These sweet Creamed Peas with Pearl Onions combine green peas and pearl onions with a luscious cream sauce, made easily with a roux, into the best side dish ever. With just seven ingredients and a few minutes, you can have this comfort food like Grandma made on your table!
Are you looking for a tasty and simple side dish? Look no further than this creamed peas recipe! With just a few ingredients and minimal prep time, you can whip up a delicious and creamy dish that the whole family will love. If you don’t like onions, add peeled and cooked diced potatoes. Or try crispy cooked bacon for a little more Southern flair. I love to serve these peas with chicken fried chicken, baked cod, and bacon wrapped chicken.
I am a believer that one can never have enough side dish recipes. Especially ones like this dish. If you like this recipe, try my creamed corn, Brussels Sprouts with bacon, and spinach casserole.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
See the complete list of ingredients below on the recipe card.
- Pearl onions: Either fresh or frozen. If you can not find pearl onions, saute some chopped onion.
- Butter: unsalted or salted. If using salted butter reduce the amount of added salt to 1/4 teaspoon.
- Milk: preferably whole milk
- Peas: Frozen peas are best for this recipe. You can use canned peas, but drain them well and almost completely thicken the sauce before adding them, as they are fully cooked and only need warming.
- Seasonings: salt and pepper. For additional flavor, add a little bit of garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme leaves, or even a pinch of nutmeg.
- Heavy cream: If you have it add a splash or two but I would not purchase the cream just for this recipe.
How to make Creamed Peas
This is the summary version; see the recipe card below for the complete list of ingredients and the instructions.
They are so incredibly easy to make. Blanch the pearl onions in a saucepan full of boiling water for 2 minutes, and then pinch the stem end, and the pearl onion will pop out.
Now, in a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Whisk in the flour and continue whisking until the mixture is a light golden brown. Slowly whisk in the milk and continue cooking until the mixture is slightly thickened. Then add the peas and pearl onions to the cream mixture and simmer. Finally, salt and pepper to taste and garnish with fresh herbs!
How do you like your Creamed Peas?
I personally don’t like them too thick. However, if you like them pretty t then increase the butter and flour by 1 tablespoon. If you like them even thinner, add 2-3 extra tablespoons of milk (one at a time) until they are the desired thickness. Make sure you stir between each tablespoon to see the consistency.
Preparation Tips
- If you like thicker creamed peas, increase the butter and flour by 1 tablespoon.
- For a little added sweetness, add 1 teaspoon of sugar.
- For a change of pace, add 1 cup of cooked small sliced Yukon Gold Potatoes, 1/4 cup of chopped cooked crispy bacon, or 1/2 cup of finely diced cooked carrots.
Serving Suggestions
There are so many delicious ways to eat these beauties!!
- Over mashed potatoes or baked potatoes
- Ladled over toasted sourdough bread
- Spooned over roasted or fried chicken
- Over cheesy hashbrown potatoes
- With cornbread, corn fritters, or corn muffins.
- Poured over turkey and stuffing.
- Over homemade salmon patties
- With pork schnitzel
Storage and Reheat
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave at reduced power or on the stovetop over low heat.
To freeze, cool to room temperature, spoon into freezer bags or freezer containers, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat in the microwave at reduced power or on the stovetop over low heat.
More Side Dish Recipes
Easy Creamed Peas Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 ounces fresh pearl onions
- 4 tablespoons butter unsalted
- 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups whole milk
- 2½ cups frozen peas
- kosher salt and black pepper to taste
- 2 pinches ground nutmeg optional
- 1-2 splashes heavy cream optional
Instructions
- Slice off the root ends of the pearl onions and drop them into boiling water for 2 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water. Pinch the stem end, and the peeled pearl onion will pop out. Set them aside.
- In a large skillet over medium-low heat, melt butter. Whisk in flour and continue whisking until the mixture is a light golden brown. Slowly whisk in milk and continue whisking until the mixture thickens slightly; 2-3 minutes.
- Add peas and pearl onions (that were set aside). Simmer for 5-7 minutes or until the peas are tender. Season with salt and pepper to taste. If desired, add a little nutmeg and a splash of cream.
Notes
- If you like thicker creamed peas, increase the butter and flour by 1 tablespoon.
- For a little added sweetness, add 1 teaspoon of sugar.
- For a change of pace, add 1 cup of cooked small sliced Yukon Gold Potatoes, 1/4 cup of chopped cooked crispy bacon, or 1/2 cup of finely diced cooked carrots.
Nutrition
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Dannii
What a delicious way to get more veg in you diet. So comforting!
Pam
Great recipe for a classic dish. Thanks for all the tips!
Srikanth
This is such an interesting and easy to make recipe. I appreciate the detail provided and am looking forward to making it for dinner
Maria
Now this appetizer looks like it will get the job done! Can’t wait to give this recipe a try.
Jenn
My grandmother used to make this recipe for us and I thought I’d never be able to enjoy it again! Your recipe is just like hers – I love it! Thank you!
Suzie
Was craving creamed peas & onions. Went to Publix but couldn’t find the frozen ones. So I got some frozen petite peas. Fresh pearl onions. Came home and found this recipe. So easy to make, and so delicious. Much better than the frozen one. My roommate loved it! Will be making it again!
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much Suzie! So glad that you like them. I love creamed peas and pearl onions! So yummy! Now spoon them over creamy mashed potatoes and it is pure joy!
ERNEST Plyman
Grandma used to add mushrooms and bacon as well. Although everything including the bacon was made on the farm. Wonderful childhood memories.
Beth Pierce
I bet! That sounds amazing! Oh if only we could travel back in time.
Teri
Haven’t tried your recipe as of yet, however was talking to my mother around Christmas time about how I was craving these. She said her secret when she made them, she blended the milk with a piece of wheat bread in the blender and added a pinch of nutmeg, and used white pepper, not black pepper.
Beth Pierce
Very interesting Teri! Thanks for the tips!
Linda
I LOVE peas and pearl onions that my mother on law used to serve at thanksgiving. She got me to try them for the first time and now I cant have them enough! Beside her and myself I am not sure if anyone else appreciated how delicious they are! cant wait to make them.
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much Linda! I love peas and pearl onions too! They are so delicious! Have a great Thanksgiving!
Laura Reese
Great memories. The best way to serve peas.