Easy Creamed Peas

Easy creamed peas

The Spruce 

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 12 mins
Total: 22 mins
Servings: 4 servings

These flavorful creamed peas are a great side dish to any protein, making them an excellent weeknight meal choice. They're a breeze to prepare and require just a few pantry staples, including frozen peas, heavy cream, onions, flour, and seasonings. A little pimiento gives them color and flavor. Delicious served over rice or mashed potatoes that can soak up the sauce, these peas can also be a vegetarian side dish, as they contain no animal protein. If you're tired of eating the same steamed broccoli or spinach salad on repeat, give these peas a try as they're as easy to prepare as they are tasty.

Frozen peas are an underestimated ingredient. They're widely available, easy to prepare, and very filling. Frozen at the peak of their ripeness, frozen fruits and vegetables retain their texture and nutrition, contrary to common belief. Naturally, fresh is always best, but frozen items are an excellent choice that can put produce on your table that might not be in season. Peas are a very nutritious legume, with great amounts of fiber and vitamin A. They are also very high in protein, which makes them a go-to for vegan and vegetarian diets. A one-cup serving of raw peas has close to 8 grams of protein, over 8 grams of fiber, and 1110 IU of vitamin A, close to 33 percent of the RDI of the nutrient for adult men and 50 percent of the RDI for women (the RDI is 3,000 IU for adult men and 2,300 for adult women).

These peas can be catered to your palate by adding a few other ingredients. Make them cheesy with some mild cheddar cheese, Parmesan, or full-fat mozzarella. Add an earthy and fatty touch with some crispy bacon, diced ham, or a few pieces of smoked sausage. Or add a crunchy topping with some sliced almonds or whole pepitas.

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup onion rings, or strips; thinly sliced
  • 1 1/2 cups water
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 to 2 1/2 cups frozen peas 
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 tablespoon flour
  • 1 dash salt
  • 1 dash pepper
  • 1 dash nutmeg
  • 1 tablespoon pimiento, diced
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for creamed peas
    The Spruce
  2. Combine onion, water, and 1 teaspoon salt in a saucepan.

    Combine onion, water, and salt
    The Spruce
  3. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and boil for 5 to 7 minutes.

    Bring to a boil
    The Spruce
  4. Add the peas and cook for 5 minutes longer, or until peas are just tender.

    Add peas
    The Spruce
  5. Drain the peas in a colander over a bowl and reserve 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid.

    Drain the peas
    The Spruce
  6. In the same saucepan, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Add flour and seasonings, stirring until smooth and bubbly. Cook, stirring, for 2 minutes.

    In the same saucepan, melt butter
    The Spruce
  7. Add the pimiento to the flour mixture along with the cream and the 1/2 cup of reserved liquid from vegetables. Cook, constantly stirring until thickened.

    Add pimiento
    The Spruce 
  8. Add the vegetables to the sauce and heat through.

    Add the vegetables to the sauce
    The Spruce 
  9. Serve with your choice of entrée and enjoy!

Recipe Variations

  • Add about 1/4 to 1/2 cup of shredded cheese to the thickened sauce mixture. Add the vegetables and heat through.
  • Add about 1/2 cup of sautéed sliced mushrooms to the sauce along with the peas.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
351 Calories
21g Fat
33g Carbs
8g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 351
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 21g 27%
Saturated Fat 11g 57%
Cholesterol 49mg 16%
Sodium 440mg 19%
Total Carbohydrate 33g 12%
Dietary Fiber 7g 25%
Protein 8g
Calcium 102mg 8%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)
Article Sources
The Spruce Eats uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Peas, Raw. FoodData Central. United States Department of Agriculture.