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The Magical Slow Cooker » Recipes » Soups » Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup

Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup

by Sarah Olson on December 30, 2021 | Updated June 20, 2022 44 Comments

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ladle full of split pea soup coming from the slow cooker.
Collage of split pea images with text of what ingredients are.
collage of split pea soup for pinterest

Creamy, smooth, and easy to make, this Crockpot Split Pea Soup with Ham is a classic recipe you must try in the slow cooker. 

If you love the comfort food spilt pea soup, then put this on your recipe list ASAP. Put my Split Pea Stew on your list for next week!

close up of bright green split pea soup on a ladle coming from slow cooker.

I worked as a waitress for years; the soup du jour on Thursday was always split pea with ham. It was crazy how many people came in just to order the split pea soup. Served with a big hunk of cornbread and honey butter, I really can’t think of a better meal.

split pea ingredients with text layer

Recipe Ingredients:

Not many ingredients in this soup, but the results are spectacular.

  • Dried Split Peas – One pound of dried split peas, make sure there are no rocks or dirt clumps in them as you add to the slow cooker.
  • Vegetables – Diced carrots and onions. Celery can be added as well.
  • Ham – Diced ham, can be freshly bought or left overs.
  • Dried Thyme – Dried thyme goes great with split peas.
  • Chicken Boullion Cubes – This will flavor the soup and add saltiness. No salt is need in this recipe.
  • Water – 7 cups of water is the perfect amount of water for one pound of peas.

Step-by-Step Directions

Slow Cooker with diced onion, carrots, ham, split peas, chicken bouillon, and thyme all separated.

Step One – Add everything to the slow cooker. Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 9-10 hours.

cooked split pea in the slow cooker, not yet stirred.

Step Two – Take a whisk or spoon and stir the soup when the cooking time is up. The peas will dissolve into the broth.

ladle of split pea soup coming from the slow cooker.

What to serve with this:

Good as is in a mug or choose one or more of these options:

  • Saltine or oyster crackers
  • French bread or focaccia bread
  • Cornbread
  • Side salad with dressing
bowls of split pea soup with cornbread in the background.

How to make this vegetarian:

  • If you would like to make this vegetarian omit the ham.
  • Then substitute the chicken bouillon cubes for Not Chick’n Bouillon Cubes. I find these bouillon cubes in the health food section of my local store.
  • Or you can use 7 cups of vegetable broth or stock.
Cooked split pea soup with large wooden ladle in it.

Recipe FAQs

Is this recipe healthy?

Yes! Split pea soup is very healthy, and using diced ham instead of ham bone cuts back on fat in the recipe. Though this soup is healthy, it still tastes like comfort food!

Can yellow split peas be substituted for green?

Yes, there is no difference between yellow and green peas other than the color. Though, some say yellow split peas are slightly sweeter.

Do split peas need to be soaked before cooking?

No! The slow cooker will soften them perfectly into a velvety, silky soup.

What to do if my soup is too thick?

After split pea soup has been prepared, it thickens when the lid has been taken off or refrigerated. Add a splash of water or chicken broth and stir, and the soup will be a perfect consistency again.

Can I use a ham bone?

Want to use a ham bone instead of ham? Use one large or two small ham bones to replace the diced ham. Shred the ham off the bones and add to the soup when the cooking time is up. Discard the ham bones and fat.

Can I make split pea soup into a freezer meal?

You can make this into a freezer meal! You place all the ingredients in a ziplock bag (except the water) and freeze until ready to cook. Thaw, add contents of the bag to slow cooker, add water and cook as directed on the recipe card.

Split pea soup storage instructions:

Split pea soup will keep the fridge for up to five days or three months in the refrigerator. You will need to add water to thin out the soup, for it will thicken considerably after storing.

2 bowls of split pea with cornrbead on the side.

Can I use Hurst’s Hambeens Spilt Pea Soup Mix with Ham in this recipe?

  • Yes, though Hurst’s Spilt Pea mix package size is 20 ounces compared to the 16 ounces of split peas that I use in this recipe. Add 1 more cup of water if you use Hurst’s Split Pea Mix.
  • Omit the chicken bouillon if you use the included ham seasoning packet. Be sure to wait until the end of the cooking time to add the ham seasoning packet.

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bright green split pea soup in a slow cooker with a wooden spoon in it.

Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup Recipe

4.95 from 19 votes
Creamy Split Pea Soup in the Slow Cooker. Only a few ingredients to the best slow split pea soup you will ever have!
Print Pin Rate Share by Text
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 10 hours
Total Time: 10 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 8
Calories: 293kcal
Author: Sarah Olson

Equipment Needed:

  • Slow Cooker- 6 quart or larger

Ingredients:

  • 16 oz. dried split peas
  • 1 onion diced
  • 2 carrots diced
  • 2 cups ham diced
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 2 chicken bouillon cubes
  • 7 cups of water
US Customary – Metric

Instructions:

  • Add the split peas (no need to pre-soak), onion, carrots, thyme, ham, chicken bouillon cubes and water to the slow cooker. Stir.
  • Cover and cook on low for 9-10 hours without opening the lid during the cooking time.
  • When cooking time is done, whisk the soup until creamy.
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How to Video:

Recipe Notes:

Ham bone directions:
Want to use a ham bone instead of ham? Use 1 large or 2 small ham bones in place of the diced ham. When the cooking time is up, shred the ham off the bones and add to the soup. Discard the ham bones and fat.
Want to use yellow split peas?
Yellow split peas can be used in place of the green split peas.
Soup too thick?
Add a splash of water or chicken broth to get the soup back to the desired consistency.
Chicken broth instead of chicken bouillon cubes?
Omit the bouillon cubes and use 7 cups of chicken broth if desired.
Can I make split pea soup into a freezer meal?
You can make this into a freezer meal! You place all the ingredients in a ziplock bag (except the water) and freeze until ready to cook. Thaw, add contents of the bag to slow cooker, add water and cook as directed on the recipe card.
Storage Instructions:
Split peas soup will keep the fridge for up to 5 days or 3 months in the fridge. You will need to add water to thin out the soup for it will thicken considerably after storing.
Can I use Hurst’s Hambeens Split Pea Mix?
  • Yes, though Hurst’s Spilt Pea mix package size is 20 ounces compared to the 16 ounces of split peas that I use in this recipe. Add 1 more cup of water if you use Hurst’s Split Pea Mix.
  • Omit the chicken bouillon if you use the included ham seasoning packet. Be sure to wait until the end of the cooking time to add the ham seasoning packet.

Nutrition Information:

Calories: 293kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 22mg | Sodium: 674mg | Potassium: 725mg | Fiber: 15g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 2630IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 46mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.

Made this recipe?I want to see your photos! Tag me on Instagram @themagicalslowcooker

More slow cooker soup recipes like this one:

  • Slow Cooker Split Pea Stew
  • Slow Cooker Zuppa Toscana
  • Slow Cooker Ham and Beans
  • Slow Cooker French Onion Soup
  • Slow Cooker Homemade Potato Soup
  • Slow Cooker Mexican Chicken Soup
  • Slow Cooker Black Bean and Kielbasa Soup

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    9184 shares
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    Filed Under: Dinner, Pork, Soups

    Comments

    1. Carol says

      October 15, 2020 at 2:40 pm

      5 stars
      Best Pea Soup recipe I ever made. DELICIOUS

      Reply
    2. Kathie says

      September 10, 2020 at 12:42 pm

      5 stars
      This is wonderful split pea soup! Everyone I share it loves it! Thank you

      Reply
    3. Vickie Holt says

      September 22, 2019 at 9:31 am

      Love that you post nutritional facts. I have kidney disease and have to watch sodium and potassium numbers closely. Any help will be appreciated when posting recipes. Hard to follow certain recipes with my problem. God bless have a great day!

      Reply
    4. Linda says

      September 16, 2019 at 8:49 pm

      5 stars
      I made this for my daughter and me, and it was delicious! Made it exactly as written (except used only half the thyme). Next time I make this I think I will add some celery and a little salt and pepper, but it was great just as written!

      Reply
    5. Lisa Richardson says

      September 11, 2019 at 8:03 am

      I would like to know if I Can use ham broth instead of chicken broth?

      Reply
      • Sarah Olson says

        September 11, 2019 at 8:52 am

        Yes! I think that would be even better. I’ve never seen it to buy.

        Reply
    6. David says

      September 7, 2019 at 2:49 pm

      Can you add garlic and if so how much

      Reply
      • Sarah Olson says

        September 8, 2019 at 2:54 pm

        I wouldn’t add more than 1 clove, would over power the other flavors.

        Reply
    7. Phylis says

      June 28, 2019 at 6:30 pm

      Can you use chicken instead of ham, need less salt.

      Reply
      • Sarah Olson says

        June 28, 2019 at 7:05 pm

        Yes! Would be good. Use low sodium chicken broth instead of the cubes.

        Reply
    8. Ilse Smith says

      November 28, 2015 at 6:43 am

      great with leftover ham from the Holidays! I made corn bread or corn muffins with it.Yummy!

      Reply
    9. Sharion says

      October 21, 2015 at 2:54 pm

      Wow! That looks really tasty!

      Reply
    10. Sarah Olson says

      October 6, 2015 at 5:26 am

      Yes, it’s packaged cooked ham steak. 🙂

      Reply
    11. Sarah Olson says

      April 4, 2015 at 4:52 pm

      Sorry that part is confusing. After the soup is done, you take the reserved ham, sauté that ham in maple and butter on the stove top. Then top the soup with it. 🙂

      Reply
    12. Glenn Manning says

      January 2, 2015 at 9:39 am

      How would this work with chicken broth instead of water and bullion cubes?

      Reply
      • Sarah Olson says

        January 2, 2015 at 10:40 am

        Just fine! I often use chicken broth for this recipe when I have it.

        Reply
    13. Kathleen says

      January 28, 2014 at 5:39 pm

      This is so good! After 10 hours, I stirred this up briskly to blend the peas and then added more bouillon and also 1T butter to make it smoother.

      Reply
      • Sarah Olson says

        January 28, 2014 at 6:45 pm

        I’m so glad you liked it Kathleen! It’s one of my favorites!

        Reply
    14. Gina R says

      September 18, 2013 at 9:29 am

      Do you need to soak the split peas beforehand?

      Reply
      • Sarah Olson says

        September 19, 2013 at 7:46 pm

        No need to presoak the split peas 🙂

        Reply
    15. Lalita Palep says

      June 10, 2013 at 8:13 am

      LOOKS LIKE A VERY TASTY RECIPE,,,,!!

      Reply
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