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Green Pea Salad With Bacon

Absolutely THE BEST Green Pea Salad with Bacon that you’ll find anywhere. Period! This English Pea Salad comes together in about 5 minutes and your family will DEFINITELY bang the table for more every single time! 

This Green Pea Salad with Bacon rocks a holiday table like no other but if you are looking for any other great pea recipes, you might want to look at how to cook canned peas or how to cook frozen peas! YUM! 

pea salad on a blue plate with fork and green towel

Why This Recipe for Green Pea Salad With Bacon Works

  • The sweetness of the peas, the tiny bit of acid, the creamy mayo, the freshness of the onion and the kick from the cayenne combine to form a taste that absolutely can’t be beat. 
  • It’s fast and uses mostly ready use items. 
  • Feel free to use pre shredded cheese for this one, no problem! 

Here’s How It’s Done

STEP 1. Fry up the bacon and mince the onion

diced purple onion, knife and cutting board

STEP 3. Mix everything together in the bowl. 

peas, onion, cheese, bacon and sauce in a bowl

STEP 4. Let everything “marry” in the fridge for a few hours. (Best if made the day before). 

english pea salad on a blue bowl with fork

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) about Green Pea Salad With Bacon

Do I Need to Thaw The Frozen Peas for a Green Pea Salad with Bacon? 

If you are making this a day ahead, you do not need to thaw the frozen peas, they will thaw in the fridge overnight. However, if you need this dish ready within a few hours, you’ll need to thaw the peas. 

How Do I Thaw the Peas for a English Pea Salad? 

Thaw the peas by running the bag under cool water until thawed (or putting the bag into a sealable plastic bag and let it float in cool water till thawed – about 30 minutes).

What Do I Serve with Pea Salad? 

Serve this pea salad with…

Do Peas Make You Fart? 

In a word. Maybe. It kind of depends on your own plumbing and what you are sensitive to.

Do I Need to Cook The Peas For This Salad? 

No, you do not need to cook the peas for this salad. They are delicious as is! 

What Kind Of Peas Do I Use for This Salad? 

Use the early sweet baby green peas if you can find them. I couldn’t for these photos, so I used the Birdseye Steam Fresh bags (two of them). Store brand frozen peas are also fine. 

How to Make Green Pea Salad With Bacon

You’ll fry the bacon, cut it up, Mince and onion, grate the cheese (if you didn’t buy pre-shredded) and then mix everything together in a bowl and let it refrigerate for a couple hours. 

Can I Freeze This Pea Salad? 

No, I wouldn’t do that. It has mayonnaise in it and that usually does not freeze well at all. The texture and consistency change and typically the mayonnaise gets very oily.

How Long Does This Pea Salad Last? 

It will last about 5 days in the refrigerator. Don’t allow it to sit out for more than 2 hours. 

Are There Ways To Change This Up? 

Yes, you can …

  • Add ham instead of bacon
  • Try vegan bacon instead. 
  • Use shallots instead of purple onion. 
  • Add a ½ tsp of minced garlic  
  • Try using some other fresh herbs with it like dill, thyme or parsley.
  • You might substitute the cup of mayo for ranch dressing. 
  • Try a different cheese. 

What Bacon Do I Use for This English Pea Recipe? 

Use the thinly sliced bacon (it’s often the least expensive), cook it until very crispy and then crumble it up small for this recipe.

close up of salad

TIPS and TRICKS for Green Pea Salad With Bacon

  • Always use the tiniest peas you can find, those are the sweetest and best tasting for english pea salad.
  • It’s fine to use frozen peas that are still frozen if you are making this the day ahead. If not, thaw by running the peas under cool water for a few minutes to thaw, then dry well before using OR place the bag of peas into a ziplock style bag and float in a large bowl of cool water before using. 
  • Don’t try to use canned peas for this salad, they are too soft and won’t hold up to the rest of the mixture. 
  • Make sure your bacon is crispy. Here’s a great way to cook your bacon. 
  • Please don’t skip adding the sugar, it is integral to the salad. 
  • The cayenne doesn’t make it TOO hot, it just gives it a little kick at the end. 
  • The vinegar is important as well, you’ll want to make sure to add it. It’s fine to substitute white vinegar for the cider. If you don’t have vinegar, substitute the same amount of lemon juice. 

If You Enjoyed This Recipe, You Might Also Enjoy One Of These Salads…

Zesty Tomato Cucumber Salad

Amazing Arugula Caprese Salad

Garlic Dill Potato Salad

Southern Wilted Salad

Southern Cornbread Salad

Summer Tomato Cherry Salad

Strawberry Pretzel Salad

Ya’ll Help Me Out, OK?

Please leave me a 5 STAR comment below. This helps others find Loaves and Dishes on the internet!

pea salad on a blue plate with fork and green towel

Green Pea Salad with Bacon

Absolutely THE BEST Green Pea Salad with Bacon that you’ll find anywhere. Period! This English Pea Salad comes together in about 5 minutes and your family will DEFINITELY bang the table for more every single time!
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Save Rate
Course: Pasta Salad
Cuisine: American
Keyword: english pea salad, green pea salad, pea salad
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
mix time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 216kcal

Ingredients

  • 10 slices bacon - use thin slice bacon crispy cooked and crumbled
  • 4 Cups Peas Frozen
  • ½ Cup Cheddar Cheese - shredded
  • ½ medium purple onion - diced
  • ½ Cup Mayonnaise
  • ½ Cup Sour Cream
  • 2 Tbs granulated white sugar
  • 2 tsp cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp Cayenne Pepper
  • Salt and Pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Fry the bacon crispy, crumble small when cooled. Prepare other items as needed: Shred cheese and dice onion.
  • In a large bowl, place the bacon crumbles, frozen peas, cheese, onion, mayo, sour cream, white sugar, vinegar, cayenne pepper and salt and pepper to taste.
  • Place into the refrigerator, covered for at least 2 hours.

Notes

  • Always use the tiniest peas you can find, those are the sweetest and best tasting for english pea salad.
  • It’s fine to use frozen peas that are still frozen if you are making this the day ahead. If not, thaw by running the peas under cool water for a few minutes to thaw, then dry well before using OR place the bag of peas into a ziplock style bag and float in a large bowl of cool water before using.
  • Don’t try to use canned peas for this salad, they are too soft and won’t hold up to the rest of the mixture.
  • Make sure your bacon is crispy. Here’s a great way to cook your bacon.
  • Please don’t skip adding the sugar, it is integral to the salad.
  • The cayenne doesn’t make it TOO hot, it just gives it a little kick at the end.
  • The vinegar is important as well, you'll want to make sure to add it. It’s fine to substitute white vinegar for the cider. If you don’t have vinegar, substitute the same amount of lemon juice.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Green Pea Salad with Bacon
Amount Per Serving
Calories 216 Calories from Fat 153
% Daily Value*
Fat 17g26%
Saturated Fat 5g25%
Cholesterol 22mg7%
Sodium 220mg9%
Potassium 181mg5%
Carbohydrates 10g3%
Fiber 3g12%
Sugar 5g6%
Protein 6g12%
Vitamin A 514IU10%
Vitamin C 20mg24%
Calcium 44mg4%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Mention @loavesanddishes or tag #loavesanddishes!

 

Wendi is the writer, CEO and dishwasher at Loaves and Dishes! When not in the kitchen or behind the computer, you can find Wendi serving on International Food Conference Boards, Speaking at various conferences, Leading and Cooking for the local Arts Council's "Taste of Stokes" events or donating home cooked goodies to various local non profits such as the Danbury Songwriters and Stokes Partnership for Children. Wendi is also a Registered Nurse with a Master's Degree and serves on her town's board of councilmen.

Recipe Rating




Lisa Amadeo

Friday 12th of November 2021

Absolutely delicious. Have a blessed Thanksgiving.

Wendi Spraker

Saturday 13th of November 2021

Hi Lisa, Thank you so much! You have a wonderful Thanksgiving too!

Wendi Spraker

Friday 25th of October 2019

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