English Pea Salad recipe has it all - texture, crunch, sweet and savory, and there's crispy bacon in there too. It's the perfect blend of extra sharp cheddar cheese, celery and red onions along with sweet and tender peas that give the salad a refreshing twist. It's incredibly easy to make this family-favorite pea side dish in minutes. Serve any time of year along with a crunchy green salad tossed with Blue Cheese Vinaigrette for an incredible flavor combination!
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⭐ Why You'll Love This Recipe
English Pea Salad is a classic, simple side salad that's full of fresh flavors. The sauce is made with a combination of Greek yogurt and mayonnaise that's creamy, tangy and almost velvety consistency. It goes great served alongside Classic Potato Salad, Chicken Curry Salad with Grapes or Sweet Corn Pasta Salad.
Pea salad is easy to make and easy to share and the flavor combination is a classic recipe. Serve it with Rotisserie Chicken and Stuffing Casserole, Crusted Chicken Romano, or No Ketchup Meatloaf for an incredible meal!
It can be made in advance and served chilled. Nothing to keep warm or reheat. This is a super convenient and refreshing option for picnics, potlucks, or as a side dish for your next BBQ.
🥘 Ingredients to Have on Hand
English Pea Salad is a recipe I've been tinkering with over the years, but I have now settled on this combination of ingredients.
Frozen Peas: This is part of what makes this salad recipe so easy. Simply buy frozen peas from the grocery store. Defrost and you are ready!
Cooked Bacon: There's quite possibly nothing better than those little chunks of cooked bacon in each bite. The savory flavor goes so beautifully with the sweetness of the peas.
Grated Cheese: Play around with whatever type of cheddar cheese you prefer. Sharp cheddar is excellent in this salad, but mild works well too.
Greek Yogurt: I firmly believe the combination of Greek yogurt with mayonnaise, sugar, cider vinegar, salt and pepper is the secret sauce to the wonderful flavor in this pea salad.
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
📖 Substitutions for English Pea Salad
There are many substitutions you can make to create an English Pea Salad that will be exactly what your family loves.
Eggs: Add 3 or 4 hard-boiled eggs.
Ham: Substitute chopped ham for the bacon, or leave the meat out entirely.
Water Chestnuts: Add chopped water chestnuts in place of the celery.
Peppers: Add chopped green or red pepper.
Green Onions: Use diced green onions instead of red onions.
This recipe makes a big bowl of English Pea Salad but doubling the recipe might be a good call if you are serving a crowd since it's always popular and goes so fast.
If you are a fan of peas, you may also want to try my Four P Salad. It's also easy to make a crowd-pleaser.
💭 Recipe FAQs
No need to cook the peas. It's OK if the peas are still a little frozen when you mix this up.
But to defrost the peas ahead of time remove the bag of peas from the freezer and place them in the fridge for an hour or two.
Sometimes if I'm in a big rush, I'll place the bag on the kitchen counter to defrost, but the fridge is the best option.
Canned peas are much softer than defrosted frozen peas. You could certainly use them as a substitute but the texture of the salad will be much different.
Store Old Fashioned Pea Salad covered in the refrigerator and enjoy within 3-4 days for the very best flavor.
English peas are also known as green peas, sweet peas or garden peas. So it's just another name for a standard pea. Unlike snow peas or sugar snap peas, English pea pods are tough and too thick to eat.
🥗 Easy to Prepare English Pea Salad
This recipe couldn't be easier to make. Here's all you need to do:
Step 1: In a large bowl combine the first five ingredients. The peas, celery, red onion, bacon and grated cheese. Stir to combine.
Step 2: In another small bowl, combine the Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, cider vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper to create the delicious sauce.
Step 3: Add the sauce to the peas and other ingredients and whisk gently until combined.
Step 4: Combine the fresh ingredients in the large bowl with the sauce and stir to combine.
Pro Tip: For the very best flavor, refrigerate English Pea Salad for at least an hour before serving.
📋 More Salad Recipes
Here are a few more side salads I think you and your family will enjoy.
If you tried this English Pea Salad or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes in the 📝 comments below.
Recipe
Natalie Perry says
Never thought I would like pea salad, but I made this for a get together and everyone loved it
Melinda O'Malley Keckler says
That's great Natalie! Thanks for the five star rating.
Bernice says
Such a great vintage recipe... I remember this pea salad on the table every family gathering during pea season. This recipe is just as I remember it!
Melinda O'Malley Keckler says
Agreed! It truly is a favorite way to serve peas.
Nancy says
Just the way I like my peas. Flavourful and easy to make salad
Melinda O'Malley Keckler says
Thanks Nancy!
Elizabeth says
You just can’t beat a pea salad! It’s so perfect for this time of year. I subbed vegan cheese and bacon and this was perfect.
Melinda O'Malley Keckler says
Great substitutions Elizabeth! Glad you enjoyed the salad.
Andréa Janssen says
It was a long time ago I've made a pea salad and this creamy version was absolute delicious. The whole bowl was empty afterwards.
Melinda O'Malley Keckler says
Thank you! This salad recipe is famous for creating an empty bowl at the end of an evening.
Kit says
This sounds great for a bbq! Yum!