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Home Ā» Recipes

Easy Pea Salad

Stacey – April 5, 2022 – 22 Comments

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This Easy Pea Salad recipe only calls for 5 ingredients and is ready in about 15 minutes! Made with frozen peas, mayo, ranch dressing, red onion, and diced ham, it’s the perfect side for nearly any occasion.

Easy Pea Salad in bowl

As a kid, I wasn’t a big fan of green peas. In fact, I pretty much hated them. I had a great aunt that would sometimes keep me and I remember her trying to force feed me peas. And it seems like we had peas every time I was there.

Fortunately, as I’ve gotten older, my disdain for the veggie has shifted from hatred to quite a bit of fondness. Apparently, the 10,000 taste buds we have are replaced every few weeks and as we age the number of taste buds on our tongues decreases. So things that we disliked as kids, taste different as adults.

Easy Pea Salad in bowl

Now, I’m still not a big fan of canned peas, but I’ll eat them. The ones I love the most are fresh or frozen peas that are just barely cooked or even raw. I think that’s why I love pea salad so much.

Frozen peas are combined with a creamy mayo-based dressing and, in my recipe, are combined with finely diced smoked ham and red onion. This simple combination is my absolute favorite.

Easy Pea Salad in bowl

To add some extra flavor, I add a packet of ranch mix to my dressing – a trick I learned from a restaurant a few years back. I find the flavor perfect, but you can always use less of the ranch mix if you like.

And even though there are only 5 ingredients, and all you have to do is stir those ingredients together, you can make it even easier by using the finely diced ham that comes in a little pack in the cold cuts/sliced meats section of the grocery store.

Easy Pea Salad in bowl

And while I love using frozen peas to make this classic side dish super easy (and tasty), you can use fresh peas as well. Simply blanch them in some boiling water, rinse in cold water to stop the cooking, and drain them before adding them to the salad. You’ll need about 1 pound of fresh peas, just as with the frozen ones.

Easy Pea Salad in bowl
Easy Pea Salad in bowl
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4.84 from 6 votes

Recipe Card

Easy Pea Salad

Course Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine American
Prep Time 15 minutes
Servings 4 – 6 Servings
Author Stacey Little | Southern Bite

Ingredients

  • 1 (16-ounce) bag frozen peas (or fresh*)
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 (0.4 to 1.0 -ounce) packet buttermilk ranch dressing mix
  • 1 cup finely diced ham
  • 1/2 cup finely diced red onion

Instructions

  • Allow peas to thaw and rinse under cold water in colander. Drain well and spread out on a rimmed sheet pan lined with paper towels to absorb excess moisture.
  • In a medium bowl, stir together the mayonnaise and ranch dressing mix. Add the peas, ham, and onion and fold together to coat. Refrigerate until serving.

Notes

To use fresh peas, simply blanch the peas, drain, and allow to cool before adding to the salad.
Easy Pea Salad in bowl
Did you make my Easy Pea Salad?I’d love to see! Share on Instagram, tag @southernbite, and use the hashtag #southernbite!
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Stacey Little of Southern Bite

Hey, y’all! I’m Stacey…

Feeding people makes me happy. Few things in this world delight me more than my family and friends gathered around my table enjoying a meal. Pull up a chair and join us! Read more…

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Wendi

    November 21, 2022 at 9:04 pm

    Please tell me I can make this for Thanksgiving not just summer. This is totally what my mom use to make.

    Reply
    • Stacey

      November 22, 2022 at 9:10 am

      Absolutely! You do you! šŸ™‚

      Reply
  2. Sherry Scott

    October 2, 2022 at 4:48 pm

    Add 1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese cubed at 1/2 inch.

    Reply
    • Sherry Scott

      October 2, 2022 at 4:50 pm

      Oops! I meant, 1/2 cup 1/4 inch cubed sharp cheddar!

      Reply
    • Stacey

      October 3, 2022 at 10:15 am

      This sounds like a great addition too!

      Reply
  3. Shey

    August 5, 2022 at 10:03 pm

    I think we grew up in the same neighborhood by the looks of the recipes! I love this, but my mom always added chopped boiled eggs.

    Reply
    • Shey

      August 5, 2022 at 10:04 pm

      Forgot the rating!!

      Reply
    • Stacey

      August 8, 2022 at 8:30 am

      I LOVE this recipe with eggs as well!

      Reply
  4. Mary Catherine

    May 27, 2022 at 1:46 pm

    I just made this pea salad for the second time. It came together even faster this time since I put the peas out to thaw and drain while I went for a hike. It makes enough to serve for at least two meals for the four of us and gets better and better with time. Thanks for another favorite recipe, Stacey!

    Reply
    • Stacey

      June 7, 2022 at 2:08 pm

      So glad to hear you’ve enjoyed this one!

      Reply
  5. Ann

    April 26, 2022 at 8:29 am

    Made this for a church luncheon. Everyone enjoyed it. Came home with a clean dish.

    Reply
    • Stacey

      April 26, 2022 at 2:35 pm

      I’m so glad everyone enjoyed it!

      Reply
  6. joyce wilbanks

    April 6, 2022 at 6:23 am

    This salad is one of my favorite salads, but I never thought about using the ranch dressing package with the mayo . I will be using your recipe from now on, however not boing to crazy about ham I cut up small chunk’s of cheddar cheese. Thanks for posting this recipe. I will be making this right away.

    Reply
    • Stacey

      April 7, 2022 at 8:12 am

      That’s a great idea! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
  7. Rita

    April 5, 2022 at 7:39 pm

    This recipe is really making my mouth water. Thanks, making out my grocery list!

    Reply
    • Stacey

      April 7, 2022 at 8:12 am

      Hope you enjoy it!

      Reply
  8. Virginia

    April 5, 2022 at 3:35 pm

    Readers…..you must try this recipe. It is a delightful salad!

    Reply
    • Stacey

      April 7, 2022 at 8:13 am

      Thank you!

      Reply
  9. Sondra Hallinan

    April 5, 2022 at 2:21 pm

    This Easy Pea Salad sounds wonderful. I like quick & easy!! Have a blessed day.😊

    Reply
    • Stacey

      April 7, 2022 at 8:14 am

      Quick and easy is my favorite too!

      Reply
  10. Billie

    April 5, 2022 at 2:18 pm

    I’m really looking forward to making this, so simple and I love a good pea salad!

    Reply
    • Stacey

      April 7, 2022 at 8:14 am

      So easy!

      Reply

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Stacey Little of Southern Bite

Hey, y’all! I’m Stacey…

Feeding people makes me happy. Few things in this world delight me more than my family and friends gathered around my table enjoying a meal. Pull up a chair and join us! Read more…

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About Cookbook Shop Contact
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