Savory Yellow Split Pea Soup || Easy One Pot Recipe
A big pot of savory yellow split pea soup on a cold, dreary day is pure comfort. Creamy in texture, hearty in substance, and full of old-fashioned character, this is the kind of simple soup that feels satisfying from the very first spoonful.
This soup recipe is pretty fantastic and so easy to make. About 15 minutes to get it all in the pot. Then you can walk away for an hour, and when you return you’ll have creamy, delicious yellow split pea soup to enjoy.
YELLOW SPLIT PEAS VS. GREEN SPLIT PEAS
Yellow split peas and green split peas are really quite similar. As a matter of fact, when I inquired about the difference between them at my local Amish store, folks there didn’t seem to think there was much of a difference at all.
They are cooked the same (no surprise there) and behave very similarly in recipes.
But some say that yellow split peas have a more mellow flavor. And also that they are a bit sweeter than green split peas. And I tend to agree with them.
I particularly like to make soup from them, if for no other reason than the gorgeous color they lend to the final product. It is like a little bowl of sunshine. And if you could indulge in a little bowl of sunshine in a cozy, warm house when it’s cold and nasty outside you would, right?!?!
WHERE’S THE HAM?
The very first pot of split pea soup that I ever made was meant to be a vegan dish. And it was so darn delicious that I have never made it any other way.
It can certainly be made with ham. Simply cook down a big ‘ol ham bone in the broth before you add it to the soup pot.
It’s delicious this way. And I suppose it’s a bit more traditional than going vegan, at least in my little part of the world.
I certainly wouldn’t pass up a bowl of split pea soup with ham if it was offered to me. But when I make it at home I pass on the meat and just enjoy every bit of the yellow split pea goodness as it is.
INGREDIENTS FOR THIS YELLOW SPLIT PEA SOUP RECIPE
This recipe is not very complex in spite of the fact that it does have quite a few ingredients. Every ingredient, apart from the split peas, is a basic kitchen staple.
- YELLOW SPLIT PEAS – Yellow split peas are creamy and mellow in flavor, and they break down beautifully as the soup simmers.
- CARROTS, ONIONS, CELERY – Adding carrots, onions, and celery to this soup gives it a more complex flavor profile and a well-rounded base.
- CHICKEN/VEGETABLE BROTH – Either chicken or vegetable broth work great in this recipe. Use whatever you have on hand. Unless, of course, keeping it vegan is important to you. Then the veggie broth is the only way to go.
- SPICES (DILL WEED, BASIL, SALT, PEPPER, CUMIN) – Each one of these seasonings is found in most kitchen cabinets. And the flavor profile that resluts from combining them is really rather fantastic.
INGREDIENT VARIATIONS FOR THIS RECIPE
As I mentioned above, making this soup with ham is a very common option. And a tasty one at that!
Would you like to save this post for later?
We'll email it to you, so you can come back to it whenever you like!
It’s also really great made with bacon or sausage, both sweet and hot sausage work really well. It all depends on what you’re ‘hankering for’ at the time.
As I searched the web looking for variations of this soup that I could share with you, I saw it prepared all of these ways. And I feel confident recommending them because I’ve had it prepared with each of these meats myself. They’re all great options.
But I also saw that many people make yellow split pea soup using Indian spices. I personally have never tried to make it this way. So I can’t really recommend it with confidence.
Yet, it sounds fantastic and I’m hoping to give it a try one day. I’ve really developed a fondness for curry. Yellow split pea soup may just be another way to enjoy the flavor of that great spice.
HOW TO SERVE YELLOW SPLIT PEA SOUP
Yellow split pea soup is fabulous just as it is. There’s no real need to dress it up. And if I’m completely honest, I rarely do more than ladle some into a soup bowl and dive in.
Yet, there are endless ways to serve it and I have prepared it many of them myself. When I am having guests I like to go a bit above and beyond with the food I prepare. I think it stems from my extreme love for all things food and the need to share that with others.
Topping it with a few croutons, a dollop of sour cream, or both is crazy easy to do. And, while it’s a very simple variation for serving this soup, it ‘fancies it up’ more than enough to make it noteworthy.
This soup is also really great served with a simple grilled cheese sandwich. Or if you’re feeling it, go gourmet grilled cheese by making your sandwich with a little shaggy dough bread and a variety of specialty cheeses.
Don’t forget to dip the sandwich in the soup, please. It makes all the difference in the world.
Another option to run with is to make a fresh loaf of shaggy dough bread, hollow it out, and use it as a bread bowl to serve the soup in. You can even split the dough for the recipe I have in this post on shaggy dough bread and make two smaller loaves so that your bread bowl isn’t quite so large. Or, if you prefer, make a batch of easy butter crackers or homemade everything crackers and crumble them right into the bowl.
This recipe is part of my Thanksgiving recipe collection — a cozy roundup of dishes that make the holiday feel extra special.
Other recipes you’ll love
Acorn Squash Soup
One Pot Sausage and Pepper Soup
French Celery Soup Recipe
If you try this recipe and love it, please give it 5 stars! It supports my work more than you may realize, and I appreciate that a great deal!
You can also show your support by tagging me on Facebook @sustainableslowliving and/or Instagram @slowlivingbydianegail when you post a pic of your finished dish.
Savory Yellow Split Pea Soup
Equipment
- Cast iron Dutch oven (or heavy-bottomed stock pot)
- Cutting board
- Sharp knife
- Wooden spoon
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion coarsely diced
- 3 carrots peeled and diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 teaspoon dried dill weed
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil leaves
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon cumin powder
- 3 cups yellow split peas
- 6 cups chicken broth (substitute vegetable if you prefer)
Instructions
- Sauté vegetables: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onions and carrots. Sauté for 3-5 minutes until the onions become slightly translucent.
- Add garlic and spices: Stir in minced garlic, dill, basil, pepper, salt, and cumin. Cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
- Add peas and broth: Pour in yellow split peas and stir well. Add the broth and bring the mixture to a boil.
- Simmer and cook: Reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 1 hour, stirring occasionally, until about 50% of the peas lose their shape and the soup thickens.
- Serve and enjoy: Ladle into bowls and enjoy hot.
Notes
- Blend for a smoother texture: Use an immersion blender to partially blend the soup if you prefer a creamier consistency.
- Adjust thickness if needed: Add extra broth if the soup becomes too thick while simmering.
- Use homemade broth for richer flavor: Opt for homemade vegetable or chicken broth to give the soup a deeper, more robust taste.
- Freeze for later: Cool the soup completely before transferring it to airtight containers for freezing.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
It’s been overcast and rainy all day here in southern Kentucky. Your “bowl of sunshine” sounds perfect!
Yes. So great for a rainy day!
This looks so perfect for a fall day!
Thanks! The first pot of the year in my house is always early fall. I can’t wait to get a taste 😉
Okay I now have a “hankering” for this split pea soup! It sounds delicious, I can’t wait to try it!
Hankering is a good word for how I feel just before my first pot of the year 😉 Hope you enjoy it!
This yellow split pea soup looks so delicious and easy to make. Thank you so much for sharing!
This was the best split pea soup I’ve ever eaten and made, thank you so much for your recipe!
So glad you enjoyed it so much! Thank you for sharing that with me. It always feels great to know that the work I do brings pleasure to those who consume it 😉
This one-pot savory yellow split pea soup is the perfect comfort food — warm, hearty, and full of rich flavors! It’s easy to make and perfect for cozy meals. If you give this recipe a try, I’d love to hear what you think — please leave a review or share your thoughts in the comments below! And if you have any questions or need tips along the way, don’t hesitate to ask — I’m always happy to help. Enjoy your bowl of yellow split pea deliciousness!