Intro

There’s nothing quite like a warm, mouthwatering bowl of split pea soup to warm you up on chilly days. This comforting slow-cooker recipe is not only delicious, but it’s also incredibly easy to make and guaranteed to satisfy everyone at your table with its robust flavors and hearty texture. Plus, utilizing your slow cooker ensures that all the flavors blend together perfectly for a drool-worthy dish.

Ingredients

– 1 pound dried green split peas, rinsed and drained

– 1 large onion, diced

– 3 medium carrots, peeled and diced

– 2 celery stalks, diced

– 2 garlic cloves, minced

– 4 cups vegetable broth or chicken broth

– 4 cups water

– 1 smoked ham hock or smoked turkey leg (or 1 cup cubed ham)

– 1 bay leaf

– 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves or (1 teaspoon dried thyme)

– Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. Prepare the vegetables by dicing the onion, peeling and dicing the carrots, and dicing the celery stalks. Mince the garlic cloves. Rinse and drain the dried split peas.

2. Add all ingredients to the slow cooker: Place the rinsed split peas at the bottom followed by the prepared vegetables—onion, carrot, celery, and garlic. Top with the smoked ham hock or smoked turkey leg (or cubed ham).

3. Pour in liquids: Add the vegetable or chicken broth along with the water.

4. Seasonings: Drop in the bay leaf and sprinkle in fresh thyme leaves or dried thyme.

5. Cook on low: Cover your slow cooker with a lid and cook on low for about 8 hours or until peas are tender.

6. Shred the meat: Once cooking is complete, carefully remove the ham hock or turkey leg from the slow cooker. Let it cool down; shred the meat, discarding any fat or bones. Add the shredded meat back into the slow cooker and stir everything together.

7. Taste and season: Give your soup a taste, add salt and pepper as needed to taste.

8. Serve: Ladle into bowls and enjoy! You can garnish with fresh parsley if desired.

Conclusion

Slow-cooker split pea soup is an easy and delicious meal that is perfect for entertaining or busy weeknights when you need comforting food on the table without too much fuss. This recipe will make your house smell amazing all day long, and when you sit down to eat, you’ll be treated to a rich, flavorful bowl of pure comfort! Enjoy on its own or with some crusty bread for dipping.