This Pea Salad with Bacon is an easy side dish that saves the day when you need something quick, budget-friendly, and crowd-pleasing. Made with simple staple ingredients, and pairs perfectly with BBQ Chicken Sliders, Grilled Burgers, or Honey Garlic Pork Tenderloin.
Holly’s Recipe Highlights: Pea Salad with Bacon
Flavor: Creamy, tangy, smoky, and a little bit sweet with a sharp cheddar bite.
Why Make It: No cooking, minimal chopping, and one bowl to wash. So easy!
Budget: Made with staple ingredients, it’s great for feeding a crowd with other budget-friendly staples like a classic macaroni salad.
Serving Suggestions: Perfect for a potluck, a summer picnic, or your favorite weeknight dishes.
Total Time: 13 Mins Serving: 6 Cooking Method: Chilled
Ingredient Notes for Pea Salad
- Frozen Peas: Use thawed frozen or fresh peas, not canned, for the best sweet flavor and tender-crisp texture.
- Coleslaw Dressing: A bottled variety is fine, but a shortcut dressing is easy to make with homemade mayo, a little sugar, and vinegar.
- Cheddar Cheese: Sharp cheddar has the best contrast to the sweet peas. Use pre-shredded to save time.
- Bacon Bits: Real bacon bits add smoky crunch. Add them immediately before serving if you want them extra crispy.
- Red Onion: Finely dice it so it does not overpower the salad. Diced onions can be rinsed for a milder flavor. Replace with green onions for a milder swap.
- Variations: For extra crunch, stir in some diced celery right before serving.
How to Make Pea Salad With Bacon
- Thaw frozen peas and pat them dry.
- Mix with the dressing and remaining ingredients (full recipe below).
Chill until ready to serve.
How to Store Leftovers
Store the bacon pea salad covered tightly in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Mix thoroughly before serving.
This recipe isn’t intended for freezing.
What to Serve With Pea Salad
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Pea Salad with Bacon
Ingredients
- 4 cups frozen peas thawed
- ½ cup prepared coleslaw dressing *see notes to make homemade
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup bacon bits
- ¼ cup finely diced red onion
Instructions
- Thaw peas and pat dry with a paper towel.
- In a large bowl, combine the peas, coleslaw dressing, cheddar cheese, bacon bits, and red onion. Toss until everything is well coated.
Notes
- To make dressing from scratch, combine ½ cup mayonnaise, 2 teaspoons granulated sugar, 1½ tablespoons white vinegar, and salt and pepper to taste.
- If making the salad ahead of time, hold off on adding the bacon bits and cheese until you are ready to serve so they don’t get soggy.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
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