Creamed Peas

If you love rich and indulgent vegetable side dishes like creamed spinach and creamed corn, creamed peas will be right up your alley.

As far as quick and easy side dishes go, this one calls for basic pantry staples and comes together in just about 15 minutes. Sweet peas cooked in a creamy, savory white sauce is one surefire way to get your kids to eat their vegetables. Plus, when you need to fancy up an ordinary weeknight meal, this side dish does the trick. Creamed peas go with everything, from roast chicken recipes to easy pork chop recipes and more.

Ingredients for Creamed Peas

• Peas: Frozen peas are a great staple ingredient for busy nights. You can easily substitute canned or fresh peas here, but if you opt for canned peas, be sure to drain them before adding them to the recipe. You don’t want to thin out the sauce. Love this vegetable? Here are other frozen pea recipes everyone will love.
• Butter: Butter adds richness to this dish and provides essential fat to make the creamy sauce. Here’s how to make roux from beginning to end.
• Flour: Flour gives the sauce its body and serves as its main thickening agent.
• Milk: Choose whole milk for a creamy, velvety and smooth sauce. For extra indulgence, you could also opt for half-and-half or heavy cream as a milk substitute. We do not suggest nonfat or low-fat milk as they will not thicken properly.

Directions

Step 1: Cook the peas

Cook the peas according to package directions.

Editor’s tip: You can cook peas in myriad ways, from the microwave to the stove. Here’s how to cook peas for the best results.

Step 2: Make the sauce

Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, melt the butter. Stir in the flour, salt and pepper until blended; gradually add milk and sugar. Bring to a boil, then cook and stir until thickened, one to two minutes.

Step 3: Combine and serve

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Drain the peas to remove any excess moisture, then stir into the sauce. Cook for a few minutes to heat through, and serve.

Editor’s tip: To keep your sauce rich and creamy, be sure to thoroughly drain the peas before adding them to the saucepan.

Creamed Peas Variations

• Add bacon: For meaty richness and texture, add 1/4 cup crumbled cooked bacon to the peas before serving. You can also add diced ham or cooked sausage.
• Add onion: For a little extra flavor, saute half of a small onion in melted butter until lightly caramelized before adding the flour and remaining ingredients. Caramelized onions add a little extra depth to the sauce and complement the sweetness of the peas.
• Toss in fresh herbs or spices: Add your favorite combination of fresh herbs or spices to amp up the flavor. Mint, dill, basil, thyme and parsley all go wonderfully with peas. Meanwhile, mustard powder, curry, onion powder and black pepper contrast nicely against the sweetness of peas.
• Make vegan creamed peas: For a vegan version, opt for your favorite vegan butter spread, and swap the milk for your favorite nondairy milk. For extra creaminess, use coconut cream (which would pair wonderfully with curry powder) or a dairy-free heavy whipping cream alternative.

How to Store Creamed Peas

Leftover creamed peas may be kept refrigerated for two to three days in an airtight container. To reheat, warm gently in a saucepan over low heat until heated through. You may also microwave at a reduced power for several minutes.

Can you freeze creamed peas?

No, we don’t suggest freezing creamed peas since recipes with dairy-based sauces (and dairy-based soups) tend to separate upon thawing and reheating. Since this is a quick and easy side dish recipe that can be whipped up in right around 15 minutes, we recommend preparing it fresh every time for the best taste and texture.

Creamed Peas Tips

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Can I make creamed peas gluten-free?

Yes. If you prefer to make gluten-free creamed peas, you can thicken the sauce without flour. Our favorite gluten-free sauce thickeners are cornstarch and arrowroot powder.

What can you serve with creamed peas?

Serve creamed peas with any of your favorite main dishes, from air-fryer chicken recipes to sweet ham steak or any of our meatloaf recipes. Try making creamed peas for your next holiday feast. It might just top your list of most-requested Thanksgiving sides or Christmas side dishes!