Instant Pot Split Pea Soup is classic comfort food. Made with leftover ham this flavorful soup is also gluten free, dairy free and so incredibly easy. Make this pressure cooker split pea soup in just over an hour.
What Are Split Peas
Split peas are peas that are dried, peeled, and split in half for cooking. They come in both yellow and green varieties. Yellow split peas are usually the mildest in flavor and green split peas are slightly sweeter.
Dried split peas are part of a family called pulses they are part of the legume family along with beans, chickpeas and lentils. I love cooking any type of legume in the Instant Pot because it takes a fraction of time. Another great legume recipe is my Instant Pot Chili made with dried Adzuki beans.
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What Are The Health Benefits Of Split Peas
Split peas are low in fat, filled with fiber and protein, and are a good source of several vitamins and minerals, including Vitamins A, B, and magnesium.
How To Make Split Pea Soup With A Ham Bone
I love making split pea soup with a ham bone because of how much flavor it adds to the soup. You start with just water, the ham bone with meat attached and two bay leaves. That cooks in the Instant Pot for 30 minutes and you’re left with a lovely broth for your soup base. To that broth you add your onion, garlic, celery, carrots and dried split peas. The soup cooks for 15 minutes while you remove the ham meat from the bone. Then once the soup has finished cooking you’ll stir in the ham meat, add salt and pepper as needed and serve. It’s that easy!
What If I Don’t Have A Ham Bone
If you don’t have a ham bone look for a ham hock. The hock won’t have much meat on it so you’ll also want to buy some ham you can cube or shred for the soup, I recommend two cups of meat for this soup. You will use the ham hock just as you would the ham bone and remove at the same time, then finish cooking the soup and add in your ham pieces at the end and stir until heated through.
Instant Pot Split Pea Soup
This soup is a breeze to make and the Instant Pot saves you hours of time while achieving the same great depth of flavor! This soup comes out with a thin consistency when you use 10 cups of water but can also be made thicker with less water or by reducing at the end. There is no need to blend of mash the split peas since the soup develops as the peas soften and break down in the cooking process. The final result is a fully flavored soup packed full of veggies and protein! This is sure to be a family favorite comfort meal.
More Instant Pot Recipes:
- Clam Chowder
- Healthy Chicken Potato Soup
- Lentil Soup with Smoked Sausage
- Instant Pot Beef and Broccoli
- Instant Pot Teriyaki Chicken
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Instant Pot Split Pea Soup
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 65 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 6-8 servings 1x
- Category: Lunch & Dinner
- Method: Instant Pot
- Cuisine: American
Description
Instant Pot Split Pea Soup is classic comfort food. Made with leftover ham this flavorful soup is also gluten free, dairy free and so incredibly easy. Make this pressure cooker split pea soup in just over an hour.
Ingredients
- 1 leftover cooked smoked ham bone with meat left on the bone (I’d recommend 2+ cups of ham meat)
- 10 cups water (*but not to exceed the 2/3 max-fill line on your instant pot)
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- 8 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 celery stalks, chopped into 1/2 inch slices
- 4 large carrots, peeled and chopped into 1/2 inch pieces
- 2 cups dried split peas (3 cups for a thicker soup)
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Add the ham bone with meat still attached, water and bay leaves to the Instant Pot.
- Cover, lock the lid, set the valve to sealing and select pressure cook or manual on high for 30 minutes.
- Once the cooking time has finished allow a 10 minute natural release and then quick release any remaining pressure.
- Remove the bay leaves and discard. Transfer the ham bone to a large cutting board and set aside to cool.
- To the remaining broth in the Instant Pot add the onion, garlic, celery, carrot and dried split peas.
- Stir together then cover, lock the lid, set the valve to sealing and select pressure cook or manual on high for 15 minutes.
- While the soup cooks take the ham off the bone and chop or shred, set the meat aside and discard the bone.
- After the cooking has finished allow the Instant Pot to naturally release for 10 minutes before quick releasing any remaining pressure.
- Remove the lid and stir back in the ham meat. Taste and add salt and pepper as needed.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
*This soup is intended to be on the thinner side. Use 2 cups of dried split peas for a soupier consistency and 3 cups for a thicker consistency.
Keywords: instant pot ham bone soup, instant pot split pea and ham soup, instant pot split pea soup,
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Tara Carrier says
Nicole it was great,my hubby & in-laws had it for lunch & all loved it☺️
★★★★★
Nicole says
Hi Tara! I’m so happy to hear that! I’m glad your family enjoyed it!
★★★★★
Jessica says
I was never one for Split Pea Soup but this recipe is DELICIOUS!! I didn’t have bay leaves so I just seasoned with S&P at the end and it turned out fabulous. It’s so easy and guaranteed you have everything you need to make it after the holidays. I will be making this every time we have a ham. Thanks for the fantastic recipe!
★★★★★
Nicole says
Thank you Jessica! I’m glad you’ve found your go-to split pea soup recipe! We sure love it over here, thank you for sharing!
★★★★★
Lori says
This was so thick and delicious – I love a thick, hearty soup. And a bone-in ham really adds to the flavor.
★★★★★
Nicole says
So glad you enjoyed this soup Lori!
★★★★★
Diane says
Fantastic! I have been making pea soup on the stove, which takes hours, for over 30 years. This soup is just as good, I added a tbsp oregano. This will be the way I make it from now on. Thank you for a great recipe!
★★★★★
Nicole says
I’m so glad you enjoyed it Diane! I used to make it on the stove top too but I love easy the Instant Pot makes it! Oregano sounds great in this.
★★★★★
Becky says
The flavor was really good but after using a whole bag of peas it was not very thick and the peas were all but disappeared. I cooked another bag and added it. Used just enough water to cover them and cook. Still not thick but still tasted good.
★★★★
Nicole says
Hi Becky, thanks for your feedback. I’m glad you liked the flavor of the soup. Sounds like you prefer a thicker split pea soup. I have notes in the recipe that this version of split pea soup is intended to be on the thinner side but if you prefer a thicker soup to add 3 cups of dried split peas instead of the 2 cups called for. I see you used a whole bag of split peas, do you know how many cups was that?
★★★★★
Lori says
Making this today!! Leftover Christmas dinner ham.
★★★★★
Nicole says
Perfect for leftovers! I hope you enjoyed it!
★★★★★
Madonna says
Where does anyone find ham that doesn’t have sugar? I can find bacon without sugar easily but not ham. Or are people just using ham that has been cured with sugar and I’m being too picky?
Nicole says
Hello Madonna! I’m able to find sugar free bone-in ham roasts at my local grocery stores, especially spring through fall but I think you just have to ask around and talk to your butcher. Sometimes they can special order for you if they don’t usually carry it. I hope that helps!
★★★★★
April says
Hi I love split pea soup but I’ve never actually made it. Also 1. I don’t have an instant pot. Can I cook this on the stove or in a crock pot? 2. I don’t usually have leftover ham so can I just buy a ham and use that? Thanks for the recipe can’t wait to try it!