Simple Instant Pot Split Pea Soup

A great use for leftover ham, this Instant Pot Split Pea Soup has the long, slow cooked flavor of being on the stove all day, but it's made in a fraction of the time! It's so easy to make and so delicious!

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Soups have become my favorite thing to make in the Instant Pot! I love the long, slow cooked flavor the Instant Pot give soups, but it takes a portion of the time! Not to mention, most of the soups are chop and drop, set it and forget it!

• Instant Pot Zuppa Toscana
• Instant Pot Lasagna Soup
• Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup
• Instant Pot Minestrone Soup
• Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Soup
• Ham and Potato Soup in the Instant Pot

My grandma used to make split pea soup all the time, and then my mom started making it. That's because it's so easy and it's a great way to get the kids to eat their peas. Puree them up and no one will ever know!

This soup isn't fancy, but its comforting and a family favorite recipe! I hope your family will love it as well!

Jump to:

• Ingredients You'll Need
• What Are Split Peas?
• Equipment You'll Need
• What Type of Ham To Use
• Let's Make Instant Pot Split Pea Soup!
• Variations
• Make Split Pea Soup On The Stovetop
• Make Split Pea Soup In The Slow Cooker
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Other Recipes To Try!
• 📖 Recipe

Ingredients You'll Need

• Split Peas- one bag, or 16 ounces of dried split peas.
• Water- For more flavor, you can use chicken broth or vegetable broth.
• Ham hock- frozen or defrosted.
• Vegetables- Onion, celery, and carrots to add flavor to the soup.
• Spices- Turmeric adds warm flavor to the soup, and ground garlic adds a garlicky punch without being overpowering.

What Are Split Peas?

Split peas are legumes, and similar to lentils. They are actually field peas and then are dried. They are not the same as a Spring pea, which are harvested specifically for eating raw or gently cooked.

Because they are split in half and the husks removed, it eliminates the need to soak the pea and speeds up the cooking process.

Equipment You'll Need

• Instant Pot- at least a 6 quart Instant Pot. Anything less and the soup won't fit, you'll have to half the recipe.
• Cutting Board
• Knives
• Vegetable Peeler
• Immersion Blender

What Type of Ham To Use

I had a ham that I made not long ago, and I froze the bone from the middle of the ham. That's the ham hock. You'll use that bone to flavor the soup.

If you don't have the bone, any cooked ham will work. You can find ham steaks in the grocery store. Chop those up and add them right to the Instant Pot.

You don't want to use cold cut ham or raw pork. Cold cut ham will fall apart under the pressure of the Instant Pot, and raw pork won't get that same smoky flavor that a ham hock will give you.

Let's Make Instant Pot Split Pea Soup!

Clean and chop the celery, onions, and carrots into small pieces. In a mesh strainer, wash the split peas. This will get rid of any dust or dirt that was left in the peas from processing. Place the carrots, ham hock, spices, and water to the Instant Pot.

Seal the Instant Pot and cook on "High" pressure for 20 minutes. Allow the Instant Pot to naturally release for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, release any remaining pressure. Remove the ham hock from the Instant Pot and pick all the meat off the bone. Set that aside. Puree the soup with an immersion blender until you reach the consistency that you are looking for. Add the ham back into the Instant Pot and serve immediately.

Variations

• Serve this soup with homemade sourdough bread or homemade sourdough rolls
• To make this soup vegetarian, take out the ham bone.
• If you don't like ham, a smoked turkey bone would work just the same.
• To add even more flavor, use low sodium chicken broth instead of water.
• Reduce the amount of water or chicken broth if you want a thicker soup.

Make Split Pea Soup On The Stovetop

To make this on the stovetop, add all the ingredients to a large Dutch oven. Allow the soup to simmer for 2-3 hours, stirring occasionally. When the ham is falling off the bone, remove the ham hock from the soup and pick off the ham from the bone. Set it aside. With an immersion blender, blend the soup to the consistency you desire. Add the ham back to the soup and serve immediately.

Make Split Pea Soup In The Slow Cooker

Add all the ingredients to the slow cooker. Cook the soup on low for 8 hours or on high for 4 hours. After the cooking time, take the ham hock out of the soup and pick off any remaining ham. Set that aside. Using an immersion blender, blend the soup to the consistency that you would like. Add the picked ham back to the soup and serve immediately.

Frequently Asked Questions

Other Recipes To Try!

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📖 Recipe