This delicious Quick Sautéed Sugar Snap Peas Recipe is perfect for preparing fresh from-the-garden sugar snap peas. It is really easy to make and only uses a few simple ingredients. This is a quick and easy side dish to add to any meal.

Sauteed sugar snap peas in a bowl with sugar snap peas on the counter around the bowl.

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Snow Peas vs. Sugar Snap Peas

If you aren’t sure what a sugar snap pea is, it’s a legume with rounded pods that is sweet and crunchy. They are technically a hybrid of snow peas and garden peas. They are plentiful in the summer and can generally be found at your local farmers’ markets.

According to the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, “The pods of snow peas are flatter with small, premature peas, whereas sugar snap peas are more rounded. Both have an identical nutritional profile and very similar flavors although sugar snap peas tend to be sweeter and more flavorful.”

According to the same source, snow peas and sugar snap peas provide many nutrients such as vitamin C, vitamin K, and folate. They are also high in fiber.

A wooden bowl filled with fresh from the garden sugar snap peas.

Both vegetables can be eaten raw or cooked, and are typically used in stir-fries. In our house, we prefer to sauté our sugar snap peas with butter, salt, and pepper.

Why You will Love This Quick Sautéed Sugar Snap Peas Recipe

If you love garden-fresh vegetables, you will absolutely love this Quick Sautéed Sugar Snap Peas Recipe. They are a perfect quick side dish to serve with any meal or as a stand-alone dish.

The Flavor: The butter gives this side-dish a great flavor.
Simple Ingredients: This dish uses only 4 ingredients.

Quick and Easy: This recipe takes less than 10 minutes from start to finish, making it perfect for busy weeknights.
Healthy: This dish is full of nutrients and natural flavors.
Versatile: It pairs well with a variety of main dishes or can be enjoyed on its own as a light snack.

This easy recipe makes a healthy side dish to serve on a busy weeknight. Sugar snap peas pair well with any entrée and incorporate beautifully with Italian recipes, Korean recipes, and Japanese recipes.

A wooden bowl of sugar snap peas, butter, salt, and pepper sitting on a counter.

Equipment needed

Ingredients

1 pound of fresh sugar snap peas
4 Tablespoons of butter
Salt and pepper to taste
Lemon juice and/or lemon zest (optional)

Instructions

Sugar snap peas on a counter with the strings pulled out of them.

Prepare the Peas: Start by washing the sugar snap peas thoroughly. Break off the tips and remove the tough strings along the seams.
Heat the Steamer: Steam the sugar snap peas in a steamer basket for 6-7 minutes over medium high heat. Depending on the level of crunchiness you prefer, will depend on how long you steam your peas. The longer they steam, the less crunchy they will become. The peas should turn bright green and be slightly tender but still crisp. Note: I steamed mine for 7 minutes because we prefer our sugar snap peas soft instead of crunchy.
Heat the Pan: Place a large skillet over medium heat. Add the butter and allow it to heat up until it’s just starting to melt.
Sauté the Sugar Snap Peas: Add the sugar snap peas and lemon juice or zest (if using) to the hot pan. Sauté them for about 3-5 minutes over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Cook for less time if you want them crisp.
Season: Sprinkle with salt and black pepper to taste.
Serve: Transfer the sautéed sugar snap peas to a serving dish and enjoy them immediately. They make a perfect side dish for grilled meats, fish, or as a standalone snack.

Washing sugar snap peas on a colander in the sink.

Steaming sugar snap peas in a steam pot.

Sautéing steamed sugar snap peas in the melted butter.

Tips for the Best Sautéed Sugar Snap peas

The amount of time you steam the sugar snap peas and sauté them depends on the level of crunch you want. As I noted above, we prefer our sugar snap peas to be very tender. We do not like the “crunch.” Therefore, I steam mine for the full 7 minutes and sauté them until they are very soft. They are traditionally served crunchy and are bright green.
Experiment with Flavors: Feel free to experiment with different seasonings and add-ins. A splash of soy sauce can give the peas an Asian-inspired twist or a sprinkle of red pepper flakes can give them some heat.
Serve Immediately: Sugar snap peas are best enjoyed fresh out of the pan.

Final dish of sauteed sugar snap peas in a white bowl on the counter.

Substitutions

The butter can be easily swapped for olive oil or you can use a mixture of both. If you want Asian sugar snap peas, you can sauté in sesame oil and toss in some fresh ginger, minced garlic, and sesame seeds.

Sea salt or Kosher salt will work for this snap pea recipe. Just make sure you use less Kosher salt, as it takes less compared to sea salt.

NOTE: Lemon juice can be used to add flavor and help preserve the brightness of your vegetables. However, it also adds an acidic/tangy touch that we don’t care for, so we leave it out.