Here is an easy slow cooker split pea soup with ham recipe we make every month for dinner. It is an inexpensive meal with no soaking required. When it's cold outside it is the solid leftover ham recipe to make after the holidays too.

Once again we was looking for another meal to make with our leftovers. We hadn't tried making soup from scratch before but figured it couldn't be that hard. It came out good and is now included in our long list of favorite and easy crockpot recipes.

Honestly we had never used dried beans for anything so this was a new experience. Seemed to us that it would take lot of work and time to start from scratch like this. We couldn't believe how well it turned out. After this we made all sorts of other creations with dried beans.

During the year this is a great way of how to cook ham hocks. You can find them smoked at the grocery store cheap. They add a ton of flavor cooked together throughout the day. The meat on the outside will become so tender that it will fall off. Then you scoop out the bones and discard those when you're ready to eat and serve.

Another idea is you can grab a small pork shankthose are great too. Lay in the bottom and the same thing will happen. The meat will peel off after all the hours soaking, and you won't even need to add seasonings because the meat has enough.

This crockpot split pea soup recipe is not only good and healthy but inexpensive to make too! Seriously we only think we spent about $6, since we already had the meat.

Ingredient notes

The dried peas We found in a barrel at our local organic market. We grabbed a few veggies in the produce section and that was all we needed.

You will need a liquid to cook everything in to get tender. Typically we will use Vegetable broth for this. You can use water but broth is so much better to add lots of flavor of course.

Salt and pepper to taste is used. We will sprinkle some in before cooking since it will be rather bland if you add nothing but the broth does have some sodium so have a light hand. Bay leaves are optional (but a must for some).

Now let's talk about vegetables that work well in this meal. Carrots and celery are nice diced with some yellow or white Onions in there too. All super inexpensive and can be found year round, bonus.

Can you cook ham hocks in split pea soup?

Yes if we don't have leftovers or a diced ham steak We will throw in a few ham hocks to add meat and a wonderful smoky flavor. It is best added at the beginning to get super tender and lend more flavor and some salt to the dish.

Can you add potatoes?

Want to make it even heartier with a tweak? You can add a bag of diced frozen hashbrowns or cut up some yourself. We would recommend red or russets in small bits like breakfast potatoes size. It will make this thicker and heartier for sure.

A slow cooker brimming with uncooked green split peas and savory ham rests on a wooden surface, ready to become a hearty split pea soup.

Do split peas need to be soaked?

NO. We use them right out of the bag for our slow cooker and Instant Pot split pea soup recipe too. What is nice about this version though is you can throw it all in first thing in the morning and when you're home you lift the lid!

How Long to Cook Split Pea Soup in Slow Cooker

You are going to want about 8 hours to cook this to get it to the right consistency, smooth, with the peas broken down nicely. Keep in mind that the other vegetables you may have added will get softer so keep them on the larger side.

How do you know when split pea soup is done?

It is all about the texture. If you look and there are still peas in tact in small balls then it needs more time. When done those will break down and you won't see them at all, rather the soup will look smooth and taste as such too.

How to Thicken Split Pea Soup

If you like it thick like you see in the picture at the top then add 6 cups of vegetable broth or water. However, if you want a soupier consistency add 7 cups of water, like the picture at the bottom. Either way you make it, this is a hearty soup everyone loves.

Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup Recipe

By Slow cooker split pea soup with ham is so easy to make and a healthy slow cooker recipe you can make year round! Prep: 10 minutes minsCook: 7 hours hrsTotal: 7 hours hrs 10 minutes minsServings: 8 Save Recipe Saved! Pin Recipe Comment Print Recipe

Equipment

Ingredients

16 oz split peas dry
7 cups vegetable broth, or water, more if you want to thin it out
2 large carrots, diced
2 stalks celery, diced
1/3 small onion, diced
1/2 tsp salt
2 large ham hocksor leftover ham, bite size-diced

Instructions

Add dried peas and broth to slow cooker.
Cut veggies into med. sized sliced pieces and add to crockpot. Dice onion and add that as well as your salt too. (can salt at the end if you'd rather)
Put your ham hocks in the middle (or sprinkle your diced leftover ham pcs. into your pot).
Cover and let cook on low for about 8 hrs or until your peas are as soft as you'd like them. If using ham hock remove before eating and cut off meat, return to pot and stir into soup.
Add more broth to thin out if desired – will thicken as it sits as well as become thicker the next day if you have leftovers

Nutrition

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Entree, Main Course, SoupCuisine: American Tried this recipe?Mention @thetypical_mom or tag #thetypicalmom!

We love buying half a ham throughout the year though because we can get at least a weeks worth of meals out of it like our Crockpot loaded baked potato soup We cooked this year, which makes it cheap! We'd use our 6 qt. crockpot with a locking lid which is great especially if you're taking this to a potluck.

How to save leftovers

If you do have leftovers it saves quite well. Always make sure it cools completely to room temperature before transferring it into a container. It will stay well for 3-4 days in the refrigerator until you're ready to reheat it. Reheat leftover soup in a microwave safe bowl. It will have thickened up so adds some broth.

Stir it in until it thins out a bit and become the consistency you want. Heat for 45 seconds and then stir. Again add another 45 seconds or so and stir again. Do this until it is as warmed as you'd like. It is nice to add some shredded cheese and bacon bits to the top too when enjoying again.

Other easy soup recipes for dinner you'll love

Chicken soup in the Crockpot is always a win when you feel under the weather or it's rainy outside. Instant Pot barley soup is wonderful with leftover ham bone as well. Leftover ham bean soup goes without saying is the solid day after Easter meal. Comfort food at it's finest.