By: Jill Mills Posted: Jan 25, 2026

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

With just a handful of ingredients and minutes of prep, this Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup with Ham might be the easiest soup recipe ever. It’s cozy, comforting, and perfect for those busy days when you just don’t have time to cook.

A bowl of slow cooker split pea soup with ham

This split pea soup with ham combines two of my favorite things in the winter- easy slow cooker recipes and cozy, comforting soups. I make quite a few soups in the slow cooker, like my copycat Panera broccoli cheddar soup and crockpot tomato soup, but this one might win the award for the easiest. Just toss a handful of ingredients, like dried split peas and leftover ham, in the crockpot and come back 6-8 hours later to a delicious soup ready to enjoy.

Why I Love This Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup Recipe

Dump it & forget it. The gist of this recipe is “add everything to the slow cooker and come back later”. There’s no sauteing or searing or cooking of any kind required first, like many slow cooker recipes. It really doesn’t get easier!
Great way to use leftover ham. I always plan to make slow cooker split pea soup with the leftovers from our Christmas ham or any other ham I make throughout the year. If I don’t feel like making the soup right away, I just keep the leftover ham in the freezer until the craving strikes.
Cozy & comforting. Split pea soup with ham is the ultimate winter comfort food soup. It’s warm, it’s filling, and the ham really gives it that “meat on the bones” nourishing feel. It always hits the spot on cold winter days.

Overhead view of ingredients needed to make slow cooker split pea soup

Key Ingredients

This soup is made with a handful of simple ingredients and a few spices. Scroll down to the recipe card below for the exact measurements.

Split peas – Dried split peas can be found in bags by the dried beans.
Carrots & potatoes – Add substance and flavor with these veggies to the soup. I recommend peeling the potatoes and dicing everything into equal sizes.
Ham – Leftover ham is perfect!
Herbs & spices – Onion powder, celery seed, salt, pepper, minced garlic, bay leaves, and fresh thyme all flavor the broth.
Olive oil & butter – Add richness and flavor to the broth.
Better than Bouillon – I used chicken flavored Better than Bouillon and water in this soup instead of chicken broth. Feel free to add a bit more bouillon for a stronger flavor.

How To Make Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup with Ham

Crockpot split pea soup is one of the easiest soup recipes I’ve ever shared. Here’s how to make it. The printable instructions can be found in the recipe card below.

Ham, split peas, and seasonings in a slow cooker

Rinse the peas. Rinse the peas and remove any stones.
Combine the ingredients. Add all ingredients to the crockpot.
Slow cook. Cook on low for 8+ hours or on high for 6 hours. It’s ready when the peas, carrots, and potatoes are tender.
Enjoy. Remove the bay leaves and thyme stems. Serve and enjoy.

Make It In The Instant Pot

Craving split pea soup with ham but don’t have all day to cook it? Make it in the InstaPot instead!

Just add everything to the InstaPot, cook on Manual with High Pressure for 25 minutes, allow it to naturally release, and enjoy!

Split Pea Soup in a bowl served with crusty bread

Recipe Tips & Tricks

Here are a few helpful tips for making slow cooker split pea soup.

No need to soak the peas. There’s no need to soak the dry split peas before cooking. They’ll absorb much of the cooking liquid and expand and split that way.
Adjust the consistency. The peas themselves will thicken the soup as they split in the slow cooker. To thicken it more, just cook with the lid off for an hour or so. If it ends up too thick, you can stir in some chicken broth to reach your desired consistency.
Add the ham bone. If you have a leftover ham bone, you can add it to the slow cooker with the soup for even more flavor. Just remove it before serving.
Cook low and slow. Whether you’re cooking this split pea soup with ham on high or low, it’s still going to take all day to cook. Otherwise, the peas will not be soft and tender. There’s no real way to speed this up, unless you use the instant pot method.

A bowl of split pea soup with ham with a piece of bread

Serving Suggestions

I like to serve split pea soup with a side of crusty French bread or breadsticks to soak up all the broth. If I have more leftover ham, I’ll often serve that too.

If I’m craving a soup & salad combo, I’ll serve it with my copycat Olive Garden salad.

How To Store & Reheat Leftovers

Fridge: Store leftover split pea soup with ham in an airtight container in the fridge. It’s best enjoyed within 4 days.
Freezer: Once cooled, transfer the soup to a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge.
Reheat: Individual portions can be reheated in the microwave. Larger portions are best reheated on the stovetop. If the soup has thickened, add a splash of broth to thin it out.

More Slow Cooker Soup Recipes

Marla

Jan 29, 2026 at 2:02 pm

Is the celery seed essential in this recipe or can I substitute with something else ? Also, is it possible to add drop dough dumplings to this recipe ? Thank you