This recipe for Yellow Split Pea and Bacon Soup is full of flavor and an easy alternative to traditional split pea and ham soup.
Split Pea Soup That’s Easy and Delicious!
Is there anything more comforting than a bowl of thick hearty soup? There’s something so wonderful about it that takes you right back to childhood.
My grandmother always made split pea soup using leftover ham bones (you can see my recipe for split peas and ham soup if that’s what you’re looking for) after a big family gathering.
I absolutely LOVED her soup, but let’s face it, sometimes we don’t have ham bones to work with.
I created this recipe which is a lot easier to prepare but doesn’t scrimp on flavor.
hearty comfort food. It’s packed with flavor and fills you up so this soup is an all-around win!
It’s so good that if you do make the classic split pea soup, you might just find yourself converting to this easier recipe!
How to Make Yellow Split Pea and Bacon Soup
In a large stockpot on medium-high heat, dry fry the bacon until golden brown (you can add a bit of oil if it starts to stick to the bottom of the pan.
Add the onions and garlic to the pan and with the garlic until the onions are translucent, 5-10 minutes.
Add the carrots, celery.
Followed by the stock and split peas.
Add salt, pepper, smoked paprika, and bay leaf.
Bring to a boil, then simmer uncovered (Skimming off any foam that forms foam while cooking) for 1 – 2 hours or until the peas start to break down. Check often and stir frequently to keep the soup from burning on the bottom.
If need be, thin out the soup with more stock before serving.
Serve and enjoy!
Cook’s Tips For Perfect Split Pea Soup:
- Leave a little fat on your bacon. It adds loads of flavor!
- On dry frying bacon – some lean bacon doesn’t brown well when dry frying. If it needs some help, just add a little oil.
- Have some extra stock on hand. Split pea soup thickens a lot and may need some thinning out.
- For extra pork flavor, make some stock using ham hocks and replace the chicken stock with ham stock.
- For an extra smokey flavor, use smoked bacon.
- Can’t find Yellow Split Peas? Green work just as well.
- Careful salting – Some bacon can be quite salty so you may want to wait to season the soup and taste at the end.
Top Tip:
- Over seasoned your soup? All is not lost. Acid neutralizes the salt. Add a teaspoon of white vinegar at a time and taste in between. You won’t taste the vinegar, but you’ll save the soup!
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Let's Make Yellow Split Pea and Bacon Soup
Ingredients
- 8 ounces Thick sliced bacon or pancetta chopped
- 1 large yellow onions chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil for sautéing
- 3 carrots diced
- 3 Celery Stalks diced
- 1 pound dried split yellow peas
- 8 cups chicken stock
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 bay leaf
Instructions
- In a large stockpot on medium-high heat, dry fry the bacon until golden brown (you can add a bit of oil if it starts to stick to the bottom of the pan.
- If needed, add one-two tablespoons of olive oil, add the onions to the pan and with the garlic until the onions are translucent, 5-10 minutes.
- Add the carrots, celery, split peas, chicken stock, smoked paprika, and bay leaf.
- Bring to a boil, then simmer uncovered (Skimming off any foam that forms foam while cooking) for 1 - 2 hours or until the peas start to break down. Check often and stir frequently to keep the soup from burning on the bottom.
- Taste for salt and pepper. Serve hot.
Tips + Notes
- Leave a little fat on your bacon. It adds loads of flavor!
- On dry frying bacon - some lean bacon doesn't brown well when dry frying. If it needs some help, just add a little oil.
- Have some extra stock on hand. Split pea soup thickens a lot and may need some thinning out.
Nutrition Information:
Update Notes: This recipe was originally posted in 2014, but was updated in March of 2019 with slight changes to the recipe as well as new photos, nutritional information, tips, and a video.
Taylor says
So flavorful and delicious! Yum!
Erren's Kitchen says
I’m glad you think so, Taylor!
Steph says
Everyone loved this soup! Great recipe, thanks!
Erren's Kitchen says
That’s awesome to hear, Steph!
Chrissie Baker says
WoW your colorful soup looks delicious and I would love a bowl for dinner;-)
Erren's Kitchen says
I actually have this tonight, Chrissie!
Catalina says
This look like the perfect comfort food! This soup needs to happen soon!
Erren's Kitchen says
Comfort food is the way forward isn’t it, Chrissie!
Cathy says
Such a deliciously flavorful bowl of soup!!!
Erren's Kitchen says
Thank you Cathy!
Marcia Shive says
This looks easy and yummy. I am going to halve the recipe…do you know how peas I will need in terms of cups to equal 1/2 lb.? Any need to soak the dried peas?
Thanks so much!
~Marcia
Erren's Kitchen says
Hiya Marcia, I just weighed it out for you and it is approximately 1 cup and a 1/4. No just rinse them. Enjoy!
Robin says
We enjoy our yellow split pea soup in my Swedish family. This recipe is excellent and so much quicker using bacon, I’ll be using your recipe more often! I used thyme instead of the paprika and I also added a large diced gold potato. Thanks for sharing this!
Brian Leahy says
I remember when my grandmother and later my mother made a Bacon and yellow spilt pea soup and the split peas used to totally fall to bits. I followed a recipe and there were bits and pieces of husk and pea. It was alright once I used a blender on it but how do I achieve that result without a blender?
Erren says
Hi Brian, could be your brand of peas take longer to cook. Cook it longer next time, but keep an eye on it and make sure you don’t have to add a bit more stock.
Anne @ artygreeninparadise says
I found this recipe on pinterest – just made it yesterday and it is really yum! Thanks.
Erren says
Hi Anne, That’s fantastic! So glad to hear you enjoyed it! 🙂
shelley @ Bacon Egg & Cheese{cake} says
i LOVE split pea soup! It’s my absolute fave!!! I’ve never had yellow split pea soup before though, is it very different? Can’t wait to try 🙂
Erren says
Hi Shelley,
I never heard of yellow split peas myself until quite recently. They are different than green; they have a milder flavor. I’m not really sure how to describe the difference, but some say they are sweeter and some say nuttier (I’m not sure I agree with either). You’d have to try them yourself. If you have trouble finding them in the grocery store, try online. let me know if you try them!