This easy garlic snap peas recipe is healthy, delicious and ready in just 8 minutes!

Everyone should have a few go-to quick & dirty side dishes that can go with just about any meal. This easy garlic snap peas recipe is one of those dishes for me.
Snap peas are, without a doubt, one of my favorite vegetables. Sweet with a terrific crunch and flavor, they're delicious raw or lightly cooked and are one of the few vegetables that both of my girls will eat. Add a little garlic and I'm in heaven!
(That last sentence about the garlic was cheating a bit since I could say that about pretty much any dish ๐
This easy garlic snap peas recipe gets made at my house at least once a week.
The other night when I made my Crispy Asian Drumsticks I started to panic, realizing I hadn't planned ahead and didn't have anything to go with them. (Don't miss making that recipe, either; it's easy and SO good!)
Then I spied a tiny package of snap peas in the back of the fridge that I'd bought to send with the girl's lunches. It was small - only about a cup and a half total in the package - but since I usually add about one large garlic clove for every cup of snap peas it was easy to figure out the amounts.

How to cook snap peas
Snap peas are most commonly eaten raw, but you can cook them, too. I usually just sautรฉ them as I do in this recipe. You can also blanch them in boiling water for a few minutes, just until they're crisp-tender. Sometimes I'll toss them with a little olive oil and parmesan, then roast them at 400ยฐF for about 15 minutes.
This recipe is so simple: a garlic clove for every cup of snap peas. The only other ingredients you'll need are oil, salt & pepper which makes this a perfect stand-by side dish! It has to be the easiest snap peas recipe I've ever made.
Although I also love this Sugar Snap Pea Salad, too. Just a few more ingredients and really good!
I use a carbon-steel wok for my Asian stir-fries and other dishes. A heavy skillet will work fine but do consider investing in a wok - they're so fun to cook with and make easy work of one-dish meals.
I'll be posting my easy fried rice recipe later this week which I make all the time with leftover rice; it just wouldn't be the same without my beloved wok!
Easy Garlic Snap Peas
You can increase or decrease the size of this recipe by remembering you'll need one garlic clove for every cup of sugar snap peas.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
- 3 cups sugar snap peas
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- coarse salt & freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Heat a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat. Add oil and swirl around the pan. When the oil is shimmering, add the sugar snap peas. Stir frequently for 3-4 minutes or until peas are starting to soften but are still crisp-tender. Add the garlic and stir constantly for one minute. Season well with salt & pepper and serve.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 115Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 79mgCarbohydrates: 9gNet Carbohydrates: 6gFiber: 3gSugar: 5gProtein: 4g
This data was provided and calculated by Nutritionix.
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Bev says
Just to make it a little easier, I used Dorot frozen garlic. It was a fabulous side dish when paired with lamb chops and baked sweet potatoes.
Debbie green says
Recipe so easy and so good. Garlic snap peas are my chocolate!
Deborah Green says
Love garlic snap peas when out to dinner, so when I found out how incredibly easy they were to make (from you) I make them at least once a week. Deb
Kelly says
I made these today and they are very yummy. I also added a dash of hot sesame oil to some to kick up the heat a bit!
Kristy Bernardo says
YUM! Love the idea of adding sesame oil!
Ray m says
Good stuff!
Kristy Bernardo says
Thanks, Ray!
Richa says
I'm going to go buy some Snap Peas just for this recipe Kristy. The pictures are amazing!
Kristy Bernardo says
Thank you, Richa!!
Kirsten says
Kristy,
If I ever plant enough snap pea vines to make the harvest last longer than the time it takes me to walk into the house from the backyard, I am so making this. Quick & dirty side dishes are my thing!
Kristy Bernardo says
Mine too, Kirsten! Easy and tasty is my fave!
Liz says
Snap peas are my FAV! I love how easy and fresh this is!
Kristy Bernardo says
Thanks so much, Liz!
Brenda T. says
Snap peas are my favorite to begin with and now you can add a little garlic to it? That is even better! Thanks for the great recipe!
Kristy Bernardo says
My pleasure, Brenda!
Cate says
Looks simple, fresh and wonderfully tasty!
Kristy Bernardo says
You nailed it, Cate!
Rachel says
I loved these, we will be having them again this week! We're also going to try a few of your other recipes as well.
the wicked noodle says
I'm so glad, Rachel! Thanks so much for letting me know. This is one of my favorites, so easy, healthy & yummy. Garlic is good ๐ Can't wait to hear what you think of my other recipes!
Emily says
So simple so good. Just made these, so happy.
the wicked noodle says
yay!! Thanks for letting me know, Emily ๐
@KaliAmanda says
BrownBag: Garlic snap peas. http://t.co/CYHggMDm1j #KaliFoodGoddess
Renee@ Two in the Kitchen says
I always have snap peas in my fridge because I often eat them raw as a snack. I love this idea of cooking them up as a side with garlic! Maybe even my picky kids would eat them! Hmmmmmm....:)
the wicked noodle says
You & me both, Renee!!