This Instant Pot Split Pea Soup with Ham is the perfect way to use up that leftover ham and ham bone from the holidays! Thanks to the pressure cooker, this creamy, nourishing soup is ready in just under an hour.
Instant Pot Split Pea Soup with Ham
My pressure cooker is my best friend when I need to make a longer recipe in a hurry! I always made this Classic Split Pea Soup on my stove top but one time, I was short on time so I tried to make it in my Instant Pot. It worked out great and has become one of my go-to recipes!
This bone was leftover from my Apricot-Rum Glazed Ham recipe and I also diced up some leftover ham to serve on top as a garnish. When making soups and stews in the pressure cooker, very little liquid evaporates, so I usually cut the liquid down a bit, from what I would use if I was cooking soup on the stovetop. I found a great Pressure Cooker Cheat Sheet on Pressure Cooker For Dummies.
The end result is a nourishing, filling soup that’s just bursting with flavor – in less than half an hour! I love to make this for dinner one night then enjoy the leftovers for lunch throughout the week.
You can see more Instant Pot recipes here. I particularly love Instant Pot turkey meatball soup and Instant Pot tomato basil soup.
Why You’ll Love This Instant Pot Pea Soup
Here are a few reasons I absolutely love this split pea soup recipe.
- Great way to use up leftover ham. Whenever I have leftover ham, I always save the ham bone for this soup, plus some of the ham itself for the topping.
- Makes great leftovers. This Instant Pot split pea soup freezes well. Leftovers are perfect for lunch or make a batch for once a month cooking extravaganza.
- Ready in under 30 minutes. Split pea soup normally takes a few hours to make but the pressure cooker reduces that time to just under 30 minutes!
What You’ll Need
This nourishing, flavorful Instant Pot pea soup is made with just 10 ingredients. See the recipe card below for measurements.
- Dry green split peas – Green split peas are peas that have been peeled, dried, and split in half. You can also use yellow split peas in this recipe but it will give you a different flavor profile.
- Veggies – Carrots, onion, and celery add flavor, texture, and nutrients to this Instant Pot pea soup.
- Garlic
- Leftover ham bone – This a great way to use the bone from a holiday dinner!
- Water
- Better than Bouillon – I use Better than Bouillon with water because I love the flavor it adds to soups, but you can use chicken broth in it’s place if you prefer.
- Bay leaf – For added flavor.
- Leftover ham – Diced ham makes a great addition to this Instant Pot split pea soup.
How to Make Instant Pot Split Pea Soup
Using the Instant Pot makes split pea soup with ham a recipe you can enjoy anytime, even when you’re short on time.
- Combine the ingredients and cook. Rinse the peas under cold water. Sauté the carrots, onions, celery, and garlic for 4-5 minutes. Add the ham bone, peas, water, bouillon, and bay leaf. Cook on high pressure for 15 minutes. Let naturally release.
- Thicken and garnish. Remove the ham bone and bay leaf. Stir. The soup will thicken as it stands. Saute the ham in a hot skillet.
- Garnish. Ladle the soup into bowls, top with the ham pieces and chives. Enjoy!
Can I Make This On The Stovetop?
Of course! Just add 2 more cups of water and simmer on low, covered, for 2 hours.
Tips & Variations
Here are a few tips for making this Instant Pot split pea soup.
- Use chicken broth. I prefer the flavor of Better than Bouillon but if desired, you can omit the bouillon and replace the water with an equal amount of chicken broth.
- Can I make this vegetarian? Sure. You can omit the ham bone and still proceed with the recipe as desired.
- Allow to sit before serving. Split pea soup will thicken as it stands, so it’s best to wait a few minutes before serving.
Serving Suggestions
I like to serve my Instant Pot split pea soup topped with some diced ham and chives. The ham helps add some extra protein and make the soup more filling, while the chives add extra flavor.
Feel free to serve with a side of bread (I love this high protein bread) or a nice green side salad or Caesar salad.
How to Store & Reheat Leftovers
- Fridge. Store leftover Instant Pot pea soup in airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Freezer. Once the soup has cooled completely, transfer to freezer-safe containers. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge.
- Reheat. Reheat your Instant Pot split pea soup on the stovetop or in the microwave.
More Leftover Ham Recipes
You can see more Soup Recipes here!
Instant Pot Split Pea Soup with Ham
Ingredients
Instructions
- Rinse peas under cold water.
- In a pressure cooker, add oil, onions, carrots, celery and garlic and saute 4-5 minutes. Add ham bone, peas, water, chicken bouillon and bay leaf. Cover and cook high pressure for 15 minutes. Let the pressure release naturally then open, remove the bone and bay leaf and stir, the soup will thicken as it stands.
- Saute the ham on a hot skillet if desired and use for garnish on the soup with chives.
- To make without a pressure cooker, add 2 more cups water and simmer covered on low for 2 hours.
