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    Home » All Recipes

    How to Cook Frozen Peas

    Jun 15, 2021 · Leave a Comment

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    It’s easy to turn a bag of frozen peas into a quick and tasty side dish. Start with a bag of frozen peas, sauté an onion in some butter and cook peas for a few minutes and you’re done!

    Cooked frozen peas in a skillet with a wooden spoon.

    If you’ve ever wondered how to make a bag of frozen peas taste better, this is the recipe for you. Like my recipe for frozen green beans, this easy recipe starts with a bag of frozen peas and makes them tasty in under 10 minutes. How to do it? It’s easy! Simply thaw the peas and add some butter and cooked onions. 

    Why You’ll Love This Recipe for Easy Frozen Peas

    • Quick and easy
    • Flavorful
    • Takes less than 10 minutes to make

    Bag of frozen peas, stick of butter, small onion, and container of salt.

    Step One: Buy Frozen Peas

    The best frozen peas are plump (not dried out) and tender.  You’ll find two types of frozen peas at the grocery store: petite peas and sweet peas. 

    Sweet Peas: Traditional peas. While these are often labeled “sweet” the flavor tends to vary from bag to bag. Some are a little starchier than others.

    Petite Peas: This variety is sometimes called “baby peas”. They’re small and have a delicate, sweet flavor. 

    Avoid: When selecting a bag at the store, you want the peas loose in the bag, not frozen into a block. For this recipe, avoid peas with sauce. 

    (left) Frozen peas. (right) Thawed peas.

    Step Two: Thaw the Peas

    There are two ways to thaw frozen peas.

    1. Microwave. Remove the peas from the bag. Place in a microwave-safe container. Add about 1/4 cup of water and cover. Heat until the peas are thawed. For two cups of frozen peas, it takes about three minutes. Don’t worry about getting the peas steaming hot. You’ll saute them in the next step. 
    2. Stovetop. Place the frozen peas into a large skillet. Add 1/4 cup water. Cover the pan. Heat over medium heat until the peas are thawed, about five minutes. Stir the peas occasionally.

    Step Three: Saute Onions

    If you’ve ever eaten peas and pearl onions, you know the combination of peas and onions tastes great together. We’re going to mimic that flavor without using pearl onions. 

    Dice a small onion and cook it until soft in a little butter or olive oil. When the onion starts to turn light brown, it’s time to add the peas.

    Step Four: Add the Peas

    Once the onions are soft, add the thawed peas. Never add frozen peas to a hot skillet because the temperature difference could cause the pan to crack. 

    Reduce the heat to low and cook the peas with the onions until heated through. Season with salt and pepper to taste or season with the one of the variations listed below.

    Variations

    • Peas and Mint. Add about 1/3 cup chopped fresh mint to the peas before serving. 
    • Peas and Lemon. Add the zest of one lemon to the warm peas. Cook for one minute. 
    • Parmesan Peas. Stir 1/4 cup of grated parmesan into the cooked peas before serving.

    Other Frozen Vegetable Recipes You’ll Love

    • How to Cook Frozen Green Beans
    • How to Cook Frozen Corn
    • How to Cook Frozen Broccoli
    Cooked frozen peas in a skillet with a wooden spoon.
    Print

    The Best Way to Cook Frozen Peas

    It's easy to turn a bag of frozen peas into a quick and tasty side dish. Start with a bag of frozen peas, sauté an onion in some butter and cook peas for a few minutes and you're done!

    Course Side Dish
    Prep Time 10 minutes
    Cook Time 10 minutes
    Total Time 20 minutes
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 95 kcal

    Ingredients

    • 1 (10 to 12) ounce bag frozen peas
    • ¼ cup water
    • 1 tablespoon butter
    • 1 small onion, diced
    • salt, to taste

    Instructions

    1. Thaw the peas. For the microwave: Place peas in a microwave-safe dish. Add water. Cover. Microwave two minutes or until thawed.

      For the stovetop. Place the peas in a small saucepan. Add the water. Cover. Heat over medium heat until peas are thawed, about five minutes. Stir occasionally.

    2. Drain the peas and set aside.

    3. Melt butter in a medium skillet over medium-hight heat. Add diced onion. Cook until onion is tender, about three minutes. Stir frequently. Add the thawed peas. Stir to combine. Season with salt to taste.

    4. Store leftovers in the refrigerator for two days. To reheat, warm in the microwave for two minutes or until warm.

    Recipe Notes

    Variations

    Peas and Mint. Add about 1/3 cup chopped fresh mint to the peas before serving. 

    Peas and Lemon. Add the zest of one lemon to the warm peas. Cook for one minute. 

    Parmesan Peas. Stir 1/4 cup of grated parmesan into the cooked peas before serving.

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    Elizabeth Barbone

    Elizabeth Barbone is the founder and recipe developer behind Cook Fast, Eat Well. A food writer for over 15 years, she's built a reputation for creating easy recipes that work.

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