Creamy Garden Peas

Category: Good-For-You Dishes That Don't Taste Like Punishment

If you're craving a comforting side, this dish is for you. Butter and cream transform simple peas into something extra tasty. Pairs well with chicken, beef, or any dinner favorite.

Clare Recipes
Created By Lily Chen
Updated on Sun, 04 May 2025 12:24:15 GMT
A bowl of creamy peas topped with herbs, served with a spoon on the side. Save
A bowl of creamy peas topped with herbs, served with a spoon on the side. | lilicooks.com

You'll be amazed how a basic dish of Creamed Peas can jazz up your dinner spread. I whip up this 15-minute side whenever I need something fast and soothing that my family adores. Those sweet little peas swimming in that smooth, rich sauce always get everyone at the table smiling.

Totally Delicious

I'm crazy about how this dish turns plain frozen peas into something wonderful. That smooth sauce wins over even the fussiest eaters. It's become what I rely on for everything from normal Tuesday chicken meals to big holiday dinners because it's super easy and tasty.

Grab These Items

  • Butter: This gives our sauce its wonderful richness.
  • Milk: Full-fat milk works perfectly, but sometimes I add a bit of heavy cream when we're celebrating.
  • Flour: Just a small amount creates that perfect silky sauce.
  • Peas: I typically use a pack of frozen ones because they're so handy. Fresh ones are great too, or canned if you drain them properly.

Simple Steps

Drain those peas thoroughly, mix them into your sauce and heat everything up together.
Bring It Together:
Melt your butter, add flour, salt and pepper and cook until it smells toasty. Add your milk and sugar, keep whisking until it bubbles and gets thick, around 2 minutes.
Make Your Sauce:
Cook your peas until they're barely soft - you'll want them to stay nice and green.
Get Those Peas Ready:

Tasty Tweaks

  • Make it vegan: Switch to plant based butter and milk, it works really well, especially if you use coconut cream with some curry flavors.
  • Play with herbs: A bit of fresh mint or dill makes everything taste like it's straight from the garden, and parsley adds such beautiful color.
  • Try onions: Cooking some onions in the butter first really bumps up the flavor.
  • Add bacon: I sometimes throw in some crunchy bacon bits and it's truly fantastic.

Storage Tips

Your creamed peas will stay nice in the fridge for a couple days if you put them in a tight container. When you want to eat them again, just warm them up slowly on the stove or pop them in the microwave. I don't recommend freezing them though - the sauce gets strange after thawing.

A creamy green pea dish garnished with fresh herbs in a decorative bowl. Save
A creamy green pea dish garnished with fresh herbs in a decorative bowl. | lilicooks.com

Easy Gluten-Free Option

Dealing with gluten issues? Just use cornstarch or arrowroot powder instead of flour. The sauce comes out just as smooth and yummy and no one will spot the change.

Recipe FAQs

→ Is it okay to use fresh peas for this dish?

Absolutely. Fresh peas are a great choice! Boil them for a few minutes, around 3-5, until tender before mixing them with the cream sauce.

→ How can I fix a lumpy sauce?

Lumps happen if the flour doesn't mix well with the butter. Make sure you stir steadily when adding flour and pour in the milk slowly while stirring nonstop.

→ Can this dish be made in advance?

It's best eaten right away, but you can gently reheat it on the stove or microwave. If the sauce gets thick, just add a little milk to loosen it up.

→ What texture should the sauce have?

The sauce should stick lightly to the spoon and coat the peas without being too runny. If it's too watery, let it cook longer. If too thick, just splash in a bit of milk.

→ Can I freeze this dish for later?

Freezing isn't ideal for cream sauces as they tend to separate. It’s better to make it fresh whenever you need it.

Creamy Garden Peas

Turn frozen peas into a creamy, comforting plate of goodness in no time. Matches perfectly with any main meal and takes just 15 minutes to make.

Preparation Time
5 min
Cooking Time
10 min
Overall Time
15 min
Created By: Lily Chen


Skill Level: Beginner-Friendly

Cuisine Type: American

Output: 4 Serves (2 cups)

Dietary Options: Vegetarian

Ingredients

01 1 teaspoon sugar.
02 1/8 teaspoon pepper.
03 1 package (10 ounces) frozen peas.
04 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour.
05 1/2 cup whole milk.
06 1/4 teaspoon salt.
07 1 tablespoon butter.

Steps

Step 01

Follow the instructions on the package to cook the frozen peas.

Step 02

Warm up a small saucepan and melt butter over medium heat.

Step 03

Mix flour, salt, and pepper into the butter. Stir until everything blends into a smooth mixture.

Step 04

Slowly pour in milk and then add the sugar, stirring constantly as you go.

Step 05

Keep stirring the mixture while cooking for 1-2 minutes, until it thickens up.

Step 06

Pour out the water from the cooked peas.

Step 07

Mix the peas into the sauce, warm everything through, and dish up.

Tips

  1. This comforting side dish pairs beautifully with almost any main meal.
  2. You can whip it up in about 15 minutes.

Required Tools

  • A small saucepan.

Allergy Information

Always check each ingredient for allergens, and consult a medical professional if unsure.
  • Milk and butter (dairy).
  • Flour contains wheat.

Nutritional Information (per serving)

These details are shared for general guidance and don’t replace professional advice.
  • Calories: 110
  • Fats: 4 g
  • Carbohydrates: 14 g
  • Proteins: 5 g