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By Amanda Paa – Updated October 18, 2023
5 from 2 votes
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These are the best split pea soup recipes, in one spot! Whether you’re looking for the classic version with ham, a slow cooker split pea soup, or a vegetarian twist, you’ll find it here. And if you’re only cooking for two, I’ve included an easy, small batch split pea soup.
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Comfort is a bowl of warm, homemade split pea soup. It’s hearty, healthy, and exactly what I crave in winter. I especially love the rich, smoky flavors from the split peas simmering with a ham hock, or smoked paprika if you’re making it vegetarian.
Split pea soup is also budget friendly, made from mostly pantry ingredients!
In the list below, you’ll find classic split pea soup, instant pot and slow cooker split pea soup techniques, and delicious vegetarian split pea soup recipes!
What are split peas?
Split peas are the same green peas you might buy in the frozen section, or see at the farmers market in the summer – except they’re shelled, dried, and then split in half along the natural seam of the pea. This splitting process is what makes them faster to cook (no soaking needed!), ultimately making split pea soup a perfect weeknight dinner.
How to Store Split Pea Soup
- Refrigerator:Leftovers will keep for 5 days in the refrigerator, stored in a covered container.
- Freezer:Most split pea soups are freezer friendly and freeze well for 2 – 3 months. To freeze, let cool completely and store in freezer safe containers, leaving ½ inch head space for expansion. Reheat:Simply re-warm on the stovetop over low heat until warmed through. If using a microwave, do so in 30 to 60 second intervals, stirring after each, until warm.
Below you’ll find my favorite, tried and true split pea soup. It’s hearty, while still being healthy, and made with real food ingredients.
You can use diced ham, but I prefer simmering a ham shank in the soup, so that it can infuse a lovely smokiness while it simmers. Then you can shred the ham off the bone and add back to the soup.
This recipe is perfect if you’re a household of 2 like we are, as it makes enough for 2 main meals. The leftovers are delicious! The flavor deepens even more.
And you can plan the rest of your week with one of these gluten-free dinner recipes!
1
Stovetop Split Pea Soup with Ham
This easy-to-make split pea soup is cozy, comforting, and full of fantastic flavor. The ham adds smokiness, while the split peas and vegetables are the stars. The soup freezes well, too!
Get the recipe
2
Flavorful Vegetarian Split Pea Soup
Topped with sour cream and an herb sauce, this vegetarian version of split pea soup stands out. Vegetables and aromatics, broth, and split peas, are cooked until tender and then pureed in all or part.
3
Split Pea Soup with Ham
This is a great Split Pea Soup recipe, having made it several times I use a ham hock that I get from my local butcher, which adds a rich, smoky flavor.
4
Split Pea Soup {With Ham}
Loaded with nutritious veggies this Split Pea Soup is a classic that’s perfect for chilly days and weeknights that call for comfort food! It’s the best recipe for using leftover ham.
5
Smoky Split Pea Soup
This creamy split pea soup is unique in that it uses white wine, and both ham and bacon to create mega flavor. Finishing it with a dollop of sour cream is the perfect contrast.
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6
Slow-Cooker Split Pea Soup with Garlicky Croutons
Fans of split pea soup will go crazy for bowls of this version that requires almost no hands-on time. Ifyou have leftovers, even better–it might just be tastier the next day once the flavors have melded.
7
Instant Pot Split Pea Soup {Slow Cooker + Stovetop}
You can use a smoked ham hock, leftover ham bone, diced ham or bacon to make this Instant Pot Split Pea Soup recipe. It’s a simple and flavorful prep-ahead meal that reheats beautifully throughout the week.
8
Split Pea Soup Recipe (Slow Cooker, Instant Pot)
This hearty, protein packed, split pea soup is made with tender split peas, smoky ham and fresh vegetables. Prep and cooking is made with easy with a slow cooker.
9
Healthy Split Pea Soup
This split pea and ham soup slow cooker recipe couldn’t be any easier. You add all the ingredients to the slow cooker and then walk away while it cooks up one of the most fabulous, heart-warming soups you’ve eaten.
10
Split Pea Soup with Smoked Turkey
This Split Pea Soup recipe uses a smoked turkey leg, perfect for Thanksgiving leftovers! You can also use a ham hock.
11
Instant Pot Split Pea Soup (with ham OR vegetarian)
This is the quick and easy way to make split pea soup! If you want to make it vegetarian, use smoked paprika in place of smoked ham.
12
Simple Vegetarian Split Pea Soup
This vegetarian split pea soup is made with just 5 ingredients, but has loads of flavor. Green split peas and onions cooked until tender, partially pureed, seasoned and flared out with toppings.
13
Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Split Pea Soup
Add sweet potatoes to your split pea soup! This version is easy, creamy, with tons of flavor. I like the hefty amount of garlic this one calls for.
14
Vegan Split Pea Soup
Vegan Split Pea Soup topped with crispy fried mushroom “bacon” is the comforting dinner you NEED in your life! It’s hearty, packed with nutritious ingredients, and makes great leftovers.
15
A Very Good Vegan Split Pea Soup
Thick and hearty, this vegan split pea soup is filled with the usual mirepoix and medley of spices, plus added cabbage for extra heftiness and flavor. Includes slow cooker, Instant Pot + stovetop methods.
15 Best Split Pea Soup Recipes, Vegetarian Too!
This homemade split pea soup is easy to make and the perfect hearty soup for colder months. Flavored with fresh herbs, and a classic smokiness from ham. Plus 14 other split pea soup recipes!
5 from 2 votes
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Prep Time :10 minutes minutes
Cook Time :1 hour hour
Total Time :1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes
Yield: 5 servings
Author: Amanda Paa
SCALE:
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 ounces diced onion (about 1 large)
- 1/2 cup (2 ounces) diced carrot
- 1/2 cup (2 ounces) diced celery
- 4 cloves garlic, minced (about 1 1/2 tablespoons)
- 3/4 pound (12 ounces) dry green split peas
- 1 (32 ounce) box chicken stock
- 2 dried bay leaves
- 3 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 small ham shank preferred, or 1 cup diced ham
- 1/2 cup to 1 cup water
- 1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- salt to taste
Instructions
In a stock pot, heat olive oil to medium heat. Add onion, carrot, and celery to pot with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cook for 8-10 minutes until vegetables are softened and onions are translucent. Add garlic and split peas, and cook for 1 more minute.
Add chicken stock, bay leaves, thyme, and black pepper to the pot. Add ham shank. Bring soup to a boil, stir thoroughly then turn heat down to a simmer and cover.
Simmer, stirring occasionally. After 45 minutes of cooking, remove ham shank so that you can let lightly cool, then shred meat off the bone. Add meat to pot (if you are using diced ham, add it now), then simmer soup for another 10-15 minutes, until split peas have started to break apart, are very soft, and desired thickness of your soup has been reached, adding 1/2 to 1 cup water. When desired thickness is achieved, discard thyme sprigs and bay leaves. Stir in vinegar and Worcestershire sauce. Taste and adjust salt by 1/4 teaspoon increments if needed.
Serve with crusty bread or croutons!
Leftovers keep well in covered container in refrigerator for 4 days. When reheating, add water to loosen.
