Old Fashioned Pea Salad Recipe

This Old Fashioned Pea Salad is such a versatile side dish! It will be your go-to side dish for both summer gatherings AND winter holidays! Bold flavors of cheddar and red onion mix with the calming flavor of peas and sour cream…and don’t forget about the bacon! This is a classic recipe you’ll be making over and over!

I LOVE old-fashioned “throwback” recipes and this creamy pea salad is no exception! This is a delicious salad to enjoy in the spring and summer months when peas are at their peak. This classic pea salad looks great on your holiday table as well!

This easy pea salad recipe combines the classic flavors of traditional pea salad, but the sprinkle of dill and crispy bacon make it anything but boring!

I love serving this pea salad as a holiday side dish, or in the summer with my Smoked BBQ Chicken Thighs. It’s so versatile!

Need more old-fashioned throwback recipes?! You have to try my Old Fashioned Ham Salad and these Old Fashioned Sloppy Joes….with a twist!

RECIPE INGREDIENTS

You’ll need the following ingredients to make this delicious Easy Pea Salad Recipe:

INGREDIENT NOTES

Green Peas: The star ingredient! Frozen sweet peas work best, You can also use petite peas like this. If you have access to fresh peas, that’s even better!

Bacon: You can opt to cook up your own bacon or if you are short on time, you can use real bacon bits. Just make sure they are the REAL bacon bits and not the imitation kind you find in plastic containers.

Cheese: A classic pea salad recipe typically includes cheddar cheese CUBES but feel free to use shredded cheese, if you like. For the best taste, shred up your own vs. buying it pre-shredded. I always use sharp cheddar.

Mayo and Sour Cream: This recipe uses a combination of both for the best flavor!

HOW TO MAKE OLD-FASHIONED PEA SALAD: STEP BY STEP

Here are some quick visual instructions. Remember that full instructions with exact ingredients will be in the recipe card below!

Step 1: Thaw frozen peas — make sure they aren’t piping hot — chilled or room temperature is just fine.

Step 2: Place all ingredients into a large mixing bowl.

Step 3: Gently fold all ingredients together until well combined. For best results, chill for a couple of hours and serve!

RECIPE TIPS & TRICKS

• Do not over-warm your peas. You don’t want them frozen, but not piping hot, either. Keep them cool, so they help the salad chill. You can do a quick defrost in the microwave, but keep a close eye on them.
  
  You can also just leave the package of frozen peas out for a few hours before you assemble the salad. Running your frozen peas under warm water for a few seconds works, too. Just be sure they are dry before adding them to your salad.

Casey’s Top Tip: Since the main ingredients in the dressing are mayo and sour cream, don’t skimp! Use a good quality mayo like Hellman’s/Best Foods or Duke’s and full-fat sour cream for a perfectly creamy texture.

STORING PEA SALAD

• Storage: Store leftover pea salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days (my FAVORITE storage containers!). You can also cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap.
• Freezing: Because of the mayonnaise in this salad, I do not recommend freezing it.

ADDITIONS & SUBSTITUTIONS

Here are some yummy additions to this salad:

• Red Bell Pepper: Great for a slight crunch and color!
• Leftover Ham: Adding some cubed ham practically makes this pea salad a meal!
• Eggs: English pea salad typically includes chopped, hard-boiled eggs. You can add 2-3 eggs to this recipe if you like!

Here are some substitutions:

• Onion: If you don’t like red onion, sweet yellow onion or even green onion are good substitutes.
• Mayo: Miracle Whip can be used in place of mayo for some added sweetness. Some people also use a creamy dressing such as ranch in place of the mayo and sour cream.
• Bacon: Real bacon bits can be used in a pinch in place of “real,” freshly cooked bacon.