How to Cook Frozen Peas
If you’ve been boiling peas, then here’s your PSA on how to cook frozen peas the right way! With the proper cooking method, a little bit of sugar and some butter and you’ll be wanting these creamy peas every night!
Looking for more vegetable recipes? Check out our buttered vegetables recipe and oven roasted broccoli.

I am definitely guilty of popping a bag of frozen peas in a saucepan of water and boiling them. Don’t do it! I promise you you’ll thank me forever. This method of how to cook peas has definitely upped my cool mom factor. I mean, we seriously should never ever be allowed to boil or steam peas.
So, frozen peas or fresh peas? This may surprise you, but frozen peas! According to Cook’s Illustrated, fresh peas are starchier. And, I couldn’t agree more!
For other amazing ways to cook vegetables be sure to check out my roasted carrots and sweet boiled corn recipes.
Ingredients
- Frozen peas — yes, frozen are better than fresh!
- Butter, cubed
- Granulated sugar — Just a hint! This will bring out the naturally sweet flavor of the peas
- Garlic cloves, minced
- Salt, to taste — Don’t salt the peas until after they’ve been served on plates!
- Ground pepper, to taste

How to Cook Frozen Peas
- In a large skillet over medium heat, add the frozen peas, butter, sugar, and garlic. Cook, stirring often, until the butter is melted and the peas are cooked, about 5-8 minutes.
- Portion into individual servings, and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Tools Used For This Recipe

Recipe Tips
- Don’t salt the peas too soon. It will actually dehydrate them! I recommend NOT SALTING until after you’ve served it into individual bowls.
- I know the packaging on frozen peas says to boil them. But trust me, it’s not the best way to cook your peas. This is the right way!
FAQs
Nope! What a blessing.
Usually frozen vegetables are blanched prior to being frozen. This means they are put in boiling water briefly and then into ice cold water. You could thaw them and eat them but they won’t be as soft as fully cooked peas.
Usually just 5-8 minutes.
It depends on how you are using them. I love snacking on raw peas, and some salads may call for raw peas. However, I think you’ll love this way of cooking peas the best! Typically fresh peas should be cooked.
Sure! Fresh peas are starchier than frozen peas, but this recipe is still so delicious with homegrown peas. However, I think this recipe and method tastes better using frozen peas.

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How to Cook Frozen Peas
Ingredients
- 2 lbs frozen peas
- 10 tablespoons unsalted butter - cubed, (see notes)
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 2 garlic cloves - minced
- kosher salt - to taste
- freshly ground black pepper - to taste
Equipment
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium heat add the frozen peas, butter, sugar, and garlic.
- Cook stirring often, until butter is melted and peas are cooked, about 5-8 minutes.
- Portion into individual servings and season with salt and pepper to taste.
2 Comments on “How to Cook Frozen Peas”
THANK YOU!! it was delicious that I finally like peas now!!
For years I hate peas except if peas are mixed with other food such as fried rice, chicken noodles, etc. I tried to like peas many times but I still hated it, and continued serving peas to my husband & kids. I decided to look at Pinterest for “delicious” frozen peas. Ahhhhh I love your recipe, finally!!! XD thanks millions! God bless! 🙂
Not having eaten peas for 25 years or more since the peas on the school lunch tray ordeal. I was intrigued by the ease of this recipe. Simple and delicious. Ate half a pound on the first sitting and mixed the rest with rice. This too was a hit. Talk about easy prep.
And as a bonus, I found I really do like peas prepared this way and they are not just for grade school cafeteria food fights .