Bacon Pea Salad Recipe

Sweet and crunchy, this creamy pea salad with bacon truly hits the spot in the summertime. Crunchy sweet peas, crispy bacon crumbles, and shredded cheese join forces for a show-stopping bowl of salad. Every forkful is brimming with sweet, salty, and tangy flavors all at once. A great take-along to your next potluck!

I’m always on the prowl for easy side dishes with a wow factor. Sitting on top of my list are salad recipes. Generally, they’re so easy to prepare and yet still burst with awesome flavors. This bacon pea salad is no exception. It only took me 15 minutes to make this refreshing salad, but the taste remained fantastic for a few days. Besides, I know you can never go wrong with a recipe that only calls for a handful of ingredients and one that doesn’t require cooking.

I used frozen peas to make my own version of bacon pea salad, but you can opt for fresh peas if you like. Frozen peas are pretty convenient as they’re already cooked and blanched. All you have to do is defrost the frozen peas by running them under cold water. One more thing, I heard petite peas work better for this easy pea salad as they’re sweeter than regular garden peas. Canned peas are also fine to use, but your side salad won’t be as vibrant and crisp as you like. Canned peas tend to be darker and softer as compared to frozen peas.

My frozen pea salad is also loaded with bacon crumbles, adding a hint of saltiness. Of course, you would want crispy and crunchy bacon bits to up your summer salad. Cooking bacon slices until golden brown and crispy is the way to go! When cooked, put aside a few tablespoons to use as toppings. Of course, I also didn’t skimp on cheese. This recipe for pea salad uses sharp cheddar cheese cubes, but feel free to shred your cheese if you prefer. And I don’t know about you, but for me, a pile of crunchy red onions transforms a simple pea salad into a fabulous side dish.

The beauty of pea salad recipes, apart from their deliciousness, is you can play around with the ingredients. English pea salad, a tasty variation of this salad, combines frozen peas, bacon, and eggs in one bowl. There’s also a version that uses celery and water chestnuts, and it has the perfect crunchy texture! You can even make a pea salad without mayo. Greek yogurt and ranch dressing would be great swap-ins instead.

Meanwhile, a flavorful vinaigrette brought my pea salad recipe with bacon and cheese together. Mayonnaise and sour cream made for a creamy base for my salad dressing. A splash of vinegar gave my salad extra tang. To soften the bite of my creamy dressing, I added a tablespoon of sugar. Trust me, the balance of flavors is so addictive!

So, wanna know how to make pea salad? It’s such a breeze, really. To make the best bacon pea salad, first, you simply have to whip up the creamy dressing in a bowl. Then, toss the rest of the salad ingredients and stir. For the most delicious result, refrigerate it for at least two hours. I love serving this flavorsome pea salad with bacon and cheese alongside grilled chicken or grilled shrimp. Basically, anything that’s cooked on a grill is the perfect companion for this summer side dish.