Amazing 10-Minute pea salad Joy

Let’s be real, you need that one perfect side dish—the one that travels well, pleases every single person who tries it, and takes almost no effort. That’s why I’m obsessed with this Classic Creamy Pea Salad. Forget fussy recipes; this is pure comfort food that proves incredible food doesn’t have to be complicated. This pea salad is the definition of a crowd-pleaser, ready in minutes with crispy bacon, sharp cheddar, and the dreamiest tangy dressing.

When I started Pure Cooking Joy, my whole goal was to share food that brings people together without adding stress to your life, which is what I talk about over on my ‘About’ page. This recipe embodies that ideal! I promise, once you nail this version, it’ll be your go-to for every single picnic and potluck on the calendar. It’s just that good, and you’ll feel like a total kitchen hero.

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Why This Classic Pea Salad Recipe is Your New Potluck Favorite

If you’re anything like me, entertaining shouldn’t mean spending the entire party stuck stirring a stove or worrying about wilting greens. That’s why this specific pea salad moves straight to the top of your rotation. It’s exactly the kind of dish I designed my whole site around—huge flavor, minimal fuss. It’s one of those dependable Potluck Favorites that everyone recognizes and loves!

Speed and Simplicity: The Quick Salad Recipe Advantage

Seriously, look at the recipe details, I timed it! We are talking a lightning-fast 10 minutes of prep time here. Since the bacon is already cooked (or you throw it in while you’re chopping the onion—multi-tasking, right?), you’re just combining. This truly is the definition of a Quick Salad Recipe. If you can pour things from a bag into a bowl and whisk two things together, you have already mastered this. It’s so approachable, even if the last thing you cooked was toast.

Make Ahead Salad Perfection for Any Gathering

This isn’t one of those salads that turns into mush if you look at it funny. In fact, it *needs* to chill! Using this as a Make Ahead Salad is actually the secret weapon. When you mix it up ahead of time, the dressing soaks into the peas just right, making it even better later. Plus, it holds up beautifully on a buffet table or tucked into a cooler for a summer picnic. No drama, just delicious results.

Gathering the Ingredients for Your Creamy Pea Salad

Okay, let’s talk about what we need to make this magic happen. Since I believe in making things easy, you won’t find a giant list of exotic items here. Remember Michael’s philosophy? Everyday ingredients, huge flavor! For this Pea Salad with Bacon and Cheese to be perfect, the preparation of those few items is everything. Pay close attention to thawing (we want them cold, not mushy!) and how you chop that onion.

When you gather everything, make sure your peas are fully thawed but still nice and cold from the fridge. Here’s the cheat sheet of what you need to pull together for stirring heaven:

• 1 (16 ounce) package frozen sweet peas, thawed completely
• 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded nicely
• 6 slices bacon, cooked until super crisp and then crumbled up small
• 1/2 cup red onion, finely chopped—and I mean fine!
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise (use the good stuff!),
• 2 tablespoons sour cream,
• 1 tablespoon white vinegar (don’t skip the tang!),
• 1 teaspoon sugar (just a pinch to balance it),
• 1/2 teaspoon salt,
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper.

See? Nothing scary! That mix of tangy dressing ingredients is what gives this classic recipe its punch. Just have everything ready to go before you start mixing.

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Step-by-Step Instructions for the Best Pea Salad Recipe

This is where the speed really shines through! Since we aren’t really cooking anything other than bacon, this process is just pure assembly. My whole goal here, as I show in my posts about weeknight dinner solutions, is to streamline the process so you get maximum flavor for minimum effort. Follow these steps for the Best Pea Salad Recipe, and you can’t go wrong.

Mixing the Pea Salad Components

First things first, get all your solids happy in one space. Take that big bowl and toss in your thawed peas, the shredded cheddar cheese, the crispy, crumbled bacon bits—oh, the bacon!—and the finely chopped red onion. Give that a quick little stir just to introduce them to each other. Now, in a completely separate small bowl (yes, two bowls, trust me on this!), whisk up that dressing. You want the mayonnaise, sour cream, vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper combined until it’s totally smooth and dreamy. Don’t just stir it; whisk it so there are no pockets of sour cream hiding!

Pour that beautiful, tangy dressing right over the chunky pea mixture. Now, and this is important for texture, you need to GENTLY fold everything together. If you stir too aggressively, the peas smash and you lose that fantastic crunch. We are just folding until everything is coated—like you’re tucking the ingredients into bed!

Chilling: The Key to a Flavorful Pea Salad

This step is probably the most crucial for flavor, even though it feels like waiting! You absolutely have to cover that bowl and stick it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. Seriously, don’t scoop it out right away. This chilling time is when that sweet, vinegary dressing soaks into the peas and the onions slightly mellow, bringing out the ‘Big on Flavor’ profile I always talk about. If I don’t make it ahead, I at least give it 20 minutes sitting on the counter while I clean up the prep mess. Patience pays off here; it turns a bowl of ingredients into actual, cohesive pea salad.

Step-by-Step Instructions for the Best Pea Salad Recipe

This is where the speed really shines through! Since we aren’t really cooking anything other than bacon, this process is just pure assembly. My whole goal here, as I show in my posts about weeknight dinner solutions, is to streamline the process so you get maximum flavor for minimum effort. Follow these steps for the Best Pea Salad Recipe, and you can’t go wrong.

Mixing the Pea Salad Components

First things first, get all your solids happy in one space. Take that big bowl and toss in your thawed peas, the shredded cheddar cheese, the crispy, crumbled bacon bits—oh, the bacon!—and the finely chopped red onion. Give that a quick little stir just to introduce them to each other. Now, in a completely separate small bowl (yes, two bowls, trust me on this!), whisk up that dressing. You want the mayonnaise, sour cream, vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper combined until it’s totally smooth and dreamy. Don’t just stir it; whisk it so there are no pockets of sour cream hiding!

Pour that beautiful, tangy dressing right over the chunky pea mixture. Now, and this is important for texture, you need to GENTLY fold everything together. If you stir too aggressively, the peas smash and you lose that fantastic crunch. We are just folding until everything is coated—like you’re tucking the ingredients into bed!

Chilling: The Key to a Flavorful Pea Salad

This step is probably the most crucial for flavor, even though it feels like waiting! You absolutely have to cover that bowl and stick it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. Seriously, don’t scoop it out right away. This chilling time is when that sweet, vinegary dressing soaks into the peas and the onions slightly mellow, bringing out the ‘Big on Flavor’ profile I always talk about. If I don’t make it ahead, I at least give it 20 minutes sitting on the counter while I clean up the prep mess. Patience pays off here; it turns a bowl of ingredients into actual, cohesive pea salad.

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Expert Tips for an Unforgettable Pea Salad with Bacon and Cheese

Okay, we nailed the assembly, but if you want this Pea Salad with Bacon and Cheese to go from “good” to “the one everyone asks for next time,” we need to talk details. Building confidence in the kitchen means mastering the little things, and since this is such a simple assembly, those little details make all the difference in texture and flavor. I want that satisfying, Crunchy Salad vibe every single time!

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions for Your Pea Salad

The quality of your main players really impacts this cold salad immensely. For the best savory bite, don’t skimp on that cheese! I specified sharp cheddar because the tang cuts through the creamy dressing perfectly. If you use mild cheddar, you just get… well, mildness! Sharpness is key here.

Now, let’s talk onions. Red onion provides that beautiful color and a nice bite, but if you find it a little too strong, the recipe notes have a great swap for you. Try substituting it with fresh green onions—just the green and light parts—chopped up. It gives you a great onion flavor that’s milder and certainly less aggressive if you’re serving picky eaters. Trust me, sometimes the best part of a recipe is knowing what you *can* change.

And about that bacon? It has to be crispy. Soggy bacon equals a sad Pea Salad with Bacon and Cheese! Cook it until it snaps when you break it, then blot it really well on paper towels before crumbling. Extra grease will dilute your beautiful dressing later on, and nobody wants a greasy salad.

Serving Suggestions for This Easy Side Dish Recipe

This Easy Side Dish Recipe is a total workhorse for any gathering, fitting perfectly with my belief that food should be made for sharing. Because this pea salad is so rich and creamy—thanks to that mayo and cheddar—it pairs wonderfully with grilled or smoky flavors. Forget boring lettuce salads; this is what people line up for at a BBQ!

When you bring this to a potluck, try setting it next to something tangy like vinegar-based coleslaw or smoky ribs. It travels so well that it’s mandatory for summer picnics, but honestly, it’s substantial enough to be a fantastic, cool side dish for Thanksgiving or Easter, too. It brings that salty, savory comfort food vibe that just rounds out any big meal perfectly. Just remember to keep it chilled!

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Storing and Reheating Your Classic Pea Salad

Because this Cold Salad Recipes masterpiece is mayo-based, we need to be smart about how we treat leftovers. The good news is that this is the perfect make-ahead dish! I often mix this pea salad up entirely the day before I plan to serve it, which gives me so much extra time on the day of the party. Remember when I talked about how chilling lets the flavors combine? Well, that works for storage too!

Make sure you cover that bowl TIGHTLY with plastic wrap or use an airtight container. Stored correctly in the refrigerator, this salad stays wonderfully fresh for up to two full days. The onions might soften just a touch by the second day, but honestly, the flavor deepens, and nobody complains.

Now, let’s address the elephant in the room: reheating. Nope! This is strictly a cold salad, so put that microwave far away from this bowl. If you’re serving it the next day, just pull it out about 15 minutes before company arrives. This lets it warm up *slightly* from icy cold, which really helps you taste the bacon and the cheddar better. It’s a simple trick that makes a huge difference for a dish meant to be served cool.

If for some wild reason it looks a little separated after sitting overnight, don’t panic! Just give it a good, gentle stir before serving, and that creamy dressing will come right back together. It’s resilient, which is why it’s high on my list of go-to comfort food favorites.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pea Salad

I love hearing from you all over on my soups and salads page when you make something! Because this pea salad pops up at so many events—from BBQs to bigger holiday spreads—I often get asked the same few practical things. Here are the answers to the most common questions I hear about making this the perfect Picnic Side Dishes standout!

Can I use canned peas instead of frozen in this salad?

Oh, that’s a common question, especially if you’re trying to make this recipe even faster! While the recipe calls for thawed frozen peas because they hold their shape and crunch so much better, you absolutely *can* use canned peas if you’re in a huge pinch. However, you MUST drain the canned peas really, really well—like, press them against a strainer for a minute or two. Canned peas release a lot more water, so if you use them, you might notice your finished salad is a little looser in consistency. I still strongly recommend frozen if you can swing it for that classic firmness!

How do I stop my creamy pea salad from getting too watery?

This is the eternal problem with any mayonnaise or sour cream-based salad! The first line of defense is making sure your peas are fully thawed and patted dry *before* they hit the bowl. Second, and this is key for this particular recipe, make sure you are using that slight pinch of sugar and the vinegar. The vinegar helps the mayonnaise structure stay firm longer. The absolute best defense, though, is what we talked about before: chilling! The longer it sits, the more the ingredients absorb the dressing, and the less likely it is to separate into a watery mess while sitting outside at your next gathering.

Is this recipe meant to be an authentic Southern Pea Salad?

It’s definitely in that family! When people talk about Southern Pea Salad, they usually mean something creamy, savory, and definitely involving bacon and cheese. My version sticks to that core creamy crunch but keeps it super accessible—I usually skip the hard-boiled eggs that sometimes show up in older Southern recipes. If you want to make it super traditional, chop up two hard-boiled eggs in there with the bacon and cheese. It just adds another layer of comfort!

Can I add hard-boiled eggs or celery for extra crunch?

Yes, yes, and yes! I know I just mentioned eggs, and they are a fantastic addition. If you want to add them for that extra hearty Southern vibe, chop up two medium hard-boiled eggs and fold them in during the main mixing step. As for crunch, celery is a great idea if you really want to amp up the texture, especially if you are worried about the onions being too soft after chilling. Just finely chop about half a cup of celery hearts—the lighter inner stalks work best—and toss them in with the peas for an extra snap!

Managing Your Kitchen Tasks with Meal Planning

When I was stuck in that corporate grind, the thought of dinner was exhausting, which is why I champion recipes like this simple pea salad now. It’s proof that you can create something delicious without stress. This is where having a solid approach to meal planning really helps you find that pure cooking joy I talk about!

When you know you already have a fantastic, ready-to-go side dish like this in the fridge, it frees up mental space. It means one less thing to worry about when you’re trying to coordinate a big weekend meal. This simplicity is the goal—less stress in the kitchen, more time enjoying the food and the people you’re sharing it with. You can see just how committed I am to that philosophy over on my Facebook page if you want to follow along behind the scenes!

Share Your Perfect Pea Salad Creation

Now that you have the tools and the recipe for what might just be your favorite side dish ever, it’s time for the best part: sharing the joy! Remember when I first made that loaf of bread and felt that amazing sense of peace? That’s what cooking is for—connecting and sharing something delicious.

I absolutely love hearing about your kitchen adventures! Once you’ve whipped up this creamy, crunchy pea salad, come right back here and let me know how it went. Did it disappear first at your summer BBQ? What other classic summer sides did you pair it with? Drop a comment below and tell me your favorite potluck dish to bring along!

And please, if you made this and loved it—or if you added your own little twist—snap a picture! Tag me on social media so I can see your amazing work. Seeing the food you create, meant for sharing with the people you care about, is truly the “Pure Cooking Joy” moment for me. Happy mixing, and I hope this salad becomes a staple at your table!

Classic Creamy Pea Salad with Bacon and Cheddar

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Make this classic, creamy pea salad quickly. It combines sweet peas, crispy bacon, sharp cheddar, and onion in a tangy dressing. This recipe is easy to prepare and perfect for potlucks or as a make-ahead side dish.

• Author: purejoyalex
• Prep Time: 10 min
• Cook Time: 5 min
• Total Time: 45 min
• Yield: 6 servings 1x
• Category: Side Dish
• Method: Mixing
• Cuisine: American
• Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 (16 ounce) package frozen sweet peas, thawed
• 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
• 6 slices bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled
• 1/2 cup red onion, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons sour cream
• 1 tablespoon white vinegar
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

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Instructions

1. Place the thawed peas, shredded cheddar cheese, crumbled bacon, and chopped red onion into a large mixing bowl.
2. In a separate small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, white vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper until the dressing is smooth.
3. Pour the dressing over the pea mixture.
4. Gently fold all ingredients together until the peas and mix-ins are evenly coated with the dressing.
5. Cover the bowl and chill the pea salad in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving. This allows the flavors to combine.
6. Stir the salad again just before serving.

Notes

• You can prepare this salad up to one day ahead. Store it covered in the refrigerator.
• If you prefer a tangier flavor, increase the white vinegar by one teaspoon.
• For a different texture, substitute the red onion with green onions.
• This recipe is a great alternative to complex meal planning; it requires no cooking other than the bacon.

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 cup
• Calories: 320
• Sugar: 6
• Sodium: 350
• Fat: 26
• Saturated Fat: 10
• Unsaturated Fat: 16
• Trans Fat: 0.5
• Carbohydrates: 14
• Fiber: 3
• Protein: 10
• Cholesterol: 55