When cold and flu season rolls in, I find myself craving meals that feel like a warm hug. You know, the kind of food that comforts, nourishes, and doesn’t require a ton of effort when energy is already running low. Bonus points if it’s something the whole family will actually eat without complaints.
This Simple Split Pea Soup checks every single box for me.
It’s cozy and satisfying, packed with fibre-rich legumes, incredibly budget-friendly, and best of all, it comes together with minimal hands-on time. On busy weeknights, that alone feels like a small victory.
Why I Love Cooking with Split Peas
I’m always looking for easy ways to include more legumes in our diet. Split peas are one of those pantry staples that quietly do a lot of heavy lifting. They’re high in protein and fibre, naturally thick and creamy when cooked, and extremely cost-effective.
A bag of split peas lasts forever in the pantry, costs very little, and can be turned into a filling meal with just a handful of simple ingredients. For families, especially right now, that matters.
A Soup Even Picky Eaters Love
One of my favourite things about this soup is how flavourful yet gentle it is. It’s not overly seasoned or “too green,” which makes it perfect for picky eaters. The texture is smooth and comforting, and the flavour is mild enough that kids don’t feel intimidated.
My kids especially love dipping toasted bread into it, and I can’t recommend this enough if you’re serving soup to picky eaters. Presenting soup as a dippable instead of a bowl they have to commit to makes all the difference.
Think: toast sticks, grilled sourdough, or even simple crackers on the side.
My Go-To Shortcut for Vegetable Broth
A quick note on broth, because this has been a real space and budget saver in my kitchen.
I mostly use Better Than Bouillon now to make vegetable broth, and I don’t see myself going back. One jar lasts forever, makes countless cups of broth, and takes up almost no pantry space. Simply mix one teaspoon with a cup of hot water, and you’re good to go.
The bulk size from Costco makes it even more cost-effective, and honestly, the flavour rivals homemade broth. No more storing bulky cartons or running out halfway through a recipe.
For this soup, I especially love the Italian Herb Base. It adds a subtle depth without overpowering the dish.
Why This Soup Works So Well
- Hearty and filling, thanks to split peas
- Budget-friendly pantry ingredients
- Minimal prep and cook time
- Instant Pot friendly
- Freezer-friendly and even better the next day
- Kid-approved
It’s the kind of recipe you make once and keep coming back to, especially during the colder months.
Tried this recipe? Use the stars in the recipe card below to let us know what you think!
Simple Split Pea Soup
Equipment
- Immersion blender (or regular blender) You can omit if you finely dice your vegetables and prefer chunkier soup.
Ingredients
- 2 large carrots peeled and roughly sliced
- 1 large sweet onion peeled and roughly sliced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp celery seed
- ½ tsp salt
- 8 cups vegetable broth *see Notes
- 2 cups split peas Yellow, green, a mixture, it doesn't matter- you can use whatever you have!
Instructions
- Set the Instant Pot to "Saute" mode. When the Instant Pot is ready, add in the prepared onion, carrots and garlic. Saute until softened, approximately 5 minutes.
- Add in the onion powder, garlic powder, salt and celery seed. Stir to combine.
- Now add in the vegetable broth and split peas.
- Put the lid on the Instant Pot, close the valve and cook on High pressure for 15 minutes. Let the pressure release naturally.
- Once the pressure is released, open the lid and use an immersion blender (see Notes if you don't own an immersion blender) to puree the soup together to your desired texture. I like mine fairly smooth, with just small carrots pieces remaining.
- Serve warm and enjoy! This soup thickens as it sits, so if you prefer a thicker soup, make the day ahead. It tastes even better on the next day.
Notes
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