Creamy Bacon Pea Salad

Creamy, crunchy, savory, and packed with sweet green peas, crispy bacon, cheddar, red onion, and hard-boiled eggs. This classic-style pea salad makes an excellent side dish for BBQs, potlucks, picnics, and family dinners.

 Ingredients

Serves: 6–8
Prep time: 20 minutes
Chill time: 1 hour
Total: 1 hour 20 minutes

For the Salad

• 4 cups frozen green peas, thawed
• 6 slices bacon, cooked until crisp and chopped
• 3 large hard-boiled eggs, chopped
• ¾ cup shredded cheddar cheese
• ½ cup finely diced red onion
• ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
• 2 tbsp sunflower seeds or chopped nuts, optional

For the Creamy Dressing

• ½ cup mayonnaise
• ½ cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp onion powder
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp honey or a small amount of sweetener, optional

 Instructions

1. Cook the bacon
   Cook the bacon in a skillet until crisp. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate, cool, and crumble or chop into small pieces.
2. Prepare the peas
   Thaw the frozen peas completely. Drain away any excess water and pat them gently with paper towels. This helps prevent a watery salad.
3. Prepare the eggs
   Peel the hard-boiled eggs and chop them into bite-size pieces.
4. Make the dressing
   In a bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream or Greek yogurt, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Add the optional honey/sweetener if you prefer a slightly sweeter dressing.
5. Combine the salad
   In a large bowl, add the peas, chopped eggs, cheddar cheese, red onion, and parsley.
6. Add the dressing
   Pour the creamy dressing over the ingredients and gently fold everything together until evenly coated.
7. Add the bacon
   Reserve a little bacon for the top, then fold the rest into the salad.
8. Chill
   Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Chilling allows the flavors to blend and makes the salad extra creamy.
9. Garnish and serve
   Before serving, sprinkle with the reserved bacon, a little cheddar, parsley, and freshly cracked black pepper.

 Tips for the Best Pea Salad

• Use frozen peas rather than canned peas for a fresher flavor and firmer texture.
• Don’t boil the frozen peas; simply thaw them.
• Drain the peas very well so the dressing stays thick and creamy.
• For extra crunch, add diced celery.
• For a stronger cheese flavor, use sharp cheddar.
• Add the bacon shortly before serving if you want it to remain especially crispy.
• For a lighter dressing, replace part or all of the mayonnaise with Greek yogurt.

 Nut & Allergen Information

Contains:

• Milk/dairy from cheddar and sour cream/Greek yogurt
• Egg
• Mayonnaise, which commonly contains egg

Optional:

• Nuts or sunflower seeds

Naturally free of:

• Flour
• Wheat in the basic ingredients
• Yeast

For nut allergies: Simply omit the optional nuts/seeds and check packaged bacon, mayonnaise, cheese, and seasonings for cross-contact warnings.

 Approximate Nutrition

Per serving, assuming 8 servings and the basic recipe:

• Calories: ~300
• Protein: ~12 g
• Carbohydrates: ~14 g
• Fiber: ~4 g
• Net carbs: ~10 g
• Fat: ~23 g
• Saturated fat: ~7 g
• Sugar: ~5 g
• Sodium: ~550 mg

Nutrition varies according to the bacon, mayonnaise, cheese, and dressing brands used.

 Q&A

Can I make this salad ahead of time?
Yes. It can be prepared several hours ahead or the day before. Keep refrigerated until serving.

Can I use canned peas?
Yes, but frozen peas generally provide better color and texture. If using canned peas, drain and rinse them thoroughly.

Can I use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream?
Absolutely. Plain Greek yogurt makes the dressing tangy and creamy while adding protein.

Can I leave out the bacon?
Yes. The salad will still be flavorful. For a meat-free version, add extra cheddar, sunflower seeds, or another crunchy topping.

Can I use turkey bacon?
Yes. Turkey bacon works well if you prefer it.

Why did my salad become watery?
The peas may not have been drained thoroughly, or the salad may have been left at room temperature for too long. Drain the peas well before mixing.

How long does it last in the refrigerator?
Store it covered in the refrigerator for about 3 days. Stir gently before serving.

Can I make the dressing lighter?
Yes. Use mostly Greek yogurt with a smaller amount of mayonnaise.

What can I serve with Bacon Pea Salad?
It’s especially good with grilled chicken, burgers, BBQ meats, roasted chicken, sandwiches, or baked potatoes.