Split Pea Soup like mom used to make with tender split peas, smoked ham bone and vegetables. Enjoy a hot bowl of this hearty, protein packed and affordable soup on a cold winter day!

Our other favorite high fiber soup recipes are simple red lentil soup, pressure cooker black bean soup and pressure cooker lentil soup.

green split pea soup in a bowl garnished with green onion

Split Pea Soup Recipe

Hearty homemade split pea soup! Its ingredients are simple and versatile. Make with smoked ham bone, cubed fresh meat or ham, affordable soup bones or it is perfect for turkey leftovers.

Along with borscht, beef barley soup and chicken noodle soup, my mom and grandma had split pea soup on their regular dinner rotation. In Ukraine, we served it with homemade croutons.

We just celebrated Thanksgiving and I used turkey pan drippings and meat to give my mom’s split pea soup recipe a makeover on the blog.

a pot of green pea soup

Ingredients for Split Pea Soup

Split pea soup can be vegetarian or with meat.

  • Meat: A ham bone, any soup bones or turkey (carcass) leftovers. That’s what adds richness for the best split pea soup. But good old chicken works.
  • Split peas: Green or yellow split peas and no need to soak. Split peas might look like green lentils to some but they are not. Both are legumes but lentils cook much faster.
  • Vegetables: Onions, carrots, celery and potatoes. In Ukraine we didn’t have celery but added diced potatoes to soup recipes. I suspect because everyone grew their own potatoes.
  • Fresh herbs for garnish: Dill, parsley or green onion are great. If I had to choose, I would pick parsley.
  • Umami flavor for vegetarian pea soup: If you want to make vegetarian or vegan pea soup without ham bone, season with 1 tbsp smoked paprika at the end. It adds a lot of umami flavour.
ham vegetables split peas fresh and parsley

How to Make Split Pea Soup

There is detailed recipe card below. If you have Instant Pot, make my pressure cooker split pea soup instead.

  • Saute veggies: I recommend to use large pot or dutch oven you can saute veggies in and add remaining ingredients to make a one pot meal. If not, skillet and pot works too. Saute onion, carrots and celery for 5 minutes. green split pea soup
  • Add meat, water and seasonings: Add soup bones (meat), water, bay leaves and peppercorns. It is important to bring this mixture to a boil to reduce cook time. Also skim any foam with a mesh strainer. I used leftover turkey bones with meat and a few cups of juices + fat from roasting the turkey. Or skip all together and use smoked paprika to season the soup. leftover meat and broth to make split pea soup
  • Cook soup: Add split peas, bring soup to a boil again and cook for 1 – 1.5 hours or until split peas are soft and partially broken down. how to cook green split peas
  • Season: After discard bay leaves and season with pepper and garnish with green onion, dill or parsley. Season more to taste, if necessary.
homemade green pea soup

Serving, Storing and Reheating

Serving: Just like lentil soup, split pea soup is high in fiber and carbohydrates, so it is quite filling on its own. Men and kids who require more calories, can enjoy it with a toast or crackers. In Ukraine, my aunt served soup with croutons.

Storing and reheating: Split pea soup can be refrigerated for up to 5 days. Keep in mind it thickens within few hours after cooking and in the fridge afterwards. Just reheat desired amount in a pot on low heat while stirring. You will see soup slowly becoming of original consistency.

Freezing: Pea soup freezes beautifully because there are no tender veggies. I recommend not to add potatoes to a pea soup if you plan on freezing. Once thawed, potatoes do not taste good.

Pea soup is a one pot meal on its own that sticks to your ribs. Enjoy!

More Hearty Soup Recipes

green split pea soup in blue bowl with golden spoon and crackers
green split pea soup recipe

Split Pea Soup

Split Pea Soup like mom used to make with tender split peas, smoked ham bone and vegetables. Enjoy a hot bowl of this hearty, protein packed and affordable soup on a cold winter day!
4.95 from 20 votes
Servings 8 servings
Calories 255
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 40 minutes

Ingredients  

Instructions 

  • Preheat large pot or dutch oven on medium heat and swirl oil to coat. Add onion, carrots and celery; sauté for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Add soup bones/meat (if making vegetarian – skip), water, bay leaves and peppercorns. Bring to a boil and skim foam (if any) with a mesh strainer.
  • Add split peas and salt. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and cook for 1 – 1.5 hours or until split peas are soft and partially broken down.
  • Season with pepper and garnish with green onion, dill or parsley. Serve hot.

Notes

  • Store: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Keep in mind it thickens within few hours after cooking and in the fridge afterwards. Reheat desired amount in a pot on low heat. 
  • Freeze: Fully cook, cool completely and freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw on a stovetop covered on low.
  • Split peas: Green or yellow split peas and no need to soak. Split peas might look like green lentils to some but they are not. Both are legumes but lentils cook much faster.
  • Vegetables: Onions, carrots, celery and potatoes. In Ukraine we didn’t have celery but added diced potatoes. 
  • Fresh herbs for garnish: Dill, parsley or green onion are great. If I had to choose, I would pick parsley.
  • Umami flavor for vegetarian pea soup: If you want to make vegetarian or vegan pea soup without ham bone, season with smoked paprika at the end. It adds a lot of umami flavour.
  • Serving: Split pea soup is high in fiber and carbohydrates, so it is quite filling on its own. Men and kids who require more calories, can enjoy it with a toast or crackers. In Ukraine, my aunt served soup with croutons.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 255kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 29mg | Sodium: 366mg | Fiber: 14g | Sugar: 6g
Course: Soup and Stew
Cuisine: Ukrainian
Author: Olena Osipov
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About Olena

Welcome! I grew up in Ukraine watching my grandma cook with simple ingredients. I have spent the last 11 years making it my mission to help you cook quick and easy meals for your family!

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Comments

  1. I have leftover pieces of turkey, turkey breasts and parts of the leg but no bones. Will the recipe still taste just as good or should I buy a piece of a turkey wing or something?

    1. Yes, you should be perfectly fine! You have some dark meat so you will get flavor. We often made split pea soup without any meat and it was still delicious. Enjoy!

  2. 5 stars
    This soup was so good and really easy to make. Split pea soup has been a favorite of mine since childhood, but I’ll never eat canned soup again! I didn’t cook with the lid on, so it got really thick. I’ll add some water before reheating. I definitely recommend it!

    1. I’m so happy to read this! Thanks for your positive feedback! Yes, split pea soup thickens up a lot overnight.

  3. Hello I am about to try the recipe later today. I have a question if I add potatoes when should I add them?

  4. Hi. Just wondered if you took the meat bones out before you added the split peas or left them in the pot with the peas? Seems it would be difficult to strain them once peas are in.

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