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.
Chelsa Budd says
This recipe was very good! We loved the bacon flavour mixed with the split peas – it was ready after just under an hour of boiling. I recommended it to my mom and sister!
Erren's Kitchen says
Thank you Chelsa, so glad you enjoyed it, I hope your mom and sister love it too!
SiouxsieQ says
Recipe was good; however, I prefer my mom’s green split pea and ham recipe. I just think the ham gives it a deeper flavor. I would add more bacon next time too. But, my husband liked this and so did my in-laws. So, if I want to make a quicker pea soup recipe, this will be my go to. Thanks for sharing.
Erren's Kitchen says
Thank you for your kind comments, nothing beats a mom’s recipe so I understand 🙂
Heather says
This soup is amazing!!!! I also added a left over ham bone to it while it was cooking and some golden potatoes and kale!!! Definitely making this agin.
Erren's Kitchen says
Sounds delicious Heather, it really is a great recipe, and as you found out, very versatile 🙂
Maureen says
This is one of the tastiest pea soup I have ever eaten. I used prosciutto instead of bacon. Normally I used a cured pork hock but I didn’t even miss it! Will make it again.
Erren Hart says
I’m so glad to hear it, Maureen! I’m making this tomorrow! Love it!
Glenda Staggs says
What can substitute smoked paprika?
Erren Hart says
Hi, you can use a mixture of sweet paprika and cumin if you have it.
A Fan says
Great soup! Added a little basil as well and blended the soup. Sooo good!
Thanks
Erren's Kitchen says
That sounds lovely!
Mari T says
I had 4 bags of yellow split peas from the food bank. I had no idea what to do with them. Stumbled upon your recipe, I’m glad I did! Absolutely delicious recipe! Will make over and over again! The whole family loved it! Thank you for sharing!
Erren's Kitchen says
I’m so glad you like it Mari, it’s such a tasty, filling dish!
Keri Owens says
What is the serving size for nutritional information? Looks great and want to try just need to calculate carbs for daughters type 1 diabetes! Thank you!
Erren's Kitchen says
Hi Keri, The nutritional information is created by software, not by Erren’s Kitchen so it only provides the number of servings. Hopefully it will be more detailed in the future. Sorry I can’t be more helpful.
Keri says
No problem, Thank you for responding!
LisaMarie says
Absolutely delicious! I made it with homemade turkey stock and served it with garlic herb crostini.
Erren's Kitchen says
Wow, that sounds amazing, so glad you like it 🙂
Misty says
How would I convert this for the crockpot? Looks amazing either way. I’m going to try it.
Erren's Kitchen says
Hi Misty, I have never made this soup in a crockpot so I’m unable to offer you advice on this, however, if you do work it out, I’d love to know if it’s a success.