English Pea Salad Recipe

This creamy english pea salad recipe is full of flavor from the sweet peas, crunchy bacon, onion, and sharp Cheddar cheese all mixed into a creamy dressing. It's a classic potluck recipe.

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This is a classic southern recipe that you'll find at family reunions and all kinds of summer gatherings.

Pea salad with crispy bacon on top. — This delicious summer side dish is made with simple ingredients.

Table of Contents

🗝️ Key takeaways
🧾 Ingredients
🥫 How to store
📚 Related recipes
🍽️ Serve with...
📖 Recipe
💬 Comments

🗝️ Key takeaways

This is so good!

So creamy!
Super easy!
Make ahead!
Perfect for summer potlucks, family gatherings, and picnics!

Sweet petite peas, salty cheddar, crisp salty bacon, and mild red onions are blanketed with a simple mayonnaise dressing in this easy green pea salad recipe.

Add a little smoked paprika and you're ready to go!

Even if you're not a fan of peas you need to try this at least classic southern side dish at least once.

🧾 Ingredients

You'll need the following for this delicious pea salad.

Note: This is an overview of the instructions. The full instructions are in the green recipe card below. Click on the image to see it full size.

Step by step images showing how to make this recipe.

Mix the peas, onion, and cheese together in a large bowl
Blend the mayonnaise, sugar, salt, and pepper together until smooth.
Stir the mayonnaise mixture into the pea mixture and chill for 1 hour or more.
Just before serving stir in the crispy bacon.

🥫 How to store

Store leftover pea and cheese salad in an airtight container, or covered with plastic wrap, in the refrigerator for up to four days.

This recipe does not freeze well.

Expert tip: Don't leave this delicious side dish at room temperature more than an hour or two. Mayonnaise is notorious for going bad in the heat during the summer months. Throw it out if you're not sure.

Summer is hot! Recipes like this classic pea salad were developed because they are quick, easy, and aren't going to heat up the kitchen. If you know you're going to make it in the afternoon you'd cook extra bacon in the morning while it was still cool - problem solved.
This is delicious with smoked Cheddar instead of sharp.
Some people like boiled eggs chopped up in theirs. I do not but if you do - go for it!
Using small Cheddar cheese cubes already cut will save time.
This classic creamy pea salad has the best flavor after it's been chilled a couple of hours.
There's no need to use thawed peas. I just add them frozen.
Creamy pea salad works as a light main dish because the peas and cheddar provide plenty of protein. You could even add grilled chicken.
Garnish with chopped green onion for extra flavor.
Stir in some sweet pickle relish if you like.
Try these copycat French's Fried Onions sprinkled on top just before serving.

Closeup image of the salad showing all the components. — This easy pea salad is a classic side dish.

Here are the questions I am most frequently asked about this southern English pea salad recipe.

Do you have to cook the peas?

No. I use frozen peas and just dump them in with the rest of the ingredients while they are still frozen. They stay a gorgeous green color and retain some of their texture. Now, if you were to use fresh peas right from your garden you'd want to steam those until they were crisp-tender. Otherwise no worries.

Can I use canned peas?

Please no. You "could" but you would have a bland, starchy, mushy, faded dish that resembles a good southern pea salad about as much as Target resembles Neiman Marcus. Go with the frozen - I promise you'll be glad you did.

Can I use grated cheese?

Again, you "can" but the results aren't nearly as magnificent as they are when you use small cubes of Cheddar. I think cubes of cheese looks better and it doesn't get lost in the peas.

Can I make this pea salad recipe ahead of time?

You can make it up to 2 days ahead of time but don't put the bacon in until right before serving. Also, I like to keep extra frozen peas on hand so that if it gets a little watery I can add more peas to it on the day of the picnic.

Does English pea salad have to be refrigerated?

Yes it does. Because it contains mayonnaise you'll want to keep it cold. If you're doing a potluck outside then keep the bowl in an ice chest until you're ready to serve it.

Love pea salad? Try this crunchy pea salad with cashews!
Macaroni salad is the old fashioned recipe you remember!
We love this crunchy Frito corn salad in the summer and fall.
Classic potato salad is another one that shows up at all the potlucks.

🍽️ Serve with...

There's just something about this summer side dish that people either love or hate - and I haven't met many that hate it.

I hope you'll try this great side dish the next time you grill burgers or need something last minute to take to a potluck or picnic. It's just so easy and it's never too early or too late to start making great memories.

My mom's cucumber salad and creamy potato salad are both summer favorites, too!

If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need. Don't forget that you can click on "add to collection" to save it to your own, private recipe box!

If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

📖 Recipe

First published May 14, 2019. Last updated August 2, 2022 for better images.