Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup / Crock-pot Green Split Pea Soup

It’s soup weather these days and split pea soup is a family favorite. It’s wholesome, healthy, nutritious and so hearty. One of the simplest and effortless ways to make pea soup is with a slow cooker or crock pot. Whether you call this slow cooker split pea soup recipe or crock-pot split pea soup, it takes five minutes to prepare and is as simple as throwing all things into the pot and letting it cook for hours unattended. 

Best Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup Recipe, Crock-pot Split Pea Soup, Vegetarian Split Pea Soup

As a kid growing up, my mom cooked lentils, beans, and legumes all the time. I can honestly say we had it at least twice a week in curries, patties or soups. Back then, mom, had these stocked in the pantry all the time, so there was always something to cook. Being a single mom, these were her lifesavers. 

Also, the best part about lentils and beans is they don’t take too long to dehydrate. Most of them need an hour in warm water, and they bloom nicely. And these days, with the instant pot or pressure cooker, means you can make them from dried to finished without any having to soak them first.

About This Split Pea Soup

I’ve shared quite a few soup recipes with you and I often say it is a favorite. We do have lots of favorites, and yet this one has a special place. It’s simple and easy to make and my kids love it. The best part is that it’s healthy and nutritious for the whole family. It’s also wholesome and hearty, so a side salad and bread is all we need to make it a complete meal. And whether you choose to make it vegetarian or non-vegetarian, this one is bound to become a family favorite. 

Now, I don’t want to brag, but you will be impressed with all the wonderful soup recipes I have shared with you, which are healthy and nutritious and mostly use milk not cream.

You can find all my soup recipes here under soups. Here are just a few to give you a glimpse.

• Slow cooker potato soup
• Slow cooker black beans soup or curry
• Easy Healthier Roasted Sweet Potato Soup
• Easy homemade cream of mushroom soup
• Quick easy chicken pot pie soup
• Pumpkin sweet potato soup
• Maple pumpkin soup. 

Do split peas need to be soaked before cooking? 

Soaking split peas will shorten the cooking time, but it’s not really necessary. Split peas in general, cook fairly quickly. On the stovetop, it takes about 1 1/2 to 2 hours from dried to done. If you soak them that reduces the cooking time to 40 minutes. And yet, when cooked in a pressure cooker or instant pot, it can take as little as 20 to 25 minutes. 

Do split peas give you gas? 

If you’ve ever had issues with stomach pain when eating dried beans, or lentils, then soaking them before you cook may prove very helpful. Dried beans and lentils including split peas contain complex sugars that our human body finds hard to digest. The gas produced when absorbing them can cause bloating and flatulence. Soaking helps release some of these sugars into the water, which is why soaking, re-washing, and draining do help very much. 

How to make the best split pea soup? 

There are many great recipes out there. I make a few variations of the split pea soup. The truth is that it does not require a whole lot of ingredients. My mom had a simple process, and she cooked them on a stovetop.

She’d soak the split peas overnight in cold water. Then she wash and drain them well. In addition, she would saute onion, garlic, and bay leaf. Add soaked, drained split peas and stock. Simmer for 45 minutes, then season with salt and pepper. I think this is still the best pea soup I ever ate. Hearty and wholesome. 

How do you thicken split pea soup? 

Often we use flour to make a rue at the beginning of soup recipes, so it thickens as it cooks. However, when you cook lentils, beans, and split peas, it’s best to avoid starch water because it takes longer to get done. When you are boiling in devices like an instant pot, pressure cooker or slow cooker, this becomes even more important as the starch settles on the bottom of the pan and prevents heat from transferring correctly. It can also burn at the bottom and ruin the device. 

So, the best way to thicken a pea soup is with cornstarch. Add it to stock, water or milk. And add it a few minutes before the end of cooking time. 

Best Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup Recipe, Crockpot Split Pea Soup, Vegetarian Split Pea Soup

Best Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup Recipe, Crockpot Split Pea Soup, Vegetarian Split Pea Soup,

Useful Tips and Tools 

• Slow cooker or Crock-Pots are easily available these days and quite affordable too. They make meal planning so much easier than last minute stress of what’s for dinner? If possible choose one that has the option to saute in there so you can do everything in one pot including browning the meat. My only regret is that I can’t brown the meats or saute the onions in the same pot.  By the way, the Instant Pot has a slow cooker option too, and I’m pretty excited that I will be able to use it for slow cooking too. 
• Chopping board andKitchen knife to cut veggies. 
• Saucepan and spatula to cook the bechamel sauce.
• Soup bowls and soup ladel to serve the soup

Best Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup Recipe, Crockpot Split Pea Soup, Vegetarian Split Pea Soup,

Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup Recipe /Crock Pot Split Pea Soup Recipe (Save/Pin)

Ingredients

Into the Slow Cooker

• 450 grams (2 cups) dried split peas (green or yellow) (6 cups soaked)
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 clove garlic (medium)
• 1/2 tsp thyme dried
• 1/2 cup celery chopped
• 2 bay leaves
• 1/2 cup onions chopped
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1/4 cup parsley finely chopped
• 5 cups stock 

To finish the soup

• 250 ml Milk 
• 1 tsp cornstarch. 
• 1/2 cup cheddar (optional) 

Best Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup Recipe, Crockpot Split Pea Soup, Vegetarian Split Pea Soup,

Method 

Prepare Split Peas (see notes) 

• Check the split peas and sort for any unwanted peas.
• Wash and drain well (see notes above about soaking).

Into the Slow Cooker / Crock-Pot

• Add all slow cooker ingredients into the slow cooker.
• Split peas, onion, garlic, celery, parsley, bay leaves,  thyme.
• Season with salt and pepper – mix it all.
• Add 5 cups stock and stir well.
• Cover slow cooker and slow cook on low for 5 to 6 hours.
  ( I like an almost smooth consistency, so I do 8 hours overnight) 
• When you open the slow cooker,
• Remove the bay leaves and thyme sprig.

Mash or Don’t mash

• You can leave the soup in this consistency.
• For a grainy texture use a potato masher to smash all the ingredients.
• and for a smooth soup use a hand blender (this is what I do).

Finish the soup

• Combine the cornstarch and milk well.
• Then add milk mixture to the pea soup and mix well. 
• Finally, add the cheddar cheese – stir until well combined. 
• Check and adjust seasoning. 
• Serve garnished with more cheese or some whipped cream (optional).

Best Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup Recipe, Crockpot Split Pea Soup, Vegetarian Split Pea Soup

Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup Recipe

It's soup weather these days and split pea soup is a family favorite. It's wholesome, healthy, nutritious and so hearty. One of the simplest and effortless ways to make pea soup is with a slow cooker or crock pot. Whether you call this slow cooker split pea soup recipe or crock-pot split pea soup, it takes five minutes to prepare and is as simple as throwing all things into the pot and letting it cook for hours unattended. 

5 from 12 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Soup

Cuisine: American

Keyword: comfort food, healthy, soup, Split Pea, winter

Adjust Servings Here: 8 servings

Calories: 285kcal

Author: Veena Azmanov

Prep Time: 5 mins

Cook Time: 5 hrs

Total Time: 5 hrs 5 mins

Ingredients

Into the Slow Cooker

• 450 grams Dried split peas green or yellow
• 2 tbsp Olive oil
• 1 clove Garlic medium
• 2 Bay leaves
• 1/2 tsp Thyme
• 1/2 cup Celery chopped
• 1/2 cup Onions chopped
• 1 tsp Salt
• 1/2 tsp  Pepper
• 1/4 cup Parsley finely chopped
• 1.25 Liter Stock

To finish the soup

• 250 ml Milk
• 1  tsp  Cornstarch
• 1/2 cup Cheddar optional

Metric - US customary

Instructions

Prepare Split Peas (see notes)

• Check the split peas and sort for any unwanted peas.
• Wash and drain well.

Into the Slow Cooker / Crock-pot

• Add all slow cooker ingredients into the slow cooker.
• Split peas, onion, garlic, celery, parsley, bay leaves,  thyme.
• Season with salt and pepper - mix it all together.
• Add 5 cups stock - stir well making all ingredients are distributed well.
• Cover slow cooker and slow cook on low for 5 to 6 hours.
• ( I like an almost smooth consistency so I do 8 hours overnight)
• When you open the slow cooker,
• Remove the bay leaves and thyme sprig.

Mash or Don't mash

• You can leave the soup in this consistency.
• For a grainy texture use a potato masher to mash all the ingredients.
• For a smooth soup use a hand blender (this is what I do).

Finish the soup

• Combine the cornstarch and milk well.
• Then add milk mixture to the pea soup and mix well.
• Finally, add the cheddar cheese - stir until well combined.
• Check and adjust seasoning.
• Serve garnished with more cheese or some whipped cream (optional).

Nutrition Information

Calories: 285kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 1025mg | Potassium: 721mg | Fiber: 15g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 14.1% | Vitamin C: 6.7% | Calcium: 24.5% | Iron: 32.1%

The nutrition information and metric conversion are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee its accuracy. If this data is important to you please verify with your trusted nutrition calculator. Thank you

Tried this recipe?Mention @veenaazmanov or tag #veenaazmanov!

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