This creamy pea salad with bacon is a classic side dish and a great way to use a bag of frozen peas. The peas are mixed with some cheddar cheese cubes, crunchy celery, red onion, and a creamy yogurt-based dressing. A little bacon at the end makes this taste like a real treat.
If you’re a fan of peas (like I am!), this recipe is for you. It’s easy to make, travels well for picnics and BBQs, uses ingredients you likely already have on hand, and pairs beautifully with just about any main dish.
The combination is what really sells it: sweet peas mixed with crunchy celery, salty bacon, sharp cheddar, and a bit of onion, all tossed in a creamy dressing. It’s simple, familiar, and completely irresistible.
Tips for making the best pea salad
- Add celery. It’s not an ingredient usually found in pea salad, but it gives it the best little crunch.
- Chop the celery, cheese, and red onion so that they are all roughly the same size.
- Let the salad rest while cooking the bacon; it will help the flavors blend together.
- Add the bacon last. Crispy bacon is best in this salad. Add it right before serving so that it doesn’t turn soft and chewy.
- To bring this to a picnic, make the salad up to a day ahead and bring the bacon to mix in before you serve it.
What goes well with pea salad
This is a great recipe as it goes well with so many main dishes. Here are a few of our favorites:
- Juiciest Baked Pork Tenderloin
- Baked BBQ Chicken
- Soy Sauce Chicken
- 8 Minute Baked Salmon
- Juicy Baked Chicken Thighs
Creamy Pea Salad with Bacon Recipe
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Ingredients
- ▢ 4 cups frozen peas
- ▢ ½ cup diced cheddar cheese
- ▢ ½ cup minced celery
- ▢ ⅓ cup minced red onion
- ▢ ½ cup yogurt
- ▢ ¼ cup mayonnaise
- ▢ 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- ▢ ½ teaspoon EACH: sea salt and pepper
- ▢ 4 slices bacon
Instructions
- Place the peas in a colander and run them under water to remove any ice. It’s ok if they’re not completely thawed. Drain them well and place them in a large bowl with the cheddar cheese, celery, and red onion. 4 cups frozen peas, ½ cup diced cheddar cheese, ½ cup minced celery, ⅓ cup minced red onion
- In a small bowl, mix the yogurt, mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, salt, and pepper. Pour this creamy sauce over the peas and mix well. Set the peas aside on your counter while you cook the bacon – or up to 3 days in your fridge. ½ cup yogurt, ¼ cup mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, ½ teaspoon EACH: sea salt and pepper
- In a medium-sized pan over medium heat, cook the bacon until crispy, about 8 minutes. Cool then chop. 4 slices bacon
- Just before serving, mix the bacon into the peas.
Nutrition
We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here .
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Creamy Pea Salad with Bacon Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 cups frozen peas
- ½ cup diced cheddar cheese
- ½ cup minced celery
- ⅓ cup minced red onion
- ½ cup yogurt
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- ½ teaspoon EACH: sea salt and pepper
- 4 slices bacon
Instructions
- Place the peas in a colander and run them under water to remove any ice. It’s ok if they’re not completely thawed. Drain them well and place them in a large bowl with the cheddar cheese, celery, and red onion. 4 cups frozen peas, ½ cup diced cheddar cheese, ½ cup minced celery, ⅓ cup minced red onion
- In a small bowl, mix the yogurt, mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, salt, and pepper. Pour this creamy sauce over the peas and mix well. Set the peas aside on your counter while you cook the bacon - or up to 3 days in your fridge. ½ cup yogurt, ¼ cup mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, ½ teaspoon EACH: sea salt and pepper
- In a medium-sized pan over medium heat, cook the bacon until crispy, about 8 minutes. Cool then chop. 4 slices bacon
- Just before serving, mix the bacon into the peas.
