Bacon Pea Salad
Pea salad has always felt like one of those side dishes that shows up quietly and ends up being one of the first bowls scraped clean. It has that old-school potluck charm, the kind of chilled side you would find sitting beside smoked chicken, burgers, ribs, or a tray of sandwiches at a backyard gathering. I have always appreciated recipes like this because they do not need to be complicated to be memorable. They just need balance.
This version keeps the creamy, chilled, bacon-studded character that makes pea salad so good, but brings in a little more depth with Revolution Barbecue Veggie Time Seasoning. The seasoning adds a savory, herb-forward profile with subtle sweetness from bell peppers, balanced garlic and onion, and a clean aromatic finish. That works beautifully in a creamy dressing because it gives the salad more character without overpowering the peas, bacon, cheddar, or red onion.
It is simple, familiar, and built for the kind of table where people keep coming back for just one more spoonful.
Creamy Bacon Pea Salad with Cheddar and Crispy Bacon
A good pea salad is all about contrast. You get the cool pop of sweet peas, the salty crunch of bacon, the creamy dressing, and the sharp bite of cheddar all working together in one bowl. It is the kind of side dish that feels right at home next to barbecue because it brings a little richness, a little freshness, and a whole lot of comfort without trying to compete with the main course.
The small but important shift here is using Revolution Barbecue Veggie Time Seasoning in place of plain salt and black pepper. The blend brings salt, black pepper, dehydrated bell peppers, granulated garlic, flake sea salt, dehydrated onion, paprika, oregano, basil, thyme, marjoram, and rosemary, giving the dressing a savory herb finish with just enough bell pepper sweetness to round it out.
This still tastes like the pea salad people remember, but with a better backbone. The flavor is creamy, cool, savory, and a little smoky from the bacon, with enough onion bite and cheddar richness to make it feel right at home at a cookout, holiday table, or weeknight dinner.
- Author
- Glenn Connaughton
- Prep Time
- 20 minutes
- Cook Time
- 1 hours
- Servings
- 8
- Category
Dinner
- Cuisine
- American
Ingredients
- 4 cups frozen green peas, thawed, not cooked
- 8 slices bacon, cooked crispy and crumbled
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, diced
- 1/2 cup red onion, finely diced
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1 to 2 tablespoons sugar, adjusted to taste
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar or lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons Revolution Barbecue Veggie Time Seasoning
Directions
- Prepare The Peas: Thaw the frozen peas completely, then pat them dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
- Cook The Bacon: Cook the bacon until crispy, then transfer it to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Once cooled, dice or crumble the bacon into small pieces.
- Mix The Salad Base: In a large bowl, combine the thawed peas, diced bacon, diced sharp cheddar cheese, and finely diced red onion.
- Make The Dressing: In a separate bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, sugar, apple cider vinegar or lemon juice, and Revolution Barbecue Veggie Time Seasoning until smooth and fully combined.
- Combine The Salad: Pour the dressing over the pea mixture and gently fold everything together until the peas, bacon, cheddar, and red onion are evenly coated.
- Chill The Salad: Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving. For the best flavor, chill for 2 hours if time allows.