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Pea Salad

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close up overhead shot of a bowl of Pea Salad topped with bacon bits
Our classic pea salad is so simple to make but packs a punch with flavor. A creamy dressing, plenty of cheese and crunchy bacon make this salad a must make when you need to serve a crowd.
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Table of Contents
  1. Pea Salad Ingredients
  2. Substitutions and Additions
  3. How To Make This Pea Salad Recipe With Miracle Whip
  4. How To Serve
  5. Storage
  6. More Recipes You’ll Love
  7. JUMP TO RECIPE

Our creamy pea salad is a classic side dish that you will love to whip up. Crisp peas, a delicious dressing, crispy bacon and plenty of cheese make this dish a fantastic way to dress up this green vegetable.

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This is the best pea salad around and we can also help you out with plenty of other classic salads. Check out our cucumber salad and broccoli salad for two delicious choices.

close up shot of a bowl of Pea Salad topped with bacon bits

Pea Salad Ingredients

Pea Salad raw ingredients that are labeled

You’ll need:

  • 2 (16-ounce) packages frozen green peas
  • ¾ cup Colby Jack Cheese, cut into small cubes
  • ¾ cup Monterey Jack Cheese, cut into small cubes
  • ½ cup red onion, chopped
  • ¾ cup mayonnaise
  • ¼ cup miracle whip 
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ pound bacon, cooked and chopped

PRO TIP:

If you prefer shredded cheese in your pea salad, you can certainly shred it instead of cubing it.

Substitutions and Additions

PEAS: If you have fresh peas available to you, you can substitute them for frozen peas in this easy recipe.

CHEESE: There is plenty of flexibility when it comes to the variety of cheese you use in this cold pea salad. Try changing it up with sharp cheddar cheese or another of your favorite cheeses.

DRESSING: In place of the homemade salad dressing, you could opt to use a bottled ranch dressing instead in this classic recipe.

EGGS: English pea salad is a variation of this great recipe and adds hard boiled eggs to the salad mixture.

How To Make This Pea Salad Recipe With Miracle Whip

STEP ONE: In a large bowl, combine all ingredients except for bacon. Stir together.

PRO TIP:

If you are using frozen peas in this delicious pea salad, rinse them under cold water to thaw and remove any excess moisture from the thawed peas with a paper towel.

salad ingredients combined in a bowl

STEP TWO: Cover bowl in plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes, or until ready to serve. 

STEP THREE: When ready to serve, add bacon bits and stir together. 

PRO TIP:

Let your salad sit out for a few minutes before serving to let it start to come to room temperature. 

bacon added to the salad ingredients in a bowl

How To Serve

Serve this delicious side dish at potlucks or special occasion meals. Since it is easy peasy to put together and uses frozen peas, you can make this any time of the year and whip it up even for busy weeknight meals. Serve it with our Italian chicken and mashed potatoes for a comforting meal.

Storage

IN THE FRIDGE: Store this easy pea salad in an airtight container for up to four days.

IN THE FREEZER: We don’t recommend freezing this bacon pea salad recipe. The creamy mayo dressing will separate and will not give you the texture you want when thawed.

close up overhead shot of a bowl of Pea Salad topped with bacon bits

Our green pea salad needs only a handful of simple ingredients to make this tasty salad with the absolute best flavor. The saltiness of the bacon and the creamy texture of the cheese and dressing make this sweet pea salad the perfect side dish all year round.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Can I make this classic salad ahead of time?

This simple salad can easily be made a couple of hours ahead of time. Just wait to add the bacon until you are ready to serve.

Do I need to cook frozen peas before adding them to the salad?

When you buy frozen vegetables, they have already been blanched (partially cooked and quickly chilled). All you need to do is rinse them under cold water to thaw and remove any excess moisture with a paper towel.

Can I freeze pea salad?

We don’t recommend freezing this salad. The dressing will separate and will not give you the texture you want when thawed.

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close up overhead shot of a bowl of Pea Salad topped with bacon bits

Pea Salad

5 from 1 vote
Our classic pea salad is so simple to make but packs a punch with flavor. A creamy dressing, plenty of cheese and crunchy bacon make this salad a must make when you need to serve a crowd.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 10

Ingredients
  

  • 32 ounces frozen peas (2 16-ounce packages)
  • ¾ cup Colby Jack cheese, cut into small cubes
  • ¾ cup Monterey Jack cheese, cut into small cubes
  • ½ cup red onion, chopped
  • ¾ cup mayonnaise
  • ¼ cup miracle whip
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • ½ pound bacon, cooked and chopped

Instructions
 

  • In a large bowl, combine all ingredients except for bacon. Stir together.
  • Place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes, or until ready to serve.
  • When ready to serve, add bacon and stir together.

Notes

  • If you are using frozen peas in this delicious pea salad, rinse them under cold water to thaw and remove any excess moisture from the thawed peas with a paper towel.
  • Let your salad sit out for a few minutes before serving to let it start to come to room temperature. 

Nutrition

Calories: 362kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 9g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 40mg | Sodium: 475mg | Potassium: 305mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 882IU | Vitamin C: 37mg | Calcium: 159mg | Iron: 2mg
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Proudly Prepared by the Spaceships Kitchen

This recipe was developed, tested, cooked and photographed by the Spaceships Kitchen. From our dinner table to yours, we hope you think it's out of this world!

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