24 Simple and Tasty Recipes Using Peas

One of the best ingredients for dinner tonight is small, green and sitting in your freezer. Before you push that bag of peas to the side, unsure what to do with it, let this collection remind you that recipes using peas are some of the quickest, tastiest dinner and side options you can make. Peas add color, texture and a hint of sweetness to everything from creamy pastas and soups to bubbling potpies, making them a dependable go-to vegetable.

Frozen peas are one of the easiest ingredients to cook—no peeling or chopping required. Thaw them under cold water or stir them straight from the freezer into hot dishes at the end of cooking to preserve their color and bite. They slip easily into quick dinner ideas with chicken, sausage or shrimp, or can be blended until silky for dips or savory soups. The recipes in this collection hit on this convenience and versatility, while also offering classic comfort food recipes with peas, like chicken potpie or shepherd’s pie. If you need a fast side, you’ll find ideas for quick sautes and cool, creamy salads.

These recipes use various amounts of peas, so they fit into days when you need to use up the end of a bag, have a small handful of fresh peas or have just bought a brand new family-sized bag. Beyond the expected comforting flavors, try creative recipe ideas flavored with green curry, peanuts, bacon or honey, for something new. Whether served warm, cold or somewhere between, these dishes show how a simple bag of peas can make familiar meals feel fresh again. The next time you think you have nothing to make, check your freezer for peas.