This creamy Pea Salad may sound weird but trust me, it’s so good! Sweet peas, peanuts, crispy bacon, celery…all for a refreshing side salad. This classic pea salad is a potluck favorite!

PEA SALAD RECIPE

Growing up my mother’s closet was always this living organism that had a life of its own. It was either clean as a whistle or so packed with stuff you could hardly get your foot in the door.

Clothes, gifts, food,…you name it, it was in there.

The closet was always on her back burner so if she had time (which having 10 kids hardly allows), she would get to organizing it.

It was her Mount Everest, both symbolically and literally when the piles got out of control.

We all knew she hid chocolate in there so we would often take on the quest to find it but would never come out victorious.

It must be inherited because I have the same struggle with my closet. I just can’t get a handle on it.

And yes, I also have chocolate in mine. I purge it every couple of months so I’m not sure how there’s anything left in there.

Last week I was having a “Does it spark joy?” episode and donated about 30 skirts to Goodwill.

I know that makes me sound like a clothes hoarder…because I am. I still have clothes from high school.

So I know this Crunchy Pea Salad sounds totally crazy and weird but it’s a great recipe.

Peas…I don’t hate them, but I can definitely leave them. The saltiness of the bacon, the crunch of the celery and nuts, the freshness of the peas, and the bite of the onion all work together.

INGREDIENTS

• FROZEN PEAS – cold crunchy peas make this amazing with the perfect amount of slight crunch but you could use fresh peas as well.
• BACON – the salty bacon with the sweet peas is the best flavor. You could even use leftover ham as your salty substitute.
• PEANUTS – cashews would be a great substitution here for the nutty flavor.
• CELERY – bell peppers would also give a fresh crunch to this classic side dish.
• RED ONION – you could use green onions for a more mild flavor.
• MAYONNAISE – this is the base to the creamy dressing on the green pea salad. You could use Miracle Whip if you are a fan of it.
• ZESTY ITALIAN DRESSING – of course you could make a homemade dressing but this simple mixture of mayonnaise and the Italian dressing make a creamy sauce that is perfect for this simple side dish.

It’s a pleasant surprise. Take my word on this Crunchy Pea Salad! Believe it or not this is best when you toss it together with the frozen peas. Let them thaw slightly before serving but extra cold makes it extra good! If you’re not a fan of peas, this delicious pea salad might change your mind. 

HOW TO MAKE PEA SALAD

1. In a large bowl, combine the first five ingredients. In a small bowl, mix mayonnaise and salad dressing and toss with salad. Refrigerate until serving.

HOW FAR AHEAD CAN YOU MAKE THIS

You can make this up to three days ahead of time and store in the refrigerator in an airtight container. To keep the bacon crispy, store separately and toss in before serving.

EASY SALAD RECIPES

• Asian Cucumber Salad
• Frito Corn Salad
• Chicken Salad
• Broccoli Salad
• BLT Pasta Salads
• Red Potato Salad
• Caprese Pesto Pasta Salad
• Avocado Cucumber Salad
• Broccoli Salad