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Creamed Peas Recipe

This old fashioned Creamed Peas Recipe is the ideal side dish for most any entrée. It’s a deliciously simple way to elevate a plain batch of petite peas turning them into a creamy and decadent accompaniment.

easy-cream-peas

Easy Creamed Peas Recipe

This recipe for cream peas is one that cook’s of yesteryear perfected. I can still remember my Mom and Grandma’s making them as a regular featured side dish in their summer kitchens, using fresh from the garden shelled peas. These days, frozen peas are picked at their peak season and flash frozen. They’re the ideal opportunity to make them with a little less fuss. That’s a win in my kitchen. How to make simple Creamed Peas Recipe:

  • Peas – One pound of frozen petite peas.
  • Sauce – Unsalted butter, onion, all purpose flour, half and half or light cream. You could use whole milk.
  • Seasonings – Salt, black pepper, granulated garlic, onion powder and nutmeg.
how-to-make-creamed-peas

How to Make the Best Creamed Peas Recipe

  • Ingredients you’ll need to make homemade Creamed Peas: One pound frozen petite peas, butter, all purpose flour, salt, black pepper, granulated garlic, half and half and nutmeg.
  • Kitchen gadgets you’ll need: A medium size saucepan, measuring cups and spoons, sharp knife and cutting board or onion chopper, whisk and large spoon for mixing everything together.
  • It’s not necessary to thaw the peas prior to adding them to the cream sauce.
  • Can I use canned peas for Creamed Peas? You can use canned peas only in a pinch but frozen peas will give you the best and tastiest end result. Canned peas can turn out a bit mushy.
  • If the cream sauce seems thick when first adding the peas, don’t be tempted to add more liquid. It will thin a bit as they thaw and release liquid into the sauce.
  • I prefer half and half for creamed peas but you could adapt using whole milk if that’s what you’ve got on hand. To make your own half and half, use equal parts milk and heavy cream and you’ll be good to go.
  • Nutmeg is typically added to a homemade bechamel sauce and I love including a pinch or two in this recipe. It’s optional, and you could choose to omit but it adds a depth of flavor to the sauce that complements the peas.
  • You could add one cup of frozen pearl onions to the mix, in place of diced onion. Add them to the saucepan with the peas, cooking until thawed and heated through.
  • Store leftover creamed peas in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
  • Reheat gently in a saucepan over medium heat or in single servings in the microwave.
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More Southern Style Side Dishes to Make

Some days, it’s all about the side dishes for me. More side dish inspiration and recipes you may also like to make:

homemade-cream-peas

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Creamed Peas Recipe

Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time15 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: creamed-peas, creamed-peas-recipe
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 197kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 lb package frozen petite peas
  • 3 Tbsp unsalted butter
  • 2 Tbsp all purpose flour
  • 1/3 cup finely diced sweet onion or shallots
  • 2 cups half and half or light cream
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp granulated garlic
  • 1/4 tsp onion powder
  • pinch nutmeg

Instructions

  • In a medium size saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add onions cooking until translucent, about 2 minutes, Add flour, stirring until absorbed.
  • Gradually whisk in half and half. Bring to a gentle boil then add salt, black pepper, garlic, onion powder and nutmeg. Add peas, mix until coated with sauce.
  • Cook over medium heat for 5-7 minutes or just until peas are tender. Stir occasionally.
  • Serve immediately.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 197kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 28mg | Sodium: 433mg | Potassium: 241mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 834IU | Vitamin C: 33mg | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @melissassk or tag #melissassk!

36 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Where last week, before reading your recipe, I decided to contribute creamed peas and onions to our group Thanksgiving. I have purchased both the frozen peas and onions. The only thing missing was a good recipe. I love yours.
    It takes me back to the 1940’s and ‘50 when we had the dish made from the raw ingredients. And nutmeg was added.

    1. Wow!! So did my Mom! Might have been a thing popular in the 60’s. Not such much today. My husband turns his nose up at the thought of both the salmon and the peas.

  2. 5 stars
    My dad (he “grew up during the Depression, you know!”) had creamed peas a lot. He loved them but my Mom did not. We did, however have creamed green beans a lot — very similar recipe to this one. I love peas, so now I’ll have to try this one!

  3. 5 stars
    This is also a fantastic recipe for frozen Baby Lima beans just substitute them for the peas, Yum!
    Simmer a little longer until beans are tender.

  4. 5 stars
    My mom never used onions or garlic in hers, she did not like peas. But the family did. She used basics like butter, flour, milk, and peas. She used can more often than frozen. They were always a hit! I make them 2-3 times a month for my boyfriend, but next time I will add alittle onion and garlic to mine.

    1. 5 stars
      This is a fancier version of what my mother used to cook for us in the 60s & 70s. No flavorings, but with tuna. She wasn’t a great cook, & there were 6 of us lol!

  5. 5 stars
    I made this recently and we loved it! Had it with canned deer (basically like stew beef) and we ended up mixing them together. I think I’ll add potatoes next time because that sounds really good too!

  6. 5 stars
    My mom made this back in the 60’s right when frozen Birdseye peas. . She did use 1/2 heavy cream and milk. Worked out fine. I since then have made it several times, using frozen pearl Onions. Amazingly Delicious. Since then I had to stop eating it, I am on blood thinners and any green veggie is a no no.

    1. Check with your doctor, because you should be able to eat green vegetables in moderation. The key is to not eat large quantities at a time. If on coumadin just make sure you are checking you PT labs regularly. (I am a nurse).

  7. 5 stars
    I was just thinking about creamed peas the other day, wishing I had watched my grandma and my mom make them. My grandmother added pealed and quartered new potatoes. We always had that with our Easter ham. Thank you for the recpe.

  8. 5 stars
    My husband’s grandmother gave me her recipe for creamed peas and new potatoes before she passed away!
    They are delicious 😋

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