Sugar Snap Peas (Microwave, 2 Ingredients)
Sugar snap peas might be the easiest side dish in my rotation, especially if you buy them stringless. Microwave, season, and serve – all in one dish. I love their vibrant color on the plate, and they go with pretty much any protein.
Five minutes to string them (or zero if done for you) and 1-3 minutes to microwave.
What to expect
This easy side dish recipe uses the microwave, which essentially steams the peas, making them bright green and tender-crisp. Cook them a little less for more crunch, a little longer if you prefer them softer.
Below, we cover how to string them, season them, and serve them..
Ingredients – tailored to your taste
- Sugar snap peas: You can buy them loose or packaged. If the package is clearly labeled “stringless” you can skip stringing them yourself (very convenient!). Note that garden peas (green peas) are not the same thing – you can’t eat their pods as you can with snap peas.
- Simple seasoning: butter, salt and pepper (see variations)
Substitutions
- Swap the butter with a little olive oil or sesame oil.
Variations
- Seasoning combos:
- lemon juice or zest, olive oil and kosher salt
- a teaspoon or two of chili crisp for a nice kick
- chopped fresh mint, dill, or basil with a little butter or oil
- sesame oil, a touch of honey and a garnish of sesame seeds
- garlic powder, salt, and butter (or oil)
- Serving ideas
- Add microwaved snap peas to pasta, quinoa, or rice (chop them first if you like)
- Build them into a grain or noodle bowl
- Toss them into a salad like our mandarin orange salad
Step-by-step instructions
Microwave timing tips
Microwave time for snap peas depends on your microwave wattage, how plump your peas are, and how tender you like them – so you will have to find your own sweet spot.
Start with less time and add more time as needed. Keep in mind, the peas continue to cook a little after the microwave beeps. I usually cook them for 1 minute!
Shortcut
- Buy a package of fresh sugar snap peas labeled ‘stringless’. Many now come in microwavable bags – you can cook them right in the bag or transfer them to a dish.
- Beware: Some packages are labeled ‘trimmed’ – the stem is trimmed, but they still have the fibrous string attached – check before you cook. And check the expiry date.
What to serve with sugar snap peas
Snap peas can be served with almost any protein. Here are a few of our favorites:
Recipe FAQs
Choose medium-sized, bright green snap peas, about 2-3 inches (5-7 cm) that are slightly bumpy (you want them to have full round peas inside). Avoid blemished, wrinkled, yellowing, flat, or overgrown peas. Don’t mistake them for green peas (garden peas) that have an inedible thick fibrous pod.
Leftover snap peas are great in stir-fries, salad, and pastas.
A generous serving of snap peas is 1 cup (100 grams). If you’re serving several other sides, 1/2 cup (50 grams) may be enough.
Yes. Sugar snap peas are plump, with full-sized peas inside a thick, edible pod. Snow peas are flatter, with barely-formed peas and a thinner pod. Sugar snap peas are also sweeter and crunchier.
Absolutely! Serve the fully edible pods with a vegetable dip, for snacking, or chop them into a salad. String them first.
Yes. For sautéed sugar snap peas, cook in a hot skillet with a little oil or butter for 2–4 minutes, tossing often, until bright green and crisp-tender. To roast, toss with oil and seasonings and roast on a lined baking sheet at 400–425F (200–220C) for 10–12 minutes, until slightly blistered. Both give a more caramelized flavor than microwaving, though the microwave is faster with no pan/skillet needed.
More easy side dish recipes
- Healthy Creamed Spinach – 15 min
- Microwave Green Beans – fast and easy
- Easy Fried Potatoes and Onions – 20 min
- KFC Coleslaw Recipe – easy copycat, no buttermilk
- Korean Cucumber Salad – 5 min, authentic or with swaps
- Easy Asian Coleslaw Recipe – 5 Min, spicy & crunchy
Or check out our full collection of side dishes for more ideas.
If you make this recipe, let us know how it went! A rating & comment below mean a lot to us.
Sugar Snap Peas (Microwave)
Equipment
- microwave
Ingredients
- 2 cups sugar snap peas, stems and strings removed, Note 1
- 2 teaspoons butter
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅙ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- MICROWAVE SUGAR SNAP PEAS: °For untrimmed snap peas – Trim tips and remove fibrous strings. Rinse well in a colander or sieve. Place in a microwave-safe bowl or serving dish. °For stringless pre-washed snap peas in a package – Place in a microwave-safe bowl or serving dish and add 1 tablespoon water.Cover dish with a plate or vented microwave cover. Microwave to your preferred texture. Start with less time and add more as needed. Crunchy: 1 minute. Tender crisp: 2 minutes. Soft: 3 minutes. For larger snap peas, add 30-60 seconds if needed.
- DRAIN, SEASON, SERVE: Drain any excess liquid in dish, add butter, salt and pepper to taste. Stir and serve. See Note 3 for seasoning variations.
Recipe Notes
- How to trim and string sugar snap peas:
- Snap off the stem end of the pod, but don’t pull it all the way off – pull it down along the flat seam instead, and it should take the fibrous string with it. You can use your fingers, a sharp knife or spoon edge. Repeat on the other end if needed, since some pods have a string on both sides (the 2nd side is less fibrous and is usually fine to eat when cooked).
- Here’s a video on how to trim and remove strings from snap peas.
- Shortcut – buy fresh sugar snap peas labeled “stringless”
- Many now come in 8 oz (2 1/4 cups) microwavable bags you can cook right in the bag or transfer to a dish.
- Beware: “trimmed” isn’t the same as “stringless” – the stem is trimmed, but the fibrous string may still be attached.
- Seasoning variations
- lemon zest or juice, olive oil and kosher salt
- a teaspoon or two of chili crisp for a nice kick
- chopped fresh mint, dill, or basil with a little butter or oil
- sesame oil, a touch of honey and a garnish of sesame seeds
- garlic powder, salt, and butter (or oil)
- Serving ideas
- Add microwaved snap peas to pasta, quinoa, or rice (chop them first if you like)
- Build them into a grain or noodle bowl
- Toss them into a salad like our mandarin orange salad
- Make ahead:
- Sugar snap peas are best fresh (they only take a few minutes to prepare).
- Store leftovers for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
- To blanch and serve cold or at room temperature: Microwave for 1 minutes, then plunge into ice water to stop the cooking. Drain and store in the fridge for up to 3 days – toss cold into salads, or serve at room temperature with a drizzle of oil and a pinch of salt.