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.
This soup is my childhood in a bowl! So tasty, I can’t get enough of it!
I totally agree! This soup reminds me of my grandma’s cooking. It’s the best!
Honestly, I’ve tried this and it wasn’t that great. Too salty for my taste.
Honestly, not a fan. It was too mushy for me. But maybe I overcooked it. 🤷♂️
Made this on a cold night and it was pure comfort. The split peas get so creamy after the 2 hours—didn’t even need much extra seasoning.
How long do I have to cook the peas? I forgot to check and may have ruined it!
Tried it today, my kids loved it and it was so easy to make. Definitely a keeper!
Glad to hear your kids loved it! It’s a great way to get them to eat their veggies. I’m definitely trying this!
Yum! My mom used to make something like this. Brought back good memories.
Soup is life!!!
Pretty good, but I might reduce the broth next time. Mine turned out a bit thin even after simmering. Still tasted great though—definitely a “repeat” recipe.
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.
Too much celery, I think. Next time I will cut it down a bit. Overall tasty though.
I think the celery gives it a nice crunch! But I get it, too much can overpower the flavor.
I was skeptical at first. Peas and ham? But wow! It’s surprisingly good!
Not bad, but I found it a bit bland until I salted it more. Also I forgot to mince the garlic properly (oops), and still, it worked out—just had bigger garlic bits.
Is ham hock necessary? I only had bacon, so that’s what I used, and it tasted fine.
Made this last night—so comforting. I didn’t have a ham hock so I used diced ham, and it still tasted rich. 2 hours was spot on for tender peas. Will make again for sure!
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.
The ingredients are solid, but mine came out salty because my ham was already seasoned. Maybe add salt only at the very end. Also my celery got a little mushy—still ate it anyway lol.
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!
I tried this recipe but it was too salty for my taste. I think I’ll omit the added salt next time.
I totally agree! I found it a bit too salty too. Glad you’re gonna adjust it next time!
This soup is amazing! So hearty and delicious. Perfect for winter days!
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! 😍
Meh. It was okay but I’ve had better pea soups. Needs more spices, maybe some cumin?
Good recipe, but I had to simmer closer to 2.5 hours. My split peas were older, I guess. Still tasted amazing and not too salty after I adjusted the seasoning at the end.
Not bad but 2 hours is a lot for me. I tried fast cooking once and the peas were still hard—so yeah, don’t cut corners.
Totally fair—split peas really need time to soften. Cutting corners usually ends with crunchy peas (been there 😅).
Made this last night—so hearty and cozy. The split peas turned perfectly tender after about 2 hours. I used a ham hock and shredding it was the best part. Will absolutely make again!
Love hearing that—2 hours is right in the sweet spot for split peas. Shredding the ham hock really does make it taste next-level. 😋