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    Home » Recipes » Soup

    Yellow Split Pea Soup With Ham

    First Published: December 2, 2020 . Last Modified: November 22, 2021 lisa24 Comments This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe

    Yellow split pea soup with ham uses a leftover ham bone to create a hearty and savory soup perfect for chilly weather! No leftover ham bone? Keep reading for tips to make this soup without leftovers.

    Yellow Split Pea Soup

    Best Leftover Ham Bone Soup!

    The holidays are perfect for making a ham, and I know I will have some extra ham bones from holiday dinners. One of my favorite things to do with the ham leftovers is to make a big pot of soup. A ham bone makes a delicious, flavorful broth. Believe it or not, I look forward to the soup using the leftover more than I enjoy the actual baked ham dinner.

    My son would not agree because he really loves the ham. But because I have made 14-pound hams for dinner, no matter how much that growing teenage boy eats, I will still have the leftover ham bone with meat on it to make soup.  I had quite a bit of meat left of the ham this time to make a super rich stock.

    soup stock from ham bone

      

    I love split pea soup, but it's not very pretty to look at. It is not very photogenic either. So you'll just have to trust me on this.

    Close your eyes and think about a creamy warm soup on a cold day with lots of smoky flavor and shreds of slow cooked ham.

    I used yellow split peas simply because I find the color of the finished soup a bit prettier than with green or other split peas. But feel free to use whatever color split peas you'd like. 

    Give this soup a try, and I am sure you will be pleased with the results.

    Pea and Ham Soup Ingredients

    • ham bone - a great use of leftovers from a holiday meal and gives the soup such a hearty, delicious flavor. Feel free to use smoked ham hocks if you don't have a ham bone. They can be found in the frozen meat section of your grocery store. You may also be able to order a meaty ham bone from your local butcher shop.
    • onion, carrots, and celery - these are just some of the delicious options for vegetables that work in this soup. You could also add potatoes or peas if you like them also.
    • Italian seasoning - pulls together all of the flavors and makes this soup so fragrant and delicious! If you don't have a pre-made Italian seasoning, you can use any combination of the following: basil, oregano, rosemary, parsley, thyme, garlic powder, chili flakes, sage, or dried marjoram.
    • split peas - I used yellow split peas to make this soup look a bit more appealing, but really it all tastes just about the same so you can use any kind of split peas you'd like.
    • salt and pepper - adjust to taste.

    How To Make Yellow Split Pea Soup With Ham

    1. In a large stock pot, put ham in water on medium heat. Bring to a boil, cover with a lid and simmer for an hour or more.
    2. Add onion, carrots, celery and seasoning. Simmer for another hour.
    3. Strain stock and reserve ham bone and vegetables.
    4. Add the stock and split peas to the pot. Chop up the vegetables (they will be soft) and remove all the ham from the bone shredding it in bite size pieces. Add veggies and ham to the soup. Simmer for an hour or until peas are soft. Cook longer if creamier soup is desired. Add extra water if needed.
    5. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
    Close up of soup bowl

    FAQ

    What If I Don't Have A Leftover Ham Bone?

    • No leftovers? No problem! You may be able to purchase a meaty ham bone from your local butcher shop. You can also substitiute ham hocks from your local grocery store. Ham hocks are often a bit salty to adjust the seasoning of your soup accordingly.

    Can I make this soup ahead of time?

    • Absolutely! If you have a lot of leftover ham bone, it can be a great opportunity to make a double or even triple recipe (as long as you've got a big enough pot or enough time on your hands) and then store this soup away to pull out whenever you have a craving or need a quick meal!

    How should I store this soup?

    • Allow it to cool, then transfer to an airtight plastic container and place in the fridge. It should be fine in the fridge for about 3 or 4 days.
    • Split pea soup also freezes well, and can last three months or more frozen. When it comes time to eat it, just leave it in the fridge overnight to thaw. I like to store it in individual containers as it is great for a one person lunch.

    What's the best way to reheat my soup?

    • In a pinch, pour some of your soup into a microwave-safe bowl and give it a minute or so. Stir and check the temperature to see if it's heated through, then add another 30 seconds or so if it's not hot enough for you.
    • You can also pour the soup into a pot and reheat over medium heat, stirring occasionally to make sure the soup is evenly heated.
    split pea soup with ham

    Split Pea Soup Topping Suggestions

    One of the best parts about soup is all of the choices for toppings!

    • Top with some leftover pieces of ham to bring out that smoky, savory flavor.
    • Some saltines or buttery crackers will give you some crunch and a bit of starch to pair nicely with your soup.
    • Croutons are delicious on top of soup and easy to serve right out of the bag.
    • Sprinkle with fresh chopped herbs like basil or parsley. It adds both flavor and color to the soup.

    More Leftover Ham Recipes

    • Chicken Cordon Bleu Sandwich with Ham Leftovers!
    • Ham and Cheese Tortellini Recipe with Peas
    • Ham and Asparagus Bread Pudding
    • Stuffed Sweet Potatoes with Leftover Ham from Everyday Maven

    More Soup Recipes

    • Gluten Free Chicken Noodle Soup
    • Pasta Fagioli Soup
    • Cabbage and Beef Soup
    • Wonton Soup Recipe
    • Creamy Broccoli Cheddar Soup from The Chunky Chef
    • Old Fashioned Beef Vegetable Soup with Barley

    If you like this recipe for split pea soup with ham bone, please give it 5 stars below.

    RECIPE

    Yellow Split Pea Soup
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe SaveSaved!
    4.91 from 10 votes

    Yellow Split Pea Soup With Ham

    This yellow split pea soup recipe uses leftover ham bone to create a hearty and savory soup that's perfect for chilly weather!
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time3 hours hrs
    Total Time3 hours hrs 10 minutes mins
    Course: Soup
    Cuisine: American Comfort Food
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 280kcal
    Author: Jersey Girl Cooks (Lisa Grant)

    Ingredients

    • 1 leftover ham bone with meat still attached
    • 8 cups water
    • 1 large onion peeled
    • 3 large carrots peeled
    • 3 stalks celery leaves cut off
    • 1 TBS dried Italian seasoning
    • 16 ounces dried split peas rinsed and picked through
    • salt and pepper to taste

    Instructions

    • In a large stock pot, put ham in water on medium heat. Bring to a boil, cover with a lid and simmer for an hour or more.
    • Add onion, carrots, celery and seasoning. Simmer for another hour.
    • Strain stock and reserve ham bone and vegetables.
    • Add the stock and split peas to the pot. Chop up the vegetables (they will be soft) and remove all the ham from the bone shredding it in bite size pieces. Add veggies and ham to the soup. Simmer for an hour or until peas are soft. Cook longer if creamier soup is desired. Add extra water if needed.
    • Season with salt and pepper to taste.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 280kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 51mg | Potassium: 876mg | Fiber: 21g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 5231IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 79mg | Iron: 4mg

    First Published January 2013 ; Updated November 2021

    Thanks for stopping by! Subscribe to Jersey Girl Cooks if you would like more recipes and cooking tips sent to your email. You can also order my Super Easy Cookbook for Beginners and follow me on social media - Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.

     

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    Comments

    1. Ramona says

      January 10, 2013 at 2:27 pm

      I don't think I've ever eaten split peas.

      Looks easy enough.

      Reply
    2. Kate | Food Babbles says

      January 10, 2013 at 7:11 pm

      Soup really can be such a hard thing to photograph, especially if it's pea green 🙂 I think you did a fantastic job because I want some right now! I love split pea soup and I've never made my own. I think it's high time and this recipe sounds easy and delicious.

      Reply
    3. john says

      January 10, 2013 at 10:52 pm

      Not a soup guy but love this stuff!

      Reply
    4. ev pachner says

      January 11, 2013 at 9:26 am

      4 stars
      The photo of the Yellow Split Pea Soup looks great - I am ready to have a bowl right now on this dark gloomy day. I've never cooked the bone first and then added other ingredients, but will try your way. Thanks for the recipe .

      Reply
    5. Pam says

      January 11, 2013 at 4:18 pm

      Yum. I have only made green split pea soup - I will definitely be trying this soon.

      Reply
    6. Katrina says

      January 11, 2013 at 11:48 pm

      My favorite soup! Looks de-lish.

      Reply
    7. Danielle says

      January 12, 2013 at 7:56 pm

      Oh Lisa - I had the EXACT same problem with my split pea soup (green though, I like your yellow)! I looked at the pictures and were like um, not appetizing so never posted it! Yours looks delicious and can we be honest? This is so easy and so hearty - it feeds us for like 3 meals (2 dinners + 4 lunches)!

      Reply
    8. teresa says

      January 13, 2013 at 8:14 pm

      oh my gosh, YUM! i could really go for a warm bowl of this right now.

      Reply
    9. leslie says

      January 14, 2013 at 10:17 am

      Split Pea Soup is one of my favs! I have been eating it since I was a little little kid! YUM

      Reply
    10. NYCAnna says

      January 18, 2013 at 3:09 pm

      That looks so good. Perfect for a cold New York day.

      Reply
    11. Judy says

      November 04, 2013 at 12:10 pm

      You mention stock in the instructions but dlon't list it in the ingredients. I assume it is chicken stock, but how much do you add? A tablespoonor more of worcherstershire sauce is a great addition to lift the flavour of pea soup

      Reply
      • jerseygirl says

        November 06, 2013 at 5:39 pm

        By cooking the water with the ham bone and veggies, it turns to stock as it cooks.

        Reply
    12. Susanc says

      January 13, 2014 at 5:50 pm

      So easy and mind turned out great.

      Reply
    13. Deb says

      September 08, 2022 at 10:04 pm

      5 stars
      I made half a batch with ham and half a batch without for myself. My kids devoured and I thought it was so good.

      Reply
    14. Amy Liu Dong says

      September 10, 2022 at 12:35 pm

      5 stars
      I have never tried to make this kind of soup.
      It looks delicious and easy to make.
      I will try this at home.

      Reply
    15. Adriana says

      September 11, 2022 at 1:15 am

      5 stars
      Split pea soup is one of my favorites. I was able to find teh yellow peas and made your recipe. It turned out delightful!

      Reply
    16. Erin says

      September 11, 2022 at 4:01 pm

      5 stars
      This was super easy to make! It's already chilly here and this is what I needed. Thanks for the great recipe!

      Reply
    17. Tristin says

      September 11, 2022 at 7:40 pm

      5 stars
      Soup season is almost here and this is on my must make immediately list! Lol, I can not wait!

      Reply
    18. Amy Casey says

      September 11, 2022 at 9:44 pm

      5 stars
      The perfect recipe for the ham bone I had in my freezer. We love soup in our family ~ this recipe was delicious!

      Reply
    19. Ashley says

      September 12, 2022 at 1:28 am

      5 stars
      I haven't had split pea soup in so long! I think I may need to make this recipe this fall/winter

      Reply
    20. Anna says

      September 12, 2022 at 8:37 am

      5 stars
      This recipe is my new go-to! Easy to prepare, and the taste is delicious, my whole family loved it!

      Reply
    21. Heidy says

      September 12, 2022 at 1:36 pm

      Fabulous Yellow split pea soup with ham recipe. My family loved it, and I took some for lunch today- had a few envious looks from my coworkers. LOL! I gave them the recipe link so they can make their own.

      Reply
    22. Linda Turner says

      December 22, 2024 at 9:28 pm

      5 stars
      An excellent soup. So easy. I usually make yellow pea soup with curry and Indian type spices. This was a new journey for me and the outcome was lovely. Thank you.

      Reply
      • lisa says

        February 07, 2025 at 10:16 am

        Linda,
        Thank you for the review and glad you enjoyed the recipe!
        Lisa

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Lisa

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