This old-fashioned creamed pea is an easy, quick, and delicious side dish that will never make. Even fussy eaters wouldn’t mind eating it. Frozen peas cooked and dunked in the white cream sauce come together in no time! A perfect holiday side dish!

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Old fashioned creamed peas recipe
- Hands-down one of the easiest side dish that is perfect for holiday gatherings.
- It’s perfect for small or large gatherings.
- A side dish that hardly needs any prep time. It’s ready in just 10 minutes.
- Budget-friendly side dish. Why spend $$ when you can make delicious side dish well under budget.
- Fussy eaters love it too!
- Best way to make kids and family eat more veggies.
- Anything in white cream sauce is always a huge hit among any crowd!
- Old fashioned recipes are gem! This creamed peas recipe is just like what your grandmother would make.
- Above all, it’s not bland at all! This recipe has simple but amazing flavors packed in it.
- Easy to customize to suit your palate.
- If you like more gravy, you can easily do that too without much changes to the recipe.
- It can also be made ahead and stored refrigerated for upto 2 days. When ready to serve simply reheat with splash of milk added to the pan.
Ingredients you’ll need-
This is what you’ll need
- 16oz frozen peas, about 2 cups
- 2 tablespoon butter
- 2 tablespoon flour
- 1 ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 cup milk or half and half
- ½ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon ground pepper (adjust to taste)
Frozen Peas – you can use frozen peas or canned peas. You can thaw peas or use frozen directly. Cook according to packet instructions or use any other way to cook it.
Butter – to make white cream sauce
Flour – plain flour. For gluten-free version use gluten free flours.
Milk – use whole milk for richer creamier sauce. Milk can be substituted with half n half.
Onion Powder (optional but highly recommended) – adds flavor to peas. Onion powder can be substituted with finely diced onions.
Garlic Powder (optional but highly recommended) – to enhance flavor. Garlic powder can be substituted with fresh minced garlic.
Seasoning – salt and fresh ground pepper to taste.
How to make creamed peas
- Heat a medium pot or skillet (depending on the quantity you are making). Add butter to pot and melt it.
- Whisk flour in butter. Cook on low heat for 2 minutes with constant stirring.
- Add all the spices quickly– onion powder, garlic powder, salt and ground pepper.
- Gently pour milk (or half n half) into the pot.
- Keep whisking while adding milk.
- Cook with constant whisking on low heat for about 5 minutes or until sauce is smooth.
- Sauce should be thick but in pouring consistency.
Use frozen or canned peas whichever is easily available. Cook peas as per packet instructions.
Once peas are cooked, drain off excess liquids and transfer to a bowl.
Mix Together:
Once cream sauce is cooked and ready, immediately pour it over hot peas.
Stir everything together until coated well.
Serve immediately.
How to cook peas
Stove top method:
- I prefer this easy method to cook peas. No need to thaw peas, use them frozen directly.
- Add frozen peas to a sauce pan. Add little more than ¼ cup water. Cook on medium flame. Frozen peas don’t take long to cook. It took about 5 minutes for peas to be ready.
Microwave method:
- Place frozen peas in microwave safe bowl. Add 1 tablespoon water. Cook on full power for 3 to 4 minutes.
- Peas are ready to use.
- You can skip cooking peas and use it directly in the recipe. Simply thaw peas in 4 cups of water. Drain and use it.
Canned peas:
- Empty peas from can including the liquid into a saucepan. Heat it until it begins to boil. Drain and peas are ready to use.
- Once peas are cooked remove it from heat. Drain off any excess liquids left in the pan. Peas are ready to use.
Frozen peas or canned peas?
Both. You can use either of them whichever is easily available to you.
What to serve creamed peas with?
This easy creamed peas can be served as side dish with any main dish.
It pairs great with meat. Grilled steak, Grilled Chicken, Baked Salmon, with ham. Almost everything!
Creamed peas recipe variations
- Add shallots or pearl onions sautéed in oil or butter to the recipe. It enhances the flavors.
- You can add fresh minced garlic sautéed in oil or butter for flavors.
- For herb flavored creamed peas – consider adding fresh herbs like parsley, basil or thyme.
- You can include other vegetables to creamed peas as well. Creamed peas and potatoes are one of the most popular variations that is widely popular. If adding potatoes, it’s best to use baby potatoes (sliced into half).
- You can also use frozen chopped carrots or fresh carrots chopped and steam cooked. Carrots added to creamed peas are more appetizing to look and colourful.
- Button mushrooms sautéed in butter can be mixed with creamed peas.
- For extra texture, crispy bacon bits can be added just before serving to a bowl of creamed peas.
How to store creamed peas?
Creamed peas can be stored in air tight containers refrigerated for 2 days, making it ideal for make ahead recipe.
You can make this dish a day or 2 days before, cool it completely and store it refrigerator in air tight containers.
I wouldn’t recommend freezing creamed peas. White sauce does not freeze well. The sauce will split when frozen and reheated.
Tips
- Use frozen or canned peas for this recipe. Highly advisable to cook peas (frozen or canned) for briefly 2 to 4 minutes. Peas are softer and better tasting when cooked than using it directly thawed.
- Onion powder and garlic powder are optional in the recipe but highly recommended. It enhances flavor and taste of the dish.
- It’s best to use whole milk or half and half for rich, creamier white sauce. Cream sauce needs the fat. Everything tastes better with fat!
- You can add other vegetables to creamed peas dish. Vegetables like potatoes, carrots, mushrooms are best choices.
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📋Old Fashioned Creamed Peas
Ingredients
- 16 oz frozen peas about 2 cups
- 2 tablespoon butter
- 2 tablespoon flour
- 1 ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 cup whole milk or half and half
- ½ teaspoon salt adjust to taste
- ¼ teaspoon ground pepper adjust to taste
Instructions
How To Cook Peas:
- Creamed peas recipe begins with cooking frozen peas. Cook peas as per packet instructions.
- Stove Top Method:
- I prefer this easy method to cook peas. No need to thaw peas, use them frozen directly.Add frozen peas to a sauce pan. Add little more than ¼ cup water. Cook on medium flame. Frozen peas don’t take long to cook. It took about 5 minutes for peas to be ready.
- Microwave Method:
- Place frozen peas in microwave safe bowl. Add 1 tablespoon water. Cook on full power for 3 to 4 minutes.Peas are ready to use.
- You can skip cooking peas and use it directly in the recipe. Simply thaw peas in 4 cups of water. Drain and use it.
- Canned Peas:
- Empty peas from can including the liquid into a saucepan. Heat it until it begins to boil. Drain and peas are ready to use.
- Once peas are cooked remove it from heat. Drain off any excess liquids left in the pan. Transfer to a bowl.
How To Make White Cream Sauce:
- Heat a medium pot or skillet (depending on the quantity you are making). Add butter to pot and melt it.
- Whisk flour in butter. Cook on low heat for 2 minutes with constant stirring.
- Add all the spices quickly– onion powder, garlic powder, salt and ground pepper.
- Gently pour milk (or half n half) into the pot.
- Keep whisking while adding milk.
- Cook with constant whisking on low heat for about 5 minutes or until sauce is smooth.
- Sauce should be thick but in pouring consistency.
Mix Together:
- Once cream sauce is cooked and ready, immediately pour it over hot peas.
- Stir everything together until coated well.
- Serve immediately.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Recipe Notes
- Use frozen or canned peas for this recipe. Highly advisable to cook peas (frozen or canned) for briefly 2 to 4 minutes. Peas are softer and better tasting when cooked than using it directly thawed.
- Onion powder and garlic powder are optional in the recipe but highly recommended. It enhances flavor and taste of the dish.
- It’s best to use whole milk or half and half for rich, creamier white sauce. Cream sauce needs the fat. Everything tastes better with fat!
- You can add other vegetables to creamed peas dish. Vegetables like potatoes, carrots, mushrooms are best choices.
Created by Jyothi Rajesh
Thank you for stopping by.
Jyothi Rajesh is the founder of the food blog, Curry Trail. She lives in Bangalore, India and is the mom of two beautiful kids. Her passion is creating and sharing delicious and easy recipes for the home cook. She’s been blogging since 2007 and many of her recipes have appeared in both online and print publications over the years. Learn more about Jyothi Rajesh.
Comments & Reviews
April says
I have fond memories of creamed peas on toast from my childhood. My mom had a way of elevating a simple dish like this and your recipe is exactly like hers. So yummy and creamy.
Jyothi Rajesh says
Yay, i’m so glad to hear my recipe reminded you of your mom’s recipe! Thank you, April for your kind words.
Nathalie says
Is the nutritional facts for the whole dish or per serving? Thank you
Jyothi Rajesh says
Can you please check now, I updated the nutritional values
Gillian says
Hi made this added some mint sauce to it we used to go to restaurant that did minted peas was lovely
Jyothi Rajesh says
Glad to hear you loved it Gillian. I would love the addition of mint sauce in the recipe.
Andrea says
Super easy side dish. It’s delicious. Husband was sneaking bites before everything else was done. It could be made for any holiday meal or just a weeknight. Easy peasy and scrumptious
Jyothi Rajesh says
Andrea thank you so much! So glad to hear your husband really liked this.
Cindy says
I was really craving a good Sunday roast and made these peas as the perfect side dish. It tasted so good and was super easy to make!
Marissa says
Such a warm and inviting dish to have on a cold day (it’s currently 12°f where I live)! I have some chicken thighs I plan to roast tonight and I’m going to make this for one of the sides <3 Thanks, Jyothi!
Naiby says
Green peas are my go-to ingredients when I want something FAST. But most times, I just boil them in salted water and call it a day. Sometimes I sprinkle them with lemon juice. I love the idea of drowning them in cream. Thanks!
Kushigalu says
This looks so creamy and delicious. Love peas. One of the best dish for dinner. Thanks fof sharing
Jamie says
This is such a great way to use frozen peas and makes such a great side dish! I served this with some chicken and it brightened up the meal with its gorgeous color!
Jenny says
Absolutely lovely recipe. The peas were the perfect side dish for our steaks last night. Thanks so much for sharing your recipe.
veenaazmanov says
This is definitely yummy. Best for all the Pea lovers. Creamy and buttery and flavorful too.
Chef Dennis says
Yum! I love this old fashion version of creamed peas more! It’s really delicious and satisfying!
Gloria says
I have never tried creamed peas. My husbands’ grandparents were from England. You think I would have tried them for sure. I will give this a go…..they sound delicious.