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Pea Salad

Pea salad with bright green peas coated in a creamy tangy dressing, studded with crispy bacon crumbles, sharp cheddar cubes, and red onion. A classic southern-style potluck salad that chills for at least 1 hour for better flavor blend.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
chilling 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 290
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Peas
  • 4 cup frozen peas thawed (do not cook)
Bacon
  • 6 bacon cooked and crumbled
Cheddar
  • 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese cubed small
Onion
  • 0.5 cup red onion finely diced
Creamy dressing
  • 0.5 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tbsp sour cream
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 0.25 salt to taste
  • 0.25 black pepper to taste

Method
 

Thaw and prep
  1. Thaw frozen peas completely and pat dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
Combine the salad
  1. Combine peas, crumbled bacon, cheddar cubes, and red onion in a large bowl.
Make the dressing
  1. Whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, apple cider vinegar, sugar, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl until smooth.
Dress and chill
  1. Pour the dressing over the pea mixture and fold gently until everything is evenly coated.
  2. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour so the flavors develop, then stir and taste for seasoning before serving.

Notes

Pro tip: remove as much moisture as possible from the thawed peas to keep the dressing from thinning. Refrigerate in a covered container for up to 3 days; it does not freeze well because the peas can turn watery. For a lighter option, use light mayonnaise to reduce overall fat while keeping the creamy tang.