Creamy Pea Salad with Bacon & Cheddar: A Classic Cold Side Dish Recipe

Creamy Pea Salad with Bacon and Cheddar is a simple, colorful, and satisfying side dish made with sweet green peas, crispy bacon, sharp cheddar cheese, red onion, and a creamy dressing. It is cool, crunchy, slightly smoky, and rich without being difficult to prepare.

This salad is perfect for family dinners, barbecues, potlucks, holiday tables, picnics, or quick make-ahead meals. It does not require complicated cooking, and most of the work is simply mixing the ingredients together. The result is a creamy, savory salad with a fresh bite from the peas and a salty crunch from the bacon.

Why This Pea Salad Is So Delicious

The secret to a good creamy pea salad is balance. The peas bring natural sweetness, the bacon adds smoky saltiness, the cheddar gives a bold cheesy flavor, and the onion adds sharpness. The creamy dressing ties everything together and makes the salad smooth and flavorful.

Unlike leafy salads, this dish holds up well in the refrigerator, which makes it great for preparing ahead of time. After chilling, the flavors become even better.

Ingredients

For the Salad

• 4 cups frozen green peas, thawed
• 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 1 cup cheddar cheese, cut into small cubes or shredded
• ¼ cup red onion, finely diced
• ½ cup celery, finely chopped, optional
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped, optional

For the Creamy Dressing

• ½ cup mayonnaise
• ¼ cup sour cream
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar or white vinegar
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
• ¼ teaspoon onion powder

Step 1: Thaw the Peas Properly

Start with frozen green peas. They work better than canned peas because they stay firm, bright, and sweet.

Place the frozen peas in a colander and rinse them under cool water until they are thawed. Drain them very well.

After draining, pat the peas dry with paper towels. This step is important because extra water can make the dressing thin and watery.

The peas should be cold, firm, and dry before mixing.

Step 2: Cook the Bacon

Place the bacon slices in a skillet over medium heat.

Cook until the bacon becomes crisp and golden. Turn the slices as needed so they cook evenly.

Once cooked, transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate and let it cool. After cooling, crumble it into small pieces.

Crispy bacon gives the salad the best texture. Soft bacon can become chewy once mixed with the creamy dressing.

Step 3: Prepare the Cheddar Cheese

Cut the cheddar cheese into small cubes or shred it.

Cheese cubes give the salad a stronger bite and a chunkier texture, while shredded cheddar blends more smoothly into the dressing.

Sharp cheddar works especially well because its bold flavor stands out against the creamy dressing and sweet peas.

Step 4: Chop the Onion and Extras

Finely dice the red onion. Small pieces are best because they add flavor without overpowering the salad.

For extra crunch, add chopped celery. For freshness, add chopped parsley.

The onion brings a sharp contrast that balances the richness of the mayonnaise and cheese.

Step 5: Make the Creamy Dressing

In a separate bowl, combine mayonnaise, sour cream, vinegar, sugar, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.

Whisk until the dressing is smooth and creamy.

The mayonnaise gives richness, the sour cream adds tang, the vinegar brightens the flavor, and the small amount of sugar balances the sharpness.

Taste the dressing and adjust the seasoning as needed.

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