This classic split pea soup recipe is a family favorite!
It’s really easy to make with a bag of split peas, a handful of veggies, and ham simmered until tender and thick.
This soup is just as good (if not better) the next day and it freezes beautifully for future meals.
A Family Favorite Soup
Pea soup is a recipe that has been a staple for generations.
- It has a thick creamy consistency and delicious flavor.
- It’s made without cream so it has fewer calories than most creamy soups.
- Uses simple ingredients you likely have on hand and it’s budget-friendly.
- It is full of fiber and protein, so it will really fill you up.
Ingredients for Split Pea Soup
Split Peas – Dried split peas are inexpensive and easy to find. While they resemble a lentil, they’re actually a type of dried pea. You can use green or yellow split peas. Canadian Split Pea soup is most often made with yellow peas but green are a little bit sweeter.
Vegetables – A mirepoix is a mixture of onion, celery, and carrots and this is the base of flavor for this soup. Add a few cloves of chopped garlic if you’d like.
Ham – This soup is a great way to use a ham bone or leftover ham from a Sunday supper. The ham bone adds extra flavor to the broth if you have one. If you don’t have a ham bone, replace some of the water for extra broth as you’ll need the boost of flavor.
Broth – A ham bone adds extra flavor to the broth just like in a ham bone soup. If you don’t have a ham bone you can use a ham hock which should be simmered for an hour before adding other ingredients.
Variations
- To stretch this soup further, peel and dice two russet potatoes and add them along with the other vegetables.
- Replace the ham with smoked turkey if you’d like.
Soaking Split Peas
Split peas are almost always purchased dried, so they need to be either simmered in liquid or soaked overnight.
Soaking is not required for this recipe but if you have already soaked the peas, the cooking time will be reduced by about 40 minutes.
If you’d like to soak the split peas, place them in a bowl of cool water and soak for at least 4 hours or up to overnight.
How to Make Split Pea Soup
The best split pea soup is thick, creamy, and flavorful. This version is a ham and pea soup and it’s easy to make, most of the time is hands-off.
- Simmer peas, ham, water, broth, parsley, & bay leaf in a large pot for an hour.
- Add remaining ingredients (per recipe below) and simmer for an additional 45 minutes.
- Remove ham bone (or ham) & chop up the meat. Return ham to the pot & cook on low until thickened.
Tips for The Best Ham & Split Pea Soup
- Like dried beans, dried peas should be sorted to remove debris or pebbles. Place them in a colander and rinse them in cold water.
- Split pea soup can be cooked in a slow cooker or a pressure cooker.
- Thicken split pea soup by allowing it to simmer uncovered for a little bit longer. If you’re short on time, some of the peas can be mashed or blended with an immersion blender.
- Store cooked split pea soup in the refrigerator for up to 4 days for freeze for up to 3 months.
More Ham Soups
Did your family enjoy this Split Pea Soup? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below!
Split Pea Soup
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups dried split peas green or yellow (14 oz)
- 1 meaty ham bone or 2 cups diced leftover ham
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 4 cups water or additional broth if desired
- 2 teaspoons dried parsley
- 1 bay leaf
- 3 ribs celery diced
- 2 carrots diced
- 1 large onion diced
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- 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 and the soup has thickened, about 20 minutes more.
- Discard the bay leaf and season with salt and additional pepper to taste.
Video
Notes
- This recipe does not require soaking the peas.
- If desired, add 2 cloves of minced garlic along with the vegetables.
- The meaty ham bone and be replaced with diced or chopped leftover ham. Replace at least 2 cup sof the water with additional broth for flavor if you do not have a hambone.
- Thicken split pea soup by allowing it to simmer uncovered for longer. If you’re short on time, some of the peas can be mashed or blended.
- Store cooked split pea soup in the refrigerator for about 4 days or freeze up to 3 months.
Nutrition Information
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 easy! And my gang really dug in. I served it with cornbread and sour pickles. Now in my recipe file!
Delicious.
Can I use a frozen ham bone straight out of the freezer for this? If so what adjustments should I use? Thanks! I love all your recipes!
You can use it frozen but that might add to the cook time so if you’re able, I’d recommend setting it in the fridge to defrost the night before.
This is the best pea soup I’ve ever had. It’s my go to recipe from now on. Awesome flavor!
Go-to soup for all times of the year. I’ve only used 8 cups of broth instead of 4 and 4 and have loved it!! I’ve added an extra carrot or 2 because they’re my favorite part. Perfect recipe!
You kidding me? The best ever! no tweaks, no substitutions. Phenomenal!
Was excellent!
sooo yummy! Thank u
I am from Québec, Canada, where Split Pea Soup is a traditional dish. This recipe was FANTASTIC!
I did add more spice (1 tsp savoury for my Newfoundlander husband, 1 tsp thyme, fresh if I have it) but otherwise followed the recipe. Very flavourful!
We will definitely be having this again!
Excellent recipe! I used leftover cottage roll and some of the broth from it in the base. Of course, because it’s so salty, you have to use a low or even no sodium chicken broth. Amazing flavour and a great way to use up leftovers.
I’ve made many Pea soups before, it happens to be my husbands favorite! Your recipe is by far the best! The soup was easy to make, I did thicken it a bit and it came out perfect
I am so happy to hear you love this recipe Shelly!
Absolutely…. The best!!!
Another winner. Made this today, it is delicious. Next time, I do think even if I use ham, I would throw a ham hock in there too, as we love the smoky flavor. After making it as written today, I did add 5 drops of liquid smoke and I used a bit of cornstarch to thicken. It’s pretty hot today for me to be adding to my soup collection. C’mon winter!
Just made it in the slow cooker. Taste wonderful. Cooked on high for 4 hours and then on low for 8 more. Pulled the bones out and gave it a taste. This is my new go to recipe for Split Pea Soup.
This is the BEST SPS EVER!
place hock in whole as is from shop
you can use a smoked hock of ham as much or as little as you like the hock is best for flavor
That would be delicious, thanks for sharing Stephen!
It looks real good I can.t wait to try it.
Hi could you give me an indication much ham to use if not using a bone. Thanks Kathyrn
About 2 cups of diced ham. You can use a little bit more or less depending on what you have.
I use the precooked ham that come in a bundle that looks like a watermelon. At what point do I add the cut up ham into the soup
Add the ham at the same time as mentioned in the recipe. I suggest about 2 cups of diced ham (a little bit more or less depending on what you have will work).