Frozen peas and carrots on the stove or microwaving make an easy side dish. NO boiling, instead just use butter for the best result! Once you know how to cook frozen vegetables right you can have them year round with dinner.
Cooking frozen peas and carrots perfectly was the goal with this one. To show you all the ways you can take them straight out of the freezer and to tender as a healthy vegetable side dish. Great way to serve them year round, and super cheap too. (affiliate links present)
Frozen Peas and Carrots
Boiling is a simple way to cook them, but you will lose nutrients in the process. Bring a pot of water to a boil, add the frozen vegetables, and cook for a few minutes until tender.
Air frying frozen vegetables is a quick way that will get the insides tender with a bit of crisp too.
Sautรฉing buttered peas and frozen carrots is quick and easy in a little oil or butter. Heat a skillet or frying pan, add the frozen vegetables, and cook until they are heated through in less than 15 minutes to serve warm.
Roasting frozen vegetables in oven brings out their natural sweetness and enhances their flavors. Tossed with olive oil, salt, and your favorite herbs or spices, spread them on a baking sheet, and roast at a high temperature until they are tender and slightly caramelized.
How to Cook Birds Eye Frozen Vegetables
Now there are several popular brands out there, this and Green Giant are the most popular. Nowadays most places have their own store brand as well which typically is a fraction of the price and literally no difference.
Do you have to defrost frozen vegetables before cooking with them?
No, most of the time if you are adding them into a pot pie, casserole or stir fry you can pour them in right out of the bag. It is actually better cooked from frozen as they take a bit longer to cook that way so the texture is better and doesnโt break down to mush.
Now we have cooked from fresh, meaning peeled and sliced carrots in the microwave as well. I will say that during the summer months I will definitely opt for fresh if I can find it and they look good.
How to Cook Frozen Peas and Carrots in Microwave
- Select a microwave safe dish that is large enough to hold the amount of sliced frozen vegetables you want to cook. A bowl or plate with a cover or plastic wrap will work well.
- Take the desired amount from the package.
- Transfer them into the microwave-safe dish, spreading out evenly.
- Use microwave-safe plastic wrap or a lid to cover the dish partially to retain steam and moisture
- Microwave on high power for about 4-6 minutes. The cooking time may vary depending on your wattage and the quantity of vegetables you are cooking.
- Check after 3-4 minutes and stir them gently to ensure even cooking.
- After the initial cooking time, check for doneness, adjust in 1-minute increments.
- Season with a pinch of salt, pepper, or any other preferred seasonings.
Similar to cooking corn on the cob in the microwave, this is a game changer when you donโt want to heat up your house on hot days. You are going to need a dish that is okay to use in this machine This is a very speedy way to add some colorful veggies to your plate.
on the Stove
- In a pan melt butter over medium high heat.
- Add the frozen peas, carrots and a touch of water or liquid of your choice.
- Saute over low heat until tender stirring occasionally
- Stir in remaining butter, garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes to season as you would like
- Serve immediately for best texture results.
You would do the same thing with fresh peas really. Eliminating the water and just cooking in butter gives them so much more flavor and they donโt shrivel up like they do when boiled. Easy side dish your whole family will love. Still have picky eaters? Add a bit of brown sugar into the mix like our glazed carrots at the beginning.
Seasoning this peas and carrots recipe is subjective, use what you love and have on hand. Here are some simple and tasty ways to season peas and carrots:
How to Season
- The classic combination of salt and pepper is a straightforward and effective way to season
- Toss them in some fat with some dried thyme leaves and garlic salt to coat them evenly.
- Toss them with chopped fresh herbs like parsley, thyme, or dill for a burst of flavor.
- Grate some dried lemon zest over them to brighten up their taste and add a citrusy note.
- Sprinkle grated or shredded Parmesan cheese over to add a savory and cheesy element.
- A drizzle of balsamic glaze or reduction adds sweetness and tanginess creating a unique flavor profile.
- For a touch of sweetness, drizzle a little honey or maple syrup over the top
- If you enjoy some heat, add a pinch of chili flakes
Feel free to experiment and find the combination that suits your taste buds best. These can turn a simple side dish of cooked peas and carrots into a flavorful and satisfying accompaniment to any meal.
Frozen Peas and Carrots
Equipment
- 1 cast iron skillet or large pan
Ingredients
- 1 bag frozen peas, 12 oz
- 1 bag frozen carrots, 12 oz
- 3 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp water, or vegetable broth
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes, optional
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- In a large skillet, begin to melt 1 Tbsp of butter over medium heat. Add the frozen peas, carrots and 2 Tbsp of water. Continue to saute over medium low heat until the vegetables are tender (stirring often). This will take 4-5 minutes.
- Stir in remaining 2 Tbsp of butter, garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes and a dash of salt & pepper about 1 minute before you're ready to serve.
- Once tender to your liking serve immediately for best texture results.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
What recipes can you put frozen peas and carrots in?
- Stir-frying is a popular cooking method for these and often times included in Asian cuisine.
- Adding to Soups and Stews can be added directly to soups and stews during the cooking process.
- Incorporating into Casseroles before baking them is a game changer. They will cook perfectly while adding color and texture to the dish. We do this with our chicken pot pie casserole and others.
