Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup
on Feb 22, 2019, Updated Jan 02, 2024
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Grab your Crockpot to make this comforting and delicious Split Pea soup. The recipe is so super easy. You can make this one with or without a leftover ham bone.
Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup
If you are anything like me, you are always on the hunt for quick and easy slow cooker recipes. My recipe for Split Pea Soup is one of those recipes. The prep time is so minimal and since we use a Crockpot, there is no real effort involved. I toss everything in and let it cook for the day. So very simple.
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I posted this recipe way back when I started my food blog years ago. Since I was making a batch of of this tasty soup, I figured it was time to update with some fresh pictures and even some additional cooking tips.
Split Pea Soup has always been one of my favorite soups to enjoy on a cold day. I admit that most of the time, I make a can of Campbell’s. I have one kiddo that was adventurous enough to try the overly green and unappealing soup. I thought the effort to make homemade would be sort of a waste if the rest of my crew was not going to enjoy it.
But the adventurous child requested a homemade split pea soup years ago and I have made it from scratch ever since. My slow cooker recipe is one that is so easy. The flavor is so much better than store bought. Plus, using the fresh ingredients keeps it much healthier.
If I have leftover ham or a ham bone, I usually use it because the flavor from a ham bone makes the soup that much better. Since I do not make ham that often, I mostly make our Split Pea soup with store bought cubed ham. If I have potatoes, I dice them and add them to the pot occasionally too. If you like potatoes, go ahead and add them in for some additional flavor.
I serve most of our soup recipes with some crusty bread and crackers. The bread is great for dipping. The flavors from the fresh vegetables, the ham, and additional spices really makes the pea soup so much better than store bought. The recipe is easy and so filling. You will find yourself making this recipe again and again.
Ingredients to make Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup
1 lb Dried Split Peas
2 cups Diced Ham
4 Carrots sliced
1 Medium Onion Diced
2 tsp Minced Garlic
1 bay leaf
2 tsp Parsley Flakes
1 tsp Celery Salt
1 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Pepper
6 cups chicken stock
How to make Split Pea Soup
Rinse the split peas and add to slow cooker.
Add remaining ingredients to slow cooker.
Cook on low 8-10 hours or on high for about 4 hours.
Remove bay leaf.
Do I need to soak my peas before adding them to the slow cooker?
No soaking is needed for this recipe. Soaking the peas just allows for the peas to cook much quicker. Since this is a slow cooker recipe, there is no reason to have to soak your split peas.
Can I use a Ham Bone in this Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup?
I find this soup to be best when using a nice ham bone with lots of meat left. I always make this one after Easter because I have the leftover ham from our holiday dinner. A meaty ham shank works great too. Just add your ham bone or shank when adding all of your ingredients to the slow cooker. After the soup has cooked, remove your bone. The meat should fall off the bone during the cooking process.
Can I make Pea Soup without ham?
Sure, you can make this one with no meat at all. You can also use bacon. It adds great flavor and works perfectly as a substitute for the ham. You will want to fry your bacon and get it crispy before adding it to your soup. You can add at at the beginning or at the end for a topping.
Can I use water instead of chicken stock?
You can use water instead of the chicken stock in this recipe. I sometimes do not have stock on hand and we just use water. I find that the chicken stock adds some additional flavor but it is not needed.
Why is my soup very thick?
When making Crockpot split pea soup, it will thicken more and more the longer it cooks. If you like your soup a bit thinner, go ahead and add in some additional water or broth to make it thinner.
If you are looking for other Slow Cooker Soup ideas, you will want to see some of these recipes that I have shared:
Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup
Ingredients
- 1 lb Dried Split Peas
- 2 cups Diced Ham
- 4 Carrots sliced
- 1 Medium Onion Diced
- 2 tsp Minced Garlic
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 tsp Parsley Flakes
- 1 tsp Celery Salt
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1/2 tsp Pepper
- 6 cups chicken stock
Instructions
- Rinse the split peas and add to slow cooker.
- Add remaining ingredients to slow cooker.
- Cook on low 8-10 hours or on high for about 4 hours.
- Remove bay leaf.
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I’ve been thinking I need to use my slow cooker more. This looks perfect for the upcoming fall season.