Instant Pot Split Pea Soup

Instant Pot Split Pea Soup has a very special place in our hearts.

After losing contact for 20 years, homemade split pea soup was the first Instant Pot Meal Jacky’s host mom made for us during our miraculous reunion.

It wasn’t anything fancy, but her comforting pea soup overwhelmed our hearts with love and warmth. You can read the full story here.

Instant Pot Split Pea Soup

Split pea soup is a humble, thick, and hearty pea soup that’s mostly enjoyed in fall and winter.

There are variations of pea soup among different cuisines and cultures. But it’s usually made of peas (split peas), vegetables, stock, and pork.

It’s a simple, low-cost, and nutritious soup that’s heartwarming, filling, and delicious to eat!

We designed this easy Instant Pot split pea soup using only 10 simple ingredients. And you can get it on the table in an hour! Yet it doesn’t sacrifice any deliciousness, packed with satisfying flavors and textures. You’ll love how the soup comes out like a thick, rich, and smooth puree.

With this split pea soup Instant Pot recipe, you won’t need to watch the hours-long simmering on a stove! Plus, it’s a great way to use your Easter, Thanksgiving, or Christmas holiday ham bone.

How to Make Split Pea Soup Instant Pot Recipe

Here are the ingredients for cooking Split Pea Soup in Instant Pot.

Ham

We developed this easy split pea soup Instant Pot recipe with a smoked pork hock. But you can also use leftover ham, ham steaks, or ham bone to make this split pea and ham soup.

If you’re using honey baked ham, keep in mind it’ll add some sweetness to the soup.

• Vegetarian Split Pea Soup: If you want to make this split pea soup vegetarian by omitting the meat, you don’t need to change the pressure cooking time.

Green Split Peas

Green split peas are peeled and dried green peas that are split in half. They’re filled with nutrients, especially rich in protein and fiber. Since they cook relatively quickly, you don’t need to soak them before cooking.

• Substitute with Yellow Split Peas: Green split peas and yellow split peas have similar nutritional content and cooking times. So you can use yellow split peas to cook this Instant Pot Pea Soup. Keep in mind that the flavor profile will differ from the green split peas. Some readers like to mix the two peas together – using half green split peas and half yellow split peas. Try it and see which one you like more!

Unsalted Chicken Stock & Unsalted Butter: We develop recipes with unsalted ingredients because we can better control the flavors of the dish. If you’re substituting with salted chicken stock or salted butter, keep in mind that the sodium level can vary a lot between different brands. Always taste and adjust accordingly.

Tools for Instant Pot Split Pea Soup

• Instant Pot Pressure Cooker (6qt)
• Bamboo Wooden Spoons

Saute Onions, Herbs, Veggies in Instant Pot

First, press “Saute” button to “Sauté More” function to heat up your Instant Pot.

Note: It’ll switch to “ON” on the screen.

Wait until it says “HOT” on the screen (takes roughly 8 minutes).

Now, add 2 tbsp (28g) unsalted butter or olive oil in Instant Pot, then quickly add in diced onions to prevent the butter from burning. Season it with a pinch of salt.

Saute diced onions until softened (takes roughly 2 minutes).

Add in minced garlic, a pinch of dried thyme, and 2 bay leaves, then saute for another minute.

Add in chopped carrots and celery, then saute for another minute.

Deglaze Instant Pot

Pour ½ cup (125ml) unsalted chicken stock in Instant Pot.

Then, completely deglaze the bottom of the pot by scrubbing the flavorful brown bits with a wooden spoon. Keep the brown bits as they are very flavorful.

Pressure Cook Split Pea Soup

Add 1 lb (454g) green split peas and 1 (2lb) ham bone or smoked pork hock in Instant Pot.

Add 5½ cups (1375ml) unsalted chicken stock in Instant Pot.

With Venting Knob in Venting Position, close the lid, then turn Venting Knob to Sealing Position.

Pressure Cooking Method: Pressure Cook at High Pressure for 15 minutes, then Natural Release for 10 minutes.

After 10 minutes of Natural Release, carefully turn Venting Knob to the Venting position to release the remaining pressure.

Once the floating valve drops, remove the lid.

Season, Thicken, Serve Split Pea Soup

Remove and set aside the pork hock or ham bone. Give the split pea soup in Instant Pot a few quick stirs.

Note: The Instant Pot pea soup should thicken and come together as it sits.

If you used smoked pork hock, cut the meat with a knife on the chopping board. The meat is super juicy!

Add the meat back in the split pea soup in Instant Pot or you can serve them in sandwiches.

What to Serve with Split Pea Soup

This hearty Instant Pot Split Pea Soup with Ham is very filling and satisfying. So, you can serve it as a nutrient-dense meal on its own.

Homemade split pea soup also goes well with many main or side dishes. Here are some tasty ideas for you:

Bread, Sandwiches, Crackers: Serve this healthy split pea soup with bread like easy no knead bread, French baguettes, sourdough, grilled cheese sandwich, toasted garlic bread, dinner rolls, biscuits, cornbread, croutons, or saltine crackers.

Salads, Vegetables: Coleslaw, green salads like Caesar salad, potato salad, egg salad, stir-fried garlic green beans, corn on the cob, Instant Pot baked potatoes, Instant Pot mashed potatoes, or Instant Pot sweet potatoes.

Can Split Pea Soup with Ham be Frozen?

Yes, this pressure cooker split pea soup freezes well. This is a great budget-friendly, healthy, and tasty meal prep recipe.

You can freeze the split pea soup by letting it cool, then pour it into freezer storage containers or freezer bags. With freezer bags, try to remove as much air as possible, then lay them flat in the freezer to freeze.

When you’re ready to enjoy this comforting pea soup, thaw, reheat, then enjoy.

Enjoy your Heartwarming Instant Pot Split Pea Soup! 🙂

Other Instant Pot Soup Recipes

• Instant Pot Potato Soup
• Instant Pot Lentil Soup
• Instant Pot Chicken Soup
• Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas