The Best Pea Salad Recipe (+VIDEO) - The Girl Who Ate Everything (2024)

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posted by Christy Denneyon Mar 17, 202491 comments »

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Thiscreamy Pea Saladmay sound weird but trust me, it’s so good! Sweet peas, peanuts, crispy bacon, celery…all for a refreshingsidesalad. This classic pea salad isapotluck favorite and the perfect side dish.

PEA SALAD RECIPE

Growing up my mother’s closet was always this living organism that had a life of its own. It was either clean as a whistle or so packed with stuff you could hardly get your foot in the door.

Clothes, gifts, food,…you name it, it was in there.

The closet was always on her back burner so if she had time (which having 10 kids hardly allows), she would get to organizing it.

It was her Mount Everest, both symbolically and literally when the piles got out of control.

We all knew she hid chocolate in there so we would often take on the quest to find it but would never come out victorious.

It must be inherited because I have the same struggle with my closet. I just can’t get a handle on it.

And yes, I also have chocolate in mine. I purge it every couple of months so I’m not sure how there’s anything left in there.

Last week I was havinga “Does it spark joy?” episode and donated about 30 skirts toGoodwill.

I know that makes me sound like a clothes hoarder…because I am. I still have clothes from high school.

So I know this summer salad sounds totally crazy and weird but it’s a great recipe. Bright green peas make it colorful!

Peas…I don’t hate them, but I can definitely leave them. The saltiness of the bacon, the crunch of the celery and nuts, the freshness of the peas, and the bite of the onion all work together.

INGREDIENTS

FROZEN PEAS – cold crunchy peas make this amazing with the perfect amount of slight crunch but you could use fresh peas as well. I wouldn’t recommend canned peas because it would be too mushy. Thawed peas are fine but the frozen peas add crunch.
BACON – the salty bacon with the sweet peas is the best flavor. You could even use leftover ham as your salty substitute. Cook thick bacon in a large skillet and dry on a paper towel-lined plate. If you want a shortcut, use bacon bits.
PEANUTS – cashews would be a great substitution here for the nutty flavor.
CELERY – bell peppers would also give a fresh crunch to this classic side dish.
RED ONION – you could use green onions for a more mild flavor.
MAYONNAISE – this is the base to the creamy dressing on the green pea salad. You could use Miracle Whip if you are a fan of it.
ZESTY ITALIAN DRESSING – of course you could make a homemade dressing but the dressing ingredients contain a simple mixture of mayonnaise and the Italian dressing make a creamy sauce that is perfect for this simple side dish.
ADD INS: Cubes of sharp cheddar cheese go well in here. You could also add chopped hard-boiled eggs.

It’s a pleasant surprise. Take my word on this Crunchy Pea Salad! Believe it or not this is best when you toss it together with the frozen peas.

Let them thaw slightly before serving but extra cold makes it extra good! If you’re not a fan of peas, this delicious pea salad might change your mind.

HOW TO MAKE PEA SALAD

In a large bowl, combine the first five ingredients. In a small bowl, mix mayonnaise and salad dressing and toss with salad. Refrigerate pea salad dressing until serving.

HOW FAR AHEAD CAN YOU MAKE THIS

You can make this up to three days ahead of time and store in the refrigerator in an airtight container. To keep the bacon crispy, store separately and toss in before serving.

EASY SALAD RECIPES

Macaroni Salad
Asian Cucumber Salad
Grape Salad
Frito Corn Salad
Chicken Salad
Ramen Noodle Salad
Broccoli Salad
BLT Pasta Salads
Red Potato Salad
Caprese Pesto Pasta Salad
Avocado Cucumber Salad
Broccoli Salad
Poppy Seed Fruit Salad

Pea Salad

4.54 from 104 votes

This Pea Salad may sound weird but trust me, it's so good! Peas, peanuts, bacon, celery...all for a refreshing salad. This is a potluck favorite!

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Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Total Time: 10 minutes mins

Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients

2-1/2 cups frozen peas, (about 13 ounces)
1 cup dry roasted peanuts
1 cup chopped celery
6 bacon strips, , cooked and crumbled
1/4 cup chopped red onion
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup prepared zesty Italian salad dressing

Instructions

In a large bowl, combine the first five ingredients. In a small bowl, mix mayonnaise and salad dressing and toss with salad. Refrigerate until serving. If making ahead of time, don't add the bacon. Store separately and toss in before serving to keep crispy.

Video

Notes

I really like this when the peas are almost still frozen! Sounds crazy but it gives it extra crunch. I always wait to add the bacon until right before serving because I like it crunchy.
Source: Taste of Home

Serving: 1grams

Cuisine: American

Author: Christy Denney

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published on Mar 17, 2024

91 comments Leave a comment »

The Best Pea Salad Recipe (+VIDEO) - The Girl Who Ate Everything (6)

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91 comments on “Pea Salad”

Karen — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 @ 16:58:48 EDT Reply
I can’t wait to make your pea salad, Christy! It reminds me of one I haven’t made in years — bright, crunchy, inviting, satisfying, and very different! The recipe I followed used cashews instead of peanuts, crabmeat or langostinos instead of bacon, the rest almost the same. (From Bon Apetit’s Too Busy to Cook). Yours sounds even better! Thank you so much for putting it on your site (which I love, by the way)!
- Christy Denney — Fri, 11 Aug 2023 @ 01:08:48 EDT Reply
  Thank you Karen!
Susan — Mon, 01 May 2023 @ 08:39:24 EDT Reply
I absolutely love peas but I do not like nuts (especially in my food – it’s a texture thing). Would you need to add any additional salt to the recipe to make up for the loss of the salt on the peanuts and if so, how much do you think you would need to add?
- Christy Denney — Tue, 02 May 2023 @ 01:39:05 EDT Reply
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  It would be to taste but I would start with 1/2 teaspoon.
Christine — Sun, 30 Apr 2023 @ 17:44:26 EDT Reply
I followed the recipe and even family members who don’t like peas really liked it. I’m trying again tonight with some hard boiled egg and shredded cheese.
- Christy Denney — Tue, 02 May 2023 @ 01:39:25 EDT Reply
  Nice!
Lauri — Wed, 05 Apr 2023 @ 11:03:57 EDT Reply
Made this as a trial run before Easter and it was really delicious. Full disclosure, I used ranch instead of the mayo/zesty Italian because I realized my mayo jar was almost empty (which, btw, drives me bananas – why do people not just throw out a jar that has like 1/2 a tsp of anything left in it??). Happy to report it’s definitely making it onto the holiday buffet 🙂
- Christy Denney — Mon, 24 Apr 2023 @ 02:21:47 EDT Reply
  haha glad it worked out
Marsha nobles — Mon, 05 Sep 2022 @ 09:50:35 EDT Reply
Do you cook the peas??
- Christy Denney — Sun, 18 Sep 2022 @ 02:50:24 EDT Reply
  Nope! They actually go in frozen.
Alma DeMoss — Sat, 19 Feb 2022 @ 09:03:25 EST Reply
Peasalad. Looks good
- Christy Denney — Thu, 17 Mar 2022 @ 00:51:35 EDT Reply
  Thank yoU!
Tonia — Tue, 30 Mar 2021 @ 01:17:32 EDT Reply
How many days will this keep. I need a make ahead dish for Easter. Thanks!!
- Christy Denney — Sat, 03 Apr 2021 @ 03:20:30 EDT Reply
  I have make ahead tips above. You are good to store for up to 3 days but I would store the bacon separately to keep it crispy.
Melissa — Sun, 28 Feb 2021 @ 19:27:38 EST Reply
Could you substitute fresh peas for frozen?
- Christy Denney — Wed, 10 Mar 2021 @ 01:40:45 EST Reply
  Absolutely!
Lindsay Argo — Thu, 10 Sep 2020 @ 16:20:49 EDT Reply
Has anyone tried substituting the mayo for non-fat greek yogurt? My mother in law in on a stick renal diet and mayo is a big no-no! TIA
Cayce Weber — Tue, 11 Aug 2020 @ 23:26:27 EDT Reply
For the dressing we use mayo, paprika, fresh lemon squeezed. Add some orange and lemon zest.
Paula — Fri, 22 May 2020 @ 18:40:19 EDT Reply
Best pea salad ever. I add shredded Colby Jack cheese as well.
- Christy Denney — Sun, 24 May 2020 @ 00:33:17 EDT Reply
  Thank you!
Sherry A Canada — Wed, 15 Apr 2020 @ 13:13:00 EDT Reply
Is there any other nut to sub for the peanuts. Roasted pecans, pistashios etc etc?
- Christy Denney — Sun, 19 Apr 2020 @ 01:00:13 EDT Reply
  Yes, any of those could be substituted.
Connie — Sat, 11 Apr 2020 @ 20:57:43 EDT Reply
Have to comment on the closet. My aunt would always take us to “Auntie’s closet”. There was always be chocolate or candies in there. It was a treat to be asked to go there.
- Christy Denney — Mon, 13 Apr 2020 @ 01:18:14 EDT Reply
  Haha must be a thing.
gaurang enterprise — Thu, 30 Jan 2020 @ 08:36:27 EST Reply
gaurang enterprise
panipuri machine — Thu, 16 Jan 2020 @ 07:29:56 EST Reply
panipuri making machine
Davidf — Sat, 25 May 2019 @ 12:04:21 EDT Reply
Sure would be helpful to have the nutritional information on your recipe’s. I have to be careful so having this information let’s me know if I can and how often I can enjoy some of your amazing and tempting dishes. Thank you
punch newspaper today — Wed, 24 Apr 2019 @ 08:21:05 EDT Reply
Good Blog And Nice
Helen — Wed, 13 Mar 2019 @ 06:58:41 EDT Reply
Good Blog And Nice
Nita — Wed, 13 Mar 2019 @ 03:08:18 EDT Reply
Nice And Good
Freida — Sat, 12 Jan 2019 @ 19:17:56 EST Reply
See Also
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Made this tonight and was very happy with it! Instead of using the zesty Italian dressing I sprinkled zesty Italian dry mix because I try to cut down on oil. It was so good I’ll be making this again! Thank you!
- Christy Denney — Tue, 15 Jan 2019 @ 22:07:15 EST Reply
  Great substitution Freida!
Lori — Fri, 17 Aug 2018 @ 01:13:33 EDT Reply
I made your salad for an RV potluck. They ate it down to the last pea. Thank you for the recipe.
- Lori — Fri, 17 Aug 2018 @ 01:16:48 EDT Reply
  I forgot to add that I substituted the peanuts for roasted cashews. I don’t tolerate peanuts very well; I was able to keep the nut crunch with cashews.
  - Christy Denney — Mon, 03 Sep 2018 @ 23:45:10 EDT Reply
    Cashews would be great.
- Christy Denney — Mon, 03 Sep 2018 @ 23:45:18 EDT Reply
  Awesome!
Pam Walker — Sun, 12 Aug 2018 @ 21:35:40 EDT Reply
I made the pea salad, but I added some boiled eggs to mine. It also gave a creamy and crunchy side.
I found your recipe and always in the summer time. The 4th of July. OHhhh Thank you for sharing
- Christy Denney — Mon, 03 Sep 2018 @ 23:50:50 EDT Reply
  You’re welcome!
- Christy Denney — Mon, 03 Sep 2018 @ 23:50:50 EDT Reply
  You’re welcome!
Linda — Tue, 12 Jun 2018 @ 15:00:16 EDT Reply
Being the single gal ‘Foodie’ that I am …
I still love to cook and often eat the whole recipe, (if I don’t share with friends & neighbors) over several days.
Thus, I made this pea salad as I love all of the ingredients. I did add the bacon & peanuts per serving, allowing the salad to stay crunchy.
I LOVE this salad and did not tire of eating till it was all gone.
Wonderful !
- Christy Denney — Mon, 25 Jun 2018 @ 21:47:18 EDT Reply
  Linda I love hearing that!!
Lori — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 @ 03:42:15 EDT Reply
I made this for dinner this evening. It’s sooo easy and absolutely delicious! I substituted the peanuts for roasted/salted cashews, added salt & pepper, and garnished each bowl with a little crumbled feta cheese on top. Everyone loved it! Going to try it with pistachios next time… Thank you for the recipe!
- Christy Denney — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 @ 23:19:33 EDT Reply
  You’re welcome. It’s surprisingly good!
- Sharon — Sun, 18 Nov 2018 @ 17:47:31 EST Reply
  Thanks for your comment! I can eat cashews but react to peanuts. I was wondering about that very substitute. It’s great to know it works for those of us with peanut allergies.
Angie — Wed, 07 Mar 2018 @ 09:35:36 EST Reply
This salad is delicious! I added three chopped boiled eggs, and otherwise made the recipe exactly as written. So good!
- Christy Denney — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 @ 23:52:56 EDT Reply
  Sounds great!
Angela — Sat, 03 Mar 2018 @ 00:53:52 EST Reply
I can’t believe how much time I wasted staring at the dry roasted peanuts at the grocery store. So….which is it? Salted or Unsalted? I bought both……and when I make it in the morning I’m sure I’ll agonize then, too! But I have to know what you use!!!
- Christy Denney — Tue, 06 Mar 2018 @ 20:04:52 EST Reply
  I’m so sorry! You can use either but I would go with salted because…flavor!
Vanessa — Sun, 18 Feb 2018 @ 21:46:46 EST Reply
This sounds awesome! I love peas. Think I will throw in some pickles and hard boiled eggs.
- Christy Denney — Tue, 06 Mar 2018 @ 22:24:00 EST Reply
  Ooh yum!
Cianne — Sat, 20 Jan 2018 @ 09:49:14 EST Reply
Can I have the nutrition facts for this dish prepared per serving (and serving size)? Thank you!
Cathy — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 @ 21:44:29 EST Reply
Absolutely delicious!
Karen — Fri, 08 Sep 2017 @ 14:58:56 EDT Reply
You have just solved a 20 yr old mystery for me! A beloved friend brought this salad to a luncheon and I loved it (even though I’m not a big fan of peas)! She passed on before I got her recipe and have been looking to duplicate it for years. Your recipe is it! Can’t thank you enough! So yummy!!!
- Christy Denney — Sun, 01 Oct 2017 @ 22:34:54 EDT Reply
  I know, sounds weird but so good!
Chrissie — Sun, 16 Jul 2017 @ 17:27:38 EDT Reply
I bought ingredients to try this out. It wasn’t until I got to the grocery store that I realized there was no specification on which kind of peas are used in you recipe. Do you use sweet peas?
- Christy Denney — Tue, 18 Jul 2017 @ 23:39:36 EDT Reply
  Ooh. Sorry. They are actually the same so either one will work.
Annette — Tue, 27 Jun 2017 @ 16:54:33 EDT Reply
I like the simplicity of this recipe. I found it needed a splash of lemon juice and some salt and pepper to brighten the flavour. (Maybe my zesty italian dressing wasn’t very zesty) Either way, it was quick to throw together with ingredients on hand. I like it so here’s hoping the rest of my family will too!
- Christy Denney — Wed, 19 Jul 2017 @ 00:35:16 EDT Reply
  Thanks for your feedback.
Vickie Saylor — Mon, 12 Jun 2017 @ 14:25:30 EDT Reply
Thanks o much for sharing, This Pea Salad I good, I made it for home coming and it was Great! Loved it.
- Christy Denney — Thu, 15 Jun 2017 @ 23:49:49 EDT Reply
  So glad to hear that!
Lynsey — Sat, 20 May 2017 @ 23:53:20 EDT Reply
Just a thought, some of us for various reasons do not eat meat, as in your pea salad recipe. it would be nice if you would do as we have seen other cooks do, suggest something that could be used in place of the bacon. We are always cautious about trying our own substitutes and ruining the recipe. Please give this some thought and help us out on your meat recipes. We would greatly appreciate it. Thanks in advance.
- Helen — Fri, 30 Mar 2018 @ 12:29:55 EDT Reply
  My mother made a similar recipe with boiled eggs and cubed cheddar cheese, no meat.
Outdoor Coffee Table — Tue, 09 May 2017 @ 00:08:25 EDT Reply
Crunchy Pea Salad is my favorite food
Beth — Mon, 08 May 2017 @ 21:00:24 EDT Reply
Can you use fresh raw peas
- Christy Denney — Sun, 14 May 2017 @ 23:32:44 EDT Reply
  Ooh. I’m not sure. I haven’t tried it.
- Maayre — Wed, 27 Mar 2019 @ 12:27:20 EDT Reply
  Try it and let us know.. Sounds good to me.. I like raw peas but have never liked cooked snow peas..
Heidi — Sat, 29 Apr 2017 @ 23:12:46 EDT Reply
is this the italian dressing that comes in a packet just mixed with the mayo or actual dressing you buy in bottle? TIA going to make with dinner tomorrow night
- Christy Denney — Thu, 04 May 2017 @ 21:25:52 EDT Reply
  Ahh! It’s the dressing in the bottle. sorry that wasn’t more clear.
Roger D Mucci — Sat, 22 Apr 2017 @ 19:51:33 EDT Reply
Since I do not eat mayonnaise, I used Marie’s Creamy Italian Garlic .Dressing instead and it was delicious. I’ve made this about three times already
- Christy Denney — Thu, 04 May 2017 @ 21:41:26 EDT Reply
  Ooh! I love hearing that.
Paula S Neils — Tue, 18 Apr 2017 @ 14:09:10 EDT Reply
My Grandmother use to make a similar salad, she called it 3 pea salad-peas, peanuts and pickles. Never tried it with bacon and it sounds wonderful.
- Christy Denney — Tue, 18 Apr 2017 @ 22:37:31 EDT Reply
  And I’m sitting here thinking the pickles would be great.
Janet Christian — Sun, 16 Apr 2017 @ 15:11:45 EDT Reply
Minus the bacon, looks tasty. Will try
- Christy Denney — Tue, 18 Apr 2017 @ 22:45:49 EDT Reply
  Thank you!
Barbara Montag — Sun, 16 Apr 2017 @ 04:56:00 EDT Reply
I really like this recipe!
A have to make soon.
thanks
- Christy Denney — Tue, 18 Apr 2017 @ 22:46:19 EDT Reply
  Thank you!
Linda Corley — Sun, 09 Apr 2017 @ 16:43:33 EDT Reply
How far in advance can I make this salad? Bringing it for Easter dinner to my sister’s house. I know I should leave the bacon out until serving but can I make this salad a little earlier in the day and refrigerate until I go?
- Christy Denney — Tue, 18 Apr 2017 @ 23:15:01 EDT Reply
  Yes, you definitely can. I like when the peas are super cold – almost frozen – sounds weird but you can refrigerate also.
Jean Lewallen — Wed, 05 Apr 2017 @ 18:52:48 EDT Reply
I have a recipe very similar. I use frozen peas, chopped celery, sunflower seeds but the dressing is quite different. You might like to try the dressing as a change. I use 1/2 cup sour cream and 1/2 cup ranch dressing.
- Christy Denney — Tue, 18 Apr 2017 @ 23:32:23 EDT Reply
  thanks! I’ll have to try it!
Margaret — Wed, 05 Apr 2017 @ 03:32:47 EDT Reply
Do you have recipe for dressing?
- Christy Denney — Tue, 18 Apr 2017 @ 23:35:50 EDT Reply
  Yes! It’s just the mayo mixed with the italian dressing.
San — Tue, 04 Apr 2017 @ 17:17:49 EDT Reply
I would put the bacon on the side and put it on each serving so it stays crunchy I’m trying this one.
Oh…I eat the peas frozen too.
Paige Flamm — Tue, 04 Apr 2017 @ 15:17:08 EDT Reply
This salad looks so yummy!
Paige
http://thehappyflammily.com
- Christy Denney — Tue, 18 Apr 2017 @ 23:35:59 EDT Reply
  Thank you!
Kari — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 @ 18:22:12 EDT Reply
Yum! Peas are one of my favorite vegetables!
Kari
http://sweetteasweetie.com/organic-roasted-cauliflower-grocery-outlet/
- Christy Denney — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 @ 23:31:55 EDT Reply
  Thanks Kari!
Juju — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 @ 18:15:19 EDT Reply
I was with you until I saw FROZEN peas. Can’t stand frozen peas. So, I put a can of peas in the fridge overnight. Made it the next day. YUMMY!!
- Christy Denney — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 @ 23:32:13 EDT Reply
  haha. Good to know!
VickiT — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 @ 16:04:17 EDT Reply
OH, that really looks like a great salad. And even better, super easy to make. If we don’t go out for dinner on Mother’s Day, my husband bans me from the kitchen. He tells me he’ll make any meal I’d like and tells me to print the recipes out and makes me stay out of the kitchen. It’s hard because my sewing room, where I am every single day, is just steps away from the kitchen so I can hear everything going on in there, including hearing when it’s obvious he’s having trouble. He’s really good at cooking now and I’ve taught him all the tricks about cooking that I already knew since we’ve been together. Even so, I still choose recipes for Mother’s Day that are slightly easier than what I would make myself. Even though I know he can do almost any I’d give him to make, I still try to make it easier on him. This Pea Salad looks like a perfect choice for that day because it’s super easy to mix up. It looks really good too. Thank you.
- Christy Denney — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 @ 23:33:01 EDT Reply
  Yes, he can totally handle this one and he is so sweet to do that for you!