Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup
There's something incredibly comforting about coming home to a slow cooker that's been working away all day. This hearty split pea soup is rich, cozy, and packed with tender ham, vegetables, and creamy split peas. It's one of those simple, old-fashioned recipes that fills the house with the best aroma and tastes even better the next day. Serve it with warm, crusty bread for the ultimate comfort meal.
Prep time
15 min
Cook time
5–10 hrs
Serves
Ingredients
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- 2smoked ham hocks
- 1 lbdried green split peas, rinsed well
- 3–4 mediumcarrots, peeled and medium diced
- 3–4 stalkscelery, medium diced
- 1 smallyellow onion, diced
- 2 clovesgarlic, minced
- 2 tbspfresh parsley, chopped
- 1bay leaf
- 6 cupslow-sodium chicken broth
- freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
Ingredients
- 2smoked ham hocks
- 1 lbdried green split peas, rinsed well
- 3–4 mediumcarrots, peeled and medium diced
- 3–4 stalkscelery, medium diced
- 1 smallyellow onion, diced
- 2 clovesgarlic, minced
- 2 tbspfresh parsley, chopped
- 1bay leaf
- 6 cupslow-sodium chicken broth
- freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- 1
Rinse the split peas thoroughly under cold water and spread them evenly across the bottom of your slow cooker.
- 2
Add the carrots, celery, onion, garlic, parsley, and bay leaf over the split peas.
- 3
Place the ham hocks on top of the vegetable mixture.
- 4
Pour the chicken broth over everything and season with freshly cracked black pepper.
- 5
Cover and cook until the split peas are very soft and the meat is falling off the bone — on High for 5–6 hours, or on Low for 8–10 hours.
- 6
Carefully remove the ham hocks and transfer them to a cutting board. Once cool enough to handle, remove the meat from the bones. Discard the skin, bones, and any excess fat.
- 7
Shred or chop the ham into bite-sized pieces and return it to the slow cooker.
- 8
Stir everything together until well combined. Taste and season with additional salt and freshly cracked black pepper if needed.
- 9
Ladle into bowls and garnish with fresh curly parsley. Serve warm with crusty bread for a cozy, comforting meal.
Melissa's Notes
**Freezer Friendly:** This soup freezes beautifully for up to 2–3 months. Allow it to cool completely before transferring it to airtight freezer-safe containers.
**Reheating:** Split pea soup naturally thickens after sitting overnight or after freezing. Simply stir in a splash of water or chicken broth while reheating until it reaches your preferred consistency.
**Leftovers:** Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
**Serving Suggestion:** This soup is especially delicious with a thick slice of warm, crusty bread or a homemade biscuit for dipping.
Using low-sodium chicken broth lets the rich flavour of the ham hocks shine without making the soup overly salty.
Every ham hock is a little different, so be sure to taste the soup before adding extra salt.
Nutrition Information
Per serving — based on 8 servings
Nutrition information is an estimate and may vary depending on the ingredients and brands used.
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