Old-Fashioned Creamed Peas Recipe - These Old Cookbooks (2024)

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Find out how to make Old-Fashioned Creamed Peas with this simple, step by step recipe.

Peas in a creamy white sauce is a new way to get your kids (and husbands) to eat this healthy green vegetable. You can make this cream peas recipe in a jiffy with only butter, flour, half and half, salt, pepper and peas.

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Table of Contents

Simple Creamed Peas Recipe

Do you have a hard time getting your family to eat their vegetables? The buttery white sauce on these Old-Fashioned Creamed Peas will have them asking for seconds. This recipe uses frozen peas and five other simple ingredients to create this classic creamed vegetable side dish.

This cream peas recipe may just be our new favorite behind our Old-Fashioned Pea Salad, Bacon Cheddar Pea Salad, and Creamy Dill Pea Salad.

Creamed peas remind us of visits with our Aunt Peggy growing up.Barbara had never had peas this way (and honestly didn’t really like them at the time).One weekend, Aunt Peggy whipped up creamed peas with our lunch, and she was hooked. Barbara began requesting them to the point that Peggy just knew to make them when she was coming over.

Old-Fashioned Creamed Peas Recipe

She has been on a hunt for sometime to find a written recipe for creamed peas with frozen peas.At last, she turned to her copy of America’s Cook Book. Now this book is definitely old fashioned. It doesn’t have pictures, and it reads like a regular book.We bet there are over 1000 recipes total, and most recipes has a variety of versions and modifications.

Barbara started her search in the vegetable chapter under the peas section.It was here she found a recipe for boiled peas but it referred her back to the creamed vegetables page.When she got to this page, it sent her to the page for a Cream Sauce.So she flipped to this page which then sent her to the page for a basic white sauce. Sounds tricky, but the recipe was spot on.

She made this for lunch for her boys (aka her husband and 2 year old son). In all honesty, her husband, Kevin, doesn’t like peas.But guess what, he loved these old-fashioned creamed peas. And he ate two helpings.Her 2-year-old can be very spotty on what vegetables he eats as well, but he devoured them too.

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Ingredients for Creamed Peas

  • Frozen Green Peas
  • Salted Water
  • Butter
  • All Purpose Flour
  • Half and Half
  • Salt and Black Pepper

How to make old-fashioned creamed peas with frozen peas

Step By Step Instructions

  1. Cook a bag of frozen peas according the directions on the back. We prefer the stove top version as follows. Boil a small amount of water in a saucepan. Once it comes to a boil, pour it over the frozen peas, and let cook for 3 to 5 minutes.
  2. In a medium saucepan, melt butter. Add flour and stir until smooth and then for 30 seconds more to remove raw flour taste.
  3. Gradually add in half and half, stirring constantly with a whisk.
  4. Continue to cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until it comes to a boil. Cook for 3 additional minutes.
  5. Add salt and pepper.
  6. Drain the peas, and add the white sauce.
  7. Stir to incorporate and cover until peas are hot and bubbly (this only takes a couple minutes). Taste and add more salt and pepper if needed.

Storage Instructions

Let leftovers cool completely. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.

For the full recipe and ingredient list for old-fashioned cream peas, scroll to the bottom of this post.

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Recipe FAQs

  • An easy way to cook frozen peas is to cover with boiling salted water for 3 – 5 minutes until perfectly tender.
  • Season these frozen creamy peas with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Substitute heavy whipping cream for half and half, if desired.
  • To make a lower-fat version of creamy peas, use fat free half and half.
  • Substitute margarine for butter, if needed.
  • Check out our Amazon Store for our favorite pantry essentials and kitchen supplies.

Recipe Variations

  • Add pearl onions for a classic side dish.
  • Sautéed mushrooms are another delicious addition.
  • For more flavor, add onion powder and/or garlic powder.
  • Use heavy cream or whole milk instead of half and half.
  • Stir in bits of ham or fried bacon.
  • Garnish with parsley.

Old Fashioned Vegetable Recipes

Want to try other creamed vegetable recipes? We have you covered. Check out some of our favorites below.

Creamed Peas and Potatoes

Creamed Peas with Canned Peas

Crock Pot Cheesy Creamed Corn

Creamed Spinach

Creamy Cabbage

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Print Recipe

Old-Fashioned Creamed Peas

Old-Fashioned Creamed Peas uses frozen peas that is jazzed up with a white sauce made of butter, half and half and flour.

Prep Time0 minutes mins

Cook Time15 minutes mins

Total Time15 minutes mins

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: cream peas, creamed peas, creamed peas with frozen peas, Easy Creamed Peas, old fashioned creamed peas

Servings: 6 servings

Calories: 157kcal

Author: Barbara

Ingredients

  • 16 oz. frozen green peas
  • 2 Tablespoons butter
  • 2 Tablespoons flour
  • 1 cup half and half
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

  • Cook peas according to package instructions. I prefer this method. In a small saucepan, boil a small amount of salted water (approximately 4 cups). Pour the boiling water over the frozen peas just until they are covered. You may not need all the water. Let sit for 3 to 5 minutes or until cooked.

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  • In a medium saucepan, melt butter. Add flour and stir until smooth. Let cook for additional 30 seconds to remove raw flour taste.

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  • Over medium heat, slowly add in half and half to the butter/flour mixture while constantly whisking. Bring to a boil while constantly whisking, and let boil for approximately three minutes until it thickens.

  • Add salt and pepper to the sauce.

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  • Drain the peas, and add to the white sauce; stir. Cover with a lid and cook until the peas are hot and the sauce is creamy, approximately 2 to 3 minutes.

    Old-Fashioned Creamed Peas Recipe - These Old Cookbooks (19)

  • Taste, add more salt and pepper if needed.

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Notes

  • An easy way to cook frozen peas is to cover with boiling salted water for 3 – 5 minutes until perfectly tender.
  • Season these frozen creamy peas with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Substitute heavy whipping cream for half and half, if desired.
  • To make a lower-fat version of creamy peas, use fat free half and half.
  • Substitute margarine for butter, if needed.
  • If you love cream peas, try these other versions: Creamed Peas with Canned Peas and Creamed Peas and Potatoes.
  • The carb counts, calorie counts and nutritional information are auto-calculated and can vary greatly depending on the products used. The information should NOT be used for specific dietary needs.

Nutrition

Calories: 157kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 24mg | Sodium: 252mg | Potassium: 242mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 838IU | Vitamin C: 31mg | Calcium: 64mg | Iron: 1mg

Linking up to Weekend Potluck!

Old-Fashioned Creamed Peas Recipe - These Old Cookbooks (2024)

FAQs

Why are my canned peas hard? ›

Excessive calcium levels in the soaking water may cause changes within the pea structure, resulting in excessive hardness of texture.

Why are my frozen peas hard after cooking? ›

Don't overcook otherwise peas will shrivel and become tough. Season after cooking - once cooked, immediately add lemon juice (highly recommended) and seasoning(s) of choice. Many recommend adding 1-2 teaspoons of sugar per pound of frozen peas to bring out the sweetness but I haven't found this to be necessary.

What makes canned peas taste better? ›

Salt and pepper work well, but oregano, garlic powder, chili powder or a variety of different popcorn seasons can help hide the taste of the peas as well.

Do I drain canned peas before cooking? ›

Always drain the liquid out of the can before heating. If you want more liquid add it back with broth or stock. Rinsing the peas after you drain them can help get rid of excess sodium that is often present in canned vegetables. Different varieties of peas will have slightly different tastes.

Why won't my peas get soft? ›

If the peas are very old and dried out, they won't soften. And if the water you use for making the soup is hard with lots of dissolved minerals that can stop the peas from softening. Use bottled water if that is the case.

Does baking soda make peas soft? ›

A teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda can be added to the peas whilst soaking or cooking (to speed up the softening process), but you can still achieve that perfect creamy texture with nothing but water - unless your water is especially hard.

Can you just pour boiling water on frozen peas? ›

To cook frozen peas on the stove, bring 3-4 cups of water to a rolling boil in a medium saucepan. Carefully pour the peas from the bag into the boiling water. Stir them gently and let the peas boil, uncovered, for 2-3 minutes. After they're cooked, drain the water from the peas, then season the peas to taste.

Can you cook peas too long? ›

Fresh/frozen green peas can really easily be overcooked. They'll lose the bright green, getting more dull and a bit darker. They'll also get mushy. If you've had both nicely cooked fresh/frozen peas and canned peas, this should be pretty familiar to you.

What can I add to can peas for flavor? ›

Salt and pepper work well, but oregano, garlic powder, chili powder or a variety of different popcorn seasons can help hide the taste of the peas as well. Use stock or broth instead of water for canned and frozen veggies. It even makes rice and fresh veggies taste better.

What is a good seasoning for canned peas? ›

To enhance the flavor of canned peas, you can add seasonings such as salt, pepper, garlic powder, or herbs like parsley or thyme. Adding a bit of butter or olive oil can also help improve the taste. Consider sautéing them with onions or bacon for extra flavor.

Do you drain canned peas? ›

Tips! Drain & rinse canned peas to reduce sodium (salt) • Get your daily dose of veggies by adding peas to soups, stews, salads, pastas, and casseroles.

Can dogs eat peas? ›

You can feed your dog fresh, frozen, or thawed peas, but do not give your dog canned peas. Like many canned vegetables, canned peas typically have a lot of added sodium, which is harmful to dogs (and humans). As far as pea pods go, as a rule of thumb, if humans can eat the pod, so can your dog.

Why are my canned peas slimy? ›

Putrefaction: foul odor, slimy or soft food, dark color, gas; apt to be present in greens, corn, and mature shelled beans and peas Bacteria—anaerobic Proper processing. Spoilage may take weeks to develop or may be evident in a few days.

How do you soften canned peas? ›

Place the peas in a saucepan with a little water or broth (about ¼ cup). Bring the liquid to a boil over medium heat. Reduce the heat and let the peas simmer for 2-3 minutes until they are tender. Drain any remaining liquid and season with salt, pepper, or other herbs and spices to taste.

How long does it take to soften peas? ›

Step-By-Step Instructions

Bring the peas to a boil over high heat. Add a lid and simmer over low heat for 25 minutes or until tender. Strain the cooked peas and use them in a recipe, or chill them to use in a recipe later. See reheating instructions.

Are peas supposed to be firm? ›

Cooked Peas should not be firm like peanut. The peas should look like as if they are firm but when they are touched they should be easy to mash.

Should you rinse canned peas? ›

However, it is a good idea to rinse canned vegetables with water before eating them to remove any excess salt or other additives that may have been used during the canning process. Rinsing canned vegetables can also help to remove any debris that may be on the surface of the vegetables.

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