Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup

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Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup is the perfect way to use up leftover ham and transform it into a hearty soup that is perfect for lunch or dinner. The soup slow cooks for 8 hours, resulting in a velvety broth chocked full of vegetables and ham.

Split pea soup. You either love it or hate it. I grew up hating it. My mom would make it a few times each year, and try to persuade me to try her families recipe for that thick green split pea soup. Of course, me being a young bratty child I always refused. It wasn’t until I was in college that I finally gave the soup a try, and found out that I loved it. I think the green murky color tis what turns-off most people. In the the food blogger/ food photography world we like to call this soup “ugly food”. It is hard to photograph and convey how delicious this soup really does taste.

My recipe is a combination of both mothers ingredients plus put my own spin on it. You know I love veggies. So why not add lots to the pot. I also did something daring. I put a few parsnips in the slow cooker. Before making this soup I never even cooked or consumed parsnips. But I knew it was a root vegetable, and I figured this Split Pea Soup was the perfect dish to use it in.

Both mothers let their soups simmer on the stove top for hours on end. I don’t have that kind of time. Instead, I made my split pea soup in the slow cooker. If I remember to start it early enough this is the way I will make it. However, if I forget then I will make my Instant Pot Split Pea Soup version! Both turn out delicious each and every time.

Ingredients

• Ham – You need both the ham bone and extra ham to top and/or mix into the soup.
• Split Peas – One 16 oz. bag is all you need for this recipe. No need to presoak. Just place them right in the slow cooker!
• Vegetables – Potatoes, parsnips, carrots, celery, onions, and green onions. The only thing that most people don’t put in their soup is parsnips and we really like the flavor it adds to it!
• Spices – Seasoning salt (this is my secret ingredient for the best Split Pea Soup!), fresh garlic minced, black pepper, fresh parsley, and a bay leaf!
• Water – Yes, you read that correctly. I have found that the ham itself has enough fat and salt in it. If you use chicken broth or stock it can be too greasy or even salty. Water is key. Trust me. Between the flavors of the ham bone, vegetables, and Seasoning Salt this is a very flavorful soup.

Directions

I created a step-by-step video for you in case you weren’t sure exactly how to make Split Pea Soup. But to be honest, it’s a very easy recipe to put together and one that I’m confident that you can execute seamlessly!

In a 6 quart slow cooker, place the ham bone, diced ham, and split peas in the slow cooker. Then add the sliced carrots, parsnips, white potatoes, onion, celery, and garlic on top. Add bay leaf, season salt, and black pepper followed by 6 cups of water. Stir until everything is incorporated.

Cook on low for 8-10 hours.

Once the soup is done remove the ham bone and add in the diced ham. Mix well, and add 3 tablespoons fresh parsley. Mix again.

Ladle soup into bowls and top with additional parsley and green onions.

FAQs

Here are all the frequently asked questions readers have asked when making this recipe.

Tips & Tricks

Here are a few of my favorite tips and tricks I’ve learned when making this recipe.

• Prep – You can prep all the vegetables except for the potatoes the night before. You can even place all the spices in the bag. This will allow you to throw this together in minutes come the next morning. I do this often!
• Ham Bone – If you don’t have a ham bone, that’s okay. You can omit that part; however, the ham bone is what gives off so much flavor. You can use a pre-cooked ham to add at the end of your soup.
• Make Split Pea Soup Vegetarian – You can easily make this split pea soup vegetarian my omitting the ham bone and diced ham. Instead, I would use vegetable broth instead of water to add a little flavor to the soup.
• Toppings – Fun fact, I love to top my split pea soup with croutons! You can buy store bought or make a batch of my Garlic Bacon Croutons.

Leftover Ham Recipes

If you still have some leftover ham, here are a few more of my favorite ways to use up ham and make the leftovers shine like they are brand new again!

• One Pot Pasta with Ham and Peas
• Tropical Ham Salad Sandwiches
• Ham, Egg, and Cheddar Cheese Breakfast Pastry
• Ham & Egg Savory Waffle Stack
• Southern Biscuit Breakfast Sandwiches

Favorite recipes that pair well with Split Pea Soup

Here are a few of my favorite recipes that pair well with split pea soup. Although, just enjoying a bowl of soup on it’s own can be rather filling.

• Chicken Chop Salad with Smoky French Dressing
• Beer Bread
• Oven-Roasted Grape Tomato Flatbread

If you make this Crock Pot Split Pea Soup recipe, I would be honored and love for you to take the time to leave a star rating and comment! I spend hours developing and testing these recipes, and always love to hear feedback and user experience!

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