BEST EVER slow cooker ham and pea soup

This slow cooker ham and split pea soup is probably one of my favourite soup recipes. Not only is it really tasty and comforting, but it’s packed full of flavour. It really is a filling and warming meal – particularly on cold, wet winter days. And the added bonus is it has tons of veggies in it too, so if you have kids – and they’re a little fussy like mine – they won’t even realise. And with this pea and ham soup, you don’t even have to do much as you can throw all the ingredients into the slow cooker and let it do most of the work. 

What does pea and ham soup taste like?

This is a really hearty soup – and the ham adds a salty and smoky flavour, while the split peas, vegetables and herbs add an earthiness and delicate sweetness. The split peas also have a creamy texture, so this soup is thick and delicious, with pieces of tender ham. 

What ingredients are needed?

• yellow split peas

• ham hock or gammon joint

• carrot

• celery

• onion

• garlic

• chicken stock

• dried mixed herbs

• bay leaves

What type of ham to use?

It doesn’t matter for my slow cook pea and ham soup recipe, as any cut of ham will work really well. You’ll see I used a gammon joint [picture above] but you can also use ham hock, or even leftover ham. The ham will cook for several hours, so will become really tender – and if you have a bone in ham, it will be easy to pick this out. 

What are split peas?

Split peas are dried peas that have been split – and are part of the legume family. They can be yellow or green, and you’re fine to use either for this recipe, however, I prefer to use yellow as they have a more earthy flavour. Green split peas are much sweeter. 

Are split peas good for you?

Split peas are nutritious and a great source of protein and fibre, as well as iron and potassium. They’re also low in fat. So yes, they’re really good for you!

Do the split peas need soaking?

For this recipe, there is no need to soak the split peas ahead of cooking as you’ll be slow cooking them for several hours. I do, however, rinse them in cold running water to remove any dirt. 

How easy is this slow cooker ham and pea soup?

Making ham and pea soup in a slow cooker couldn’t be simpler. All you have to do is to roughly chop the vegetables, then add all of it, the ham and the stock to the slow cooker pot. Then cook on low for 8-10 hours or on high for 5-6 hours. Once you’re ready to serve, then remove the ham and the bay leaves, then blitz to a smooth and silky consistency with a stick blender. If you don’t have a stick blender, carefully add the vegetables and stock to a food processor or blender. Return the ham back into the soup, reserving a few pieces for serving. 

What to serve with it

This slow cooker pea and ham soup is perfect by itself but really isn’t a proper meal without dunking lots of lovely crusty bread into it. This is a very dunkable soup… For added freshness, I like to sprinkle some parsley over the top and dollop a big spoonful of Dijon mustard – for a quick spicy hit.

Can this soup be frozen?

Yes, it can. Add the soup and meat to a suitable container and freeze for up to three months. Make sure to thoroughly defrost before reheating. 

Other slow cooker recipes

Slow cooker chicken chow mein

Slow cooker chicken tikka masala

Slow cooker chicken biryani

Slow cooker bolognese

Slow cooker beef curry

Slow cooker Chinese chicken curry

Slow cooker beef and chorizo

Slow cooker Thai massaman curry 

Slow cooker ham joint in coke

BEST EVER slow cooker pea and ham soup

4.91 from 10 votes

This is one of my favourite slow cooker soup recipes - comforting split peas and vegetables with tender pieces of ham. It's a winner every single time. And best of all, it's really easy to make.

Servings 6 - 8

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 8 hours hrs

Total Time 8 hours hrs 5 minutes mins

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Ingredients

 

MetricUS Customary

 

1x2x3x

• 1 onion chopped
• 1 large carrot peeled and chopped
• 2 celery sticks chopped
• 3 cloves garlic finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon mixed herbs
• 2 bay leaves
• 500 g yellow split peas rinsed under water
• 1-1.5 kg gammon joint or ham hock
• 1 litre chicken stock

Instructions

 

• Throw all the ingredients into the slow cooker, and cook on low for 8 hours.
• Take out the ham, it will be really tender and falling apart.
• Remove the bay leaves.
• Then use a stick blender to blitz the soup until it’s smooth. Or pour the soup into a blender or food processor.
• Shred the ham, then add back into the soup. Serve the soup with large chunks of fresh bread, a dollop of Dijon mustard and some fresh parsley. Enjoy!

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 631kcalFat: 15.5g

Author: cooksimply

Calories: 631kcal

Course: Appetizer, Dinner, Lunch, Main Course, Soup

Cuisine: American, British

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