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.
Layne says
This was such a great dish! I was in the mood for a filling soup and this was perfect. I added a bit more seasoning (cayenne, thyme, sage, turmeric, rosemary, extra smoked paprika) and used 4 cups water and 4 cups chicken broth as I didn’t have enough chicken broth on hand, but of course everyone can adjust it to how they like. I’ll definitely make this again in the future.
Thanks!
Erren's Kitchen says
I’m so glad you liked it Layne, it is a very adaptable soup and your changes sound delicious! 🙂
LKG says
We are a group home of veterans, (Marine, Navy and Army) plus two wives. We loved this easy recipe. Tried it just for ourselves. Saturday we’ll make it for a Shelter of 25 men. I am sure they will like it too. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
Erren's Kitchen says
Wow, that’s amazing, I really hope they enjoy it 🙂
Gayle Davis says
Thank you for your service. 22 years Army. This is a great recipe for large groups. You can expand the ingredients until it is totally the flavor is what you desire. I like to add ham if I have some one hand. Add a tad of horseradish for an extra kick of spice and flavor. I like to add pork stock to thin this, never can go wrong.
Erren's Kitchen says
Fantastic! I’m so glad you like the recipe and I love the idea of horseradish 🙂
Jean says
Thanks for this recipe that makes a thick and hearty soup. The peas and vegetables were cooked to perfection after only 30 minutes of simmering rather than 1-2 hours.
Erren Hart says
Hi Jean, Some peas take forever to cook and some are quicker. It depends on the brand. I’m so glad you enjoyed the soup!
Beata Prus says
Thank you very much for this wonderful recipe. The soup has such a rich, full taste and the step by step explanation makes it super easy to make. I would like to ask about the nutrition information – is it for one serving? Or for the whole recipe?
Erren's Kitchen says
Hi Beata, it is worked out automatically on the recipe card so it is per serving, I hope this helps 🙂
Karen says
This is the first time I’ve tried yellow split peas. The recipe is easy to follow and very flavorful. I think I over salted, but the soup was still very good, I will definitely make this again.
Erren's Kitchen says
I’m so glad you liked it Karen, thank you 🙂
ALICE says
Is the bacon smoked
Erren's Kitchen says
Hi Alice, you can use smoked or unsmoked, it’s really down to what you prefer. I hope this helps 🙂
Roxie MCKELVEY says
This was so delicious! Thank you for sharing!
Erren's Kitchen says
I’m so glad you enjoyed it Roxie 🙂