Instant Pot Split Pea Soup (Whole30)
This Instant Pot Split Pea Soup is a full hearty meal with lots of flavor coming from veggies and a smoky twist using ham. Perfect for cold nights or to batch cook for budget friendly meal prep or a Whole30 reset.
Growing up, split pea soup was a jersey diner favorite . . . well, for everyone else. However, once I tried it, I realized it was pretty damn good!
I honestly thought I was going to be eating a bland mushy flavorless mess but in reality, there are some great flavor profiles in split pea soup as well as some smoky tones coming from the addition of ham. In fact, this is a perfect way to use up leftover ham during Easter and Christmas because we all know there ALWAYS seems to be leftover ham.
My favorite thing about this instant pot split pea soup though is how little it COSTS. Seriously, an entire 1 pound bag of split peas costs less than a dollar, the veggies cost anywhere from $5-8 and the entire batch makes at least 6-8 servings.
This split pea soup can also be enjoyed on a Whole30 reset. For a long time, peas were not an approved food, but after some investigation it has been accepted meaning that Whole30 recipes can be created using split peas!
👉 What are split peas?
Contrary to popular belief, split peas are NOT the same as lentils. Actually, they are much more simple than that. Split peas are peas that are dried then split into 2 pieces so that they are ready for cooking. Really, that’s it!
🍲 How To Make Split Pea Soup In The Instant Pot
1️⃣ Set your instant pot to the sauté function and sauté your carrots, celery onion and garlic in 2 tsp oil.
2️⃣ Stir and cook for about 5 minutes until veggies begin to soften.
3️⃣ Add in your ham, split peas and your stock or broth and set your instant pot to manual high pressure for 15 minutes.
4️⃣ Release pressure naturally or do a quick release and stir everything together.
5️⃣ Ladle into bowls and serve while hot.
🍎Whole30 Split Pea Soup
In order to make your split pea soup Whole30 compliant, follow the tips below!
- Use a vegetable, chicken, or turkey stock that contains no sugar or non-compliant ingredients. You can also make your own using rotisserie chicken bone broth.
- When choosing the ham for the soup, make sure it contains no sugar or nitrates. Butcher box has a compliant ham as well as The simple Grocer. In-store you can find them at Whole Foods or in Sprouts Farmers Markets.
- As always, make sure you check the labels on any seasonings and spices you use for any non compliant ingredients.
♻ Storing & Freezing
Storing: Split pea soup can be stored in an airtight container or sealed jar for up to 1 week in the fridge. Reheat on the stovetop over medium low heat until warmed through, or use the microwave.
Freezing: To freeze any leftover split pea soup, pour cooled soup into an airtight container or freezer safe bag with as much air removed as possible. Freeze for up to 4 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating and serving.
👩🏻🍳 Chef’s Tips & FAQ
You may notice that the soup still has a thin consistency. Over time, the split peas will expand and the soup will become thicker, ESPECIALLY after being refrigerated. You can use a bit more broth or stock to thin it out if it becomes too thick.
Yes! Yellow split peas are slightly more mild in taste and make a great alternative to using green split peas.
You can use any ham you enjoy to flavor the soup. Make sure the ham is in chunks instead of thin slices of deli meat.
If you don’t want to use ham in your soup, try using thick cut bacon, smoked pork shank, smoked turkey, or any smoked sausage. For vegetarian version, use a few drops of liquid smoke to get a smoky flavor.
In January 2021, Whole30 HQ announced that peas are now on the approved list. Sugar snap peas, snow peas, green peas, yellow peas, and split peas can now be consumed on a Whole30 reset and are considered compliant.
More Whole30 Soup Recipes
- Vegan Cream of Mushroom Soup
- Slow Cooker Lemon Chicken Soup
- Keto Hamburger Soup
- Instant Pot Red Lentil Soup
- Italian Wedding Soup
Instant Pot Split Pea Soup
Ingredients
- 1 lb Dried Split Peas
- 1 lb Cooked Ham diced
- 1 cup Onion diced
- 1 cup Carrot diced
- 1 cup Celery diced
- 2 tsp Garlic minced
- 1 tbsp Fresh Thyme Leaves minced
- 2 Dried Bay Leaves
- 6 cups Chicken Turkey or Vegetable Broth
- 2 tsp Avocado Oil
- 2 tsp Salt
- 1 tsp Ground Black Pepper
Instructions
- Set instant pot to saute mode and add avocado oil. Add carrots, celery, onion and garlic and saute for about 5 minutes or until vegetables begin to soften.
- Add in thyme, salt, pepper, ham, split peas, and stock and stir everything together.
- Set your instant pot to manual HIGH pressure for 15 minutes.
- Once done cooking, use a quick release or natural release.
- Remove bay leaves, and stir. Soup WILL thicken up over time!
- Serve hot.
- Will store in fridge for 7 days and in the freezer in an air tight container for up to 4 months.
- If soup becomes too thick after being in fridge, thin out with more stock, broth or water.
