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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!
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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
    • 6852

    Filed Under: Dinner, Pork, Soups

    Comments

    1. Keith says

      April 25, 2022 at 8:46 am

      5 stars
      I really love this recipe. It uses considerably less ingredients than the recipe I was using but it’s just as good or better.

      Reply
    2. Keith says

      April 25, 2022 at 7:52 am

      5 stars
      For those who would like to substitute vegetable broth, I’d suggest buying a bag of Vegeta All Purpose Seasoning and Soup Mix. It’s a vegetable bouillon powder that’s widely used in Eastern Europe. You just add a level teaspoon to a cup of warm water and you have a cup of vegetable broth. I’ve compared it to vegetable broth made with Better Than Bouillon vegetable flavor bouillon and the broth I made with Vegeta was just as good or better and less expensive. I bought a bag of Vegeta on amazon.com and paid 17.99 plus a few cents tax for a bag weighing 4 pounds and 6 ounces. This amounted to 26 cents an ounce.

      Reply
    3. Liz P says

      February 27, 2021 at 5:18 pm

      5 stars
      Thank you for the amazing recipe!!! So easy to make and so yummy!!!

      Reply
    4. Katwyn says

      January 26, 2021 at 12:45 pm

      5 stars
      Nice recipe! I love doing pea soup in a slow cooker, having been burned more than once when a drop of pea soup “lava” had unexpectedly popped out of a big pot of it cooking on the stove, just as I’d lifted the lid to stir it!!! That stuff can be absolutely treacherous! Slow-cooking it is really the way to go pea soup, and it turns out so perfect and wonderful too!

      I often use 1/2 of a Polska kielbasa in pea soup instead of ham, or when I don’t have a ham bone, and freeze the other diced half for making another pot later on, or to use in an omelet, a loaded veggie & chicken broth soup, or a lentil soup. Kielbasa is very versatile and gives pea soup a wonderful flavor! I mostly use Hillshire brand of Polska kielbasa, because it’s easy to find at the store, but any Polish kielbasa would work.

      Reply
      • Keith says

        April 25, 2022 at 8:41 am

        5 stars
        I buy Johnsonville kielbasa because it’s 100% pork. I just bought several packages of smoked pork neckbones specifically for making soup but when I use them up I’ll give your suggestion a try.

        Reply
    5. Judy J Johnson says

      January 18, 2021 at 11:08 am

      Hi I’m 82 yrs old and in an assisted living facility which I love except that the food is yukky, so I’ve been making soups and am ready to try some new recipes. We don’t have kitchenettes (We have what I call “ettes” so about the only thing I can do is use my Crockpot for cooking. I’m interesting in cooking things other than soup, and there are 6 of us who count on my giving us real food at least once a week but its tricky cuz we only have a tiny little sink in the bathroom to wash up in. I’m interested in finding a Nacho recipe using my slow cooker cuz we all love nacho’s. We do have microwaves but without ovens Nachos seem sort of difficult to do. Can you help steer me in the right direction so that maybe we can still have nacho’s?

      Reply
      • Sarah Olson says

        January 18, 2021 at 11:59 am

        Hi Judy, this is my favorite recipe for “nachos”. Since you can’t brown the meat, I’ve heard of some people cooking the ground beef on high in the slow cooker (probably 2-3 hours), then crumbling, then continuing with the recipe. (or you can leave the beef out, it’s such a great recipe). https://www.themagicalslowcooker.com/slow-cooker-taco-dip/

        Reply
      • Katwyn says

        January 26, 2021 at 12:30 pm

        I know of someone who often cooks ground beef in their microwave, breaking it up and stirring it around to help it cook more evenly, as they go along at 1 minute or 30 second intervals microwaving it on high, I think. I can’t actually recall the details, since I’d only witnessed it being done once, many years ago, but it had seemed to work ok. You might need to do it 8 oz. at a time, or possibly experiment with using 50% power instead of on High, to prevent over-cooking the beef, but it might be worth trying, at least. There are probably some microwaving tips online about cooking ground beef, also.

        Reply
      • Monika says

        April 24, 2022 at 12:19 pm

        Hi, Judy! Maybe you already know? There r liners for slowcookers in grocery stores to buy! Might make cleanup easier since you have sm sink…enjoy! Minika

        Reply
    6. Heather says

      December 29, 2020 at 9:30 am

      I only have extra large bullion cubes. Do you think one will be ok instead of two?

      Reply
      • Sarah Olson says

        December 29, 2020 at 9:49 am

        One should do it.

        Reply
        • Heather says

          December 29, 2020 at 10:01 am

          Thank you!

    7. Virginia says

      December 23, 2020 at 11:51 am

      Do you think it would taste alright if I added some celery? Also can I use chicken stock instead of chicken bouillon cubes?

      Reply
      • Sarah Olson says

        December 23, 2020 at 1:07 pm

        Yes! Will be great with celery. And chicken stock instead of water works great.

        Reply
        • Virginia says

          December 24, 2020 at 6:30 am

          4 stars
          Thank you!!! Merry Christmas!!

    8. Becca says

      December 4, 2020 at 4:18 pm

      Do i have to use thyme?

      Reply
      • Sarah Olson says

        December 4, 2020 at 4:41 pm

        No, you can leave it out or use oregano instead.

        Reply
      • Keith Novinski says

        April 25, 2022 at 7:24 am

        5 stars
        I have a Better Homes and Gardens cookbook and they have a recipe which uses 1/4 teaspoon of dried marjoram. You can try that or use a bay leaf instead. Or you can use both marjoram and a bay leaf.

        Reply
    9. Kai says

      November 15, 2020 at 11:32 am

      5 stars
      This recipe is amazing! I add only one ingredient (1 teaspoon of crush red pepper flakes) because I like it a little spicy.

      Reply
    10. mugschatz says

      November 15, 2020 at 5:57 am

      5 stars
      THANK YOU for providing a recipe that doesn’t call for pre-sauteeing anything before leaving the Pot to do is job while I go to mine! I see that part of a recipe and my eyes glaze over before I turn the page or hit the Back arrow I do plan to butter the sides of the Pot and put the onions up against the sides so they get a little browned, but that’s where I draw the line. I know this will be delicious because pea soup is one of my winter go-to easy dinners, and there’s something magical that cooked legumes do, even with minimal seasonings…

      Reply
    11. Carolyn says

      November 12, 2020 at 10:17 am

      Can I cook on high in slow cooker for 5 hours?

      Reply
    12. Sandi says

      November 8, 2020 at 4:43 pm

      If adding potatoes, will the cook time still be 10 hours?

      Reply
      • Sarah Olson says

        November 8, 2020 at 7:17 pm

        You can do 8-10 hours and they will cook up fine. Here is my split pea stew recipe that has big chunks of potatoes. https://www.themagicalslowcooker.com/slow-cooker-split-pea-stew/

        Reply
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