Green Split Pea and Bacon Soup
Cozy up with a hearty bowl of Green Split Pea and Bacon Soup, a comforting classic that’s as nourishing as it is flavorful. This recipe combines creamy green split peas with smoky, crispy bacon and a medley of aromatic vegetables like onions, carrots, celery, and garlic for a rich, satisfying dish. Slow-simmered in a savory chicken or vegetable broth and seasoned with bay leaf and thyme, this soup boasts both depth of flavor and velvety texture—especially with an optional partial blend for added creaminess. Perfect for chilly evenings, this one-pot wonder is as easy to make as it is delicious. Garnish with crumbled bacon, a drizzle of olive oil, and fresh parsley for a restaurant-quality finish. Ready in just over an hour, this recipe is ideal for a cozy dinner or make-ahead meal prep. Perfectly hearty, gluten-free, and packed with protein, this Green Split Pea and Bacon Soup will have everyone asking for seconds.
Log this recipe in SnapCalorie
Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1 pound Green split peas
- 6 slices Bacon
- 1 large Onion
- 2 medium Carrots
- 2 stalks Celery stalks
- 3 cloves Garlic cloves
- 8 cups Chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 leaf Bay leaf
- 0.5 teaspoons Dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 0.5 teaspoons Ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon Olive oil (optional, for garnish)
- 2 tablespoons Fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
Rinse the green split peas under cold water in a colander and pick out any debris or small stones. Set aside.
In a large pot or Dutch oven, cook the bacon slices over medium heat until they are crispy. Remove the bacon and place it on a paper towel-lined plate to drain, leaving the rendered bacon fat in the pot.
While the bacon is cooking, finely dice the onion, carrots, and celery, and mince the garlic cloves.
Add the diced onion, carrots, and celery to the pot with the bacon fat. Sauté over medium heat for about 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened.
Add the minced garlic to the pot and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes, until the garlic is fragrant.
Stir in the rinsed green split peas, chicken or vegetable broth, bay leaf, dried thyme, salt, and black pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat.
Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and cover the pot. Simmer the soup for about 60-70 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the split peas are tender and the soup has thickened.
While the soup is simmering, crumble the cooked bacon into small pieces and set aside.
Once the soup has finished cooking, remove the bay leaf and use an immersion blender to blend part of the soup directly in the pot for a smoother texture, if desired. Alternatively, you can transfer a portion of the soup to a blender, blend, and then return it to the pot.
Taste and adjust the seasoning with more salt and pepper if needed.
Serve the soup hot, garnished with crumbled bacon, a drizzle of olive oil, and a sprinkle of chopped fresh parsley, if desired.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
2193 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 35.3 g | 45% | |
| Saturated Fat | 8.8 g | 44% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 3.1 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 48 mg | 16% | |
| Sodium | 10274 mg | 447% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 321.7 g | 117% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 125.4 g | 448% | |
| Total Sugars | 60.1 g | ||
| Protein | 150.2 g | 300% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.2 mcg | 1% | |
| Calcium | 493 mg | 38% | |
| Iron | 21.8 mg | 121% | |
| Potassium | 1588 mg | 34% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
