Enjoy the hearty flavorful slow cooked taste of split pea soup done in less than an hour thanks to the convenience of the Instant Pot! My Instant Pot Split Pea Soup comes out so flavorful thanks to the high pressure cooking.
We love split pea soup in my home. I grew up with my mom making Split Pea with Ham Soup after Christmas and Easter ham dinners. Each and every time she would make it I would refuse to try it. What the heck was I thinking? I’m guessing it was the dark green coloring that turned me off (which is also why it took me years to try guacamole as well). Once I was in my twenties I finally gave it a try and holy cow! It was delicious. What the heck was I thinking to not try this thick and hearty soup sooner!??!
I had my mom teach me how to make the soup after one of our ham eating holidays and then I started playing around with the recipe until I found the winning recipe. In past years, I’ve always made split pea soup in the slow cooker. However, last year, after having my daughter and receiving an Instant Pot for my Birthday I decided to give it a try in the Instant Pot. Let me just tell you it was the best split pea soup I had ever made in my life. That was the proclamation my husband gave it at least.
I then made it again after Christmas and it was still the best split pea soup I had ever made. So with that being said I don’t think I’ll ever make split pea soup any other way again. Instant Pot Split Pea Soup for the BIG win! I think the reason why it’s so much better, thicker, and more flavorful in the Instant Pot is because you literally get every single piece of ham off the bone when you use the pressure cooker.
The stove-top and my slow cooker have never been able to achieve that sort of victory. I mean we have no waste of meat with this recipe. Which of course, I love that as well. I’m not one to waste food.
Ingredients
- Ham – You need both the ham bone and extra ham to top and/or mix into the soup.
- Split Peas – One 16 oz. bag is all you need for this recipe. No need to presoak. Just place them right in the slow cooker!
- Vegetables – Potatoes, parsnips, carrots, celery, onions, and green onions. The only thing that most people don’t put in their soup is parsnips and we really like the flavor it adds to it!
- Spices – Seasoning salt (this is my secret ingredient for the best Split Pea Soup!), fresh garlic minced, black pepper, fresh parsley, and a bay leaf!
- Water – Yes, you read that correctly. I have found that the ham itself has enough fat and salt in it. If you use chicken broth or stock it can be too greasy or even salty. Water is key. Trust me. Between the flavors of the ham bone, vegetables, and Seasoning Salt this is a very flavorful soup.
Directions
In a 6-quart or 8-quart Instant Pot, place the ham bone, sliced carrots, parsnips, white potatoes, onion, celery, garlic, and split peas. Then, add bay leaf, season salt, and black pepper followed by 8 cups of water. Stir until everything is incorporated.
Place the lid on the Instant Pot, close valve, and set to manual high pressure for 20 minutes.
Once the soup is done allow the pressure to naturally release for 10-15 minutes. Carefully relieve any excess pressure with a thick dishcloth or potholder. Always open the lid facing away from yourself.
Carefully remove the ham bone and discard. Using tongs you can grab larger pieces of ham and chop on a cutting board or leave as is. Mix the soup well, and add 3 tablespoons fresh minced parsley and 2 cups of diced cooked ham, mix well. Ladle soup into bowls and top with additional fresh parsley.
FAQs
This recipe will give you at least 8 hearty adult size bowls of soup.
I love to add a salad or bread with my split pea soup. I like to make my Homemade Italian Bread, a Mediterranean Quinoa Salad with Sliced Almonds, or my easy no-yeast Beer Bread recipe!
Making split pea soup in your Instant Pot (or any electronic pressure cooker) is very simple. This recipe takes just minutes to prepare. You add in the ham bone (of course make sure it will fit in your Instant Pot). Then add in all your veggies, split peas, seasoning, and water. Set the Instant Pot and let it do it’s magic.
Split pea soup will naturally thicken over time. If you want it thick for your lunch or dinner simply keep the lid off the soup for at least an hour. If you instantly want to thicken the soup you could add a 1:1 mixture of cornstarch to water; however, I do not recommend this.
No, split peas do not need to be soaked before cooking. They are relatively quick cooking an no need to have to soak them.
Tips & Tricks
Here are a few of my tips and tricks I’ve found helpful when making pressure cooker split pea soup.
- Prep Ahead – If you want to expedite the process on the day you are ready to make this Instant Pot Split Pea and Ham Soup recipe you can prep all the vegetables except the potatoes the day before. Just store in a large gallon size baggie or in an airtight container inside the refrigerator.
- No Ham Bone – No ham bone, no problem. You can still make this recipe without a ham bone, it will not be as flavorful.
- Vegetarian – You can make this recipe vegetarian by leaving out the ham bone and diced ham. I have never tested this, but I would recommend using a vegetable broth instead of water to give additional flavor. More salt might also be needed once the soup is done cooking.
- Instant Pot Cooking – Remember, whenever you cook using the Instant Pot you will need to leave time for the pot to come to pressure. Simply double your cooking time and that is how long you will need. For this recipe it has a 20 minute cooking time so it will take at least 20 minutes to come to pressure before the timer count-down begins.
- Force Pressure – Whenever you are cooking in the Instant Pot and forcing pressure you need to be extremely careful. I always use a dish towel that goes over the vent. Followed by a pot holder to move the venting spout to force the remaining steam out of the pot.
Leftover Ham Recipes
I love to add a salad or bread with my split pea soup. Here are a few of my favorite recipes:
Still craving soup?
If you are still craving soup. Here are a few more of my favorite soup recipes.
If you are a lover of split pea soup and own an Instant Pot, I’m begging you to do yourself a favor and give this delicious recipe a try. I’m confident that once you try it in the Instant Pot you will never make it any other way again!
If you make this Instant Pot Split Pea Soup recipe, I would be honored and love for you to take the time to leave a ⭐ star rating and comment! I spend hours developing and testing these recipes, and always love to hear feedback and user experience!
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Instant Pot Split Pea Soup
Equipment
- Instant Pot
- 1 Ladle
Ingredients
- 1 Large Ham Bone
- 16 oz. Dried Green Split Peas
- 3 Carrots peeled and diced
- 2 Parsnips peeled and diced
- 2 Idaho Potatoes peeled and diced
- ½ Onion diced
- 3 Celery Stalks diced
- 2 Garlic Cloves Whole
- 1 Bay Leaf
- 1 tablespoon Season Salt
- ½ teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
- 8 cups Water
- ¼ cup Fresh Parsley diced
- 2 cups Cooked Ham diced
Instructions
- In a 6-quart or 8-quart Instant Pot, place the ham bone, sliced carrots, parsnips, white potatoes, onion, celery, garlic, and split peas. Then, add bay leaf, season salt, and black pepper followed by 8 cups of water. Stir until everything is incorporated.
- Place the lid on the Instant Pot, close valve, and set to manual high pressure for 20 minutes. Once the soup is done allow the pressure to naturally release for 10-15 minutes. Carefully relieve any excess pressure with a thick dishcloth or potholder. Always open the lid facing away from yourself.
- Carefully remove the ham bone and discard. Using tongs you can grab larger pieces of ham and chop on a cutting board or leave as is. Mix the soup well, and add 3 tablespoons fresh minced parsley and 2 cups of diced cooked ham, mix well. Ladle soup into bowls and top with additional fresh parsley.
Notes
- Prep Ahead – If you want to expedite the process on the day you are ready to make this Instant Pot Split Pea and Ham Soup recipe you can prep all the vegetables except the potatoes the day before. Just store in a large gallon size baggie or in an airtight container inside the refrigerator.
- No Ham Bone – No ham bone, no problem. You can still make this recipe without a ham bone, it will not be as flavorful.
- Vegetarian – You can make this recipe vegetarian by leaving out the ham bone and diced ham. I have never tested this, but I would recommend using a vegetable broth instead of water to give additional flavor. More salt might also be needed once the soup is done cooking.
- Instant Pot Cooking – Remember, whenever you cook using the Instant Pot you will need to leave time for the pot to come to pressure. Simply double your cooking time and that is how long you will need. For this recipe it has a 20 minute cooking time so it will take at least 20 minutes to come to pressure before the timer count-down begins.
- Force Pressure – Whenever you are cooking in the Instant Pot and forcing pressure you need to be extremely careful. I always use a dish towel that goes over the vent. Followed by a pot holder to move the venting spout to force the remaining steam out of the pot.
Did you make this recipe? Let me know!