Pea and Ham Soup is the ultimate comfort food, rich, hearty, and full of flavor. This classic dish is made with dried split peas, smoky ham hocks or leftover ham, and simple vegetables like carrots, onions, and celery. Slow-cooked until thick and creamy, it is the kind of soup that warms you from the inside out.
The secret to the deep, savory flavor comes from the ham. As it simmers, the ham infuses the soup with a smoky richness while the split peas slowly break down, creating a velvety texture. The longer it cooks, the better it gets, turning simple ingredients into something incredibly satisfying. Some people prefer it smooth and creamy, while others like it chunky with bits of ham and veggies in every bite.
Pea and Ham Soup is not only delicious but also very budget-friendly. It is a great way to use leftover ham or a ham bone after a holiday meal. The ingredients are simple, and the prep is minimal. Most of the magic happens in the pot while it simmers away, filling your kitchen with the comforting smell of home-cooked goodness.
This soup is traditionally served with crusty bread or buttered toast, perfect for dipping into the thick, savory broth. It is filling enough to serve as a main meal, especially on chilly days when you are craving something warm and hearty.
Another bonus is that Pea and Ham Soup stores beautifully. Make a big batch and freeze the leftovers for quick, satisfying meals later on. The flavors even deepen over time, making it taste even better the next day.
If you are looking for a simple, wholesome meal that delivers on both flavor and comfort, Pea and Ham Soup is always a winner. It is proof that the best meals often come from the simplest ingredients.

Ingredients
- 1 cup dried split peas rinsed and drained
- 1 ham hock or 2 cups diced cooked ham
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 medium carrots peeled and diced
- 1 stick celery diced
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- to taste salt and pepper
Instructions
- In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat.
- Add the chopped onion, garlic, carrots, and celery. Sauté until the onion is translucent.
- Add the dried split peas, ham hock, chicken broth, and thyme to the pot.
- Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for about 2 hours, or until the peas are tender.
- Remove the ham hock, shred the meat, and return it to the soup. If using diced ham, simply add.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste before serving.
Nutrition










Peas and ham?? Who thought that combo would taste good? Surprised!
I didn’t have some of the ingredients and used whatever I could find. Still came out pretty good! Soup is soup, right? 😂
Totally agree! As long as you have the basic flavors, it’s all good. 😄
Pea soup? Really? Who eats that? I prefer burgers. But my partner liked it, lol.
I don’t have thyme, so I used basil. Is that okay? The soup was still decent.
Honestly, not a fan. It was too mushy for me. But maybe I overcooked it. 🤷♂️
How long do I have to cook the peas? I forgot to check and may have ruined it!
Yum! My mom used to make something like this. Brought back good memories.
Soup is life!!!
Not a fan, too thick and mushy for my taste. Disappointed!
I’m sorry to hear you didn’t like it! I found it comforting and delicious. Maybe try less peas next time?
Too thick? I thought soup was supposed to be thick! 😅 Must be a personal thing.
I was skeptical at first. Peas and ham? But wow! It’s surprisingly good!
Yum! I added some extra bacon for flavor. So good!
Extra bacon sounds awesome! I’ll try that next time. 🥓
I don’t know… bacon in pea soup? I thought that was a bit weird.
Easy to follow! I made it with leftover ham from Thanksgiving. Super comforting!
Too salty! Next time I will skip the salt until the end like my mom always said.
Good call! It’s easy to overdo the salt. I learned the hard way too!
This soup was absolutely delicious! Perfect comfort food for a cold day. I followed the recipe exactly, and my family loved it!
Delicious! This soup reminded me of my grandma’s recipe. So hearty and comforting! 😍
This soup is so comforting! Perfect for cold days. I added some smoked paprika for extra flavor.
Can I use beef broth instead of chicken? That’s all I have.
I dunno… beef broth might make it taste weird. Peas and beef? Sounds off. Stick with chicken if you can!
Yeah, you can totally use beef broth! It’ll give it a different flavor, but still good! Just gotta adjust the seasonings maybe.
I tried it but forgot garlic 😩. It needed more flavor for sure.
Oh no! Garlic definitely adds so much flavor. Maybe you can try it again!
Just add more herbs next time! You’ll get more flavor without garlic, trust me!
Doesn’t this require potatoes? Just saying, I’ve had pea soup with potatoes before. This feels a bit off.
I think you can make pea soup without potatoes. It’s more traditional this way!
just wow!!! life-changing!! 😍
yum! So good and easy to make! My kids even liked it! Gonna make again for sure.
YUM!!! Served with bread and it was a hit with the family! Will make again!
Glad to hear it was a hit! I love making soup for the family too. Any secrets to your bread pairing?
Is this soup healthy? I dunno but it tastes good… LOL.
I love this soup! It’s super filling and makes me feel good about eating peas. 🥣
I don’t know, man. It has ham and that can’t be too healthy, right? LOL.
This soup is amazing! I added a pinch of cayenne for a bit of a kick!
Ew!!! I don’t like peas, but my husband loved it. 🤮
It turned out okay, but I think it needed more seasoning. I also used leftover turkey instead of ham. Not what I expected. 🤷♂️
This soup turned out amazing! Perfect for a cold day. Thanks!
This recipe is super easy! I can’t believe I made such a delicious soup. Will be making again!
Really good! I used leftover ham from my holiday dinner and it was a hit with the family.
Easy to make, but I forgot the thyme 😬. Still decent soup!
I dunno… The texture was kinda mushy, and I might not make it again. Not a fan of split peas.
I followed the recipe but it was really bland. Maybe add some more spices?