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Instant Pot Split Pea Soup is an easy and classic recipe made of split peas (of course!), carrots, celery, onions, garlic, ham and a leftover ham bone for extra depth of flavor! The broth turns out rich, thick and so flavorful! You can add in potatoes too! This recipe also works well on the stove top and in a crock pot.
This classic recipe is so easy to prepare. Prep time is literally 15 minutes and the soup if made in the instant pot only takes 30 minutes! Who would have ever known you could have flavorful, delicious split pea soup ready to eat in under an hour?!
This post was originally posted on 04/13/2020 and updated on 04/26/2021.
Split Pea Soup Ingredients
- Split Peas, rinsed
- Olive Oil
- Carrots
- Onion
- Celery
- Garlic, minced
- Ham
- Ham Bone
- Chicken Broth
- Bay Leaves
- Black Pepper
- Potatoes, (optional)
Substitution Suggestions
- Olive Oil: Can use avocado, canola or vegetable oil.
- Ham & Ham Bone: To keep this soup vegetarian omit the ham.
- Chicken Broth: Use vegetable broth to make the soup vegetarian.
- Potatoes: Russet and Yukon gold potatoes work best.
How to Make Split Pea Soup in the Instant Pot
- Set the Instant Pot to saute mode and add the olive oil, diced carrots, onions and celery. Cook the veggies for 3-5 minutes until the onions are translucent and soft.
- Add the minced garlic in with the veggies and cook for another minutes. Then turn the Instant Pot off.
- Next, add the rinsed split peas, diced ham, ham bone, bay leaves, black pepper and diced potatoes.
- Stir in the chicken broth and place lid on. Make sure the valve is set to sealing.
- Cook the soup on high pressure set for 15 minutes with a 15 minute natural pressure release. Then do a manual quick release.
- Once the pin has dropped, carefully remove the lid.
- Carefully remove the ham bone and bay leaves.
- Pick or cut off any ham left on the bone and stir it back into the soup.
How to Make Split Pea Soup in the Crock Pot
- Saute the carrots, onions and celery in olive oil over medium heat until onions are soft and translucent.
- Add the garlic and cook another minute.
- Add the veggies and garlic to the crock pot along with the split peas, diced ham, ham bone, diced potatoes, bay leaves and black pepper.
- Gently stir in the chicken broth.
- Cook on low for 8 hours.
- Once finished, remove the bay leaves and ham bone, and pick or cut off any ham then stir it back into the soup.
How to make Split Pea Soup on the Stove Top
- In a large dutch oven or soup pot, heat olive oil over medium heat and add diced carrots, onions, and celery. Saute for 3-4 minutes until the onions are soft and translucent.
- Stir in garlic and cook another minute then reduce heat to low.
- Add in split peas, ham, ham bone, bay leaves, and black pepper.
- Gently stir in chicken broth.
- Place the lid ajar and simmer for at least 4 hours, stirring the soup from time to time to prevent any sticking to the bottom of the pot. The longer the soup simmers the thicker it will get.
- During the last 45 minutes, stir in the diced potatoes and continue simmering until potatoes are fork tender.
- Remove bay leaves and ham bone. Pick or cut off any meat left on the bone. Stir the meat into the soup.
How to Store and Freeze Split Pea Soup
- Store any leftover cooled soup in an air tight container. It keeps well in the fridge for 3-4 days.
- To freeze soup, add cooled soup to freezer safe air tight containers or zip top bags, label and date, then freeze. Soup will last 3-4 months in the freezer. To thaw the soup, thaw overnight in the fridge.
FAQs About Instant Pot Split Pea Soup
For this recipe, it is not necessary to soak the peas before cooking. Soaking peas overnight will soften them and decrease their cooking time, but with this recipe all that is necessary is a quick rinse.
This soup is comforting, hearty, filling and healthy! Split peas have great nutritional value including protein and fiber. Plus all the veggies in the soup add even more value.
Turn the crock pot off and remove the lid to let some of the moisture evaporate before serving. As the soup cools it will thicken.
More Delicious Soup Recipes:
- Chicken Wild Rice Soup
- Crock Pot Beef Stew
- Baked Potato Soup
- Easy 3 Bean Chili
- Chicken Dumpling Soup
- Crock Pot Ham & Potato Soup
- Cheesy Broccoli Soup
- Chicken and Potato Stew
- Pizza Soup
- Pasta E Fagioli
- Easy Zuppa Toscana Soup
- Crock Pot White Chicken Chili
Instant Pot Split Pea Soup
Ingredients
- 1 pound dried split peas, rinsed
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 large carrots, diced
- 1 small onion, diced
- ¼ cup diced celery
- 2 large garlic cloves, minced
- 2 cups diced ham
- 1 ham bone
- 8 cups chicken broth
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 large potatoes, peeled and diced, optional
Instructions
Instant Pot
- Set the Instant Pot to saute for 20 minutes and add oil, carrots, onion, and celery.
- Once you hear the vegetables start to cook, cook the vegetables for 3-5 minutes until onions are translucent.
- Add the garlic and saute for another minute, then select cancel on the instant pot.
- Add in the split peas, ham, ham bone, chicken broth, bay leaves, black pepper and potatoes if using. If adding potatoes, add an extra cup of chicken broth or water.
- Stir gently and place lid on Instant Pot making sure the valve set to sealing. Select Pressure Cook and set on high pressure for 15 minutes.
- Once finished, let the soup naturally release pressure for 15 minutes. Then click cancel to turn off the pot and do a quick release. Wait for all the pressure to release and the pin to drop.
- Remove the ham bone and bay leaves. Pick or cut off any excess meat on the bone. Stir soup and serve! If you like a thicker soup, let the soup sit for 5-10 minutes. As it cools it will become thicker.
Crock Pot
- In a large saute pan, heat oil over medium heat. Add carrots, onions, and celery. Saute for 3-5 minutes until onions are translucent. Add the garlic and saute another minute. Remove from heat and add vegetables to crock pot.
- Add the remaining ingredients: Split Peas, ham, ham bone, chicken broth, bay leaves, black pepper and potatoes if using. Stir Gently. Set to low for 8 hours. Remove ham bone and bay leaves. Pick or cut off any excess ham. Stir, serve and enjoy!
Stove Top
- In a large dutch oven or soup pot heat oil over medium heat. Add carrots, onions and celery. Saute for 3-5 minutes until onions are translucent. Add garlic and saute another minute. Reduce heat to low.
- Add the split peas, ham, ham bone, chicken broth, bay leaves, and black pepper. Stir gently. Place lid a jarred and simmer for at least 4 hours giving a stir from time to time. The longer the soup simmers the thicker the broth will become.
- If you are adding potatoes, add them 45 minutes before you are planning to serve the soup. Remove the ham bone, cut off any excess ham. Stir, serve and enjoy!
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