• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Dishes With Dad
  • Home
  • Browse Recipes
    • Appetizer Recipes
    • Salads
    • Soups
    • Main Dishes
      • Pasta
      • Poultry
      • Meats
      • Grilling
    • Side Dishes
    • Breakfast Recipes
    • Dessert Recipes
  • Weeknight Meals
  • About Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Easter
  • Weeknight
  • About
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Easter
  • Weeknight
  • About
×

Home » Recipes » Soups

Instant Pot Split Pea Soup

Published: Oct 11, 2022 by Scott · This post may contain affiliate links.

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

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!

Jump to:
  • Why this Recipe Works
  • What are Split Peas?
  • Ingredient Notes
  • Step-by-Step Instructions
  • What to Serve with Split Pea Soup
  • Recipe Tips and FAQs
  • More Soup Recipes
  • 📖 Recipe
  • More Comfort Food Recipes

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.

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  1. 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.
  2. 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

How to store split pea soup

Store leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 5 days.

How to reheat leftovers

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.

Can I freeze this 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.

Do I need to blend split pea soup?

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.

What if my soup is too thick?

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.

Can I make this without a ham bone?

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)

If you try this recipe, don't forget to leave a RATING or COMMENT below. I would love to hear from you!!! And FOLLOW me on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram for all the latest recipes!

📖 Recipe

Instant Pot Split Pea Soup Recipe

This Instant Pot Split Pea Soup recipe is thick and hearty and loaded with flavor. 
Author: Scott
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 15 mins
Natural Release: 10 mins
Total Time: 40 mins
Servings: 6
Calories: 295kcal

Equipment

  • 6 Qt Instant Pot
  • Chefs Knife
  • Cutting board

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

Calories: 295kcalCarbohydrates: 53gProtein: 20gFat: 7gCholesterol: 13mgSodium: 320mgPotassium: 764mgFiber: 17gSugar: 5g

* All nutrition information we provide are estimates based on third party calculators. We encourage you to calculate these on your own for accurate results.

Course: Soup
Cuisine: American
Tried this recipe?Don't forget to leave a rating above and mention @disheswithdad or tag #disheswithdad on social media!

More Comfort Food Recipes

  • Skillet roasted chicken with potatoes shown in a cast iron skillet topped with a pan sauce.
    Roasted Cast Iron Chicken Breasts and Potatoes
  • Side angle view of a serving of pork chops with gravy.
    Instant Pot Pork Chops with Gravy
  • Side angle view of a serving of creamy chicken and rice casserole with broccoli shown set beside a casserole dish.
    Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole (Without Soup!)
  • Side angle view of a small bowl of creamy bacon mac and cheese.
    Creamy Bacon Mac and Cheese
  • Overhead shot of a casserole dish filled with chicken and broccoli pasta with a serving of the pasta scoped onto a plate sitting beside the dish.
    Baked Chicken and Broccoli Pasta
  • London broil shown on a bed of rice topped with mushroom and onion gravy.
    Instant Pot London Broil
Share this post:
« Asian Chicken Meatballs
Instant Pot Pot Roast with Potatoes »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

About Me

Hello, I'm Scott! ! I'm a former professional cook and a long-time home cook. I created this space to share my favorite quick and easy, family-friendly recipes and hopefully inspire you to try some of them for yourself!

Read More →

Easter Favorites

  • Overhead view of a plate with a serving of breakfast casserole set beside the baking dish.
    Spinach and Mushroom Breakfast Casserole
  • Close up of a slice of brioche French toast casserole on a plate.
    Brioche French Toast Casserole
  • Hashbrown and Sausage Breakfast Casserole
  • Roast beef shown sliced on a cutting board served with horseradish cream sauce.
    Pepper Crusted Roast Beef
  • Smoked leg of lamb shown on a sheet pan with roasted potatoes and asparagus.
    Smoked Leg of Lamb
  • Broccoli Salad {Chicken Salad Chick Copycat}

See More →

Featured Recipes

  • Side angle view of a serving of creamy chicken and rice casserole with broccoli shown set beside a casserole dish.
    Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole (Without Soup!)
  • Chicken enchiladas with green sauce served on a plate.
    Enchiladas with Green Sauce
  • close up of a baking dish of fresh homemade lasagna.
    Lasagna with Homemade Noodles
  • Instant pot pork roast served on a dish with potatoes and carrots.
    Instant Pot Pork Roast and Potatoes
  • Close up of a slice of brioche French toast casserole on a plate.
    Brioche French Toast Casserole
  • A large bowl of Tuscan chicken pasta with spinach and sun dried tomatoes in a creamy sauce topped with grated Parmesan cheese.
    Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Affiliate Disclosure
  • Accessibility

Follow on Social

  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Newsletter



Copyright © 2023 Dishes With Dad