If you're looking for an easy, crowd-pleasing side dish, this bacon pea salad checks every box. It's creamy, crunchy, and loaded with crispy bacon, sweet peas, and sharp cheddar- all tossed in a simple, flavorful dressing.This old-fashioned salad comes together in minutes and tastes even better after chilling, making it perfect for potlucks, barbecues, and holidays.
"Made this as written but added diced hard boiled egg. Turned out fabulous." ★★★★★-Amy Liu
If you grew up in the South, you've probably seen this creamy bacon pea salad at local mom-and-pop restaurants, church potlucks, and family barbecues.
It is a vintage recipe that has been passed down from generations and shows up time and again on Southern tables. You might also know it as Amish Pea Salad, Classic Pea Salad, and Creamy Pea Salad.
This one hits close to home for me. The local K&W Cafeteria restaurant always had it with their salad selections and I would pick this pea salad or the seven layer salad, no question about it.
I love the perfectly sweet and salty combination of the peas and bacon. Add in the cheddar cheese and creamy dressing, and it turns out amazing- just like grandma would make.
I hope you love it as much as we do. Enjoy! Xoxo- Katie.
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Ingredient notes and substitutions
You will need the following simple ingredients to make bacon pea salad.
- Sweet Green Peas- I recommend using frozen. Thaw out before adding to the salad. Some people use canned peas. Personally, I feel the canned peas become too mushy and are not as sweet as the frozen.
- Bacon- I recommend cooking the bacon and not using bacon bits. Fresh cooked crumbled crunchy bacon adds so much more flavor than the bacon bits. You can substitute with turkey bacon.
- Cheddar Cheese- I like sharp or extra sharp cheddar cheese. Mild cheddar cheese is good also. I recommend freshly shredding your cheese. Pre-shredded cheese has a coating and doesn't blend as well as fresh shredded cheese. Some people like tiny cheddar cheese cubes. I like the the way the shredded cheese blends into the salad. Cubed and shredded cheese are both delicious in the pea salad. It is just a matter of personal preference.
- Red Onion- Can substitute with yellow or white onion.
- Mayonnaise-I recommend real mayonnaise and not Miracle Whip. I do not recommend using a low fat or fat free mayonnaise.
- Sugar
- Apple Cider Vinegar- I like the flavor of the apple cider vinegar in the dressing. However, white vinegar and white wine vinegar are good substitutes.
Watch how to make pea salad
Steps
Follow these simple steps to make creamy pea salad.
- Cook bacon. Crumble and set aside.
- In a small bowl, mix mayonnaise, sugar, and apple cider vinegar.
- In a large bowl, mix peas, bacon, red onion, and cheddar cheese.
- Mix in the dressing with the pea salad. You can serve immediately, but it is best to chill 2 or more hours before serving.
Optional Add Ins
Some recipes add boiled eggs, water chestnuts, celery, or diced ham to the salad. My recipe is more common to what you would find here in the South, but all of these additions would be delicious in the salad.
Frozen Pea Tip
Do not cook the frozen peas for this creamy pea salad. Set them out to thaw ahead of time or run under cold water until thawed out.
Love this recipe? Try some of these other vintage favorites:
How did your creamy pea salad turn out? Please leave me a comment below if you make this and tell me what you thought about it. I would love to hear back, and so would my readers.
Also post a picture of your salad on Instagram or Facebook, and tag @aforkstale with #aforkstale hashtags! I will share with my followers! xoxo!
📖 Recipe
Old-Fashioned Bacon Pea Salad (Just Like Grandma's)
Ingredients
- 12 ounces bacon
- 16 ounces sweet peas frozen
- ½ red onion diced
- 8 ounces cheddar cheese
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook bacon. Crumble and set aside.12 ounces bacon
- In a small bowl, mix mayonnaise, sugar, and apple cider vinegar.1 cup mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon sugar, 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- In a large bowl, mix peas, bacon, red onion, and cheddar cheese.16 ounces sweet peas, ½ red onion, 8 ounces cheddar cheese
- Mix in the dressing with the pea salad. You can serve immediately, but it is best to chill 2 or more hours before serving.
Jen says
This is such a good, old-fashioned recipe. Just like what I remember. So happy to have come across it.
Jen says
This was a really interesting recipe. I didn't think I'd like it, but was requested to bring it for a potluck. I ended up really enjoying how all the flavors came together.
Judy Benge says
Many positive comments. People really like this version of pea salad. I especially like it during the summer months, but it's good anytime.
Krysten Wilkes says
This recipe was so easy to make especially since the ingredients are common household items! I loved every ounce of it and will definitely be recreating it this Easter. Thanks for sharing this goodness!
Amy Liu Dong says
Made this as written but added diced hard boiled egg. Turned out fabulous.
Jenny Graves says
I love peas. My husband loves bacon. What a great idea putting them together in salad form! Thanks for sharing your tasty bacon pea salad recipe.
Tristin says
This was the perfect dish to bring to a get together over the weekend! Multiple people asked for the recipe.
Amy Liu Dong says
I made this recipe and I love how delicious and easy to make this dish.
Everyone loves it!
LaKita says
This bacon pea salad is so simple to make, flavorful, and delicious! I needed to make something this week for an office potluck and this recipe certainly was a hit!
Cathleen says
The combination of ingredients is perfect!! Plus, I always have everything on hand. Thanks so much for this recipe 🙂
Helene says
Definitely an easy recipe to make again and again. It's so easy, too. I'll be serving this at all of my barbecues this summer!
Colleen says
We loved this creamy pea salad. It's really simple to make and you can't go wrong with bacon and cheese!
veenaazmanov says
Love the combination of Peas, Cheese and Bacon. The delicious salad dressing takes it to the next level.
Sandhya Ramakrishnan says
That is such a classic side with simple flavors. Loved the creamy pea salad with our dinner last night. My not so peas liking son liked it as well and finished what was on his plate.
Amy Liu Dong says
Such a perfect side dish to make for my favorite steak and I love how easy to make this. Thank you for sharing this recipe with us!
Jamie says
Oh my, this salad recipe looks so delicious and yummy! The add-on crispy bacon on this makes it so enticing and tempting! Totally love it!