Best Ever Creamy Pea Salad with Bacon

Creamy Pea Salad with Bacon is a popular southern dish that is filled with crunchy peas, crispy bacon, chopped red onions, and cheddar cheese. This is an easy to make side dish that is perfect for your next potluck! 

I am a lover of “salads” of every variety! Fruit salad, pasta salad, actual salad, you name it and I’m here for it. If you are like me, then you are going to love this California Spaghetti Salad, this delicious Ambrosia Salad, and this crowd-pleasing Pistachio Salad.

Creamy Pea Salad

Peas. You either love them or hate them right? I love peas. One of the only veggies I actually like to eat. Even if you don’t like peas, this creamy pea salad is a potluck staple. I have been making some classics here on the blog lately. Ones that I have grown up with and are always at a potluck or family gathering (like this cheesecake salad and this bacon ranch potato salad). This creamy pea salad is one of them. It is a southern favorite and really popular. And filled with bacon, it makes it even better!

I love this pea salad because it is so simple to make. I am usually in a hurry to make something quick for a barbeque and that is why I love to make this dish. You just have to add in some thawed peas, bacon, cubed cheese, and red onion and toss it in a creamy mixture. It is ready to go out the door in no time at all.

Ingredients

The basic ingredients in this best ever creamy pea salad are what makes this recipe one I make all the time. It’s so simple to throw together and it’s always a hit. I don’t have this on the list, but you can definitely add some freshly cracked black pepper over the top. I usually do! You can find the measurements below in the recipe card.

  • Peas: I like to use frozen because that is the most convenient. Let them thaw before using.
  • Red Onion: Because you won’t be cooking the onion, it’s a good idea to use purple onion. They are mild and crisp.
  • Cheddar Cheese: Buy a block of cheese and cut it into cubes.
  • Bacon: This is super delicious with the peas. You can leave it out if you want to, or use ham as a substitute. You won’t need to add salt because of the bacon.
  • Parsley: Fresh parsley adds great flavor and color.
  • Sour Cream: This is part of what makes it so creamy and delicious.
  • Mayonnaise: Mix mayo with the sour cream for the perfect taste.
  • Apple Cider Vinegar: This is the ingredient that makes this different from all of the other salad recipes out there. It’s fresh with a little tang that brings the whole salad to life.
  • Sugar: This is to balance out the acid from the vinegar.

Classic Creamy Pea Salad Recipe

Creamy pea salad is a simple pot luck staple that you can whip up in just 15 minutes. These are very basic ingredients that come together to make the best pea salad you’ll ever try! You could add some dill and garlic powder to the creamy pea salad dressing ingredients if you wanted to mix things up. Here is how to make this recipe.

  1. Add Ingredients: In a large bowl add the peas, red onion, cheddar cheese, bacon and parsley. 
  2. Whisk Wet Ingredients: In a small bowl whisk together sour cream, mayonnaise, cider vinegar, and sugar.
  3. Toss Together: Pour the creamy mixture in the large bowl over the peas. Toss until the peas are fully coated. Chill for 30 minutes before serving.
Process photos of all of the ingredients separately and then together.

Tips for Making Creamy Pea Salad

There are definitely more ways than one to make this delicious creamy pea salad recipe. I don’t even make it exactly as the recipe is written every single time. If you are short on ingredients or want to switch up the flavors, here are some ways that I’ve made this recipe and loved it.

  • Frozen Peas: You can definitely eat them raw. A lot of people wonder if it’s safe to eat frozen peas without cooking them. The answer is yes! Just like you can put frozen strawberries in your smoothie, frozen peas are totally safe to eat raw.
  • Shredded Cheese: If you would rather shredded cheese in your green pea salad than cubed cheese, go for it! It is just as good with shredded cheese, and if you buy pre-shredded it cuts down on your prep time. I prefer the texture of the bigger chunks of cheese but it’s totally up to you.
  • Substitutions: You could substitute the sour cream for greek yogurt. It actually tastes amazing that way and it stays just as creamy and flavorful. You could also add ranch dressing instead of the mayo if you wanted.

Storing Leftovers

This creamy pea salad makes great leftovers. It holds up really well in the refrigerator and is great eaten cold or at room temperature. Here is how to store leftovers.

  • In the Refrigerator: You can store your leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

More Creamy Salads

I think everyone needs to have at least 2 or 3 good creamy salad recipes in their recipe book. They are a great way to get people eating their veggies and enjoying them too. Here are a few of my favorite recipes that you just have to try!

Print

Creamy Pea Salad with Bacon

Creamy Pea Salad with Bacon is a popular southern dish that is filled with crunchy peas, crispy bacon, chopped red onions, and cheddar cheese. This is an easy to make side dish that is perfect for your next potluck! 
Course Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine American
Keyword creamy pea salad, creamy pea salad with bacon, pot luck salad
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 6 people
Calories 2745kcal
Author Alyssa Rivers

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds peas thawed
  • 1/2 cup red onion chopped
  • 1 1/2 cup cheddar cheese cubed
  • 8 slices bacon cooked and chopped
  • 3 Tablespoons parsley chopped
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 3 Tablespoons mayonnaise
  • 1 Tablespoon cider vinegar
  • 1 Tablespoon sugar

Instructions

  • In a large bowl add the peas, red onion, cheddar cheese, bacon and parsley. 
  • In a small bowl whisk together sour cream, mayonnaise, cider vinegar, and sugar.
  • Pour the creamy mixture in the large bowl over the peas. Toss until the peas are fully coated. Chill for 30 minutes before serving.

Video

Notes

Originally Posted May 14, 2019
Updated March 3, 2023

Nutrition

Calories: 2745kcal | Carbohydrates: 159g | Protein: 118g | Fat: 184g | Saturated Fat: 78g | Cholesterol: 372mg | Sodium: 2633mg | Potassium: 3074mg | Fiber: 48g | Sugar: 72g | Vitamin A: 10430IU | Vitamin C: 385.8mg | Calcium: 1610mg | Iron: 16.1mg


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