This recipe for easy pea salad is made with bacon and green peas. This cold and creamy old fashioned salad is perfect for Spring! My classic recipe is made with sour cream and vinegar dressing.
Easy Pea Salad is a classic, creamy salad that's perfect for any occasion, from casual dinners to holiday gatherings. This simple pea salad combines green peas with bacon, cheese, and a tangy dressing for a satisfying, cold vegetable salad that everyone will love.
It's a versatile, easy vegetable salad that can be customized to your tastes, whether you prefer a classic southern pea salad or want to add extra veggies.
The creamy peas and savory bacon make this pea salad a hit as a refreshing, gluten-free side dish that complements any meal.
If you are looking for more easy salads you might also enjoy my Seven Layer Salad, my Thai Style Cabbage Salad, my Sugar Free Broccoli Salad or my Gluten Free Green Goddess Pasta Salad.
You can find all of my salad recipes here: Gluten Free Salad Recipes
Jump to:
Instructions
Pour your frozen peas into a bowl and place in the refrigerator the night before to thaw. If you don't have time for that you can thaw them in the microwave using the defrost setting.
Cook the bacon. I like to place my bacon on a baking sheet and bake at 400 degrees for 30-35 minutes until it is crispy. Once the bacon is cooled crumble it into pieces.
Once the peas are thawed and the bacon is cooled mix the ingredients together in a bowl.
Mix together the peas, bacon, onion, cheese, mayonnaise, sour cream, salt, pepper and vinegar until all the ingredients are blended completely.
Store the salad in and air tight container in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve it.
Supplies
Frequently Asked Questions
I use frozen green peas in this salad. I purchase a 32 ounce bag and let them thaw before putting together the salad. If you try to put the salad together while the peas are still frozen it is much harder to stir in the dressing and mix the ingredients together.
Save yourself the headache of a clumped salad and thaw your peas first!
No. You thaw the peas and put them directly into the salad. There is no need to cook them for this salad.
This easy pea salad can be made a day ahead and will last in your refrigerator for up to three days. We don't usually have salad left for that long though. It is delicious and gets eaten pretty quickly around here.
Yes to both if you can find it! All of the ingredients in this easy pea salad are naturally gluten free, but you do want to make sure the bacon you purchase is certified gluten free since some bacon is processed in facilities that also handle gluten containing products.
I also personally prefer bacon that is nitrite and nitrate free. I have found that nitrites and nitrates cause an inflammatory reaction for me that is very similar to a gluten reaction, so it is something worth paying attention to when you are shopping. Look for bacon that is labeled both gluten free and uncured without added nitrites or nitrates for the best result in this recipe.
More Recipes You Might Enjoy
I get a lot of my ingredients from Thrive Market. Thrive Market has been a game changer for me eating gluten free. They have so many options I can't get at my rural grocery stores! Use this link to get 40% off your first order!
Print
Easy Pea Salad
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 9 servings 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
This easy pea salad is a cold and creamy classic that is perfect for spring potlucks, Easter, cookouts, and holiday gatherings. Sweet green peas are tossed with crispy bacon, shredded cheddar cheese, white onion, and a simple tangy dressing made with mayonnaise, sour cream, and white vinegar for a gluten free side dish everyone will love. Best of all it can be made a day ahead making it the ultimate stress-free make ahead salad for any occasion!
Ingredients
- 1 - 32 ounce bag Frozen Peas, thawed
- 1 pound Bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1 small White Onion, finely chopped
- 1 cup Cheddar Cheese, shredded
- ½ cup Mayonnaise
- ½ cup Sour Cream
- ½ tsp. Sea Salt
- ½ tsp. Coarse Ground Black Pepper
- 2 tsp. White Vinegar
Instructions
Pour your frozen peas into a bowl and place in the refrigerator the night before to thaw. If you don't have time for that you can thaw them in the microwave using the defrost setting.
Cook the bacon. I like to place my bacon on a baking sheet and bake at 400 degrees for 30-35 minutes until it is crispy. Once the bacon is cooled crumble it into pieces.
Once the peas are thawed and the bacon is cooled mix the ingredients together in a bowl.
Mix together the peas, bacon, onion, cheese, mayonnaise, sour cream, salt, pepper and vinegar until all the ingredients are blended completely.
Store the salad in and air tight container in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve it.
Notes
I like to make this salad the day before so it's cold and ready to serve in the refrigerator.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mixed
- Cuisine: American
Storage
Store leftover pea salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Keep in mind that the longer the salad sits the more the dressing will absorb into the peas and other ingredients, so the salad may be a little thicker on day two or three. If you want to freshen it up you can stir in a small spoonful of sour cream or mayonnaise before serving. Do not freeze this salad as the creamy dressing does not hold up well to freezing and the peas will become mushy when thawed.
Top Tip
This recipe is a staple for spring in our house. It is perfect for a gathering and Easter. I like to make this salad the day before I need it so it's ready to go. I love having one less step to do the day of an event!
Deb Vuagniaux says
This sounds delicious! I can't wait to try it!!
smallfarmbiglife says
Thank you!
CoCo Tyre says
This looks so good and easy too! Thanks so much for the recipe. I can't wait to try it. Hugs, CoCo
smallfarmbiglife says
Thank you Coco! Let me know if you do try the recipe. xo Elaine
artandsand says
That sounds and looks tasty. I''ll pass the recipe on to the head chef. I'm not allowed to mess up his kitchen.
smallfarmbiglife says
Thank you! How nice to have someone that cooks for you. I hope he likes the recipe. xo Elaine
French Creek Farmhouse says
This looks so yummy, Elaine! We're gluten-free *and* vegan, but it looks like this could be easily veganized...and after looking at your photos, I'm just going to HAVE to try to do it because YUM!!! xo, Kristi
smallfarmbiglife says
Thank you Kristi! I bet you will be able to make this recipe vegan. Yum! xo Elaine
Lauren @ This Inspired Life says
This looks delicious! Thanks for the recipe, Elaine!
smallfarmbiglife says
Thanks Lauren! xo Elaine
kim@shiplapandshells says
What a wonderful recipe! Thank you for sharing! So happy to be touring with you Elaine!
smallfarmbiglife says
Thanks Kim! xo Elaine
Kyla (Valley + Birch) says
This looks so yummy! I'm always looking for good gluten free recipes so I will be sure to pin this one!
smallfarmbiglife says
Thank you! xo Elaine
Danya | Just Another Farmhouse says
This sounds so good and I can have all of the ingredients doing low carb! YAY! Thanks for sharing
smallfarmbiglife says
Thanks! That's amazing. I hope you like the salad! xo Elaine
anabaugus says
OMG this looks so yummy!
smallfarmbiglife says
Thank you! xo Elaine
Amanda says
This looks so delicious.
smallfarmbiglife says
Thanks Amanda! It's one of our favorite spring salads. xo Elaine
Julie Briones says
Your spring pea salad looks so yummy! Thanks for the easy recipe! Blessed to be touring with you!
smallfarmbiglife says
Thanks Julie! This was so much fun! xo Elaine
Laura Pursley says
This looks so good - I may have to try this soon!
smallfarmbiglife says
We love this salad. Let me know if you try it! xo Elaine