30 Pea Recipes That Scream Spring (But Can Be Made Year-Round Too) (2024)

From fresh to frozen, English peas to sugar snap, we love peas!

By Camille Lowder
30 Pea Recipes That Scream Spring (But Can Be Made Year-Round Too) (1)

Spring has sprung, and it’s time to grab those sunglasses, chuck those coats into the back of the closet, and swap hearty fruits and veggies for lighter, more delicate ones like asparagus and blueberries. One of our favorites? Humble peas. It’s true, they are available year-round (thankfully!), but we especially love them come springtime. Check out these 30 recipes for inspiration—whether you’re working with fresh or frozen, English peas or sugar snap, we know you’ll want to make them again and again.

Looking for the springiest recipes out there? You’ve gotta try our pasta primavera, our , our primavera baked orzo, or our . They’re fresh, but not too virtuous, and practically scream “warm weather has arrived!

Craving peas outside of March through May? Peas are a backbone of many of our favorite cozy recipes too, from casseroles to skillet dinners to soups. Check out our split pea soup, our shepherd’s pie, our chicken à la king, or our chicken pot pie for some of the most comforting cold-weather meals around, or just start adding peas to all your favorites. Peas are unassuming enough that you can pretty much add them to anything, and they’ll add a little something extra without taking over.

Want even more fruit and vegetable inspiration? Check out our top broccoli recipes, our favorite butternut squash recipes, and our best strawberry desserts too.

1

Pasta Primavera

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Few dishes mean “spring” like pasta primavera. Primavera in the name alone brings to mind fresh veggies, like zucchini, English peas, leeks, and peppers, all of the things beginning to bloom for a vibrant season of produce ahead. Feel free to swap in whatever you can find at the farmer's market.

Get the Pasta Primavera recipe.

2

Peas & Carrots

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A quick side dish is always appreciated, especially one as easy as this combo. It goes well with your steak dinners, your , or your vegan meatloaf, but if you really love your peas and carrots, you could just eat this in one sitting, as a meal (we have! 😉).

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3

Cheddar, Bacon, & Pea Pasta Salad

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The best part about this pasta salad isn’t the crispy bacon (or the simple, creamy dressing), but how strikingly simple it is. Cooking your bacon in the oven frees up your hands to mix the dressing together while the pasta and peas boil in the same pot.

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4

Chicken Pot Pie

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This cozy meal represents the marriage of a flaky, buttery crust with chopped chicken, onions, carrots, and peas in a perfectly creamy sauce. While this classic comfort food is one that you can easily find pre-made in almost any grocery freezer aisle, we strongly believe that making your own is more than worth it.

Get the Chicken Pot Pie recipe.

5

Chicken Fried Rice

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If you have leftover rice hanging out in your fridge, then classic fried rice is a no-brainer. There are countless ways to bulk up this staple dinner, from beef fried rice to kimchi fried rice to pineapple fried rice. One of our favorite variations? Classic chicken fried rice.

Get the Chicken Fried Rice recipe.

6

Primavera Baked Orzo

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It turns out that the creamy, subtly sweet flavor of fresh mozzarella plays very nicely with similarly delicate spring produce like shallots, sugar snap peas, and oyster mushrooms. Paired with al dente orzo and a light cream sauce, this hearty dinner is the perfect way to celebrate the return of longer days and warmer temperatures.

Get the Primavera Baked Orzo recipe.

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7

Split Pea Soup

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The secret to the best split pea soup? A good, smoky ham hock. If you don't have one or don't eat meat, consider using some smoked paprika instead.

Get the Split Pea Soup recipe.

8

Ricotta Gnudi

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Making gnudi, or Italian ricotta dumplings, only sounds fancy—They're actually an easy pasta dinner anyone can pull off. If you love gnocchi, you'll likely love these too. The only real difference? Gnocchi is made with potato, and gnudi is made with ricotta, which makes them even more tender, light, and plump.

Get the Ricotta Gnudi recipe.

9

Thai-Style Red Curry Meatballs

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When we get tired of beef, we love to turn to ground turkey for a lighter meatball option, and this creamy red Thai-style curry recipe always hits the spot. Warming and creamy with a hint of heat, this is the perfect dish to cozy up to when the weather starts getting colder.

Get the Thai-Style Red Curry Meatballs recipe.

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10

Shepherd's Pie

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In this comfort food staple, ground beef is cooked with aromatics and red wine before being combined with corn and peas, all covered with a blanket of velvety, rich mashed potatoes and topped with Parmesan before being broiled until golden brown. There's nothing quite like it.

Get the Shepherd's Pie recipe.

11

Vegetable Soup

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Though vegetable soup is often just made up of random ingredients hanging around your fridge and pantry, it deserves to be exceptional. With a few tricks and tips (bouillon paste, a Parmesan rind, and frozen veggies are key!), it’s easy to take it from basic to “chef’s kiss”.

Get the Vegetable Soup recipe.

12

Burrata, Pea, & Prosciutto Tortellini

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After a quick cook with aromatics in olive oil, sliced sugar snap peas are tossed with toasted tortellini, then topped with salty, tender prosciutto and a ball of creamy burrata. Despite all of the rich and decadent ingredients in this pasta, the sweet green peas take center stage and keep it light and springy.

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13

Seven-Layer Salad

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This salad has everything—hard-boiled eggs, BACON, cheese, and a good amount of veggies. Build it for looks, then toss all the ingredients together just before serving.

Get the Seven-Layer Salad recipe.

14

Snow Peas

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With a fresh, vegetal profile and a bit of crunch, snow peas are undoubtedly a star. You could simply fry them with a bit of garlic and oil, but adding more veg like mushrooms, and simple sauce elevate it into a proper side. Serve alongside white rice and a fried egg, and you’re all set.

Get the Snow Peas recipe.

15

Shrimp & Snow Pea Stir Fry

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This stir-fry is the perfect fix for a busy weeknight—only 5 ingredients and 1 skillet and you’re on your way! It's also super versatile: swap in your favorite sauce, a different protein, or add more veggies. This is the BEST way to clean out your produce drawer.

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16

Chicken Dijon

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We'll always say yes to a creamy chicken dinner, and the classic chicken Dijon is no exception. Paired with a creamy white wine and Dijon mustard-based sauce, this chicken and veggies dish lets you wine and dine all in one bite.

Get the Chicken Dijon recipe.

17

Homemade Samosas

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Homemade samosas don't need to be intimidating! The spiced potato filling is fast and easy, and the dough comes together quickly using melted ghee. You may need to hunt down some spices and seeds, but it's well worth it for the best, most authentic-tasting samosas.

Get the Homemade Samosas recipe.

18

Paella-Inspired Party Packs

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Filled with Spanish rice, chicken thighs, chorizo, frozen peas, and roasted red peppers, these packs take inspiration (with some creative liberties) from one of our favorite centerpiece meals—paella. If you're craving the classic meal but need something more hands-off, then these foil packs are here for you.

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19

Chicken À La King

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Chicken à la king is basically a crustless chicken pot pie and we are absolutely here for it. Serve it over pasta, rice, or even biscuits if you like!

Get the Chicken À La King recipe.

20

Cheese Tortellini With Peas & Bacon

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If you love bacon and cheese, say hello to this amazingly easy spring pasta. You only need 5 ingredients—cheese tortellini, bacon, garlic, frozen peas, and Parmesan—to make it, so feel free to jazz it up with extra veggies (asparagus maybe?) or greens if you like.

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30 Pea Recipes That Scream Spring (But Can Be Made Year-Round Too) (2024)

FAQs

What months are peas in season? ›

While frozen peas are available year-round, fresh green peas are in season from November until February. When buying fresh peas, look for firm, velvety smooth, vibrant green pods filled with peas. Fresh peas are best kept refrigerated to minimise the sugar converting to starch.

Do peas have a season? ›

Peas are a cool season plant that can be grown through winter in the warmer parts of Australia such as coastal NSW and Queensland. In colder areas such as Canberra it is best to delay sowing them to either late winter or early spring so that you can avoid the danger of frost damage to the flowers and developing pods.

What is the difference between peas and snap peas? ›

Sugar snap peas are a cross between snow and garden peas. The pods of snow peas are flatter with small, premature peas, whereas sugar snap peas are more rounded. Both have an identical nutritional profile and very similar flavors although sugar snap peas tend to be sweeter and more flavorful.

What is the difference between English peas and regular peas? ›

Garden peas are also sometimes called sweet peas or English peas. The pods are firm and rounded, and the round peas inside need to removed, or shelled, before eating (the pods are discarded). The peas are sweet and may be eaten raw or cooked; these are the common peas that are sold shelled and frozen.

Are peas available year round? ›

Seasonality: Peas are in peak season during the spring to early summer months, but are often found year-round.

What are the best peas to grow in the winter? ›

Snow peas have quite hardy seeds that germinate even in near-freezing soil. Some say that 41 degrees (5 degrees Celsius) is the cut-off point for germination. The new little seedling does really well in the cold too and can easily deal with a few nights of frost without a row cover.

Are there winter peas? ›

A cool-season annual, winter field peas (Austrian peas), can tolerate heavy frost but are killed by temperatures below 0to -10F (-17 to -23C). In the US, they are rated as hardy to Zone 7.

Can peas survive summer? ›

Peas can also be planted in July or August for a fall harvest. However, the tender seedlings will need extra care to survive the heat in their first few weeks, like shade cloth or floating row cover.

Can peas survive winter? ›

Peas normally are very cold hardy and can tolerate freezing temperatures down to the low 20s. Lower temperatures (below 20°F) or a combination of high winds (gusts over 30 mph) and freezing temperatures (below 25°F) can cause damage to pea plants, sometimes killing them to soil level.

Can dogs eat peas? ›

Yes, dogs can eat peas. Green peas, snow peas, sugar snap peas, and garden or English peas are all OK for dogs to find in their bowl on occasion. Peas have several vitamins, minerals, and are rich in protein and high in fiber. You can feed your dog fresh or frozen peas, but avoid canned peas with added sodium.

Why are snap peas so good? ›

Snap peas are a good source of vitamin C which helps with immune function and helps heal cuts and wounds. Snap peas also contain iron which helps produce red blood cells. Vitamin K is also in snap peas, which helps with blood clotting and bone health.

Can peas be eaten raw? ›

You can eat raw peas. They are commonly added to salads, rice, or other dishes. Or mix them with hummus to have as a snack. When it comes to some types of peas, like snap peas and snow peas, the whole pod is edible.

What is the best peas to eat? ›

Shelling peas are the most popular type of peas, which might have to do with their versatility in cooking. Snow peas and sugar peas can also be used in all kinds of dishes, from stir fries to salads, but shelling peas are no doubt more mainstream.

What are the three major types of peas? ›

The Three Kinds of Peas. There are three different types of peas, each suited to different ways of eating them - snap peas, snow peas, and shelling peas.

What are peas called in England? ›

Just 'peas'. Same as French 'pois'. Calling them English is odd, as they aren't. They've been cultivated since long before England came into existence, & they originated far away.

What time of year do you get fresh peas? ›

Fresh peas

Available from mid-June to mid-August, peas lose their sweet taste and green colour quickly so they should always be eaten as fresh as possible.

How long is pea season? ›

Most varieties of peas need about 60 days of growth before harvest. But they will stop growing and not produce flowers or pods once temperatures get above 85°F, as often happens in June. Although the plants do need full sun, peas produced in hot weather may also have poor quality.

Do peas grow better in spring or fall? ›

Garden peas (Pisum sativum L.) are cool-season crops that can not stand the heat and humidity of summer, but they CAN withstand frosts and light freezes. For that reason, we all plant the seeds very early in the winter/spring, as soon as the ground can be worked.

Are peas grown in summer or winter? ›

Peas perform best when planted in the fall or winter in warmer areas. The ideal soil temperature for germination of pea seeds ranges between 12 to 21°C. Watering: Peas require regular moisture to thrive, but too much watering might cause root rot.

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