This split pea soup recipe is a cozy classic with simple ingredients and old-fashioned comfort. Split peas simmer with smoky ham, carrots, and celery to make a rich, velvety soup.
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Holly’s Soup-er Highlights
- Flavor: Smoky, savory, and naturally creamy from the split peas, this soup is a warm bowl of homemade comfort.
- Technique: This cozy soup gently simmers until it cooks down to be thick and creamy.
- Tools: A heavy pot or Dutch oven helps the soup cook evenly.
- Serving Suggestions: Serve old-fashioned split pea soup with some homemade dinner rolls.
Ingredient Notes
- Peas: Split peas and lentils look similar, but split peas are a little sweeter. You can use either green or yellow peas in this recipe; you do not need to soak them first.
- Ham: I love this recipe for using up leftover ham, a ham bone (or ham hock) adds flavor to the broth. You can use a leftover bone from baked ham or buy a ham steak and dice it. Replace the ham with smoked turkey if you prefer.
- Vegetables: Celery, carrots, and onions add a subtle sweetness to this soup.
- Broth: Use low-sodium chicken broth or homemade chicken broth since the ham in this recipe is salty.
- Variations: For a vegetarian version, use vegetable broth and skip the ham. For a chunkier texture, add diced potatoes. Finish with a splash of cream or milk for added richness, if desired.
How to Make Split Pea Soup
- Rinse peas and combine with ham, broth, and seasonings; simmer.
- Add vegetables and cook until tender (full recipe below).
- Remove ham bone and chop meat. Return chopped meat and simmer until thick and creamy.
Holly’s Helpful Hints
- Remember to rinse the dried peas and check them for debris.
- Freeze diced ham in 1-cup portions for easy soup prep.
- Simmering it uncovered longer or mashing some peas will thicken the soup.
- For a smoother soup, blend half with an immersion blender.
How to Store and Reheat
- Store leftover soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- This soup freezes beautifully, and can be frozen for up to 3 months.
- To reheat, warm gently on the stove with a splash of broth or water.
Leftover Ham Recipes
Did you enjoy this Split Pea Soup? Leave a rating and comment below!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups dried split peas yellow or green, about 14 ounces
- 1 meaty ham bone or 2 cups leftover ham, diced
- 4 cups water or additional broth if desired
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 2 teaspoons dried parsley
- 1 bay leaf
- 3 ribs celery diced
- 2 carrots diced
- 1 large yellow onion diced
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme leaves
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Sort through the peas to ensure there is no debris. Rinse and drain well.
- In a large pot, combine peas, ham, water, broth, parsley, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer covered for 1 hour.
- Add in celery, carrots, onion, pepper, thyme, and salt. Cover and simmer 45 minutes more.
- Remove ham bone and chop the meat. Return the meat to the soup and cook uncovered until thickened and the peas have broken down, about 20 minutes more.
- Discard the bay leaf and season with salt and additional pepper to taste.
Video
Notes
- You do not need to soak the peas.
- If desired, add 2 cloves of minced garlic along with the vegetables.
- If you don’t have a ham bone, use diced or chopped leftover ham or smoked turkey. Replace at least 2 cups of the water with additional broth for flavor if you do not have a ham bone.
- Thicken split pea soup by allowing it to simmer uncovered for longer. If you’re short on time, it can be thickened by mashing or blending some of the peas.
- Store cooked split pea soup in the refrigerator for about 4 days or freeze up to 3 months.
Nutrition Information
Serving: 1.5cups | Calories: 255 | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 630mg | Potassium: 830mg | Fiber: 18g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 3599IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 70mg | Iron: 3mg
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Dinner, Entree, Ham, Lunch, Main Course, Soup
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So I’ve never made split pea soup. But I found myself with the Christmas ham bone and a bag of split peas. I followed the recipe almost as stated, but dumped it all in the crock pot since I was leaving. I used a 14.5 oz can of chicken broth, then dumped 4 cans of water in since I’m a lazy cook. I also added a tbsp of.minced garlic, set it on low for 7 hours and came home to an excellent soup! It was even kid approved! The consistency was good, but I am not sure how it should be since I’ve never cooked it before. I will definitely make this everytime i end up with the rest of the dinner ham. Thanks a bunch!
The recipe looks good, but your explanation is confusing! You talk about not soaking the peas and then at the end have directions for soaking peas. Can you please clarify?
You do not need to soak them but they will take 1-2 hours to cook. If you’d like to speed up the cook time, you can soak them (but it’s not required).
Holly I thought I had thyme and bay leaves but after going through the pantry there was none. Will it still be ok without.
Yes, it should be fine without. You can add other herbs/spices if you would like such as a small pinch of oregano or, just leave them out. Enjoy!
I already soaked my peas over night. W would you modify the recipe? Add everything at once?
Soaked peas will need a bit less time to cook. I would simmer the ham bone and other ingredients (to flavor the broth) and add the soaked peas for about the last hour. Let us know how it goes for you!
Mine came out really soapy! The taste was good, but was looking for more of a thicker soup!
Glad you still enjoyed it Kristen!
Good flavor, but if you don’t want your split pea soup watery, don’t add 10 total cups of liquid to 2 cups split peas. It ruined the soup for me.
So sorry to hear that Patricia! You can definitely add in a little more peas or a little less liquid to get that thicker consistency.
How to cook split pea soup in slow cooker
Catherine, I would suggest on high for 4-5 hours or low for 8-10 hours. Peas do not need to be soaked overnight
I’ve made a lot of soups in my days but for some reason I’ve never made split pea soup. This recipe was easy and delicious! We live our split pea soup a little thicker so next time I will add three cups of peas instead of two. LOVED IT!
I’m so glad you loved it Diane!
I don’t have much meat on my spiral ham bone, can I just add diced deli ham? Thank you.
Sure you can! If you have to buy ham you can also check the deli for a small ham steak.
can this be made in a crockpot? if so what temperature and for how long?
do the peas need to be soaked overnight?
thank you
Yes, I would suggest on high for 4-5 hours or low for 8-10 hours. Peas do not need to be soaked overnight.
thank you
just one more question—can I use the frozen ham bone or thaw it first?
(never made pea soup before–my dads’ side of the family were the cooks (Italian)
You can use it frozen but that might add to the cook time so if you’re able, I’d suggest setting it in the fridge to defrost the night before.
We had an early Christmas dinner so the soup is on the stove! Please clarify when to add the bay leaf and thyme. In the description you say to add the bay leaf with the vegetables but in the recipe instructions it says to add at the very beginning. Also, there is no mention when to add the thyme–or is that optional? It’s not a biggie but thought I’d ask. Looking forward to eating this!
Hi Deb, thank you for your feedback. I have updated the recipe and description. Please let me know how it turns out!
My husband went nuts over this soup. He said it was better than his mothers’ and she’s a southern cook! I used green split peas and a ham steak with the bone in. But that was the only differece. We were surprised that all the peas dissolved, and that it was soupy and not thick and lumpy. But it tasted wonderful, and is actually nicer smooth than with lumps. lol!
I’m so glad he loved it!!
This should work well in the Instant Pot. I have a soup recipe for split peas that calls for 12 minutes on soup setting.
Love the passion and enthusiasm so much that I gave it a summer time shot! First, picked up a smoked pork shank and had it cut into 3 2″ pieces then after a rinse set it to simmer by itself in the chicken broth for about 30 minutes then followed the recipe except used green peas.
Will enjoy with a glass of Big John from Newsome Harlow.
Glad you enjoyed this soup John!
Thank you so much for sharing Valentina, I hope you love it as much as we do!
Where I was a child, everytime when I got sick, my mom often cooked the soup with vegetable and chopped beef or pork. It reminds me of my mom a lot A food sticking with a good memory makes it more perfect. I’d love to make it soon.
These are such great memories. I hope you love this soup as much as I do!
Sure! :)
Thanks for sharing!
We had spiral sliced glazed ham for Easter. Is that ok for the recipe or were you using salt cured ham?
That would work perfectly too!
This looks delicious! I can’t wait to try it. I love pea soup, so will have to hunt down the yellow peas and try this.
I hope you love it when you try it!
Bonjour j’aime beaucoup vos recette simple et facile bravo.
Merci beaucoup!
Love your recipes and meal plans. Keep them coming.