20 Easy-Peasy Recipes To Make With Frozen Peas

If you have a bag of peas in the freezer, you're well on your way to making any one of these fresh, green recipes.

By
Sara Bir
Sara Bir
Sara Bir
Sara is a chef, culinary educator, and author of three cookbooks, The Pocket Pawpaw Cookbook, Tasting Ohio and The Fruit Forager's Companion. The latter won a 2019 IACP Cookbook Award.
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Updated April 25, 2025
Sara Bir
Bowl of Green Goddess Pasta Salad

Simply Recipes / Lori Rice

If there's one vegetable I make sure I have at all times, it's frozen peas. They're affordable, ready in a flash, keep for months, and fit into dozens of dishes from cuisines the world over. They're picked and frozen right at their peak, so they're always tender, sweet, and springy. Try them in one of these 20 recipes for a splash of color and veggie power in your weeknight cooking.

  • Skillet Chicken and Rice

    Skillet chicken and rice with peas

    Simply Recipes / Nick Evans

    The trusty "throw some peas in right before serving" maneuver transforms this dish from monochrome chicken and rice to an appetizing dinner that pops. It's a pantry-friendly, one-pot meal the whole gang will embrace.

  • Green Goddess Pasta Salad

    Bowl of Green Goddess Pasta Salad

    Simply Recipes / Lori Rice

    This herb-flecked, upbeat green pasta salad is great to make for potlucks or for eating on all week long for lunches or dinner sides.

  • Pea Pesto

    Table Knife With a Bit of Pea Pesto Rested on Top of a Bowl of Pea Pesto Surrounded by Slices of Toasted Bread on the Counter (Some Pieces of Bread Is Smeared With Pea Pesto) and a Blue and White Stripped Kitchen Towel

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    No cooking and no fresh produce is required for this cheerful and flavor-packed pesto. It's great on toast or pasta—just let a cup of peas thaw on the counter and you're off to the races.

  • Creamy Cavatappi

    Bowl of Creamy Cavatappi Topped With Shredded Parmesan With a Fork and Sitting on an Olive Kitchen Towel. In the Surroundings, Another Bowl With a Serving, a Small Bowl With Blocks of Parmesan, and a Two Glasses.

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    Senior Editor Laurel Randolph says, "For the creamiest possible sauce, add the Parmesan a little at a time, letting each handful melt before adding more."

    Continue to 5 of 20 below

  • Simple Peas and Onions

    A bowl of a peas and onions side dish recipe, ready to serve

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    Ever had one of those "oh, snap!" moments when you realize your produce drawer is virtually empty? Frozen peas to the rescue! There's barely a meaty main that doesn't go with good old peas and onions.

  • Shrimp Fried Rice

    Shrimp Fried Rice

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    If you stash frozen shrimp in your freezer as well as peas, you've got the makings of this fast supper. Use up that container of leftover takeout rice and create a nearly instant meal.

  • Cauliflower Curry

    Indian-style cauliflower curry with peas

    Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas

    Yogurt and turmeric are the keys to the light sauce that envelops this vegetarian Indian-style curry. It's a flexible fridge-cleanout type of recipe, so swap or omit ingredients as needed.

  • 5-Minute Cabbage Slaw

    White bowl of cabbage slaw on a gray table next to a blue checkered napkin and wooden serving utensils

    Simply Recipes / Coco Morante

    Contributor Coco Morante says, "I don’t think this slaw needs anything extra, but you could add some raisins or chopped dried apricots for more sweetness and texture contrast. Or, to pack the dish with more protein, stir in some shredded rotisserie chicken to make it into a hearty lunch all on its own."

    Continue to 9 of 20 below

  • Chicken Vesuvio

    Chicken Vesuvio in a Bowl on a Plate Next to a Cast Iron Skillet with More Chicken Vesuvio and a Small Bowl of Salt, All Sitting on a Table Napkin

    Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

    An Italian-American restaurant favorite hailing from Chicago, Chicken Vesuvio features browned, bone-in chicken that's cooked with lemon-kissed white wine and potatoes for an all-in-one meal that delivers for special occasions. If you prefer the peas to stay brighter, add them later during cooking.

  • Cold Pea Salad

    A bowl of cold pea salad

    Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas

    Retro charm abounds in this salad, which has the crunch of smoked almonds and water chestnuts. It's a great back-pocket recipe for times when you need to bring a fun, fresh veggie side to a gathering.

  • Matar Paneer

    Plated matar paneer
    Simply Recipes / Karishma Pradhan.

    Simply Recipes / Karishma Pradhan

    Contributor Karishma Pradhan says, "Don't rush simmering the tomato sauce. If you find that it's too liquidy, continue to simmer until it reaches the desired consistency."

  • Curried Ground Turkey With Potatoes

    Curried Ground Turkey with Potatoes

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    You'll have a meal in 40 minutes and plenty of leftovers with this simple recipe that's loosely based on the Indian dish aloo keema. Use any ground meat you have in the fridge—beef, chicken, or plant-based grounds all work.

    Continue to 13 of 20 below

  • Easy Shepherd's Pie

    A slice of shepherd's pie on a plate with a fork.

    Simply Recipes / Cambrea Gordon

    One of our most popular recipes, this shepherd's pie has been the star of the dinner table for thousands of hungry households all over the world.

  • Spring Vegetable Salad With Peas and Asparagus

    Crisp and Refreshing Green Spring Salad

    Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

    Sweet sugar snap peas, radish slivers, mint leaves, toasted almonds, and a simple creamy dressing make this salad a showstopper in any season. The green peas dot it like confetti.

  • Risi e Bisi

    Risi e Bisi Italian Rice and Peas

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    Hailing from Venice, this Italian comfort food classic leans on risotto rice, chicken stock, and peas (the name literally means "rice and peas"). It comes together easier than you'd guess.

  • Spring Minestrone Soup

    Spring Minestrone

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    Asparagus and peas give this minestrone soup a more seasonal vibe. Make a pot for a day when you need some warming comfort in the midst of unpredictable spring weather.

    Continue to 17 of 20 below

  • Pasta With Ham and Peas

    Pasta with Ham and Peas

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    Here's a go-to for times when you have leftover ham. A little cream and Parmesan add some richness. This recipe calls for fusilli, but other pasta shapes like penne, cavatappi, or even good old macaroni will all shine here.

  • Fresh Green Pea Soup

    Summer Pea Soup

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    A bag of frozen green peas forms the base for this smooth soup that's enriched with cream and has a whisper of mint. It comes together in a flash, which is certainly not the case for its dried split pea counterpart. Serve it warm or, on hot days, chilled.

  • Creamy Pasta With Salmon and Rice

    a bowl of salmon and pea pasta served with milk

     Simply Recipes / Dotdash Meredith Creative

    Use frozen salmon fillets or leftover salmon to make a pasta dish that's a little off the beaten path but still crowd-pleasing. Milk makes the base for the creamy white sauce, and a sprinkling of Parm makes it extra delicious.

  • Basmati Rice Salad with Peas, Mint, and Lemon

    A bowl of basmati rice salad

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    Founder Elise Bauer says, "Don't like raisins? Use currants, chopped dried apricots, or leave them out entirely."

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