Cozy Classic Split Pea Soup Recipe

This classic split pea soup is the ultimate comfort food. After making it dozens of times, I’ve perfected the recipe to ensure it’s always creamy and delicious. The secret is to cook the peas until they’re tender and then blend some of the soup for a smooth, velvety texture. Serve it with a swirl of cream and some chopped parsley for a cozy dinner that’s better than takeout. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Cheesy Broccoli Chicken and Rice Crockpot Dinner and Easy S’mores Cookie Cake Recipe Perfect for Dessert.

What You'll Need for Cozy Classic Split Pea Soup Recipe

Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.

• 1 lb dried split peas
• 1 lb ham, diced
• 1 large onion, diced
• 2 carrots, diced
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 tsp thyme
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• Optional: Heavy cream, for serving
• Optional: Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
• Optional: Crusty bread, for serving

How to Make Cozy Classic Split Pea Soup Recipe

1. Step 1: Pick over and rinse the split peas. Place them in a large pot and cover with water. Let them soak for at least 2 hours or overnight.
2. Step 2: Drain and rinse the peas. In the same pot, combine the peas, ham, onion, carrots, celery, garlic, bay leaves, thyme, salt, pepper, and chicken broth. Bring to a boil.
3. Step 3: Reduce heat to low, cover, and let the soup simmer for 1 to 1.5 hours, or until the peas are tender.
4. Step 4: Remove the bay leaves. Using an immersion blender, blend about half of the soup until smooth. Alternatively, you can blend the soup in batches in a regular blender.
5. Step 5: Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Serve the soup hot, topped with a swirl of cream and a sprinkle of chopped parsley. Serve with crusty bread on the side.

Storing & Reheating Cozy Classic Split Pea Soup Recipe

Short-Term Storage

Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftover soup in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Make-ahead tip: The soup can be made up to 2 days ahead and reheated before serving.

Freezing Cozy Classic Split Pea Soup Recipe

Freeze leftover soup in individual portions for up to 3 months.

How to Reheat Without Drying It Out

Oven: Reheat the soup in a pot on the stove over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Microwave: Reheat individual portions in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through.

Recipe Notes

• Chef tip: For a spicy version, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a diced jalapeño when sautéing the vegetables.
• Best substitution: You can substitute the ham for smoked turkey or bacon for a different flavor profile.
• Make-ahead: The soup can be made up to 2 days ahead and reheated before serving.
• Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled to serve a larger crowd.
• Troubleshooting: If the soup becomes too thick, thin it out with a little water or additional broth.

Cozy Classic Split Pea Soup Recipe

⏱

Prep

2 hours

🍳

Cook

1-1.5 hours

⏳

Total

3-3.5 hours

🍽

Serves

6-8 servings

🥗

Diet

Gluten-free

Ingredients

Main Ingredients

• 1 lb dried split peas
• 1 lb ham, diced
• 1 large onion, diced
• 2 carrots, diced
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced

Seasonings

• 2 bay leaves
• 1 tsp thyme
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth

Optional Toppings

• Heavy cream, for serving
• Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
• Crusty bread, for serving

Instructions

1. Step 1: Pick over and rinse the split peas. Place them in a large pot and cover with water. Let them soak for at least 2 hours or overnight.
2. Step 2: Drain and rinse the peas. In the same pot, combine the peas, ham, onion, carrots, celery, garlic, bay leaves, thyme, salt, pepper, and chicken broth. Bring to a boil.
3. Step 3: Reduce heat to low, cover, and let the soup simmer for 1 to 1.5 hours, or until the peas are tender.
4. Step 4: Remove the bay leaves. Using an immersion blender, blend about half of the soup until smooth. Alternatively, you can blend the soup in batches in a regular blender.
5. Step 5: Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Serve the soup hot, topped with a swirl of cream and a sprinkle of chopped parsley. Serve with crusty bread on the side.

Notes

• Chef tip: For a spicy version, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a diced jalapeño when sautéing the vegetables.
• Best substitution: You can substitute the ham for smoked turkey or bacon for a different flavor profile.
• Make-ahead: The soup can be made up to 2 days ahead and reheated before serving.
• Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled to serve a larger crowd.
• Troubleshooting: If the soup becomes too thick, thin it out with a little water or additional broth.

Storage

• Fridge: Store leftover soup in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
• Freezer: Freeze leftover soup in individual portions for up to 3 months.
• Oven reheat: Reheat the soup in a pot on the stove over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
• Microwave reheat: Reheat individual portions in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through.
• Make ahead: The soup can be made up to 2 days ahead and reheated before serving.

Nutrition Per Serving

• Calories: 350
• Protein: 25g
• Fat: 8g
• Carbs: 45g
• Fiber: 16g
• Sugar: 4g
• Sodium: 850mg
• Cholesterol: 55mg
• Sat. Fat: 3g

Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.

Cozy Classic Split Pea Soup Recipe FAQs

A Warm Final Note

I can’t wait for you to try Cozy Classic Split Pea Soup Recipe and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!