Description
A creamy and refreshing classic pea salad featuring sweet green peas, sharp cheddar cheese cubes, crispy bacon, and a tangy dressing. Perfect as a side dish for picnics, potlucks, or family dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups frozen green peas, thawed
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, cut into small cubes
- ½ cup red onion, finely diced
- ½ cup celery, finely chopped
- ½ cup cooked bacon, crumbled
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons sour cream
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Prep the Ingredients: Thaw the frozen peas by placing them in a colander and running cool water over them for a few minutes. Let drain thoroughly. Dice the red onion, celery, and cut the cheddar cheese into small cubes.
- Mix the Creamy Dressing: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, apple cider vinegar, sugar, salt, and black pepper until smooth and creamy.
- Combine the Salad: Add the thawed peas, cheddar cubes, red onion, celery, and crumbled bacon to the bowl with the dressing. Gently fold everything together with a spatula until well coated.
- Chill and Serve: Cover and refrigerate the salad for at least 1 hour before serving to let the flavors meld. Give it a gentle stir, then serve chilled.
Notes
- For extra crunch, add diced bell peppers or water chestnuts.
- Use freshly grated or block cheddar for better texture.
- If you prefer a lighter version, substitute Greek yogurt for sour cream and mayonnaise.
- Vegetarian option: Skip the bacon or swap with smoked almonds for crunch.
- Spicy option: Add diced jalapeños or a dash of hot sauce to the dressing.
- Herby option: Mix in chopped fresh dill, chives, or parsley for a burst of freshness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salads
- Method: No-cook
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 260
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 0mg
- Fat: 19g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 14g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 9g
- Cholesterol: 0mg