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Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup

Name: Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 8 h
Total time: 8 h 15 min
Yield: 8 servings (2 quarts).
Ingredients: 1 package (16 ounces) dried green split peas, rinsed; 2 cups cubed fully cooked ham; 1 large onion, chopped; 1 cup julienned or chopped carrots; 3 garlic cloves, minced; 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed; 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme; 1 carton (32 ounces) reduced-sodium chicken broth; 2 cups water

32 reviews

Test Kitchen Approved

Total Time

Prep: 15 min. Cook: 8 hours

Makes

8 servings (2 quarts)

When I have leftover ham in the fridge, I like to make this slow-cooker split pea soup. Just throw the ingredients in the slow cooker, turn it on and dinner is done. —Pamela Chambers, West Columbia, South Carolina

Ingredients

1 package (16 ounces) dried green split peas, rinsed
2 cups cubed fully cooked ham
1 large onion, chopped
1 cup julienned or chopped carrots
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 carton (32 ounces) reduced-sodium chicken broth
2 cups water

Directions

In a 4- or 5-qt. slow cooker, combine all ingredients. Cover and cook on low 8-10 hours or until peas are tender.

Can you freeze Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup?

Freeze cooled soup in freezer containers. To use, thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Heat through in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally.

Slow-Cooker Split Pea Soup Tips

Can you overcook slow-cooker split pea soup?

Split peas take a very long time to soften, so you don’t have to worry about overcooking them. If you’d like the rest of the vegetables in your soup to retain some bite, add them later into the cooking time.

How do you thicken slow-cooker split pea soup?

For a slightly thicker split pea soup, remove about a cup of cooked soup, blend until smooth and then add it back into the pot. One of these thickening agents would work, too.

Do split peas need to be soaked before cooking?

Split peas don’t need to be soaked, but doing so can reduce the cooking, which is great if you’re in a time crunch.

What goes well with slow-cooker split pea soup?

We recommend dunking bread into split pea soup recipes! Try one of our favorite bread recipes on the side.

How can you make this slow-cooker split pea soup vegetarian?

You can make this soup vegetarian by removing the ham and replacing the chicken broth with vegetable broth, like in this vegetarian split pea soup recipe. Hungry for more? Try out these other slow-cooker soup recipes.

—Julie Schnittka, Taste of Home Senior Editor, and Christina Herbst, Taste of Home Assistant Digital Editor

Nutrition Facts

1 cup: 260 calories, 2g fat (1g saturated fat), 21mg cholesterol, 728mg sodium, 39g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 15g fiber), 23g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2-1/2 starch, 2 lean meat.