Dried green split peas break down into something silky over a long afternoon in this slow cooker split pea soup, especially with a smoked ham hock adding depth to the pot. Carrots, celery, and onion round it out without any real effort on your part.
The recipe is simple and allows for customization with additional vegetables or spices to suit your taste.
Hearty Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup
This split pea soup features tender peas cooked with carrots, celery, and ham in a flavorful broth. The slow cooking process allows the flavors to meld beautifully, resulting in a satisfying meal that serves approximately 6 people.
Ingredients
- 1 pound dried green split peas, rinsed and sorted
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 carrots, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 1 smoked ham hock or 1 cup diced ham
- 6 cups vegetable or chicken broth
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Chopped fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Prep the Ingredients: Rinse the split peas under cold water and sort through them to remove any debris.
- Combine Ingredients: In the slow cooker, add the split peas, onion, carrots, celery, ham hock, broth, garlic, thyme, and bay leaf.
- Cook: Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, until the peas are tender and the soup has thickened.
- Remove Ham Hock: If using a ham hock, remove it from the soup, shred the meat, and return it to the pot. Discard the bone.
- Season: Taste the soup and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.
- Serve: Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with chopped parsley if desired.
Cook and Prep Times
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-8 hours
- Total Time: 6-8 hours 15 minutes
Nutrition Information
- Servings: 6 bowls
- Calories: 210kcal
- Fat: 3g
- Protein: 14g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
I pull the ham off the bone and stir it back in before serving, then add a little black pepper to taste. It thickens as it cools, so I keep a splash of broth handy to loosen the leftovers.
