Southern pea salad is a creamy, classic side dish that’s perfect for BBQs, potlucks, and family gatherings. Made with sweet peas, a rich and tangy dressing, and simple ingredients, this easy pea salad recipe comes together quickly and delivers big flavor.
Whether you’re serving it alongside smoked meats, burgers, or fried chicken, this Southern pea salad is a refreshing and crowd-pleasing addition to any meal.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
All I know is it's cold, damn good, and super easy to make. The creamy sauce with the snap of the peas, crispy onions, and cheesy afternotes work so perfectly together that it's almost indescribable how fantastic this Pea Salad is. This recipe is possibly one of the easiest side items that could be made. However, it's always one of the most talked about at any gathering, and it pairs well with almost every grilled or smoked meat and the more commonly seen cookout side dish.
Ingredients
Salad Base
- Frozen Peas – The star of the dish, bringing natural sweetness and a tender bite. Be sure to thaw them before mixing for the best texture.
- Bacon (cooked and crumbled) – Adds smoky, salty flavor that balances the sweetness of the peas.
- Mild Cheddar Cheese (cubed) – Brings richness and a creamy, savory bite that makes the salad more filling.
- Red Onion (diced) – Adds a sharp, slightly sweet crunch that cuts through the creamy dressing.
Creamy Dressing
- Mayonnaise – The base of the dressing, giving the salad its classic creamy texture.
- Sour Cream – Adds tanginess and helps lighten the richness of the mayo.
- Apple Cider Vinegar – Provides acidity to balance the flavors and keep the salad from feeling too heavy.
- Worcestershire Sauce – Adds depth and a subtle savory complexity.
Seasonings & Finish
- Fresh Parsley (finely chopped) – Adds a fresh, bright flavor and a pop of color.
- Sugar – Enhances the natural sweetness of the peas and balances the tangy dressing.
- Kosher Salt – Brings all the flavors together.
- Black Pepper – Adds a mild heat and rounds out the seasoning.
See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: This is pretty darn simple. Start cooking up some bacon, letting it cool, and draining on paper towels. Once the bacon has cooled, dice, crumble, or cut it into bits.
Next, dice up the red onion and slice the mild cheddar cheese block into small cubes.
Whisk together the sour cream, mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, fresh parsley, kosher salt, black pepper, and sugar in a separate bowl.
Step 2: Now, pour the frozen peas into a bowl and gently stir the onion, bacon, and cheese into the peas.
Pour the dressing mix over the pea mixture and gently stir to combine. One of the best parts about using frozen peas is that you don't have to worry about mushing them up at this stage. They'll be just fine.
Lastly, cover the bowl and stick it in the fridge for at least 2 hours before serving. This allows time for the flavors to combine and the peas to fully thaw.
Expert Tips
- Frozen peas save you time during the preparation of this salad, but it's essentially to preserve the textural integrity of the peas themselves. If they are cooked or thawed ahead of time, they will become mushy in your salad. Make the salad with the frozen peas ahead of time and allow them to thaw in the refrigerator. Just be sure to stir them a couple of times throughout the day.
- If you're looking for a quick and easy way to cook the bacon, I recommend using a Blackstone griddle if you want to make a lot of bacon. If you want to make it as fast as possible, place the bacon strips in an air fryer for about 5 minutes at 400°f, flipping halfway through.
- I prefer using mild cheddar. The flavor still stands out but doesn't overpower the other ingredients. However, you can experiment with sharp cheddar or maybe even a smoked gouda. I do recommend cubing a block as opposed to using shredded cheese.
What to Serve with Pea Salad
Pea salad is a perfect side dish for BBQ and comfort food meals. Serve it alongside smoked pulled pork, burgers, grilled chicken, or fried chicken for a complete Southern-style spread.
It also pairs well with baked beans, macaroni salad, potato salad, and cornbread for a classic cookout menu.
Recipe FAQs
Pea salad is made with sweet peas, a creamy dressing, and mix-ins like cheese, bacon, and onions.
There is no need to thaw frozen peas before making a pea salad. In fact, I recommend not thawing them. Make the pea salad with the frozen peas ahead of time and allow them to thaw in the refrigerator. This will keep them from getting mushy and keep the textural integrity of the peas.
No, frozen peas don't need to be cooked before eating them. In fact, they are great in a cold pea salad or mixed into a side salad.
Frozen peas are preferred for better texture, but canned peas can be used if drained well.
Pea salad can be stored in the refrigerator for 3–4 days.
Pea salad pairs well with BBQ meats, burgers, fried chicken, and other Southern side dishes.
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📖 Recipe
Southern Pea Salad
Ingredients
- 4 Cups Frozen Peas
- 8 Slices Bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 8 Oz Mild Cheddar, cubed
- ½ Red Onion-diced
- ½ Cup Sour Cream
- ½ Cup Mayonnaise
- 1 Tbsp. Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1 tsp. Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 tablespoon Fresh Parsley, finely chopped
- 1 Tbsp. Sugar
- ¼ tsp. Kosher Salt
- ¼ tsp. Black Pepper
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl stir together the peas, bacon, onion, and cheese.
- In a separate mixing bowl, whisk the remaining ingredients.
- Pour the dressing over the pea mixture, stirring to fully cover the peas.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or until the peas have completely thawed.
- Serve and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Frozen peas save you time during the preparation of this salad, but it's essentially to preserve the textural integrity of the peas themselves. If they are cooked or thawed ahead of time, they will become mushy in your salad. Make the salad with the frozen peas ahead of time and allow them to thaw in the refrigerator. Just be sure to stir them a couple of times throughout the day.
- If you're looking for a quick and easy way to cook the bacon, I recommend using a Blackstone griddle if you want to make a lot of bacon. If you want to make it as fast as possible, place the bacon strips in an air fryer for about 5 minutes at 400°f, flipping halfway through.
- I prefer using mild cheddar. The flavor still stands out but doesn't overpower the other ingredients. However, you can experiment with sharp cheddar or maybe even a smoked gouda. I do recommend cubing a block as opposed to using shredded cheese.
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