Quick and Easy Sautéed Lemon Green Peas
Last Updated on October 4, 2022 by Betty Davies
With flavors of lemon and garlic, frozen green peas have never tasted so good! Perfectly sweet and fresh tasting, these lemon green peas are quick and easy to make for a simple and delicious vegetable side dish. Quickly sautéed in butter, lemon juice and garlic, they are a great go to for any day of the week.
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Frozen peas are a staple in most people’s freezers. They are a quick and easy way to get some healthy veggies on your plate, and they taste pretty good too!
This green pea recipe is a simple way to add some extra flavor to your frozen peas. Sautéed in butter, garlic and lemon juice and zest, they come together in a matter of minutes with a few basic ingredients.
Cooking the green peas in a skillet rather than boiling them, helps them to stay nice and plump and sweet, and the lemon and garlic add a fresh flavor.
If you are looking for a quick and easy way to jazz up your vegetable side dishes, this recipe is a winner!
Be sure to try my Pea Mint and Feta Salad too!
Why you will love this recipe!
- Basic ingredients: This is a budget friendly side dish with a few ingredients. You’ll likely have everything to hand already.
- Quick: It takes no more than 5 minutes to make this recipe. It’s a great go to after a busy day.
- Dietary info: These lemony green peas are gluten-free and vegetarian.
Ingredients
- Peas: This recipe makes the most of frozen green peas.
- Oil: Add a little oil to the skillet so that the butter doesn’t burn during cooking.
- Butter: Salted butter adds a nice rich texture.
- Lemon: This recipe uses both lemon juice and lemon zest. Use freshly squeezed lemon juice for the best flavor.
- Garlic: Adding garlic to a recipe is a must in my book! You can either mince the garlic and stir into the frozen peas, or, crush it and remove before serving.
- Black Pepper: A pinch of black pepper is all you need to season these lemony green peas. If you would like to add salt, I suggest that you wait til you serve them on the plate as the salt can dehydrate them during cooking.
- Optional cheese: Cheese is never a bad idea! I served these peas with some crumbled feta, parmesan would be another great option!
How to make lemon green peas
Be sure to scroll down for the full recipe!
- Add the frozen peas, butter, lemon zest and juice and black pepper to a skillet (photo 1).
- Cook ti warmed through, drain and serve with added cheese if using (photo 2).
Recipe Variations
You can easily make these lemon green peas a vegan and dairy-free recipe by skipping the butter and not adding and cheese to serve. The butter does add a nice richness, but they’ll still taste great when just cooked in oil.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, this recipe works great with fresh as well as frozen peas. Green peas are in peak season from November through til February, so the rest of the year, frozen peas are best to use, plus they need minimal prep. Peas are frozen at their peak, so contain all, if not more, vitamins and minerals you’d get from fresh.
Canned green peas contain less nutrients than frozen and fresh, and I find the flavor to be not as bright. In a pinch, you can make this recipe with drained canned peas, but for best results use frozen or fresh.
Sautéing peas is so quick, it won’t take more than 5 minutes to make this whole recipe from scratch. The peas should be warmed through, not scorching. Take care not to overcook them or they can loose their sweet flavor.
Serving Suggestions
I love to serve these garlic lemon green peas with fish dishes for an easy weeknight dinner, but they work great with chicken, pies and steaks too. Try them with:
Storage and Reheating
This side dish is best served straight away, but leftovers will keep well in the fridge for 3 days. They can be reheated quickly in a skillet to serve.
Recipe Notes and Tips
- You do not need to defrost the peas before cooking them.
- For a stronger garlic flavor, mince the garlic and add to the skillet. For a milder taste, crush the garlic clove and remove before serving.
- Don’t add salt during cooking as this can dehydrate the peas. Add when serving if desired.
These garlic lemon green peas are so quick and easy to make, they are perfect for so many meals! This recipe is a great way to liven up those frozen peas you have in the back of your freezer!
More Easy Vegetable Side Dishes
- Air Fryer Roasted Tomatoes
- Broccoli Cauliflower Rice
- Creamy Tarragon Mushrooms
- Garlic Parmesan Sweet Potato Stacks
If you’ve tried this recipe, be sure to leave a star rating and a comment below!
Garlic Lemon Green Peas
Ingredients
- 2 cups frozen green peas
- 1 teaspoon oil
- 2 tablespoons salted butter
- 1 garlic clove (minced or crushed – see notes below)
- juice of 2 lemons
- zest of ½ lemon
- pinch black pepper
- Optional: Crumbled feta or parmesan to serve
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to a skillet, except the cheese if using.
- Heat on the stovetop on a medium high heat, stirring occasionally.
- Once the peas are warmed through, drain them from the liquid and serve.
- Top with cheese if using.
Notes
- You do not need to defrost the peas before cooking them.
- For a stronger garlic flavor, mince the garlic and add to the skillet. For a milder taste, crush the garlic clove and remove before serving.
- Don’t add salt during cooking as this can dehydrate the peas. Add when serving if desired.
