Company Peas: Creamy Pea and Mushroom Casserole

This creamy side dish transforms ordinary frozen peas into something extraordinary with mushrooms, bean sprouts, and a rich sauce. Company Peas brings garden-fresh flavor to your dinner table in just 35 minutes—perfect for those evenings when you need something special without spending hours in the kitchen. The humble pea often gets overlooked, but this vintage recipe elevates it with varied textures and savory elements that complement almost any main course. Whether paired with tender beef, roasted chicken, or even a hearty nut roast, this veggie medley adds comforting elegance to weeknight meals and special gatherings alike.

Reasons This Recipe Shines

• Creates a vegetable side dish that even picky eaters request again
• Transforms simple ingredients into a dish worthy of company
• Offers the perfect balance of creamy sauce with satisfying crunch

I first served these peas at a holiday gathering when I needed something green that wouldn’t require constant attention. My aunt immediately asked for the recipe, and now it appears at nearly every family dinner—the ultimate seal of approval for any dish.

Essential Ingredients

• Butter provides richness and helps brown the mushrooms beautifully
• Frozen peas work better than canned as they maintain their shape and bright color
• Bean sprouts add unexpected crispness and lightness
• Fresh mushrooms create earthy depth that canned varieties cannot match
• Cream of mushroom soup delivers instant creamy sauce without fussing with roux
• Slivered almonds bring crucial toasty crunch that elevates the entire dish
• Salt and pepper balance and enhance all the flavors

I personally find the combination of tender peas with crunchy almonds irresistible. The contrast keeps each bite interesting, while the creamy sauce brings everything together harmoniously.

Creating Perfect Company Peas

Getting Started requires preheating your oven to 350°F and preparing a 2-quart casserole dish with a light coating of butter or cooking spray.

Sautéing Vegetables involves melting butter in a large skillet over medium heat before adding mushrooms and bean sprouts, then cooking until the mushrooms develop a beautiful golden brown color, approximately 10 minutes.

Combining Ingredients comes next by mixing your cooked peas with cream of mushroom soup in a large bowl, then gently folding in the sautéed mushrooms and bean sprouts until everything is evenly coated.

Seasoning Properly means adding salt and pepper to taste, remembering that the soup already contains some sodium, so taste before adding too much salt.

Baking Time means transferring your mixture to the prepared casserole dish and placing it uncovered in the preheated oven for 20 minutes until bubbling around the edges.

Finishing Touch involves sprinkling the toasted slivered almonds over the hot casserole just before bringing it to the table, preserving their delightful crunch.

You Must Know

• Regular consumption of green peas provides significant amounts of vitamin K, manganese, and dietary fiber
• The combination of peas and mushrooms creates a complete protein profile similar to meat
• Toasting nuts before adding them to recipes intensifies their flavor and improves texture

My grandmother always insisted on using sweet spring peas in this recipe. When I was growing up, she would serve this dish for Sunday dinners, claiming the mushrooms were what converted my grandfather from a vegetable skeptic to someone who gladly took seconds of anything green.

Perfect Pairings

This versatile side complements numerous main courses without overwhelming them. Roasted chicken benefits from the creamy sauce that can mix with pan juices. Grilled steak provides a hearty contrast to the tender vegetables. Holiday ham finds its perfect partner in these savory peas that balance the meat’s sweetness. Consider serving alongside buttered rice for a complete meal that satisfies without requiring extensive preparation.

Customization Options

The recipe welcomes thoughtful adaptations to suit different tastes and dietary needs. Vegetarians might appreciate adding water chestnuts for extra crunch and nutritional value. Those seeking protein could incorporate crispy bacon bits throughout the mixture before baking. Health-conscious cooks can substitute Greek yogurt for some of the cream soup to reduce calories while maintaining creaminess. Herb lovers might enjoy fresh dill or thyme stirred in just before baking for aromatic complexity.

Keeping Leftovers Fresh

Refrigeration works wonderfully for storing any remaining Company Peas in airtight containers for up to three days without significant texture loss. Consider repurposing leftovers by folding them into scrambled eggs for a savory breakfast option. Cold portions can transform into a refreshing lunch when mixed with cooked pasta and a splash of vinaigrette. Reheating requires gentle warming in the microwave rather than stovetop methods that might overcook the vegetables and compromise their texture.

Professional Kitchen Wisdom

• Always thoroughly drain frozen peas before incorporating them into the casserole to prevent watery results
• Toast almonds in a dry skillet until fragrant rather than the oven where they can burn quickly
• Let the casserole rest five minutes after baking to allow the sauce to thicken slightly before serving

Company Peas transformed my relationship with vegetables long before trendy preparations became popular. The beauty lies in its simplicity—familiar ingredients coming together to create something greater than the sum of its parts. Whether serving this at holiday gatherings or alongside a simple weeknight chicken breast, the dish consistently delivers comfort and nourishment with minimal effort.