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Green Pea Salad is a surprisingly tasty salad that will delight your whole family and give you some old fashioned vibes.
Green pea salad is a cold side dish recipe made with peas, cheese, bacon and onion.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
It’s so refreshing! This cold side dish is perfect for summer barbecues or potlucks.
It’s nostalgic! This simple side dish is reminiscent of the classic pea seven layer salad recipe.
Green Pea Salad Ingredients
To make this creamy pea salad recipe, you will need these ingredients from the grocery store (see the recipe below for exact amounts and instructions):
- Green peas: Frozen peas are preferable because they are greener and therefore look and taste fresher. You can assemble the peas frozen or you can just leave them in the refrigerator for a few hours to thaw or run the bag under water until thawed. You can use canned peas, but the color isn’t as pretty and they tend to be soggy.
- Cheddar cheese: You can also cube the cheese for more of an intense cheese flavor.
- Bacon: Using fresh bacon is always the best choice, but you can also use purchased bacon bits instead, since cooking the bacon and chopping it adds some extra time.
- Red onion: Make sure it’s red onion. Other onions won’t taste as good since it’s an uncooked salad.
- Plain Greek yogurt: You can substitute sour cream.
- Mayonnaise: Replace this with sour cream or more plain Greek yogurt if you don’t have any. However, I do like the added sweetness of the mayonnaise.
- Lemon juice: Use from a lemon or from concentrate.
- Garlic powder
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Scallions (optional)
How to Make Green Pea Salad Recipe
- In a large bowl combine the green peas, cheddar cheese, bacon, and red onion. Set aside.
- In another medium sized bowl, mix the plain Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, lemon juice, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Stir until combined.
- Pour the pea salad dressing over the green pea mixture. Mix all together.
- Garnish with sliced scallions (optional), then plate and serve your delicious summer salad!
Storage Instructions
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. I don’t recommend freezing your green pea salad.
FAQs
There are many classic ways to cook bacon. However, my personal favorite, especially when preparing other food, is to use the oven. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place as many slices as necessary in a single layer on the pan, then bake at 400 degrees F for about 10-15 minutes, depending on how crispy you like your bacon. Check on your bacon as some ovens may not cook at the same rate as others.
Variations
Add cubed ham and you have an Amish Pea Salad.
You could also add green bell pepper for a little crunch.
More Cold Side Dish Recipes
Green Pea Salad
Ingredients
- 4 cups frozen green peas thawed [See Notes]
- 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
- ½ cup cooked bacon chopped (~3-4 slices)
- ¼ cup red onion diced
- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- scallions sliced (optional garnish)
Instructions
- In a large bowl combine the green peas, cheddar cheese, bacon, and red onion. Set aside.
- In another medium sized bowl, mix the plain Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, lemon juice, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Stir until combined.
- Pour the dressing over the green pea mixture. Mix all together.
- Garnish with sliced scallions (optional), then plate and serve.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
The nutrition information is calculated using online nutrition calculators and may not be accurate. It is provided as a general guide only.
The recipe and photos contained herein are the property of Emily Enchanted© and may not be copied.
Emily Enchanted
Friday 5th of August 2022
I love this recipe because it is perfect for passing around at a potluck.
Mary
Saturday 10th of April 2021
Heavy cream??? No where in the recipe is it called for other than directions.
Emily Enchanted
Monday 12th of April 2021
@Mary, I had it in there originally but didn’t think it was needed after testing it again. Sorry about that! I have updated the instructions.