Slow Cooker Pea Soup: This is one of my favorite Fall comfort food soups. A cozy classic made so easy when you assemble all your ingredients and cook them. However, if you’re short on time, switching to an instant pot for pea soup can be a game changer. Split pea soup is one of those timeless comfort foods that fills your kitchen with a tasty smell of the deliciousness to come.
The best part? With a slow cooker, this humble classic practically makes itself.
Why Make Pea Soup in the Slow Cooker?
Traditional pea soup requires long simmering to soften the peas and develop that creamy texture we all love. A slow cooker takes the guesswork out of the process, gently cooking everything over several hours until it’s rich and flavorful. No stirring, no worrying about scorching the bottom of your pot—just set it and let it do the work while you go about your day.
Let me tell you a story
My friend, Jack Reibel, was a talented chef at The Lexington (RIP). He has competed against Bobby Flay in the kitchen. Jack was recognized for his award-winning chicken pot pie at Lexington and the amazing long rib, which he pioneered at Butcher and the Boar. Most of all, my friend Jack is a kid from St. Paul who grew up near Lexington Avenue and is currently losing his battle with pancreatic cancer.
The first time I recall spending quality time talking with Jack was at a TCF Food and Wine event. It was there that I watched him dazzle the crowds with his chef skills. He was funny, self-deprecating, and he had the group eating out of the palm of his hand during a demo.
After the show, as I was walking to my car and everyone was cleaning up for the day, I saw him push-start his car. He was behind the wheel while his chef de cuisine that day was pushing the car from behind. With a few putt-putts, they started the car and off they went. The juxtaposition of the picture of what we see as the talented celebrity chef’s life, contrasted with the reality of what a hard business restaurants are to succeed in.
I invited Jack and his wife over to my house for a dinner party right before being diagnosed with cancer. I have no idea why I decided to serve pea soup, but in retrospect it was a funny thing to serve to a fancy, accomplished chef. It turns out he loves pea soup, and it was the perfect thing to break bread with friends. Jack may be remembered by many as a chef. To me, he will be remembered as a scrappy kid from St. Paul who was my friend.
Love Pea Soup? Find more Slow Cooker recipes here:
- Slow Cooker Beef Stew
- Crock Pot Sloppy Joe
- Slow Cooker Boozy Apple Cider
- Slow Cooker Creamy Lemon Chicken Pasta
Slow Cooker Pea Soup
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb. dried split peas
- 1 large onion diced
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 2 celery stalks sliced
- 1 cup thickly sliced carrots
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 cups cubed ham
- 4 cups chicken stock
- 1 cup water
- 1 teaspoon ground sage
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 1/2 teaspoons pepper
- 1 Tbsp Better than Bouillon chicken flavor
Instructions
- Add split peas, onion, garlic, carrot, celery, bay leaves, and seasonings to the slow cooker.
- Stir in the ham and pour 4 cups of chicken stock and one cup of water over everything
- Stir in the Better Than Bouillon and combine, and put the lid on.
- Cook on low for 5 hours.
