Vegetarian Split Pea Soup | Simply Quinoa

This easy Vegetarian Split Pea Soup is a dump-and-go slow cooker recipe, which means your effort is minimal. And your reward? A thick, satisfying, cozy soup packed with flavor!

two bowls of vegetarian split pea soup with toasted bread.

Pulling out the slow cooker on a Monday morning is pretty much my favorite thing. Especially in the dead of winter when all I want for dinner is something warm and comforting. Like this vegetarian split pea soup! It’s soothing. It’s nourishing. Ultimately, it’s everything that you want a slow cooker meal to be. (So is this Crockpot Sweet Potato & Black Bean Quinoa Chili!)

Why This Split Pea Soup Is the Perfect Cozy Meal

I make this soup for my family all the time during the chilly months! We love having it on hand in the freezer too for those nights when it feels even too cold to cook. Here’s why you’ll love it.

No soaking or pre-cooking. If you’ve ever tried to cook dried beans in a soup and ended up with crunchy beans 8 hours later, I feel you! The beauty of split peas is that they cook faster, which means you don’t need to soak or pre-cook them.
Affordable. As with many dried beans and legumes, split peas are friendly on the wallet!
Hearty and satisfying. As the split peas break down in the soup, they make it creamy, rich, and hearty. This is such a satisfying dinner!

Ingredients for Slow Cooker Vegetarian Split Pea Soup.

What You’ll Need

Despite its many layers of flavor, the ingredient list for this vegetarian split pea soup is short and sweet. Here’s what you need. Scroll down to the recipe card to find the ingredient quantities and recipe instructions.

Split peas – I like Bob’s Red Mill Split Peas, which are easy to find in the grocery store.
Carrots – These add a subtle sweetness.
Shallot – Or you could also use an onion if you prefer.
Quinoa – For heartiness and some extra protein.
Vegetable broth – You can use store-bought or make your own.
Mushroom broth – This is optional, but I highly recommend it for added umami and depth of flavor. Otherwise, use 100% vegetable broth.
Italian herbs – You can use all one herb (like oregano or basil), or a blend.
Red pepper flakes – These are optional, depending on your preference for spice.

collage of slow cooker making split pea soup

How to Make Vegetarian Split Pea Soup in a Slow Cooker

No sautéing needed! Here’s how easy it is to make this recipe.

Combine. Add all the ingredients to your slow cooker and stir.
Cook. Cover the slow cooker, turn it on, and cook on high for 4 to 6 hours or low for 6 to 8 hours.

Tips and Variations

As easy as this recipe is, I do have a few small tweaks and variations you can try.

Make it smooth. If you want your vegetarian split pea soup extra smooth and creamy, you can use an immersion blender to puree it.
Add some smokiness. A dash of liquid smoke or some smoked paprika will add some of the smoky flavor you find in traditional split pea soups made with ham.
Try it on the stovetop. No slow cooker? No worries! Make this recipe on the stovetop. Sauté the vegetables, then add the split peas, broth, and spices. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 30 to 40 minutes, or until the split peas are breaking down.

bowl of vegetarian split pea soup with croutons.

What to Serve With Split Pea Soup

I love to dunk toasted bread or a piece of baguette into this soup to soak up all that deliciousness, but it’s also great with a salad. My Massaged Kale Salad would be excellent, as would this Butternut Squash Quinoa Salad.

How to Store and Reheat Leftovers

Refrigerator: Transfer leftovers to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
Freezer: This vegetarian split pea soup can be frozen for up to 3 months in an airtight container or freezer bag. Thaw it in the refrigerator before reheating.
To reheat: Warm individual bowls of soup in the microwave or larger portions in a pan set over medium heat.

More Vegetarian Soup Recipes

Prep: 5 minutes

Cook: 6 hours

Total: 6 hours 5 minutes

Add all ingredients into a slow cooker in the order listed and stir to combine.
Cook on high for 4 – 6 hours or on low for 6 – 8.
Serve with a slice of toasted bread or your favorite salad.

If you don’t have time to cook this in your slow cooker, simply saute the vegetables until soft then add peas, broth and spices, bring to a boil then reduce to simmer for 30 – 40 minutes until the peas are starting to break down and are soft.