This Instant Pot Split Pea Soup recipe is thick and hearty and loaded with flavor. It makes a perfect warm and cozy comfort food meal in just 40 minutes!
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Why this Recipe Works
Traditional split pea soup recipes take an hour and a half to two hours of cooking time to soften the dried peas. But this split pea soup is cooked in an Instant Pot, so you can enjoy this tasty dish in under an hour!
After pressure cooking, the peas turn soft and creamy to produce a thick and hearty soup. And this homemade split pea soup recipe is also packed with flavor from the peas, a mirepoix of diced carrots, onions, and celery, and a meaty ham bone. It is the perfect comfort food for colder weather.
What are Split Peas?
Split peas are a type of field pea that had been dried and processed to remove the outer skin and then split in half. They are often mistaken for lentils because of their similar appearance, but lentils are actually the seed of a plant.
Ingredient Notes
- Split Peas - The dried split peas do not require soaking before cooking, but do make sure to sort through the peas and remove any debris. You'll often find stems, pebbles, and other things mixed in that you don't want in the soup.
- Ham Bone - Cooking split pea soup with a ham bone adds a ton of delicious porky flavor. I got mine at Honey Baked Ham for around $10, and it had enough meat for several sandwiches too. Or if you serve a Christmas or Easter ham be sure to save that bone for soup! A ham hock or shank will also work.
- Chicken Broth - I recommend using a high-quality unsalted chicken broth. This will allow you to control the amount of salt in the soup. If you use a regular variety or if your ham is salty, omit the salt in the recipe.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Note: this recipe was developed on a 6 qt Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus.
- Set your Instant Pot to sauté mode and allow it to preheat, then add the butter. After the butter melts add the diced onion, celery, and carrots and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened. Turn off the heat and add the garlic then cook for another minute.
- While the veggies cook cut some of the ham from the ham bone and finely chop, aiming for around a ¼ cup. After the veggies are done cooking, add the ham bone, chopped ham, chicken broth, split peas, bay leaf, thyme, salt, and pepper to the pot and stir.
- Cover with the lid and lock it into place, then set your Instant Pot to manual high pressure for 15 minutes. After cooking allow the pressure to release naturally for at least 10 minutes. Then vent any remaining pressure before removing the lid.
- Remove the ham bone (be careful, it's hot!) and bay leaf, and discard. Stir the soup until well combined, then serve.
What to Serve with Split Pea Soup
This soup is very hearty and nutritious and doesn't require sides to complete the meal. But you can't go wrong with some crusty bread or a grilled cheese sandwich. A simple side salad like my fall apple walnut salad or my copycat Chick-fil-a kale salad is also a good choice.
Recipe Tips and FAQs
Store leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 5 days.
Reheat leftovers in a saucepan set over medium heat until warmed through. You may need to stir in a splash of water or broth to loosen up the soup.
Yes, this soup also freezes well. Let the soup cool, then transfer it to a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to eat, let the soup thaw in the refrigerator, then heat in a saucepan over medium heat until warmed through.
The peas get very soft during cooking and stirring them well will break them up to produce a thick and slightly chunky texture. If you prefer a completely smooth soup you can puree it in a blender or with an immersion blender.
This split pea soup is intended to be thick and will thicken more as it sits. If you prefer a thinner soup you can dilute it with more chicken broth or water to reach your desired consistency.
Yes, you can skip the ham bone if you prefer. To add a similar flavor, finely chop 2-3 slices of smoked deli ham and add it to the soup along with ½ teaspoon of smoked paprika or a little liquid smoke. A smoked turkey leg is another good substitute.
For a vegetarian option, you can leave out the meat completely and use vegetable broth in place of chicken broth.
More Soup Recipes
- Instant Pot Loaded Potato Soup
- Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
- Instant Pot Vegetable Beef Soup
- Quick and Easy Broccoli Cheese Soup
- White Bean Soup with Kale and Chicken Sausage (Instant Pot)
📖 Recipe
Instant Pot Split Pea Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons butter
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 ribs celery, diced
- 2 medium carrots, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 ham bone
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup water
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 pound dried split peas
Instructions
- Set your Instant Pot to sauté mode and allow it to preheat, then add the butter. After the butter melts add the diced onion, celery, and carrots and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened. Turn off the heat and add the garlic then cook for another minute.
- While the veggies cook cut some of the ham from the ham bone and finely chop, aiming for around a ¼ cup. After the veggies are done cooking, add the ham bone, chopped ham, chicken broth, split peas, bay leaf, thyme, salt, and pepper to the pot and stir.
- Cover with the lid and lock it into place, then set your Instant Pot to manual high pressure for 15 minutes. After cooking allow the pressure to release naturally for at least 10 minutes. Then vent any remaining pressure before removing the lid.
- Carefully remove the ham bone and bay leaf, and discard. Stir the soup until well combined, then serve.
Notes
Storage Tips
Refrigerator Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Reheat leftovers in a saucepan set over medium heat until warmed through. You may need to stir in a splash of water or broth to loosen up the soup. Freezing Instructions Let the soup cool, then transfer it to a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to eat, let the soup thaw in the refrigerator then heat in a saucepan over medium heat until warmed through.Nutrition
* All nutrition information we provide are estimates based on third party calculators. We encourage you to calculate these on your own for accurate results.
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