Cozy Classic Split Pea Soup Recipe for Winter Dinners

This Classic Split Pea Soup is the ultimate comfort food for chilly winter nights. After making it dozens of times, I’ve discovered the trick to a perfectly creamy soup every time. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Refreshing Peach Ginger Lemonade and Creamy Gorgonzola Truffle Mushroom Sauce for Pasta.

What You'll Need for Cozy Classic Split Pea Soup Recipe for Winter Dinners

Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.

• 1 lb green split peas
• 1 lb smoked ham hock
• 1 large onion
• 3 carrots
• 3 stalks celery
• 3 cloves garlic
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 sprig fresh thyme
• Salt
• Black pepper
• Olive oil
• Optional: Chopped fresh thyme
• Optional: Crispy bacon bits

How to Make Cozy Classic Split Pea Soup Recipe for Winter Dinners

1. Soak peas: Rinse and pick over peas. Cover with water and soak overnight.
2. Sauté vegetables: Heat olive oil in a large pot. Add onion, carrots, celery, and garlic. Cook until softened.
3. Add remaining ingredients: Stir in split peas, ham hock, bay leaves, thyme, salt, and pepper. Cover with water.
4. Simmer: Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 1-2 hours, until peas are tender.
5. Blend: Remove ham hock and bay leaves. Use an immersion blender to blend until smooth.
6. Serve: Ladle into bowls and garnish with fresh thyme or crispy bacon bits.

Storing & Reheating Cozy Classic Split Pea Soup Recipe for Winter Dinners

Short-Term Storage

Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Make-ahead tip: This soup can be made ahead and frozen for up to 3 months.

Freezing Cozy Classic Split Pea Soup Recipe for Winter Dinners

Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

How to Reheat Without Drying It Out

Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through.

Recipe Notes

• Chef tip: For a vegetarian version, omit the ham hock and use vegetable broth instead of water.
• Best substitution: You can substitute the ham hock with smoked sausage or bacon.
• Make-ahead: This soup freezes well. Make a big batch and freeze individual portions for quick meals.
• Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled.
• Troubleshooting: If the soup is too thick, thin it out with a bit of water or broth. If it's too thin, simmer it for a bit longer to reduce.

Cozy Classic Split Pea Soup Recipe for Winter Dinners

⏱

Prep

15 mins

🍳

Cook

1-2 hours

⏳

Total

1-2 hours 15 mins

🍽

Serves

6 servings

🥗

Diet

Gluten-free

Ingredients

Main Ingredients

• 1 lb green split peas
• 1 lb smoked ham hock
• 1 large onion
• 3 carrots
• 3 stalks celery
• 3 cloves garlic
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 sprig fresh thyme

Seasonings

• Salt
• Black pepper
• Olive oil

Optional Toppings

• Chopped fresh thyme
• Crispy bacon bits

Instructions

1. Soak peas: Rinse and pick over peas. Cover with water and soak overnight.
2. Sauté vegetables: Heat olive oil in a large pot. Add onion, carrots, celery, and garlic. Cook until softened.
3. Add remaining ingredients: Stir in split peas, ham hock, bay leaves, thyme, salt, and pepper. Cover with water.
4. Simmer: Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 1-2 hours, until peas are tender.
5. Blend: Remove ham hock and bay leaves. Use an immersion blender to blend until smooth.
6. Serve: Ladle into bowls and garnish with fresh thyme or crispy bacon bits.

Notes

• Chef tip: For a vegetarian version, omit the ham hock and use vegetable broth instead of water.
• Best substitution: You can substitute the ham hock with smoked sausage or bacon.
• Make-ahead: This soup freezes well. Make a big batch and freeze individual portions for quick meals.
• Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled.
• Troubleshooting: If the soup is too thick, thin it out with a bit of water or broth. If it's too thin, simmer it for a bit longer to reduce.

Storage

• Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
• Freezer: Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
• Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes.
• Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through.
• Make ahead: This soup can be made ahead and frozen for up to 3 months.

Nutrition Per Serving

• Calories: 350
• Protein: 20g
• Fat: 5g
• Carbs: 50g
• Fiber: 16g
• Sugar: 4g
• Sodium: 800mg
• Cholesterol: 30mg
• Sat. Fat: 1g

Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.

Cozy Classic Split Pea Soup Recipe for Winter Dinners FAQs

A Warm Final Note

I can’t wait for you to try Cozy Classic Split Pea Soup Recipe for Winter Dinners and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!