• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Girl Heart Food

Eat Well. Cook with Love. Make your Belly Happy.

  • Home
  • Recipes
  • About & Contact
    • Work with Girl Heart Food
  • Subscribe
  • Privacy Policy & Terms of Use
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
Home » Slow Cooker » Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup with Ham

Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup with Ham

November 10, 2018 Updated: February 26, 2019 By Dawn - Girl Heart Food 30 Comments

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Yummly
  • Email
  • Mix
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
A photo collage of slow cooker split pea soup.

Like a big hug from grandma, this Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup is chocked full of veggies, cubes of ham and yellow split peas for one comforting, belly-warming, meal!

Two bowls of slow cooker split pea soup garnished with fresh thyme.

How to Make Newfoundland Pea Soup

I grew up on Newfoundland pea soup.  My grandmother always made it, typically with ‘doughboys’ (which are flour based dumplings plopped right in the pot on top of the soup; they cook up nice and fluffy).  I don’t serve my pea soup with doughboys (though I enjoy them).  I’d much rather save the belly room for another bowl of soup.  You gotta weigh your foodie options, am I right??

Story time—>

Years ago, I’m talking about 20 years, when I wasn’t as ‘kitchen-experienced’ as I am now, I decided to make pea soup on the stove top. After all, I grew up with the stuff, right?

Then, I went outside……

TO WASH THE CAR!

What?! Cause, ya know, the most sensible thing to do is turn on the stove to make soup and leave it.  Yeah, not good to say the least.  These days I’d like to think I’m  a little more sensible, but only by a tad, lol.

My cooking skills have improved considerably since then.  However, there are things I’d still prefer to be blissfully unaware of, ya know, like calories in a glass of wine or in a brownie….hehehe.

Nowadays, I make my split pea soup in the slow cooker.  And, guess what?  I can leave it!! Ha!

Guys, when I tell you this split pea soup is easy, I’m not lying (not that I’d ever do that to you, anyway, but you know what I mean).  You literally place all the ingredients in a slow cooker, turn on low and that’s it.  Dump and go.

Ingredients for the best split pea soup with ham.

Do I need to Soak Split Peas for Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup?

Nope! Just make sure before you use them to rinse and remove any rocks (yes, there could be some in the bag) or dark, inedible peas.  Other than that, they just go in the slow cooker with the other ingredients.

A bowl of dried yellow split peas.

Does Split Pea Soup Thicken As It Cools?

It sure does!  This split pea soup thickens up considerably as it cools.  If you are re-heating on the stove top, you can enjoy as is or add a little more chicken stock to thin out.

Can Pea Soup be Frozen? How to Freeze Pea Soup?

Yep! It freezes beautifully!  Once cooled, you can portion up into vacuum seal bags, press flat (so you have a ‘sheet’ of soup in a bag) and freeze to enjoy at a later time. If you don’t have a vacuum sealer, place into regular freezer safe bags or tubs. Thaw when ready to enjoy.  Great for busy weeknights!

Tips for Making Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup

  • Every model of slow cooker is different.  I have a super basic one.  It was actually a wedding gift and I treasure it.  For me, I cooked this split pea soup with ham on low for 7 hours and it worked out wonderfully.  If you need an extra hour or two, no biggie.  Also, don’t open up the lid if you don’t need to because it will increase cooking time.
  • I use cubes of cooked ham in this recipe. However, if you want to keep it vegetarian, simply omit the ham and use veggie stock. You may have to add a little more salt (depending on your tastes if ham is omitted).
  • Speaking of ham, the variety or brand you use will vary in salt content.  Adjust seasoning (if necessary) to suit you.
  • If you have a leftover ham bone, feel free to add to the slow cooker to infuse flavour.  Just remove when the soup is cooked.
  • Don’t throw away those celery leaves! Chop ’em up and throw in the pot.  They have so much flavour!
  • Cut the celery, carrot and parsnip into roughly 1/2 inch pieces.  This soup cooks for quite some time so you still want a little texture.
  • Turnip (rutabaga) is pretty popular in Newfoundland split pea soup too.  I didn’t use it here, but feel free to add some or sub out the parsnip.

An overhead shot of ingredients for slow cooker split pea soup in the slow cooker.

Being a huge vinegar fan, when I pour myself a bowl of this stick-to-ya-ribs split pea soup, I always, always, enjoy a splash of white vinegar. And you can also garnish with additional thyme, if you’re feeling fancy.  Trust me, it works.

A bowl of old fashioned pea soup garnished with fresh thyme.

Other Easy Soup Recipes you May Enjoy

  • Chicken Noodle Soup
  • Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato Soup with Fennel
  • Butternut Squash and Sweet Potato Soup
  • Black Bean and Sweet Potato Soup
  • Spicy Lentil Soup with Kale
  • Easy Mushroom Soup

An overhead shot of a bowl of yellow split pea soup garnished with fresh thyme alongside some thyme and bread.

Hope you love this slow cooker split pea soup – it’s reeeeally good!

Until next time, take care and chit chat again soon 🙂

P.S. If you think this slow cooker split pea soup will make your belly happy too, please be sure to hit that little Pin button.  Many thanks, you guys! XO

Two bowls of split pea soup garnished with fresh thyme alongside some thyme and bread.
Print
5 from 12 votes

Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup

Like a big hug from grandma, this Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup is chocked full of veggies, cubes of ham and yellow split peas for one comforting, belly-warming, meal!
Course Main Course
Cuisine Canadian
Keyword Newfoundland split pea soup, split pea soup, pea soup
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 7 hours
Total Time 7 hours 10 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 455kcal
Author Dawn - Girl Heart Food

Ingredients

  • 2 cups dried yellow split peas -one 450 g package, rinse and picked over
  • 1 lb cooked ham -cut into cubes, about 3 cups
  • 1 onion -diced
  • 3 stalks celery -chopped
  • 3 carrot -chopped
  • 2 parsnip -chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic -minced
  • 1 tbsp fresh thyme -or 1 tsp dried, plus more for garnish (optional)
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 7 cups unsalted chicken stock
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 3/4 tsp salt -or to taste
  • 1 tbsp unsalted butter

Instructions

  • Place all ingredients (except salt and butter) in a 6 quart slow cooker on low setting, stirring to combine.  Cook 7-9 hours. When done, stir in salt and butter. Remove and discard bay leaves. Garnish with additional thyme, if desired. Enjoy!
    Note: this pea soup thickens up considerably as it cools. When reheating, you can always add a little more stock to loosen.

Notes

  • Every model of slow cooker is different.  For me, I cooked this soup on low for 7 hours and it worked out wonderfully.  If you need an extra hour or two, no biggie. Also, don't open up the lid if you don't need to because it will increase cooking time.  
  • This split pea soup thickens up considerably as it cools.  If you are re-heating on the stove top, you can enjoy as is or add a little more chicken stock to thin out.
  • Can you freeze split pea soup?  Yep! It freeze beautifully!  Once cooled, you can portion up into vacuum seal bags, press flat (so you have a 'sheet' of soup in a bag) and freeze to enjoy at a later time.  
  • I use cubes of cooked ham in this recipe. However, if you want to keep it vegetarian, simply omit the ham and use veggie stock. You may have to add a little more salt (depending on your tastes if ham is omitted).
  • Speaking of ham, the variety or brand you use will vary in salt content.  Adjust seasoning (if necessary) to suit you.
  • If you have a leftover ham bone, feel free to add to the slow cooker to infuse flavour.  Just remove when the soup is cooked.
  • Don't throw away those celery leaves! Chop 'em up and throw in the pot.  They have so much flavour!
  • Cut the celery, carrot and parsnip into roughly 1/2 inch pieces.  This soup cooks for quite some time so you still want a little texture.
  • Turnip (rutabaga) is pretty popular in Newfoundland split pea soup too.  I didn't use it here, but feel free to add some or sub out the parsnip.
Tried this recipe? That's awesome!Mention @dawn.girlheartfood or tag #girlheartfood

Nutrition (estimate only)

Calories: 455kcal | Carbohydrates: 59g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 50mg | Sodium: 1004mg | Potassium: 1472mg | Fiber: 21g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 5400IU | Vitamin C: 15.9mg | Calcium: 102mg | Iron: 5.3mg
Nutrition Facts
Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup
Amount Per Serving
Calories 455 Calories from Fat 81
% Daily Value*
Fat 9g14%
Saturated Fat 3g19%
Cholesterol 50mg17%
Sodium 1004mg44%
Potassium 1472mg42%
Carbohydrates 59g20%
Fiber 21g88%
Sugar 10g11%
Protein 35g70%
Vitamin A 5400IU108%
Vitamin C 15.9mg19%
Calcium 102mg10%
Iron 5.3mg29%
* Nutrition estimate only. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

A photo collage of slow cooker split pea soup.

Filed Under: Favourite Recipes, Mains, One Pot, Slow Cooker, Soups Tagged With: gluten free, leftover ham, one pot, split pea soup

© Girl Heart Food.  All images and content are COPYRIGHT PROTECTED. Please do not use any images without prior permission.  Please do not republish this recipe.  If you want to reference this recipe, link directly back to this post. Thank you.

Previous Post: « The Very Best Easy Turkey Chili {with quinoa}
Next Post: Best Vegan Sloppy Joes {made in 20 minutes} »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Terri

    November 24, 2018 at 12:28 pm

    I love anything I can set and forget and this soup sounds amazing!! So do those little doughboys. Do you have a recipe posted for those? If not, you should!

    Reply
    • Girl Heart Food

      November 27, 2018 at 1:03 pm

      Me too! I definitely should 😉 Thanks Terri!

      Reply
  2. Denise from Urb’n’Spice

    November 22, 2018 at 6:30 pm

    5 stars
    Pea soup is my all time favourite soup. I have never tried to make it in a slow cooker and now I want to! Thanks so much for the great idea, Dawn.

    Reply
  3. Lizzy

    November 22, 2018 at 1:17 pm

    5 stars
    YES! I love any slower cooker recipe. It makes making dinner so easy! This recipe looks cozy and perfect for these cold days ahead!

    Reply
  4. Marissa

    November 15, 2018 at 5:13 pm

    5 stars
    This is just the kind of thing I’m craving right now with the weather getting chilly – a big bowl of comforting deliciousness!!

    I hear ya on early cooking woes! I can’t tell you how many times I set off the fire alarm when trying to broil bread (or broil anything!) without forgetting about it when I first starting cooking!

    Reply
    • Girl Heart Food

      November 18, 2018 at 12:58 pm

      Oh, bread! Yes, I’ve certainly burned my fair share of toast, lol. Thank you Marissa! We all need lots of soup when the cold weather hits, don’t we 😉 ?

      Reply
  5. mimi rippee

    November 15, 2018 at 10:58 am

    It is like a big hug, isn’t it?!! Now I have to figure this out. I thought split peas were only green. And anything else was a lentil. Obviously I’m wrong! Cant wait to try your recipe!

    Reply
    • Girl Heart Food

      November 18, 2018 at 12:57 pm

      Nope! You can get yellow ones and I grew up eating them! Hope you love this one, Mimi 🙂

      Reply
  6. Ben|Havocinthekitchen

    November 13, 2018 at 7:05 pm

    5 stars
    Split pea soup was the staple in my childhood, and that was, perhaps, my favorite soup back in those times. This recipe is pretty similar, but most people would use a couple of different meats, most often smoked, especially ribs, and that was so scrumptious. I haven’t had that soup for years (If not for a decade), but I swear your post has made my mouth water. I’ll need this soup to happen in my life ASAP. Thanks for inspiration!;)

    Reply
    • Girl Heart Food

      November 13, 2018 at 8:22 pm

      Nothing like comfort food, is it?? Hope you get a chance to try soon 🙂 Thanks so much, Ben!

      Reply
  7. Kevin

    November 13, 2018 at 5:16 pm

    5 stars
    Such a great idea to use the slow cooker for this soup, gives the flavors time to simmer together!

    Reply
    • Girl Heart Food

      November 13, 2018 at 8:21 pm

      Thanks Kevin 🙂

      Reply
  8. Leanne | Crumb Top Baking

    November 13, 2018 at 11:11 am

    5 stars
    Pea soup totally takes me back to my childhood! And doughboys were always a must! I’ve only made it a few times myself but it’s always been on the stove top, never the slow cooker. I need to try that. And I have a ham bone in the freezer from Thanksgiving so I should pop that in there! The splash of vinegar on top sounds like a good idea too! Hope you’re having a great week Dawn!

    Reply
    • Girl Heart Food

      November 13, 2018 at 8:21 pm

      Enjoyed this so many times growing up! Love that vinegar 😉 Thanks Leanne – have a great week too!

      Reply
  9. Laura

    November 12, 2018 at 4:19 pm

    5 stars
    I love split-pea soup, Dawn! But I’ve never made it! I love a toss and go recipe, too! Thanks so much for this recipe! Pinning!

    Reply
    • Girl Heart Food

      November 13, 2018 at 8:20 pm

      Hope you try it soon – it’s delish! Thanks Laura 🙂

      Reply
  10. Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen

    November 12, 2018 at 12:47 pm

    5 stars
    Split pea soup will always remind me of my mom Dawn! She made it all the time during the fall and winter when we were growing it! This looks delicious and I love that it’s a slow cooker recipe! Pinned!

    Reply
    • Girl Heart Food

      November 12, 2018 at 3:22 pm

      That’s sweet! Thanks Mary Ann – hope you have an awesome week 🙂

      Reply
  11. David @ Spiced

    November 12, 2018 at 10:58 am

    Haha! I have totally done some stupid things in the kitchen over the years, too. I once overcooked rice so badly that I had to throw the entire pan out. Seriously. I worked at cleaning that thing for like an hour before I chucked it into the trash. Oops! Now this split pea soup sounds like something I can get behind! It’s in a slow cooker (bonus points) and it sounds delicious. Laura grew up on doughboys, too (although they called them dumplings) and I can see how that would work in this soup. But I’m with ya…I’ll skip the doughboys in favor of more soup! 🙂

    Reply
    • Girl Heart Food

      November 12, 2018 at 3:21 pm

      Lol!! Too funny! Sometimes scrubbing salt on burnt pans works….speaking from experience, lol. Good thing for slow cookers 😉 Thanks David – have a great week.

      Reply
  12. Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers

    November 12, 2018 at 10:52 am

    5 stars
    I love split pea soup, so am loving your slow cooker version! Looks hearty and delicious, just the way I like it 🙂

    Reply
    • Girl Heart Food

      November 12, 2018 at 3:20 pm

      It’s a favourite here too, Jennifer! Thanks so much 🙂

      Reply
  13. [email protected]

    November 12, 2018 at 8:13 am

    5 stars
    You had me at big hug from grandma! Split Pea has always been one of my favorites! I love what you have done with it!! Using a slow cooker is a brilliant idea!! Have a wonderful week, my friend! XOXO

    Reply
    • Girl Heart Food

      November 12, 2018 at 3:19 pm

      Love split pea soup too! Thanks Annie! Have a great week too 🙂 XOXO

      Reply
  14. Kelly | Foodtasia

    November 11, 2018 at 9:03 pm

    You had me at a hug from Grandma! Dawn, this soup looks so warm and cozy. I thought turning on the stove and walking away from it was my trick!

    Reply
    • Girl Heart Food

      November 12, 2018 at 3:19 pm

      Right?? Thanks so much Kelly! It really is a great recipe for busy day when you can just throw everything in the pot and forget about it until it’s done 🙂

      Reply
  15. Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen

    November 11, 2018 at 8:08 pm

    5 stars
    This looks SO GOOD! And I’ve been thinking about it since I saw it on Insta this morning :). It’s getting chilly (sort of) here so I’m definitely in comfort food mode. I love that you garnish (if that’s the right word) your soup with vinegar–that’s a new one for me but it sounds awesome. Have a great week, Dawn!

    Reply
    • Girl Heart Food

      November 12, 2018 at 3:19 pm

      Thanks a million, Kelsie 🙂 Yes! Love vinegar on most things, but it really works well in this soup. Have a great week too, Kelsie!

      Reply
  16. Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop

    November 11, 2018 at 12:25 pm

    5 stars
    I’ve been known to forget a pot or two on the stove! The slow cooker is wonderful for so many reasons and being able to leave it unattended is just one of them! This split pea soup is perfect for these cold days. Nice and hearty and delicious!

    Reply
    • Girl Heart Food

      November 12, 2018 at 3:18 pm

      Glad to hear I’m not the only one 😉 Thanks so much Kathy – gotta love the slow cooker!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Girl Heart Food profile picture.Hi & welcome to Girl Heart Food! I’m Dawn and I’m so happy you stopped by.  Around here, you’ll find lots of yummy eats from veggie based to gluten free to classic comfort food fare. You’re bound to find something that’ll make your belly happy!

Read more about Girl Heart Food here.

Photo collage of places where Girl Heart Food has been featured.

Popular Right Now

  • Tall stack of cheesy ground beef quesadillas on a blue and white platter. Cheesy Ground Beef Quesadillas
  • A fried chicken sandwich garnished with lettuce and a pickle slice. Buttermilk Fried Crispy Chicken Burger
  • A caesar cocktail garnished with a skewer of olives, salami, and green bean and a celery stick. Ultimate Caesar Cocktail {the best caesar recipe}

A bowl of apple and cheese green salad with banner overlay that says 'All Recipes'.

A casserole of mac and cheese with a banner text over top with 'favourite recipes' on it.

Footer

Photo collage of places where Girl Heart Food has been featured.

© 2015 - 2019 Girl Heart Food. All images & content are copyright protected.

Interested in Working Together? Check out our Partnerships page

or Learn More About Girl Heart Food/Contact Us

Use of This Site Constitutes Acceptance of Its Privacy Policy & Terms of Use

This site uses cookies. By using our site, you agree to our use of cookies. Click here for more information.