Name: Instant Pot Ham and Green Split Pea Soup
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 8
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 tbsp butter; 1 large onion, diced; 1 celery rib, diced; 1 large carrot, peeled and chopped; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1/2 tsp salt, or more to preference; 1 hambone with clinging meat; 1 lb green split peas, sorted and rinsed; 6 cups water; 1 bay leaf; Salt and pepper to taste

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Instant Pot ham and green split pea soup is perfect for a cool evening or anytime you’re craving a good soup. Made in the Instant Pot, but tastes like it’s been cooking all day.

Any time we make a ham, whether it’s for Christmas or Easter, I love using the hambone to make soup afterwards. One of the best things about an Instant Pot is eating food that tastes like it cooked and simmered for hours when it took less than an hour to make.

There are so many fun things to cook in it and it amazes me how quickly is cooks. This Instant Pot ham and green split pea soup is one of our favorites.

What are split peas?

Split peas belong to the same family as beans and lentils, but they are grown with the intention of being dried. They are produced by harvesting the pea pods when they are fully mature and then drying them.

Once they are dried and the skins removed, they split naturally. Green split peas are the most common variety in the United States.

What are the benefits of split peas?

Split peas offer significant levels of protein, fiber, iron, zinc, and phosphorus. They are also low in fat, and a good source of folate, iron, and potassium.

They contain about 115 calories, 8 grams of protein, and 8 grams of fiber per 1/2 cup.

Do I need to presoak beans made in the Instant Pot?

The high pressure of the Instant Pot eliminates the need for overnight soaking. However, you can cook both soaked and unsoaked beans in the Instant Pot.

Why you’ll love this recipe

Made in the Instant Pot for fast cooking
Tastes like it’s been simmering all day
Flavorful dinner in about an hour

Ingredients

What you’ll need to make this recipe.

Butter
Onion
Celery
Carrot
Garlic
Salt
Hambone with meat
Green split peas
Water
Bay leaf
Salt and pepper

How to make this recipe

1 – Melt the butter in the Instant Pot over medium-high heat.

2 – Add the onion, celery, carrots, and garlic and sprinkle with salt. Sauté until the onion softens, about 5 minutes.

3 – Add the hambone to the pot, the bay leaf, then the peas, and cover with the water.

4 – Lock the lid on the Instant Pot. Pressure cook on high for 20 minutes.

5 – When the cooking time is over, quick release the pressure.

6 – Remove the lid, tilting it away from you to avoid any hot steam.

7 – Take the hambone out of the pot and pull the ham from the hambone, discarding any pieces of fat or gristle.

8 – Shred and chop the ham, then stir the ham into the pot, and discard the hambone.

9 – Season with a little salt and pepper and it’s ready to serve!

How long can I store homemade split pea soup in the refrigerator?

Split pea soup that has been continuously refrigerated, in an airtight container, will last for about 3 to 4 days.

Can I freeze homemade split pea soup?

Yes! Allow the split pea soup to cool. Ladle the soup into a resealable freezer bag, leaving enough space at the top of the bag to allow for expansion during freezing. Squeeze as much air as possible out of the top of the bag and seal securely. Place the soup-filled freezer bag in the freezer laying flat.

Please Note

The Instant Pot needs to come to pressure before the cooking time starts, similar to an oven that needs to preheat. The cooking time doesn’t actually start until pressure builds, which can take anywhere from 5-15 minutes, sometimes longer depending on how full the pot is and how much liquid there is inside. Once it reaches pressure the Instant Pot will beep, and the cook time will begin to count down. Please, make sure to consider that extra time when planning your meal.

Click here to see my favorite Instant Pot.

You can also find my FREE Instant Pot cheat sheets here.

Calories per serving (1 cup): 302

Yield: 8 Servings