Creamed Peas with Canned Peas Recipe - These Old Cookbooks (2024)

August 9, 2019May 20, 2023

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Jump to RecipePrint Recipe

Creamed Peas using Canned Peas may not be fancy, but it’s fast, economical, easy, and my kids love them. All it takes is a can of green peas, butter, flour, milk, salt and pepper.

Table of Contents

Creamed Canned Peas Recipe

This easy version of creamed peas is very quick to add to your dinner table, and it only has 4 ingredients plus salt and pepper.If you follow our blog, you’ll know that recipes with few ingredients rank high on our list.Keep a can of peas in the cabinet, and you can whip these up as a side dish for any meal.

I’ll have to give credit to Mom for this creamed canned peas recipe. Even though I don’t remember her making this for us as kids, it’s one that she’s picked up over the years. She made sure to share her recipe with me after I published my Old Fashioned Creamed Peas recipe that uses fresh peas.

Canned Peas Recipe

My approach to feeding my young kids is to have a meat or entrée, a fruit and a vegetable for every meal. You know how picky kids can be.

I know that some vegetables my kids will gobble up and some they won’t. I find expected these easy creamed peas with canned peas would fall on the second spectrum but much to my surprise, they ate them with enthusiasm. I’m going to see if they enjoy this Creamed Spinach just as much.

How to Make Easy Creamed Peas with Canned Peas

Step By Step Instructions

Heat undrained sweet peas in a saucepan on the stove top over medium heat.
In a second small saucepan, melt butter; add flour and whisk for 30 seconds.
To the butter and flour, add milk, stirring until thickened.
Add milk mixture to the peas and simmer until the desired consistency.
Season with salt and black pepper.

Storage Instructions

Let leftovers cool completely. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 5 days.

For the full recipe for Southern Creamed Peas, scroll to the bottom of this post.

Creamed Peas Using Canned Peas Ingredients

Undrained Canned Green Peas
Butter
Flour
Milk
Salt
Pepper

How do you make canned peas taste better?

Creaming canned peas results in a buttery flavor that kids and adults love. Also, be sure to season the canned peas properly with salt and pepper.

How do you thicken peas?

Thickening peas is easy. When using canned peas, do not drain away the liquid in the can; pour it all into a small saucepan and warm. Make a roux out of melted butter and flour. Heat it while stirring over low heat. Add milk and warm until a thick mixture forms. Add the thicken roux to the warmed peas and stir until the peas thicken and become creamy.

What can I add to creamed peas?

Try changing up basic creamed peas by making some additions including pearl onions, baby potatoes, diced carrots, corn, sautéed mushrooms, fried bacon pieces, dill or more.

Recipe FAQs

This is Mom’s version of creamed canned peas. While it uses canned peas, I also love my other version that uses frozen peas. You can find that recipe here.
Be sure to leave the peas undrained; you’ll need the juice for the recipe.
I use two small saucepans for this recipe, while my mom uses a skillet instead. You can use whatever is readily available.
This makes enough for 2-4 people, so double or triple up the recipe if needed.
Be sure to season with salt and black pepper.
Love peas? Try our Bacon Pea Salad, Old Fashioned Pea Salad, Crunchy Ranch Pea Salad and Creamy Dill Pea Salad.
Enjoy creamed vegetables? Try our Creamed Spinach and Crock Pot Cheesy Creamed Corn.
Check out our Amazon store for our favorite kitchen and pantry items.

What can I add to canned peas for flavor?

Butter
Garlic or garlic powder
Onions or onion powder (or pearl onions)
Fresh chives
Bacon
Cubed Ham
Hot Sauce or Siracha
Worcestershire Sauce

Are canned peas the same as frozen peas?

No, there are several differences between canned peas and frozen peas. First off, the canning process cooks the peas resulting in a softer texture. Frozen peas are flash frozen after a quick blanching process resulting in a firmer texture.

Canned peas also contain sodium, while frozen peas do not. Lastly, the color of the peas are very different with frozen having a bright green color and canned having a dull green color.

Our Favorite Pea Recipes

Love peas? You are in luck as we have lots of recipes featuring this vegetable, including several versions of pea salads. Try our Bacon Pea Salad, Old Fashioned Pea Salad, Crunchy Ranch Pea Salad and Creamy Dill Pea Salad. Our friend has a great layered pasta salad with peas recipe.

We haven’t stopped at pea salads. Check out our other recipes either featuring peas or have peas as an ingredient.

Old-Fashioned Creamed Peas

Creamed Peas with New Potatoes

Rice Pilaf with Peas

Old Fashioned Pea Salad

Mom’s Tuna Casserole Topped with Potato Chips (with Peas)

Easy Hamburger Vegetable Soup with V-8 Juice (with Mixed Vegetables)

Print Recipe

5 from 1 vote

Creamed Peas with Canned Peas

Creamed Peas using Canned Peas may not be fancy, but it's fast, economical, easy, and my kids love them. All it takes is a can of green peas, butter, flour, milk, salt and pepper.

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Cook Time5 minutes mins

Total Time10 minutes mins

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: creamed peas, Creamed Peas using Canned Peas, Creamed Peas with Canned Peas, Easy Creamed Peas

Servings: 4 people

Calories: 135kcal

Author: Barbara

Ingredients

15 ounces canned peas, do not drain
2 Tablespoons butter
2 Tablespoons flour
1/4 cup milk
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

Heat undrained peas in a small saucepan.
In a second small saucepan; melt butter. Add flour and whisk for 30 seconds.
Add milk to the butter mixture, stirring over medium heat until thickened.
Pour the mixture into the peas, and continue to cook until thickened to your desired consistency. Add salt and black pepper, and stir before serving.

Notes

This is Mom’s version of creamed peas. While it uses canned peas, I also love my other version that uses frozen peas. You can find that recipe here.
Be sure to leave the peas undrained; you’ll need the juice for the recipe.
I use two small saucepans for this recipe, while my mom uses a skillet instead. You can use whatever is readily available.
This makes enough for 2-4 people, so double or triple up the recipe if needed.
Be sure to season with salt and black pepper.
Love peas? Try our Bacon Pea Salad, Old Fashioned Pea Salad, Crunchy Ranch Pea Salad and Creamy Dill Pea Salad.
The nutritional information below is auto-calculated and can vary depending on the products used. It should not be use for specific dietary needs.

Nutrition

Creamed Peas with Canned Peas Recipe - These Old Cookbooks (2024)

FAQs

How to add flavor to canned peas? ›

Add basic seasonings to the peas. Salt and pepper work well, but oregano, garlic powder, chili powder or a variety of different popcorn seasons can help hide the taste of the peas as well.

Know More ›

What is a cream pea? ›

Field peas, crowder peas, cream peas (along with blackeye peas) are all part of a larger species of beans commonly called “cowpeas” or “Southern peas.” Despite their names, none of these varieties is actually a pea.

Know More ›

Why are my canned peas hard? ›

Excessive calcium levels in the soaking water may cause changes within the pea structure, resulting in excessive hardness of texture.

Show Me More ›

How do you enhance the flavor of canned beans? ›

I also like to add a peeled, smashed clove of garlic, or maybe a bay leaf or a few sprigs of thyme. After 10 to 15 minutes, the beans will be warm and fragrant, ready to be spooned over a piece of garlicky toast, or served alongside grilled sausages and sautéed greens.

Learn More Now ›

Why do you put baking soda in peas? ›

A teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda can be added to the peas whilst soaking or cooking (to speed up the softening process), but you can still achieve that perfect creamy texture with nothing but water - unless your water is especially hard.

Know More ›

Are lady peas and cream peas the same thing? ›

Lady Peas. Sweet and tender lady peas remain creamy white or light green even after they have been cooked. And unlike other field peas, lady peas (also called Lady Cream peas) produce a clear, not cloudy, potlikker. True to their name, lady peas are said to have a more delicate flavor.

Learn More Now ›

What are the different types of cream peas? ›

Cream peas are commonly known as Cowpeas, Conch peas, or Field peas, depending on where in the United States you live. Several varieties are referred to as “eyed” Many of the Cream pea varieties available today are hybrid crosses of heirloom varieties and have cultivar names such as 'Zipper' and 'Lady'.

Show Me More ›

How do you jazz up a can of peas? ›

To enhance the flavor of canned peas, you can add seasonings such as salt, pepper, garlic powder, or herbs like parsley or thyme. Adding a bit of butter or olive oil can also help improve the taste. Consider sautéing them with onions or bacon for extra flavor.

Should I rinse canned peas? ›

However, it is a good idea to rinse canned vegetables with water before eating them to remove any excess salt or other additives that may have been used during the canning process. Rinsing canned vegetables can also help to remove any debris that may be on the surface of the vegetables.

Tell Me More ›

What is the white stuff in the can of peas? ›

During the canning process, legumes from beans to chickpeas leach out some of their starch and proteins into the liquid, which is sometimes called aquafaba. If you do any vegan cooking, you'll know that aquafaba can be a replacement for egg whites, since it can be whipped into a stable foam for meringues and the like.

What is the white stuff in canned peas? ›

Yes, it is safe to eat cloudy canned peas

The murky appearance results from the pea's starches that leach into the canned liquid. According to Oregon State University, these starches will settle in the can over time.

Show Me More ›

How do you add flavor to canned vegetables? ›

Use seasonings

Seasonings like garlic powder, onion powder, dried basil, oregano, and chili powder can be used in different combinations to give your vegetables an extra kick of flavor without adding extra calories.

Discover More Details ›

How do you spice up black eyed peas from a can? ›

Canned black-eyed peas can be seasoned to enhance their flavor. Common seasonings include garlic, onion, salt, pepper, and herbs such as thyme or parsley. You can sauté these seasonings in a little oil before adding the peas, or simply mix them in while the peas are cooking.

Discover More Details ›

Do canned or frozen peas taste better? ›

After 24 hours, those sweet little green gems can be grainy and dull tasting. Frozen peas, on the other hand, are picked and frozen at the peak of ripeness, halting the process of sugars turning to starch. So, it's a better bet that frozen peas will have the sweet taste you're looking for.

View Details ›