresh with a little tang that brings the whole salad to life.
- Sugar: This is to balance out the acid from the vinegar.
Classic Creamy Pea Salad Recipe
Creamy pea salad is a simple pot luck staple that you can whip up in just 15 minutes. These are very basic ingredients that come together to make the best pea salad you’ll ever try! You could add some dill and garlic powder to the creamy pea salad dressing ingredients if you wanted to mix things up. Here is how to make this recipe.
- Add Ingredients: In a large bowl add the peas, red onion, cheddar cheese, bacon and parsley.
- Whisk Wet Ingredients: In a small bowl whisk together sour cream, mayonnaise, cider vinegar, and sugar.
- Toss Together: Pour the creamy mixture in the large bowl over the peas. Toss until the peas are fully coated. Chill for 30 minutes before serving.
Tips for Making Creamy Pea Salad
There are definitely more ways than one to make this delicious creamy pea salad recipe. I don’t even make it exactly as the recipe is written every single time. If you are short on ingredients or want to switch up the flavors, here are some ways that I’ve made this recipe and loved it.
- Frozen Peas: You can definitely eat them raw. A lot of people wonder if it’s safe to eat frozen peas without cooking them. The answer is yes! Just like you can put frozen strawberries in your smoothie, frozen peas are totally safe to eat raw.
- Shredded Cheese: If you would rather shredded cheese in your green pea salad than cubed cheese, go for it! It is just as good with shredded cheese, and if you buy pre-shredded it cuts down on your prep time. I prefer the texture of the bigger chunks of cheese but it’s totally up to you.
- Substitutions: You could substitute the sour cream for greek yogurt. It actually tastes amazing that way and it stays just as creamy and flavorful. You could also add ranch dressing instead of the mayo if you wanted.
Storing Leftovers
This creamy pea salad makes great leftovers. It holds up really well in the refrigerator and is great eaten cold or at room temperature. Here is how to store leftovers.
- In the Refrigerator: You can store your leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
More Creamy Salads
I think everyone needs to have at least 2 or 3 good creamy salad recipes in their recipe book. They are a great way to get people eating their veggies and enjoying them too. Here are a few of my favorite recipes that you just have to try!
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Creamy Pea Salad with Bacon
Ingredients
- 2 pounds peas thawed
- 1/2 cup red onion chopped
- 1 1/2 cup cheddar cheese cubed
- 8 slices bacon cooked and chopped
- 3 Tablespoons parsley chopped
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 3 Tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 Tablespoon cider vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon sugar
Instructions
- In a large bowl add the peas, red onion, cheddar cheese, bacon and parsley.
- In a small bowl whisk together sour cream, mayonnaise, cider vinegar, and sugar.
- Pour the creamy mixture in the large bowl over the peas. Toss until the peas are fully coated. Chill for 30 minutes before serving.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Can’t wait to try
I am this salad for potlucks or BBQ’s and I make it while the peas are still frozen, they thaw while going and it doesn’t need to be put into a cooler. Stir before serving. Works great!
My mom used to make something very close to this on hot , muggy nights where family and friends would gather and bring a
dish down by the lake at the end of the street . the adults would light a fire to keep the bugs off , and we went in the water
with headlights from the cars to show us the way. The only thing I minded was walking my sisters and cousins into the about
a mile so nobody could see then , they had nothing to see . Thanks for the memory .
Bill
excellent summer recipe we have made several times
This is outstanding!! also added water chestnus,gave it an added crunch!!
Add romaine lettuce to salad. And hard boil eggs
I made this for this weekend. I had really good quality ham so diced that up and added in place of bacon. YUM. A local grocery store makes theirs fresh and I adore it….THIS however, is light years better!
OMG!! I made a double batch for my first try and WOW!! When I got to the point of mixing everything together, in my head – I wasn’t liking this salad. But first spoonful won me over! This is THE BEST pea salad…ever!
really good… making it for easter dinner….
Can u use plain yogurt in place of sour cream? Have a large container of plain yogurt I need to use.
Yes, that will work. It may alter the taste and texture but you can use it.
Could I use Apple Cider Vinegar in place.of the Cider Vinegar?
Can you use fresh peas or do they have to be thawed frozen peas?
Yes, fresh peas will taste even better!