Slow Cooker Split Pea + Ham Soup

During the winter time, soups call to me… and lately, so has the slow cooker.

I think it is wonderful to have something to throw a mixture of ingredients into, turn on, and forget about it until dinner is ready just a few hours later.

This week’s recipe is a new one for me.  I have never attempted to make split pea soup at home, but often enjoy ordering it when we are out.  After researching a few different recipes, the right combination seemed like a no-brainer.

With two steps of directions, making a warm batch for dinner could not be easier!  This recipe makes about eight servings, and I am happy to still have a bowl of it left for dinner tonight.

Let’s start slow cookin’!

Ingredients

1 (1 lb.) bag of dried split peas

1 cup celery, sliced

1 cup carrots, sliced

1 cup onion, sliced

2 cups of diced cooked ham – ask for 1 large slice from deli

7 cups water

1-2 Tbsp. Morton Nature’s Season Seasoning blend to taste

prep time: 15 minutes

cook time: 4 hours in the slow cooker

servings: 6-8

Directions

1. Prep vegetables and ham.

2. Put all ingredients into the slow cooker, cover, and cook on High for 4 hours.

Breakdown

There is really no need to break down these steps, however, a glance at some of the ingredients could be helpful when going to buy them!

Start by washing and preparing your vegetables.

Just a cup of each is all you need.

When reading about split pea soup, I was not quite sure where to find the right “cooked ham” for the recipe.  Simply go to the deli section of the grocery store and ask for a large, thick slice.

Neither the lady behind the counter or I knew exactly how much would equal two cups of diced cooked ham, so I got a little over a pound and had plenty left over.  You would probably be fine with getting 0.75 pound.

Dice the ham!

 Start throwing everything into the crock pot.

The order does not matter, so you can just place ingredients as you go.

Add all vegetables, ham, split peas, and 6-8 cups of water.  I used 7 and it was the perfect amount for the thickness I was going for.

Finish it off with 1-2 Tbsp. of Morton’s Nature’s Seasons Seasoning blend.

It is a simple blend of onion, garlic, salt, pepper, and other spices to enhance your food’s natural flavors.  Scott and I have been using it for years, and it has become a staple in our house and in a lot of our recipes!

Cook everything on High for about 4 hours.

Set it and forget it! Later than night, your almost effortless homemade split pea and ham soup will be calling you…

Enjoy!