Our Tasty Frozen Peas Recipes Prove the Veggie is a Freezer Aisle MVP (2024)

Fresh peas have a short season; June through August. But even then, they can be tough to find and inconsistent. Frozen pea recipes to the rescue! Frozen pea recipes make it possible to enjoy a pop of spring or summer flavor any time of year. From comfort food casseroles and skillet dinners to cozy soups and party-starting dip recipes, our best recipes for frozen peas showcase the versatility of the affordable freezer aisle favorite.

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Salmon Pot Pie Casserole

Our Tasty Frozen Peas Recipes Prove the Veggie is a Freezer Aisle MVP (1)

For a thoroughly modern twist on pot pie, keep the format—complete with cornmeal biscuits!—and the mix-ins. Yes, this is still a frozen peas recipe. Carrots, broccoli, and leeks are part of the line-up, too. But instead of calling for canned condensed soup and chicken, we explain how to refresh this comfort food casserole with an easy homemade cream sauce and swap in heart-healthy salmon for the more familiar poultry.

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Cheesy Broccoli and Pea Soup

Our Tasty Frozen Peas Recipes Prove the Veggie is a Freezer Aisle MVP (2)

Broccoli-cheese soup gets a lighter, springy upgrade in this easy lunch idea that you’ll actually look forward to eating. Caramelized onions and Parmesan cheese add complexity to the unexpectedly quick soup recipe with frozen peas. Alongside the broccoli, the peas thicken the consistency and offer the verdant color that really pops when you blend the soup before serving.

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Asparagus, Chicken, and Green Pea Salad with Mint

Our Tasty Frozen Peas Recipes Prove the Veggie is a Freezer Aisle MVP (3)

Thanks to rotisserie chicken and quick-cooking vegetables, this healthy frozen peas recipe can be yours just 20 minutes from now. Simply blanch and drain the asparagus, then top it with the thawed frozen peas, shredded chicken from your deli-roasted (or leftover) bird. Finish with a handful of crumbled goat cheese, copious amounts of fresh mint, and a drizzle of homemade white balsamic vinaigrette for a lovely low-carb feast.

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Creamy Sausage Rigatoni with Peas

Their petite size means that you can toss the peas in with the cream to finish this one-pot meal. They’re warm and ready to devour after the dish cooks for a mere 3 minutes more and rests for 5 minutes to come together. In partnership with smoked sausage, paprika, Italian seasoning, and fresh basil infuse every bite of this pasta recipe with frozen peas with a surprising amount of flavor for a 45-minute meal.

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Tarragon Shrimp with Easiest-Ever Risotto

Our Tasty Frozen Peas Recipes Prove the Veggie is a Freezer Aisle MVP (5)

Delivering a pop of freshness and a pleasant al dente element amidst a pool of silky rice, peas are one of our favorite additions to risotto recipes. In this frozen peas recipe, they shine in the Parmesan risotto that acts as the bed for the rest of the shrimp dinner. At just 40 minutes from start to finish, this is one recipe that’s definitely elegant enough for date night or dinner parties, but is also easy enough for a family meal any night of the week.

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Sweet Pea Spread

Our Tasty Frozen Peas Recipes Prove the Veggie is a Freezer Aisle MVP (6)

The next time you’re in the mood for a healthy snack or are hosting an appetizer party, leave the store-bought hummus on the shelf and try this instead. The speedy vegan dip requires zero cooking time and can be made up to 24 hours ahead. Beyond beans, this thawed frozen peas recipe gets a boost from bright lemon, earthy cumin, and aromatic garlic.

Test Kitchen Tip: Try leftovers in wrap sandwiches, in grain bowls, on flatbreads, or any other place you might feature hummus.

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Spring Stroganoff

Our Tasty Frozen Peas Recipes Prove the Veggie is a Freezer Aisle MVP (7)

For a healthy spring dinner that takes beefy stroganoff and shifts the meat to the side—we recommend just 2 ounces per person—add this pasta and frozen pea recipe to your dinner rotation. Alongside their five-star review, one BHG home cook confirms that you can totally omit the meat from the creamy noodle dish, if you like: “I love this recipe. It is a wonderful plant-forward meal. I used extra mushrooms and asparagus in place of the beef. It was excellent!”

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Pea and Artichoke Toasts

Our Tasty Frozen Peas Recipes Prove the Veggie is a Freezer Aisle MVP (8)

The next time you’re in the mood for a change of pace from your usual avocado toast routine, try this simple yet craveable topped toast remix. Smashed peas act as the “glue” to unite sturdy slices of toast with artichoke hearts, carrot ribbons, and prosciutto. We love it for lunch, paired with a piece of fruit, or put an egg on it and try this recipe for frozen peas for breakfast instead.

Related: 17 Healthy Lunch Ideas That Will Inspire You to Ditch Takeout

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Ham and Pea Tortellini

Our Tasty Frozen Peas Recipes Prove the Veggie is a Freezer Aisle MVP (9)

Savory, salty ham and sweet peas are classic spring pasta combination. But that doesn’t mean you need to reserve this 20-minute frozen peas recipe for a single season! One BHG fan declares this semi-homemade supper “absolutely delicious and super quick to put together! I double the recipe and substitute fresh or frozen kale for the arugula when my garden stops producing it,” and since the peas can be fresh or frozen, you can make this easy cheese tortellini dish any day of the year.

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Two-Pea Soup with Pork

Our Tasty Frozen Peas Recipes Prove the Veggie is a Freezer Aisle MVP (10)

With a sheet pan (for roasting vegetables), a Dutch oven (for the soup), and a blender (to purée it to perfection), you can create a cozy soup recipe that might just convince you to kick the canned version once and for all. Roasting the aromatic vegetables helps to accentuate their natural sugars, which complement the frozen sweet peas and dried split peas. Smoked ham, lemon juice, and plenty of herbs perk up the recipe for frozen peas so it tastes as vibrant as you’ll feel after eating a bowl.

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Broccolini with Peas and Seared Lemons

Our Tasty Frozen Peas Recipes Prove the Veggie is a Freezer Aisle MVP (11)

Why choose just one vegetable when you can sneak three into one quick and crowd-pleasing side dish? A trio of blanched vegetables make this much more than a frozen peas recipe; it’s also a broccolini and Swiss chard creation. A lemon-butter sauce coats each bite of produce with a dash of richness, and a pinch of crushed red pepper brings just enough heat as you veg out.

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Sweet Pea Ricotta Bruschetta

Our Tasty Frozen Peas Recipes Prove the Veggie is a Freezer Aisle MVP (12)

When it’s not quite tomato season, we love to showcase alternative crostini toppings that think outside of the tomato, basil, and balsamic box. To recreate this spring-inspired snack recipe for frozen peas, slather toasted baguette slices with a creamy mixture of ricotta and goat cheese. On top, spoon the minty pea purée (which can be made and chilled up to 24 hours ahead). Garnish with thin strips of radish and pea shoots, if you like, and serve. Then prepare to dish up the recipe, too—everyone will be asking for it.

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Peas, Carrots, and Mushrooms

Our Tasty Frozen Peas Recipes Prove the Veggie is a Freezer Aisle MVP (13)

A spoonful of 3-ingredient basil gremolata is all you need to take a vegetable side dish from basic to restaurant-quality. Fresh carrots, mushrooms, and green onions meet frozen peas in the one-pan side dish. While you finish those with a pat of butter, stir together fresh basil, lemon zest, and garlic. Then all that’s left to do is toss the veggies with their basil BFF, and serve with any main. We especially love this with pork tenderloin or roast chicken!

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Honey Roast Chicken with Spring Peas and Shallots

Our Tasty Frozen Peas Recipes Prove the Veggie is a Freezer Aisle MVP (14)

Roast chicken gets naming rights in this frozen peas recipe, true. Don’t allow that to eclipse the rest of the very important cast of characters. After the bird is roasted, a generous glug of Champagne becomes the star of the pan sauce, which gets rounded out by chicken stock, fresh herbs, lemon, and fresh or frozen peas.

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Our Tasty Frozen Peas Recipes Prove the Veggie is a Freezer Aisle MVP (2024)

FAQs

How healthy are frozen peas? ›

Frozen peas are packed with all the protein, fiber, and other nutrients found in fresh ones. Peas, which are legumes, have been shown to improve heart health and type 2 diabetes, satisfy hunger better than meat, and benefit environmental health.

What is the difference between frozen green peas and regular green peas? ›

Fresh peas lose half of their Vitamin content within a day of picking, whereas all the nutrients remain intact in frozen peas as they are frozen in their early or ripe age.

Why are my frozen peas hard after cooking? ›

Don't overcook otherwise peas will shrivel and become tough. Season after cooking - once cooked, immediately add lemon juice (highly recommended) and seasoning(s) of choice. Many recommend adding 1-2 teaspoons of sugar per pound of frozen peas to bring out the sweetness but I haven't found this to be necessary.

Are frozen peas cooked before being frozen? ›

Cook for 5 minutes, stirring every now and then, or until the peas are heated through. Frozen peas are cooked before freezing so they don't need to be cooked! Serve – Done and ready to serve!

Which is healthier canned or frozen peas? ›

Conclusion. Canned peas are not necessarily bad, especially when there are no frozen or fresh ones. They make great side dishes and still retain a few of their nutrients. Frozen peas are much healthier but fresh ones are the best.

Is it okay to eat peas everyday? ›

Constant consumption of green peas can lead to excessive weight gain. Green peas are well known for regulating blood sugar and cholesterol. Fibre facilitates bowel movements and prevents excessive untimely eating. However, the protein and carbohydrates present in peas can also make you gain weight.

Do frozen peas count as a vegetable? ›

But fresh or frozen green peas are classified as a starchy vegetable by the U.S. Dietary Guidelines. No matter how you roll them, peas are dense little packages of carbohydrates, protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals (especially iron, potassium, and vitamins A and K).

Why do frozen peas taste different? ›

The difference in taste between frozen and canned peas boils down to several factors: Processing: Frozen peas: Flash-blanched at peak freshness, then rapidly frozen, locking in their natural sweetness and texture. This minimal processing preserves vitamins and minerals better than other methods.

Why are frozen peas so good? ›

They're Higher in Nutrients Than Unfrozen Varieties

Freezing them in this state helps preserve the freshness and nutrient content of the peas, extending their lifespan and giving you more of the good stuff.

Can you just pour boiling water on frozen peas? ›

To cook frozen peas on the stove, bring 3-4 cups of water to a rolling boil in a medium saucepan. Carefully pour the peas from the bag into the boiling water. Stir them gently and let the peas boil, uncovered, for 2-3 minutes. After they're cooked, drain the water from the peas, then season the peas to taste.

Why do my peas taste bitter? ›

Letting the peas get to big causes them to become hard and bitter tasting which most people find to be very undesirable. Because of this you should pick your peas at least every other day, if not daily, to ensure that you get a nice, flavorful pea.

What can I do with a bag of frozen peas? ›

38 inventive ways to use up those frozen peas
  • Orecchiette with walnut and pea pesto. ...
  • Snapper pea a la français. ...
  • Spring fattoush with pea hummus and smoky prawns. ...
  • Green pea and ham hock soup. ...
  • Scallops with peas, avocado, pancetta and taramasalata. ...
  • Matt Wilkinson's healthy edamame and crab soup.

How long do frozen peas last in freezer once opened? ›

Once frozen, transfer the peas to a freezer-friendly bag or container and store them for up to a year. If you want to enjoy the peas while they're of the best quality, try to consume your frozen peas within eight months. Frozen peas can be used in countless dishes, like a light spring pasta or a stir-fry.

Can dogs eat frozen peas? ›

Frozen peas are fine for your dog as long as they are cooked first. This is because frozen veggies are usually packaged as ready to cook, rather than ready to eat, which means there can still be a few bacteria present. These should be killed during the cooking process.

Can you put frozen peas back in the freezer? ›

Vegetables: Do not refreeze thawed vegetables. Bacteria in these foods multiply rapidly. Spoilage may begin before odors develop.

Are peas healthy or fattening? ›

High in many nutrients and antioxidants

Green peas have an impressive nutrition profile. Their calorie content is fairly low, with only 67 calories per 1/2-cup (80-gram) serving ( 1 ). About 75% of those calories come from carbs and the rest are provided by protein and a small amount of fat ( 1 ).

Do frozen peas spike blood sugar? ›

Yes, peas can spike insulin levels. Peas are a source of carbohydrates, and when consumed, they can cause a rise in blood sugar levels, which in turn triggers the release of insulin from the pancreas.

Which peas are the healthiest? ›

Green peas are low in saturated fat, cholesterol, and salt. They are a good source of protein, vitamins, and minerals, including vitamin A, vitamin B6, folate, and magnesium. They are also an excellent source of fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K, thiamin, and manganese.

Do frozen peas have a lot of sugar? ›

A 100-gram serving of frozen peas contains some 13.6 grams of carbohydrates, of which 5 grams are sugar. This serving of canned peas contains 11.4 grams of carbohydrates and 3 grams of sugars. Canned peas have 4 grams of dietary fiber in a 100-gram serving, while the same-size portion of frozen peas has 4.5 grams.

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