Here is an easy crockpot split pea soup recipe that is so easy to make. Inexpensive slow cooker dinner when it’s cold outside and year round. Perfect leftover ham recipe too after the holidays.
Once again I was looking for another meal to make with my leftover ham. I hadn’t tried crockpot split pea soup before but figured it couldn’t be that hard. It came out amazing! Here’s one of our favorite easy crockpot recipes. (originally published 2/17, affiliate links present)
Honestly I had never used dried beans for anything so this was really a new experience.
I couldn’t believe how well it turned out. After this I made all sorts of other creations with dried beans.
Let’s talk a little bit about slow cooking shall we?? First off I have a few different varieties and I love them all. Each one has an occasion to be used like….
- This is my favorite 6 quart programmable one with a locking lid so it’s great for bringing to a potluck too.
- If you just want to serve a few appetizers you should get this one that sit side by side one another.
- I prefer not to use liners, but rather just spray olive oil inside before adding my food for easier cleanups.
Let me give you a peek of my pretty thang I bought recently. It goes with my kitchen so I can just leave it out on the countertop all the time. 😉
- The dried peas I found in a barrel at our local organic market. I grabbed a few veggies in the produce section and that was literally all I needed.
- Most of the time I use leftover ham. Of course you could make it vegetarian too.
I didn’t have a ham bone so I diced the ham I had left over, about 2.5 cups.
Slow cooker split pea soup
This crockpot split pea soup recipe is not only good and healthy but really inexpensive to make too! Seriously I only think I spent about $6, since I already had the meat.
If you don’t have a leftover ham bone you usually can find a ham hocks / shanks in the meat dept for next to nothing. Precooked and diced ham can be purchased near the bacon too.
If you like it thick like you see in the picture at the top then just add 6 cups of vegetable broth or water. However, if you want a soupier consistency add 7 cups of water, like the picture at the bottom.
- Either way you make it, this is a hearty soup everyone loves.
Do split peas need to be soaked?
NO. I use them right out of the bag for our slow cooker and Instant Pot split pea recipe. Under high pressure or on low all day they soften nicely and create a smooth soup everyone loves.
Peas are a great source of fiber which can lower cholesterol. Of course if you’re looking for a low fat version, omit bacon but ham is a great choice to add some protein to the meal.
I have never needed to add anything. It becomes more thick as it cools and sits so keep that in mind. You could whisk together a bit of flour or cornstarch with 3 tsp. of water, and pour in to thicken.
If you have a pressure cooker we just added Instant Pot split pea soup recipe on our Instant Pot recipes tab for you to use too.
Crock pot split pea soup
- Dry split peas
- Vegetable broth – can use water but broth is so much better
- Carrots and celery
- Onion
- Salt to taste
- Leftover ham is great to add or a ham hock
- Salt and pepper to taste
I love buying half a ham throughout the year though because we can get at least a weeks worth of meals out of it like our loaded baked potato soup we cooked this year, which makes it really cheap!
- I use my 6 qt. crockpot with a locking lid which is great especially if you’re taking this to a potluck.
If you have a pressure cooker and want to make this FAST try our Instant Pot split pea soup recipe as well.
I have exact ingredients in the printable recipe card below but here are quick step by step directions:
Time needed: 8 hours.
Split pea soup recipe slow cooker
- Prep ingredients
Slice carrots, celery and onions. The larger the pieces the more firm they will stay. If they’re sliced too thin they will disintegrate.
- Add ingredients
Dump your uncooked split peas, broth, vegetables into your Crockpot. Season with a bit of salt and pepper. Then add your ham hock to the center of the pot, or stir in already diced pieces.
- Cook
Cover and cook soup on low heat for 8 hours cooking time until peas are tender. I do not recommend 4-6 hours on high as low and slow is the way to go for a perfect consistency.
- Serve
If a ham bone is used, remove ham hock and use a knife to remove meat from outside. Dice and add into soup, discard bone. Use ladle to serve in bowls. If you added bay leaves, remove and discard too.
If you like these easy soup recipes you’ll love these as well. Our Crockpot Italian wedding soup recipe is probably top on our list of favorites too.
- Chicken soup in the crockpot is always a win when you feel under the weather or it’s rainy outside.
- Instant Pot barley soup is wonderful with leftover ham as well.
- Leftover ham bean soup goes without saying is the perfect day after Easter meal. Comfort food at it’s finest.
I have a video showing you how easy this split pea soup recipe is to make (I used water in the video but found broth is so much better):
Slow cooker split pea soup
Crockpot Split Pea soup
Ingredients
- 16 oz split peas dry
- 7 cups vegetable broth or water, more if you want to thin it out
- 2 carrots diced
- 2 stalks celery diced
- 1/3 onion diced
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2-3 c ham bite size-diced, or 1 ham hock
Instructions
- Add dried peas and broth to slow cooker.
- Cut veggies into med. sized sliced pieces and add to crockpot. Dice onion and add that as well as your salt too. (can salt at the end if you’d rather)
- Put your ham hock in the middle (if you’re using one), or sprinkle your diced ham pcs. into your pot.
- Cover and let cook on low for about 8 hrs or until your peas are as soft as you’d like them. If using ham hock remove before eating and cut off meat, return to pot and stir into soup.
- Add more broth to thin out if desired – will thicken as it sits as well as become thicker the next day if you have leftovers
Catia torrent
Friday 3rd of February 2017
One of my favourite soups.