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. 

How many of you have ever had split pea soup before?

And how many of you stayed away from it because it looks like baby food?

I gotta say I was the latter for a while.  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.  

Really can’t go wrong!

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 Instant Pot Split Pea Soup:

• Set your instant pot to the saute function and saute your carrots, celery onion and garlic in 2 tsp oil. Stir and cook for about 5 minutes until veggies begin to soften. 
• Add in your ham, split peas and your stock or broth and set your instant pot to manual high pressure for 15 minutes.
• Release pressure naturally or do a quick release and stir everything together.  

Cooking Tips and Tricks: 

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. 

What broth is best for split pea soup? You can use chicken, turkey or vegetable stock to make this soup. For this recipe, I had turkey broth on hand from New Years so I used that and it added a nice richness to the soup.  You can also make a quick broth using the bones from a rotisserie chicken. 

What kind of ham should I use: Really you can use any ham you’d like as long as it’s not thin sliced like deli ham.  A ham that has been smoked usually lends the best flavor to the soup. 

Can I use yellow split peas? Of course!  They tend to have a slightly lighter flavor but are still delicious and just as cost effective. 

Check Out:

• Instant Pot Basics
• African Beef Stew
• Instant Pot French Onion Soup

Instant Pot Split Pea Soup

Instant Pot Split Pea Soup

Yield: 10 cups

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

This 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.

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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

1. 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.
2. Add in thyme, salt, pepper, ham, split peas, and stock and stir everything together.
3. Set your instant pot to manual HIGH pressure for 15 minutes.
4. Once done cooking, use a quick release or natural release.
5. Remove bay leaves, and stir.  Soup WILL thicken up over time!
6. Serve hot.
7. Will store in fridge for 7 days and freezer in an air tight container for up to 6 months.
8. If soup becomes too thick after being in fridge, thin out with more stock, broth or water.

Nutrition Information:

Serving Size: 1.5 cups
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 270