Favorite Pea Salad
This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure policy.
Peas are coated in a creamy dressing and tossed with bacon, red onions, and cheddar cheese. The result in what our family considers an absolutely indispensable side dish at family gatherings! This BEST Pea Salad recipe has remained a family favorite for over three decades!
Why I Love This Pea Salad
Most have us have certain dishes that we associate with our childhoods. I have many of them, especially favorite dishes I grew up with in Germany. This Pea Salad is a dish I associate specifically with the holidays – Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas – because it was a favorite of mine and my brother and we insisted it be served at every Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner pretty much regardless of whatever else was served. Indeed, if my mom ever suggested going a holiday without it, my brother and I would immediately remind her that to not have pea salad at the holiday table was akin to sacrilege.
Even now, many years later, as we travel and come together as a family for the holidays, one of us is assigned to prepare pea salad. It is in fact the only dish that has remained a staple “must have” at our holiday table; all others, however beloved they may be, are dispensable and subject to rotation. But not pea salad. Not only that, my brother and I always insist that whoever prepares it double the recipe because leftovers are equally a must.
If you’ve been following my blog for some time the revelation of this pea salad obsession may come as a surprise to you. I really can’t explain the possessive power this pea salad has had over us our whole lives but I confess, we are hard core pea salad fans and I don’t see that ever changing. So here it is, my family’s “must have”, “can never live without” BEST Pea Salad recipe!
Pea Salad Recipe
Let’s get started!
Combine the dressing ingredients in a bowl. Set aside.
Place the drained peas in a large mixing bowl along with the red onions, bacon and cheddar cheese. Stir to combine.
Pour the dressing over the salad and stir to evenly coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving. Add salt and pepper to taste.
This can be made a day in advance.
Enjoy!
For more delicious side salads be sure to try my:
- Southern Black Eyed Pea Salad
- Crunchy Broccoli Salad
- Greek Grilled Asparagus Salad
- Macaroni Salad
- Waldorf Salad
- Classic Potato Salad
- Creamy Coleslaw
- Sauerkraut Salad
Save This Recipe
Enter your email address and we’ll send it straight to your inbox!
Favorite Pea Salad
Ingredients
- For the dressing:
- 1/2 cup full fat sour cream
- 1/3 cup quality mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 2 teaspoon white vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- For the salad:
- 24 ounces frozen peas (about 4 cups), thawed and thoroughly drained
- 1/3 cup crumbled bacon (about 10 slices)
- 1/3 cup diced red onion
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Combine the dressing ingredients in a bowl. Set aside.Place the drained peas in a large mixing bowl along with the red onions, bacon and cheddar cheese. Stir to combine. Pour the dressing over the salad and stir to evenly coat.Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight before serving. Add salt and pepper to taste.This salad can be prepared a day in advance and keeps for up to 3 days in the fridge.
Nutrition
Hi, I’m Kimberly Killebrew and welcome to Daring Gourmet where you'll find delicious originals, revitalized classics, and simply downright good eats from around the world! Originally from Germany, later raised in England, world-traveled, and now living in the U.S., from my globally-influenced kitchen I invite you to tour the world through your taste buds!
Hi Kimberly- I had pea salad many years ago but never had the opportunity to ask that nice person for the recipe. Now that I have happily found your website, here is a recipe that looks like that salad I loved! I do have some questions please.
1. Do you use a grater to shred the cheese by hand or do you use a food processor?
2. I read once it is easier to shred or grate cheese if you freeze it first. What do you think about that? How long should I freeze it for?
3. When I had that pea salad many years ago it had lettuce in it, but I don’t remember which type of lettuce. What do you think about the addition of lettuce, which type of lettuce would you recommend, and at what stage would you add the lettuce?
Thank you in advance, and I am so pleased to have found this website!
Hi Annabelle! I almost always shred cheese by hand with a box grater – largely because it’s much easier than pulling out the food processor :) I’ve never had an issue grating it without freezing it, but that’s probably because I do it by hand. I can see how freezing it first could be helpful if you’re using a food processor. Yes, some lettuce will add a nice bit of crunch. I recommend using iceberg lettuce and it can be added at the same time as all the other ingredients. This can be done well in advance, even a day in advance, the crunch of the iceberg will still hold up. I’m so happy you found my website and hope you enjoy any of the recipes you decide to try! <3
I made this for our Christmas dinner last year and everyone loved it and asked for the recipe. Needless to say, I’ve been asked to make it again this year for Thanksgiving :) Thank you!
Fantastic, Ted, I’m so glad it was a hit and that it’s becoming a regular in your home, thank you!
I have made this several times and everyone who tries it wants the recipe. I omit the cheese on occasion and add grated cauliflower.
Fantastic, Magnolia, thank you so much!
My new favorite pea salad! I usually alter recipes as I make them but I followed this one exactly and I wouldn’t change a thing. Delicious as written!
Oh I’m so happy to hear that, Corri, thank you!
Delicious! II will definitely make it again and again and again. Thank you.
Yay, that’s wonderful, thank you so much!
Delicious! I halved the recipe because there is just two of us but I will make the full recipe when my family visits thank you so much.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Pierrette, thank you!
Followed the recipe exactly. Added more salt. Easy and quick.
This looks delicious and a great way to feed a crowd.