Need a veggie side quick? Learn how to cook frozen peas! Easy and delicious, this simple recipe will help you create a deliciously balanced meal.
WANT TO SAVE THIS RECIPE?
Enter your email below and we'll send it straight to your inbox. Plus you’ll get great new recipes from us every week!
I know you all love a quick vegetable side dish as much as I do! I love this easy frozen pea recipe because it's quick and requires very little work. Plus it's delicious! Learning how to cook frozen peas so they end up tasty and not mushy is super easy.
Are Frozen Peas cooked already?
Typically, vegetables are blanched before they are frozen. Blanching means that the vegetable, in this case, peas, is briefly plunged into boiling water for a few minutes and then into ice water.
The ice water stops the cooking process and the blanching helps the peas retain their vibrant color in the freezer. I use this method all the time when freezing my garden produce.
So, are the frozen peas already cooked? They are cooked enough that you could thaw them out and eat them in a salad, but they would still have a little crunch to them.
That is why I like to saute them in this recipe. It makes them nice and tender without making them mushy. It takes the cooking process one step further than blanching.
Ingredients for Cooking Frozen Green Peas
- Frozen peas
- Water
- Butter
- Salt
- Pepper
- Parsley
- Dill
How to Season Peas
Peas don't need much seasoning to be delicious. This recipe just uses a little bit of butter, salt, pepper, parsley, and dill. All of these flavors combine to let the natural sweetness of the peas shine through.
To cook Frozen Green Peas, should I thaw first?
Nope! Not for this recipe. This recipe is ultra-easy {my all-time fave in the kitchen, especially when it comes to veggies} and you can just toss them in frozen. The frozen peas will thaw out in no time at all and using the peas frozen won't change the outcome of the recipe.
How to thaw frozen peas
Frozen peas do not need to be thawed before you cook them. If you'd like to thaw them, let them sit in the refrigerator overnight.
How to Cook Frozen Peas
You can use this method for cooking frozen peas in a saucepan, or a skillet. I've used both and it works great. The liquid you add to the frozen peas will reduce more quickly {this is what you want} in a skillet, but if you don't have one don't stress.
It seems a little counterintuitive to add water when the goal is to reduce it almost completely out, but the water thaws and cooks the peas, it's an important step to this recipe. The amount of water you use is going to matter too - this is what helps the frozen peas stay firm and not mushy.
I love the flavor of peas so I like to keep the seasonings in this frozen pea recipe basic so they highlight the great flavor of peas. Just use butter and a few herbs to make the frozen peas delicious.
There you have it! Another incredibly easy vegetable side dish for your family.
How long to cook frozen peas
Frozen peas need only about 5 minutes to cook. You don't want to overcook them and create mushy peas.
Frozen Peas FAQs
Yes, it is ok to eat frozen peas without cooking them. They are washed and ready to eat when they are frozen.
Frozen peas are healthy. Freezing vegetables is a great way to lock in nutrients.
WANT TO SAVE THIS RECIPE?
Enter your email below and we will send it straight to your inbox. Plus you will get great new recipes from us every week!
Frozen Green Peas
Equipment
- Non-Stick Frying Pans
Ingredients
- 12 ounces frozen peas (one small bag, this can vary by a few ounces)
- ⅓ cup water
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ½ teaspoon salt (this can be adjusted to your taste. )
- ¼ teaspoon pepper (this can be adjusted to your taste. )
- ½ teaspoon parsley (dried)
- ⅛ teaspoon dill (just one pinch)
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan or saute pan, add frozen peas, water, butter, salt, pepper, parsley, and dill.
- Simmer for about 5-8 minutes, or until all the water is almost reduced out of the pan.
- Taste and adjust seasonings if necessary.
Anonymous
Thank you for recipe for peas. I love it.
Maa Karni Agro Food
Thank you so much for sharing this.
Shimla Hills
Green peas are always under-rated! Let’s admit it; none of us really understood the benefits of green peas. digestion powers of peas are merely miraculous. and more health benefits of grean peas.
Jackie
I’m looking forward to preparing it later 😊
Alli
Thanks, Jackie!
Alli
Such a quick, good side dish!