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    Easy Pea Salad

    Mar 19, 2020 · 24 Comments

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    Jump to Recipe

    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.

    a bowl of easy pea salad with shredded cheddar cheese sprinkled on top next to a little wooden bowl of pepper and a little ceramic bowl of salt

    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

    a bowl of easy pea salad with shredded cheddar cheese sprinkled on top next to a little wooden bowl of pepper and a little ceramic bowl of salt
    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Supplies
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • More Recipes You Might Enjoy
    • Easy Pea Salad
    • Top Tip

    Ingredients

    • Frozen Peas
    • Bacon
    • White Onion
    • Cheddar Cheese
    • Mayonnaise
    • Sour Cream
    • Sea Salt
    • Coarse Ground Black Pepper
    • 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.

    Supplies

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What kind of peas are used in this salad?

    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!

    Do I need to cook the frozen peas for this salad?

    No. You thaw the peas and put them directly into the salad. There is no need to cook them for this salad.

    How long does pea salad last in the refrigerator?

    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.

    Is this salad gluten free?

    Yes. The ingredients I used in this salad are gluten free. You will want to make sure the bacon you use is gluten free. I also like to use bacon that is nitrite and nitrate free. I've found that nitrites and nitrates cause a reaction similar to gluten for me.

    More Recipes You Might Enjoy

    • Seven Layer Salad
    • Cranberry Fluff Salad
    • Sugar Free Broccoli Salad
    • Gluten Free Coleslaw

    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
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    Easy Pea Salad


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    • Author: Elaine VanVleck
    • Total Time: 45 minutes
    • Yield: 9 servings 1x
    • Diet: Gluten Free
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    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.


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 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: Gluten Free

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @smallfarmbiglife on Instagram and hashtag it #smallfarmbiglife

    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!

    This salad is naturally gluten free. You do need to make sure the bacon you are putting in your salad is gluten free. I also prefer bacon without nitrites or nitrates. Nitrites and nitrates cause an inflammatory reaction for me similar to gluten. This is just something to think about as you purchase your groceries.

    More Gluten Free Recipes

    • 15 Gluten Free Mother's Day Brunch Recipes
    • Gluten Free Mother's Day Recipe Ideas
    • The Best Gluten Free Cinco de Mayo Recipes
    • 20+ Best Spring Salad Recipes

    Sharing is caring!

    287 shares
    • Share18
    • Threads

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Deb Vuagniaux says

      March 19, 2020 at 9:21 am

      This sounds delicious! I can't wait to try it!!

      Reply
      • smallfarmbiglife says

        March 19, 2020 at 10:39 am

        Thank you!

        Reply
    2. CoCo Tyre says

      March 19, 2020 at 11:52 am

      This looks so good and easy too! Thanks so much for the recipe. I can't wait to try it. Hugs, CoCo

      Reply
      • smallfarmbiglife says

        March 19, 2020 at 11:57 am

        Thank you Coco! Let me know if you do try the recipe. xo Elaine

        Reply
    3. artandsand says

      March 19, 2020 at 1:40 pm

      That sounds and looks tasty. I''ll pass the recipe on to the head chef. I'm not allowed to mess up his kitchen.

      Reply
      • smallfarmbiglife says

        March 19, 2020 at 4:37 pm

        Thank you! How nice to have someone that cooks for you. I hope he likes the recipe. xo Elaine

        Reply
    4. French Creek Farmhouse says

      March 19, 2020 at 2:30 pm

      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

      Reply
      • smallfarmbiglife says

        March 19, 2020 at 4:36 pm

        Thank you Kristi! I bet you will be able to make this recipe vegan. Yum! xo Elaine

        Reply
    5. Lauren @ This Inspired Life says

      March 20, 2020 at 3:09 pm

      This looks delicious! Thanks for the recipe, Elaine!

      Reply
      • smallfarmbiglife says

        March 21, 2020 at 4:12 pm

        Thanks Lauren! xo Elaine

        Reply
    6. kim@shiplapandshells says

      March 20, 2020 at 6:24 pm

      What a wonderful recipe! Thank you for sharing! So happy to be touring with you Elaine!

      Reply
      • smallfarmbiglife says

        March 21, 2020 at 4:12 pm

        Thanks Kim! xo Elaine

        Reply
    7. Kyla (Valley + Birch) says

      March 20, 2020 at 8:21 pm

      This looks so yummy! I'm always looking for good gluten free recipes so I will be sure to pin this one!

      Reply
      • smallfarmbiglife says

        March 21, 2020 at 4:11 pm

        Thank you! xo Elaine

        Reply
    8. Danya | Just Another Farmhouse says

      March 21, 2020 at 12:57 pm

      This sounds so good and I can have all of the ingredients doing low carb! YAY! Thanks for sharing

      Reply
      • smallfarmbiglife says

        March 21, 2020 at 4:11 pm

        Thanks! That's amazing. I hope you like the salad! xo Elaine

        Reply
    9. anabaugus says

      March 21, 2020 at 3:23 pm

      OMG this looks so yummy!

      Reply
      • smallfarmbiglife says

        March 21, 2020 at 4:10 pm

        Thank you! xo Elaine

        Reply
    10. Amanda says

      March 21, 2020 at 9:17 pm

      This looks so delicious.

      Reply
      • smallfarmbiglife says

        March 23, 2020 at 4:43 pm

        Thanks Amanda! It's one of our favorite spring salads. xo Elaine

        Reply
    11. Julie Briones says

      March 21, 2020 at 10:29 pm

      Your spring pea salad looks so yummy! Thanks for the easy recipe! Blessed to be touring with you!

      Reply
      • smallfarmbiglife says

        March 23, 2020 at 4:43 pm

        Thanks Julie! This was so much fun! xo Elaine

        Reply
    12. Laura Pursley says

      March 22, 2020 at 10:01 am

      This looks so good - I may have to try this soon!

      Reply
      • smallfarmbiglife says

        March 23, 2020 at 4:42 pm

        We love this salad. Let me know if you try it! xo Elaine

        Reply

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