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Garlic butter sugar snap peas in a white serving bowl.

Garlic Butter Sugar Snap Peas Recipe

Kristen Stevens
By: Kristen Stevens
Updated: 12/12/2025
5 stars (23 ratings)
2 Comments
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This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

This garlic butter sugar snap peas recipe is a simple, 5-minute side dish that pairs well with nearly every main course. You’ll love it!

Garlic butter sugar snap peas in a white serving bowl.

Sometimes I just need a super quick side dish to round out dinner, and that’s where these sugar snap peas come to the rescue. They cook in just 5 minutes, which means I can add something fresh and green to the table even on the busiest nights.

The peas stay beautifully crisp-tender — never mushy — and the garlic butter coating makes them irresistible. It’s the simplest little recipe, but it always delivers way more flavor than you’d expect for something this fast.

Sauté them in a pan on the stovetop until they are crisp-tender and coated in the perfect amount of garlic butter. Be sure to save this recipe; it’s one you’ll want to make again!

Garlic butter sugar snap peas in a pan.
Sugar snap peas getting cooked in a pan with garlic butter.

How to remove the string from sugar snap peas

Removing the strings is the only slightly tedious part of prepping sugar snap peas, but it makes a big difference. Each pea has two strings, and the one on the inside (the concave side) is usually the thicker, tougher one.

It’s best to pull the strings off before cooking since they’re fibrous and not pleasant to eat. To do this, hold a snap pea in your hand and use a paring knife to cut just into the tip at one end. Gently pull the knife toward you — the string will lift and peel right off. Repeat with the other side.

If the string on the convex (outer) side snaps off partway, no need to worry. That simply means it’s thin and tender enough that it won’t be noticeable once cooked.

removing the streeng from a snap pea

What goes well with sauteed sugar snap peas

Deciding what to serve with this sugar snap peas recipe is easy as they go well with nearly everything. Here are a few of our favorite mains to complete the meal:

  • Juicy Baked Pork Chops
  • Sweet Chili Paneer
  • Juicy Baked Chicken Thighs
  • BBQ Baked Chicken Breast
  • Ginger Garlic Chicken
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5 stars (23 ratings)
Garlic butter sugar snap peas in a white serving bowl.

Garlic Butter Sugar Snap Peas Recipe

Prep: 5 minutes mins
Cook: 5 minutes mins
Total: 10 minutes mins
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Garlic butter sugar snap peas is a super simple, 5-minute side dish that goes well with nearly every main course dinner. You'll love it! 
4

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 2 cloves garlic (finely minced)
  • 1 lb sugar snap peas (trimmed)
  • ¼ teaspoon EACH: salt and pepper

Instructions 

  • Melt the butter in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. 
    1 tablespoon butter
  • Add the snap peas, garlic, salt, and pepper. Let the snap peas cook for 5 minutes, stirring a few times. 
    2 cloves garlic, 1 lb sugar snap peas, ¼ teaspoon EACH: salt and pepper

Nutrition

Serving: 1 serving = ¼ of the recipe, Calories: 75kcal (4%), Carbohydrates: 9g (3%), Protein: 3g (6%), Fat: 3g (5%), Saturated Fat: 2g (13%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 8mg (3%), Sodium: 175mg (8%), Potassium: 234mg (7%), Fiber: 3g (13%), Sugar: 5g (6%), Vitamin A: 1320IU (26%), Vitamin C: 69mg (84%), Calcium: 52mg (5%), Iron: 2mg (11%)
© Author Kristen Stevens

We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here.

Garlic butter sugar snap peas in a white serving bowl.

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Kristen Stevens

Kristen Stevens

Hi, I'm Kristen! I LOVE everything to do with food: making it, taking pictures of it, and (the best part) eating it. ♡♡♡

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Posted: 10/03/2020 Updated: 12/12/2025
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CAROL WASSAM
CAROL WASSAM

5 stars
I subscribe to many recipe sites, yours just made top of the list. Terrific easy recipes, quick to change recipes, beautiful pictures.
Best of all, so many wonderful recipes. Thank you!

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Jonnathan
Jonnathan

5 stars
This recipe really shocked me. It’s so good! Especially considering how simple it is to make. Thank yoU!

0
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Welcome!

Hi, I'm Kristen Stevens

I’m a self-taught chef, food photographer, and author of the cookbook Sugar Free Dinner Recipes. Since 2011, I have been sharing my well-tested and approachable recipes, helping home cooks like you feel comfortable and confident in the kitchen. My work has been featured in Food & Wine, Pioneer Woman, The Every Girl, Self, and many more. Let’s have some fun cooking together!

Learn more!

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