Description

Old Fashioned Pea Salad is a classic creamy side dish that combines tender peas with a tangy mayonnaise and sour cream dressing, enriched with cheddar cheese, crispy bacon bits, and hard-boiled eggs. It’s a nostalgic and flavorful salad perfect for picnics, potlucks, or as a refreshing accompaniment to any meal.

Ingredients

Scale

Salad Ingredients

2 cups frozen peas (thawed)
½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
¼ cup red onion (diced)
¼ cup bacon bits (smoky and crispy)
2 hard-boiled eggs (chopped)
1 tbsp fresh dill or parsley (chopped)

Dressing

½ cup mayonnaise (creamy base)
¼ cup sour cream (adds tanginess)
Salt & black pepper (to taste)

Instructions

Thaw the peas: Let the frozen peas sit at room temperature for 10–15 minutes or rinse them under cool water and drain thoroughly to ensure they are thawed and not soggy.
Prepare the dressing: In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, salt, and black pepper until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
Combine salad ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, mix the thawed peas with shredded cheddar cheese, diced red onion, chopped hard-boiled eggs, and smoky bacon bits.
Add dressing to salad: Pour the creamy dressing over the combined ingredients and gently fold everything together to evenly coat the salad without mashing the peas.
Chill the salad: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld and the salad to chill thoroughly.
Garnish and serve: Just before serving, sprinkle freshly chopped dill or parsley over the salad to add a fresh herbaceous note and visual appeal.

Notes

Thaw peas properly to avoid excess water which can dilute the dressing.
Use freshly cooked and cooled hard-boiled eggs for best texture.
Customize bacon bits by using cooked and crumbled bacon if preferred.
For a lighter version, substitute mayonnaise with Greek yogurt.
This salad can be made a day ahead; just stir before serving.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Category: Salad
Method: No-Cook
Cuisine: American

Keywords: pea salad, creamy pea salad, old fashioned salad, mayonnaise salad, picnic side dish, potluck salad