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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https://www.smalltownwoman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Beth-1.pdf
Stephanie
I love pearl onions but I’m not a big fan of peas. However, in this dish, they were pretty good and I was surprised!
Archana Singh
I love both green peas and pearl oniojns. The recipe looks great. Will give it a shot.
Nicki
This was so tasty. We enjoyed it for Thanksgiving! I will make it again.
Carol Colborn
This wouldcreally taste so good but my FODMAP diet does not recommend onions. Too bad!
Sonia
This creamed peas with pearl onions recipe sounds like an absolute winner! Who doesn’t love a good comfort food dish like Grandma used to make? The combination of sweet peas and pearl onions with a luscious cream sauce made from scratch is making my mouth water. And the fact that it only requires seven ingredients and a few minutes to put together is definitely a plus. I can’t wait to give this recipe a try and I’ll definitely be checking out that creamed corn recipe too. Thanks for sharing!
Beth Pierce
The pleasure is all mine, Sonia! I hope you enjoy them as much as we do!
Nyxie
This recipe is as good my grandmas. So good with fried chicken and mashed potatoes. These are now on regular rotation at our house.
Edgar
I enjoyed this with my loaf of Supa. Next time I will try it with cornbread. I’ve always loved peas with my cornbread. Thanks for the recipe.
LisaLisa
First time I’ve ever heard of this cream peas recipe, and we love peas in our house. So, I guess I’ll be trying this recipe soon.
Beth Pierce
I hope you enjoy it as much as we do, Lisa!!
Jen S
OMG!!!! Comfort food! Growing up, my mom would make something similar. I have been looking for a recipe for this. Thank you.
Brian
I want to try the eggplant recipe. I usually just bake it with olive oil and sea salt.
Stephanie
These were so delicious. Such a nice change from the usual steamed peas and butter.
Rosey
OH!!! I forgot these were a thing. My mom used to make them and they were so delicious!
Beth
This stuff is AMAZING! I had never had creamed peas and onions before, but I love all the ingredients, so I dove in. It’s so good. Next time, I’m adding some ham to it. Om nom nom.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Beth! I am so glad that you liked the creamed peas.
Jennifer
So yummy and flavorful!! Hubby loved it!
Kara
I like mine a little thicker, so I only used 1 3/4 cups of milk. Delicious! My husband said his mom used to make them when he was little, and that they were just as good as he remembered. Thanks for the recipe!
Jen
Took your advice and added a bit of crispy bacon….Oh my word!! So delicious. Thanks for such an easy side dish.