How to Cook Frozen Peas (The RIGHT Way) – Favorite Family Recipes

There’s actually a correct way to cook frozen peas, and it isn’t boiling! You can have sweet, crisp, vibrant green peas in less than ten minutes. Never mushy, never bland. Try them tonight!

Featured with this recipe

1. Ingredients for Perfect Peas
2. Step By Step Instructions
3. Basic Tips for Green Peas on the Stovetop
4. Additional Ingredients to Try
5. Frequently Asked Questions about Peas
6. More Pea Recipes to Try
7. How to Cook Frozen Peas (The RIGHT Way)
8. How to Cook Frozen Peas (the RIGHT way) Recipe

I hate to break it to you, but you have probably been cooking peas wrong your entire life. And I admit, I am totally guilty of ripping open a bag of frozen peas and throwing them into a pot of boiling water 5 minutes before dinner or tossing them in the microwave and serving them as a side dish. I never hated peas, but never loved them either. Until I went to Epi’s (My favorite restaurant in Meridian, Idaho). On Thursdays, Epi’s offers free peas as an additional side dish to any meal and people specifically go there on Thursdays JUST for the peas. Strange right? But, after trying the tender, perfectly cooked peas, I understood. They were delicious! So I figured out just what makes those peas taste delicious and now I can share it with you!

Ingredients for Perfect Peas

Just a bag of frozen peas isn’t enough, not for show stopping, succulent peas like these. Here’s what you need:

• 1 pound frozen green peas
• 6 tablespoons butter – for this recipe I like to use salted, sweet cream butter
• 2 teaspoons sugar – I know it sounds weird, but it won’t make the peas too sweet, I promise!
• 3 cloves garlic – use fresh, crushed garlic for optimal aroma and flavor
• kosher salt – about a teaspoon or to taste
• black pepper – also to taste

Step By Step Instructions

1. First, empty a bag of frozen peas into a large skillet.
2. Add six tablespoons of butter, garlic and sugar on top.
3. Sauté on medium heat until the butter is melted and peas are cooked through.
4. Salt and pepper, then serve!

Basic Tips for Green Peas on the Stovetop

These tips work for any frozen vegetable, not just peas. Try them when cooking green beans, corn, snow peas, snap peas, English peas, etc.

• Don’t boil! Just don’t do it. I know the package tells you to, but don’t. Trust me.
• Add a little sugar to the peas. It’s ok, it won’t taste weird and it will bring out the natural sweetness.
• Don’t add salt until ready to serve. Salting them too early can dehydrate them and they (obviously) won’t be as sweet. Salt them after they have cooked and you can salt to taste.

Additional Ingredients to Try

• If you want to try something different, try coarsely tearing up a few mint leaves and throwing them in the pan with the peas while cooking.
• Leave the garlic and sugar out and just cook them with mint and butter. The mint infuses the peas with a fresh and delicious flavor that you are sure to love! It kicks dinner up a notch with very little effort.
• Add a little bit of minced onion during the cooking process.
• Top with fresh parsley or other fresh herbs.
• Sauté in a little extra virgin olive oil instead of butter.
• Add a squeeze of lemon juice to the finished product.
• Sprinkle parmesan cheese on the top

Frequently Asked Questions about Peas

READ NEXT:The Best Traditional Easter Dinner Ideas

Now that you know all about peas – it’s time to make them! If we’ve convinced you this is the “right way,” you will also want to check out more of our “How To” recipes.

More Pea Recipes to Try

Try some more favorite recipes with peas!

How to Cook Frozen Peas (The RIGHT Way)