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Creamy Pea Salad with Bacon and Cheddar

Creamy Pea Salad with Bacon and Cheddar is one of those classic side dishes that proves a simple combination of ingredients can be incredibly satisfying. Sweet green peas, crisp bacon, sharp cheddar cheese, and a cool, creamy dressing come together to create a salad that is crunchy, savory, slightly sweet, and wonderfully refreshing.

It is especially convenient because most of the preparation can be done ahead of time. After a short rest in the refrigerator, the flavors have a chance to mingle, making this salad an easy choice for potlucks, family dinners, picnics, barbecues, and holiday gatherings.

Why You’ll Love This Pea Salad

The appeal of this salad comes from its contrast of textures and flavors. The peas provide a naturally sweet, tender bite, while bacon adds a smoky, salty crunch. Cheddar brings richness and a pleasant sharpness, and the creamy dressing ties everything together without overpowering the vegetables.

Another advantage is how quickly it comes together. There is no complicated cooking technique involved, and you can prepare it several hours before serving.

Ingredients

For the Salad

4 cups frozen green peas
6 slices bacon
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1/3 cup finely diced red onion
2 hard-boiled eggs, chopped
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, optional

For the Creamy Dressing

3/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup sour cream
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Step-by-Step Method

Step 1: Prepare the Peas

Start by preparing the frozen peas. Place them in a colander and rinse them briefly under cool water until they are no longer frozen solid.

Allow them to drain thoroughly. You want the peas to remain cold and crisp rather than become soft from cooking.

For an especially fresh texture, spread the drained peas on a clean kitchen towel or paper towels and gently pat them dry. Removing excess water is important because it keeps the dressing creamy instead of watery.

Step 2: Cook the Bacon

Place the bacon in a skillet over medium heat. Cook until it is browned and crisp, turning as needed so it cooks evenly.

Transfer the cooked bacon to a paper towel-lined plate and allow it to cool.

Once cool enough to handle, crumble or chop the bacon into small pieces. Keep the pieces fairly bite-sized so that every serving gets a little smoky bacon flavor.

Step 3: Prepare the Eggs and Vegetables

Peel the hard-boiled eggs and chop them into small pieces.

Finely dice the red onion. Keeping the onion pieces small gives the salad a mild crunch without allowing the onion flavor to dominate.

Shred the cheddar cheese if you are using a block. Freshly shredded cheese blends particularly well into the salad and gives it a pleasant texture.

Step 4: Make the Creamy Dressing

In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise and sour cream.

Add the apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, sugar, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Whisk everything together until the dressing is smooth and evenly combined.

Taste the dressing before adding it to the salad. If you prefer a slightly tangier flavor, add another small splash of vinegar. For a sweeter dressing, add a tiny amount of additional sugar.