Split pea soup is pure comfort food for many and it's surprisingly easy to make at home. All you need is a slow cooker, a ham bone or ham hocks, peas, and a few veggies. Get it started in the morning, let it cook slowly all day, and it's ready for dinner. This recipe calls for yellow peas, but feel free to use green if that's what you have.
The magic of split pea soup is that the peas are so small that they melt into a thick slurry as they cook. This creates a comforting texture that makes this traditional dish so enjoyable. Their size also makes them easy to cook, which is why there's no need to soak them like you would dry beans.
As this recipe proves, split pea soup is anything but boring. This version gets the additional flavor from garlic, bay, and parsley, along with a little pepper. You can change up the veggies and top it with a variety of garnishes, from parsley to croutons and bacon to sour cream. These little additions will set it over the top and create a perfect meal the entire family will love.
Additionally, you can blend the finished soup for a smooth texture or mash the peas and vegetables with a potato masher for a chunkier soup. Enjoy this satisfying, stick-to-your-ribs soup with freshly baked cornbread or a good, crusty French bread.
![Crock pot split pea soup with ham pieces in a bowl](https://www.thespruceeats.com/thmb/Mef1KoLOaBzd748c-UottPkKlV8=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/slow-cooker-split-pea-soup-recipe-3055797-hero-01-74d217f1208f4e3f912de563cd1c8e8e.jpg)
The Spruce Eats / Eric Kleinberg
“Split pea soup just got easier with this option for cooking the soup in a crockpot. This recipe features lots of vegetables and herbs and has the deep, rich, and meaty flavor that a smoked ham hock gives to soups. A warming and hearty recipe.” —Joan Velush
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Ingredients
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1 (16-ounce) package dried split peas, rinsed
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1 meaty medium ham bone, 2 ham hocks, or 2 cups diced ham
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3 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
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1/2 cup coarsely chopped onion
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2 stalks celery, with leaves, coarsely chopped
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2 cloves garlic, minced
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1 large bay leaf
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1/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh parsley, or 2 teaspoons dried parsley flakes
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1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
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1 tablespoon seasoned salt, more to taste
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6 cups hot water, or broth
Steps to Make It
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Gather the ingredients.
The Spruce Eats / Eric Kleinberg
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Layer the ingredients in a slow cooker in the order given—split peas, ham, carrots, onion, celery, garlic, bay leaf, parsley, pepper, and salt. Add the water or stock. Do not stir the ingredients.
The Spruce Eats / Eric Kleinberg
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Cover and cook on high for 4 to 5 hours or on low for 8 to 10 hours until peas are very soft and the ham falls off the bone.
The Spruce Eats / Eric Kleinberg
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Remove the meat from the bones and chop. Remove and discard the bay leaf.
The Spruce Eats / Eric Kleinberg
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Before serving, mash the peas slightly to thicken the soup or blend the soup in batches for a smoother texture (safety tips below). Add the meat back to the soup, reserving some for garnish, if desired, and serve.
The Spruce Eats / Eric Kleinberg
Use Caution When Blending Hot Ingredients
Steam expands quickly in a blender and can cause ingredients to splatter everywhere or cause burns. To prevent this, fill the blender only one-third of the way up, vent the top, and cover with a folded kitchen towel while blending.
Tips
- If you use low-sodium stock or broth, make sure to taste the soup and add the seasoned salt about an hour before it's ready. Also, keep in mind that some vegetable broths will darken the soup a bit. If you are looking for a bright green or yellow soup, use a light color broth or all water.
- Split peas are merely dried peas that are cut in half. You will find both yellow and green varieties, though green is more common. The yellow split peas have a mild flavor, and they do make an interesting soup as well.
Recipe Variations
- Feel free to vary the vegetables. Almost any veggie can be added to the soup, particularly cubed potatoes or parsnips. You can also simply add more onion and carrots.
- Garnish the pea soup with croutons, some of the diced cooked ham, cooked crumbled bacon, or fresh parsley. Try serving it with a swirl of olive oil, greek yogurt, or sour cream. Crumbled fried onion rings, freshly grated carrots, or chopped scallions are nice additions as well.
- If you don't have a slow cooker or want to make it more quickly, you can also make a stovetop pea soup with ham.
- This soup is also delicious when made with shredded pork picnic (smoked pork shoulder). Or, you can brown some diced smoked sausage in a skillet and add it to the soup about 20 minutes before it's done. Andouille sausage split pea soup is another excellent choice that has a spicier profile.
How to Store and Freeze
Refrigerate or freeze any leftovers. You can reheat the leftover split pea soup in a saucepan on low heat.
- Split pea soup can be kept in the refrigerator in an airtight container for three to four days.
- Freeze your soup in airtight containers or freezer bags; it will last for three months in the freezer.