Recipe Details
Few comfort foods hit the spot quite like a warm bowl of classic split pea soup when you’re craving something cozy and satisfying. This tested, crowd-pleasing recipe pairs tender split peas with savory ham, filling hearty vegetables, and simple, balanced seasonings for a no-fuss delicious meal.
Split Pea Soup Ingredients
Gather these easy-to-source ingredients to make this top-rated split pea soup at home:
Dried split peas: You can find dried split peas on the dried beans and rice aisle of your local grocery store.
Cold water: This recipe calls for 2 full quarts of cold water to cook the peas low and slow.
Ham bone: Simmering a ham bone with the peas infuses the entire soup with a rich, wonderfully meaty depth of flavor.
Vegetables: You’ll need 2 onions, 3 medium carrots, 3 celery stalks, and 1 starchy potato to add texture and heartiness.
Spices and seasonings: We keep the flavor profile clean and simple with just salt, black pepper, and dried marjoram.
How to Thicken Split Pea Soup
The starchy potato added to this soup naturally breaks down as it cooks, leaving you with a perfectly thick, creamy soup with no extra work required. If your finished soup is still thinner than you’d like, you have two easy fixes: stir in a small splash of full-fat cream for extra richness (though it will slightly alter the original soup’s flavor), or thicken it with a quick homemade cornstarch slurry.
To make a cornstarch slurry, whisk 1 tablespoon of cornstarch together with 1 tablespoon of cold water (or leftover stock) until the mixture is completely smooth and lump-free. Stir the slurry into your simmering soup and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until the soup thickens up to your preferred consistency.
What to Serve With Split Pea Soup
Split pea soup is rich, hearty, and creamy, so it pairs best with simple, fresh, or crunchy sides that balance out its richness. These are our favorite go-to pairing options:
Homemade Croutons
Toasted Garlic Bread
Grilled Cheese Sandwich
How to Store Split Pea Soup
Let your split pea soup cool completely to room temperature first, then transfer leftover soup to an airtight storage container. It will stay fresh in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. Reheat leftovers gently either on the stovetop or in the microwave.
Can You Freeze Split Pea Soup?
Yes, you can absolutely freeze split pea soup made with ham, and it will stay good for up to 3 months in the freezer. Ladle your fully cooled soup into zip-top freezer bags, but leave roughly 1 inch of empty space at the top of the bag—soup expands as it freezes, so this extra room prevents cracks or leaks. Squeeze out any excess air, seal the bag tightly, wrap it in a layer of aluminum foil to protect against freezer burn, and lay it flat to freeze for compact, easy storage.