Slow cooker split pea soup is a delicious and hearty classic. It's the perfect vegan meal to fill both your stomach and soul!
*This is a reworked and updated version of a recipe that was originally posted 3/2020
Every season is soup season! Don't believe anyone who tells you anything different. Even on a warm sunny day, we need comfort, and soup is like a hug in a bowl.
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This is a list of the ingredients you'll need to make this high-protein vegan soup. For quantities and full preparation instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of this page.
- Herbs and spices - dried basil, dried thyme, smoked sea salt, black pepper, whole bay leaves, and fresh thyme (optional)
- Yellow or green dried split peas - either work great for this recipe.
- Mirepoix (a fancy way of saying carrots, celery, and onions). When I am chopping fresh produce, I use two carrots, two celery stalks, and about half a large onion. However, I am usually too lazy and buy the pre-chopped kind. Frozen mirepoix works well here too!
- Minced Garlic - I use the jarred kind (because I am lazy). Fresh garlic is great too, but it will be a little stronger.
Note
One of the key ingredients in this split peas soup recipe is smoked sea salt. I would not recommend substituting it as the smoky flavor is an important component.
Why you will 💜 your slow cooker for this recipe
- The long cooking time of a slow cooker soup will allow your split peas to gently and fully soften. This makes them extra creamy and delicious. No soaking required!
- No need to babysit your stove top, making this dish perfect for busy days. Cook on low for 8 hours, so you can set it in the morning and walk away until dinner time.
- This dish is meal prep-friendly! It is great for batch cooking and can be easily doubled. Plus, it stores well in both the refrigerator and freezer.
🎥Watch how to make it
Preparing Your Slow Cooker
Prepare your slow cooker by coating it with a non-stick agent. This is an important step, even when making soup. Any nonstick cooking spray or oil will work. Olive oil and avocado oil are my go-to coatings.
NOTE: Some slow cooker inserts come with a nonstick surface. Use of a non-stick agent is still suggested. However, oil is sometimes recommended rather than spray to protect the longevity of the non-stick surface. Check your slow cooker's manual if you have any concerns.
Alternatively, you can choose to use a slow cooker liner.
Get Cooking
Start by rinsing your peas in a strainer. Give them a quick look to make sure there are no rocks or other foreign objects in the mix.
Place rinsed peas into a greased slow cooker.
Add in all other veggies and seasonings.
Pour broth into crockpot and stir. Gently place fresh thyme and bay leaves on top before adding the cover.
After cooking time, carefully remove the bay leaves and thyme before stirring. Add salt or pepper to taste if needed and enjoy!
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🍲Serving ideas
- This soup is thick and rich, making it great to scoop up with crackers or costini.
- For extra pizzazz, serve your amazing pea soup in a bread bowl.
- A crisp garden salad and a crusty heel of bread are the perfect sides for this crockpot soup
Lazy tip:
If you're serving this in a bread bowl, toast the bowl in your air fryer for a few minutes after scooping out the insides. This will help it hold onto the liquid from the soup a bit better.
Storing
Store leftovers of this meat-free pea soup in airtight containers or bags. They will last in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Thaw frozen soup overnight in the refrigerator, then gently warm in the microwave. This soup thickens as it cools. Stir well when reheating and add extra broth if needed to return the soup to its original consistency.
😉Hints & hacks
- Are you a fan of creamy, dairy-free soups? Cauliflower soup, Parsnip soup, and carrot soup are for you!
- Crockpot split pea is great with roasted garlic (in place of fresh). It adds a more mellow, less intense flavor than regular garlic.
- I always recommend using a slow cooker liner for easy cleanup. This is a fully optional step. I usually buy liners in bulk for the best per-piece price.
- This is a great freezer soup. I like to freeze leftovers in meal-sized portions for easy reheat-and-eat at a later time.
- Always check to ensure your slow cooker is plugged in and turned on! There is nothing more disappointing than coming home to a cold crockpot! 😏
If you love this recipe...
Please let me know in the comment section below!
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📖 Recipe
Slow Cooker Vegan Split Pea Soup Recipe
(Click on the stars to leave a rating)
Print Pin Rate SaveAll nutrition information shown here is automatically generated and should be considered an estimate. If you follow a specific diet, please calculate your own values to ensure accuracy.
Equipment
- 3 quart slow cooker or larger
- colander (to rinse and sort peas)
- Spoon
Ingredients
- 7 cups vegetable stock
- 16 oz yellow or green dried split peas rinsed and checked for foreign objects
- 2 cups mirepoix* Dice two carrots, two large celery stalks, and half an onion
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic**
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon smoked sea salt
- ½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- 2 leaves bay leaf
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme optional
Instructions
- Add 16 oz yellow or green dried split peas, 2 cups mirepoix*, 1 tablespoon minced garlic**, 1 teaspoon dried basil, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, 1 teaspoon smoked sea salt, ½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper, and 7 cups vegetable stock to a greased slow cooker
- Stir to combine. Lay 2 leaves bay leaf and 2 sprigs fresh thyme gently on top of the contents in your slow cooker
- Cover and cook on low 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours.
- Stir and again. Add additional salt and pepper to taste.
Final Step
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Video
Notes
Nutrition
All nutrition information shown here is automatically generated and should be considered an estimate. If you follow a specific diet, please calculate your own values to ensure accuracy.
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Danielle says
Can you use frozen peas?
The Lazy Slow Cooker says
Hi Danielle, I have never tried this recipe with frozen peas. If you try it, I would love to hear how it goes! Thanks for asking.
Maria says
Hi! You mention option of using a vegan worcestershire sauce but I don't see any in the original recipe. Is this an error? How do you use it in this recipe? Thanks!
The Lazy Slow Cooker says
You are so right! That is an error (not sure where it came from!). I have updated it and removed that reference. Thank you so much for pointing this out to me!!