Learn how to cook frozen peas with garlic, butter, salt, black pepper, and a small splash of water. This quick stovetop side dish is ready in about 10 minutes, and there is no need to thaw the peas first.
Frozen peas can be much more flavorful than plain boiled peas. Cooking them directly in butter with garlic gives every pea a rich, savory coating while keeping the texture tender.
This easy side dish works with almost any dinner. Serve it with chicken, steak, fish, shrimp, rice, potatoes, or a simple weeknight meal.These Garlic Buttered Peas are especially good with Garlic Butter Steak Bites for an easy dinner with rich garlic flavor and a simple green vegetable side.
Table of contents
- Why You’ll Love This Frozen Peas Recipe
- Ingredients for Garlic Butter Frozen Peas
- Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- How to Cook Frozen Peas
- Expert Tips for Perfect Garlic Buttered Peas
- Storage and Freezing
- Do You Need to Thaw Frozen Peas First?
- Variations
- Common Mistakes To Avoid
- What to Serve With Garlic Buttered Peas
- FAQs
- More Recipes You’ll Love
Why You’ll Love This Frozen Peas Recipe
- Ready in just 10 minutes.
- Uses simple freezer and pantry ingredients.
- No thawing needed.
- Made in one pot or skillet.
- Buttery, garlicky, and full of flavor.
- Easy to serve with almost any main dish.
Ingredients for Garlic Butter Frozen Peas
For the Peas
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter (50 g)
- 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
- 1 lb frozen peas (500 g)
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt or fine sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon water
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
Frozen peas are the best choice for this recipe because they cook quickly and stay bright green. Use regular frozen peas or petite peas. Cook them directly from frozen rather than thawing them first, since small frozen vegetables heat through quickly in a hot skillet and thawing can leave extra moisture. For more helpful tips, see this guide to cooking frozen vegetables without thawing.
Do not thaw the peas before cooking. Adding them straight from the freezer helps them stay plump instead of soft and watery.
Use fresh garlic for the best flavor. Finely mince it so it can quickly perfume the butter without leaving large pieces in the peas.
Unsalted butter gives you more control over the seasoning. Salted butter also works, but reduce the added salt slightly.
The tablespoon of water is important. It creates steam to warm the peas quickly, then evaporates as the peas finish cooking.For an easy seafood dinner, serve these peas with Garlic Butter Shrimp with White Wine. The buttery garlic flavors work especially well together.
How to Cook Frozen Peas
- Place a large skillet or wide saucepan over medium heat. Add the butter and let it melt.
- Add the minced garlic and stir for about 20 to 30 seconds, just until fragrant. Keep the heat at medium and add the peas promptly, because finely minced garlic can burn quickly and turn bitter. See this guide to cooking garlic without burning it for more helpful tips.
- Add the frozen peas, salt, black pepper, and water. Stir well so the peas are coated in the garlic butter.
- Cook over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes, stirring every minute or so. The peas should be hot and tender, and the water should mostly evaporate.
- Taste and adjust the salt or pepper as needed. Serve the garlic buttered peas warm.For a more filling dinner plate, serve the peas with these Crispy Parmesan Potatoes and your favorite chicken, steak, or fish.
Expert Tips for Perfect Garlic Buttered Peas
- Add the peas straight from the freezer.
- Use a wide pan so the water evaporates quickly.
- Keep the garlic moving in the butter so it does not burn.
- Cook the garlic only until fragrant and lightly golden.
- Do not add extra water, or the peas can become watery.
- Stir the peas occasionally instead of constantly.
- Serve right away for the best buttery texture.
- Use 1/4 teaspoon black pepper for a milder flavor.
Storage and Freezing
Store leftover garlic buttered peas in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days for the best texture. Refrigerate leftovers promptly, keep them at 40°F (4°C) or below, and use cooked leftovers within 3 to 4 days. For more storage guidance, see FoodSafety.gov’s leftovers safety tips.
Reheat them in a skillet over medium-low heat with a teaspoon of water. Stir until hot.
You can freeze the cooked peas for up to 2 months, although they may become softer after thawing. For food safety, cooked leftovers are generally best used within 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator and reheated thoroughly.
Do You Need to Thaw Frozen Peas First?
No. You do not need to thaw frozen peas before cooking them. Add them straight from the freezer to the skillet with butter, garlic, salt, pepper, and a small splash of water. The water creates steam, the peas heat through quickly, and the butter coats them as the liquid evaporates.
Variations
Lemon Garlic Peas
Add 1 teaspoon lemon zest and 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice just before serving.
Parmesan Garlic Peas
Stir through 1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese after removing the pan from the heat.
Minted Buttered Peas
Add 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh mint at the end for a fresh flavor.
Spicy Garlic Peas
Add a pinch of red pepper flakes with the garlic.
Creamy Garlic Peas
Stir in 2 tablespoons heavy cream or cream cheese after the peas are fully cooked.
Garlic Buttered Peas
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Heat a large skillet or wide saucepan over medium heat. Add the butter and let it melt.
- Add the minced garlic and cook for 20 to 30 seconds, stirring constantly until fragrant.
- Add the frozen peas, salt, black pepper, and water.
- Stir well, then cook over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes.
- Stir occasionally until the peas are tender, hot, and coated in garlic butter.
- Taste, adjust seasoning if needed, and serve warm.
Nutrition
Video
Notes
- Use frozen peas directly from the freezer.
- Do not overcook the peas or they can become soft.
- Keep the garlic lightly golden, not dark brown.
- Petite peas work especially well in this recipe.
- Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Nutrition values are estimated per serving and may vary by ingredient brand.
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Thawing the frozen peas before cooking, which can make them soft and watery.
- Cooking the peas for too long, causing them to lose their bright green color.
- Adding the garlic too early and letting it burn.
- Using too much water, which can dilute the buttery garlic flavor.
- Skipping the seasoning, especially black pepper and salt.
- Leaving the peas in the hot pan after cooking, which can make them mushy.
What to Serve With Garlic Buttered Peas
Garlic buttered peas are easy to serve with simple family dinners. They pair especially well with chicken, salmon, steak, shrimp, pork chops, rice, or roasted potatoes. For a special dinner, serve them beside this Sun-Dried Tomato Stuffed Chicken Breast with mozzarella, spinach, and rich sun-dried tomatoes.
Serve them alongside [Baby Potatoes with Butter and Fresh Herbs] for a simple vegetable-and-potato side dish combination.
They also work well with [Sautéed Green Beans with Garlic] for a colorful vegetable platter.
FAQs
No. Add frozen peas directly to the pan. They cook quickly with the butter, garlic, and water, and this helps them stay bright green instead of soft and watery.
Yes. Fresh shelled peas work well, but they may need a few extra minutes to become tender.
Canned peas are already soft, so they can become mushy in this recipe. Frozen peas give the best texture.
The small amount of water creates steam that helps the frozen peas heat through quickly. It should evaporate before serving.
Yes. Use 2 to 3 tablespoons olive oil for a dairy-free version.
Yes. Use a large skillet or cook the peas in two batches so the water can evaporate properly.
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Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
