Split Pea Soup

The most delicious split pea soup….made in the Instant Pot! This easy soup recipe has bacon, ham steak, carrots and onions. It’s warm and comforting for winter months.

Soup is one of my favorite things to make in the Instant Pot. No simmering all day in the slow cooker or the stovetop. Soups such as sausage cabbage soup or cabbage roll soup will warm you during cold winter months!

Split Pea Soup Recipe

So….I’m not one that would say I love peas. I eat them in casseroles and mixed with mashed potatoes (drowned in gravy of course). I never really thought I’d crave split pea soup. But this soup was AH-mazing. Maybe it was the bacon and ham added. Maybe it was the fresh thyme. Maybe it’s the loads of garlic. Any way you look at it, this easy soup recipe is going to be a regular in our house!

Is split pea soup healthy?

Split pea soup is a hearty, nutrient rich soup. Fiber, protein and potassium are packed inside this soup. Because of the bacon, ham and broth this soup can be high in sodium. You can use a low sodium broth and bacon. Or even leave out one of the meats (although that will change the flavor). We love how this soup fills us up and keeps us from snacking all evening.

Do split peas need to be soaked before cooking?

Split peas generally take a shorter time to cook if they are soaked overnight. But because we use an Instant Pot (or even a slow cooker) for this recipe, you don’t really need to soak the peas. We do run them under water to rinse them though.

What spices go in split pea soup?

What flavors this soup? Onion, lots of garlic, bay leaves, oregano and thyme make this soup taste amazing. We recommend using fresh thyme for the best taste.

How do you make split pea soup in the Instant Pot?

The first step to make the soup in the Instant Pot is to saute the bacon and vegetables. This not only cooks the bacon but softens the veggies.

• Press the “saute” button on the Instant Pot and set the timer for 12 minutes.
• Heat oil and add in bacon. (We’ve made this without the oil also with no problems.
• Cook and stir the bacon and then add in onion and cook until softened. This will take about 3 minutes.
• Add in garlic, ham, oregano, thyme, and bay leaves. Cook an additional 3 minutes. (At this point the timer for the Instant Pot should be off, if not, press the cancel button.)
• Next, add in carrots, broth and peas. Mix well to combine ingredients.
• Place lid on Instant Pot and set valve to sealing.
• On manual mode, press high pressure and set the timer to 20 minutes. Remember to plan enough time for the pot to come to pressure. It will take 5-7 minutes to pressurize and seal before the timer starts.
• Once timer is off, hit cancel and allow to naturally release for 10 minutes before switching the valve to quick release.
• Open lid when the pressure valve has dropped, stir gently and add in salt and pepper to taste.

How do you make split pea soup in the slow cooker?

If you have more time and want to make this split pea soup in the slow cooker, start by sauteing the vegetables on the stovetop. When you get to Step 4 on the instructions, add everything to the slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours or on high for 6-8 hours.

What to Serve with Split Pea Soup

You can use pea soup as an appetizer, or serve it as the main dish alongside a salad and buttery soft rolls.

Other Instant Pot Recipes

• Instant Pot Baked Beans
• Instant Pot Beef Tips
• Instant Pot Spaghetti
• Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats

Still need an Instant Pot? Click here to see what one we have.

Split Pea Soup

4.72 from 14 votes

The most delicious split pea soup....made in the Instant Pot! This easy soup recipe has bacon, ham steak, carrots and onions. It's warm and comforting for winter months.

Servings 10

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 45 minutes minutes

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Ingredients

 

US Customary - Metric

• 1 tablespoon of olive oil
• 4 slices bacon (chopped)
• 1 pound ham steak (cut into ½ inch chunks)
• 1 medium onion (chopped)
• 3 garlic cloves (minced)
• ½ tablespoon dried oregano
• 3 sprigs of thyme
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 carrots (peeled and cut into ½ inch chunks)
• 7 cups vegetable broth
• 1 pound dried split peas (rinsed)
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

 

• In an Instant Pot, press the saute mode with a timer of 12 minutes.
• Heat oil and add in bacon. Cook bacon and then add in onion and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. 
• Add in garlic, ham, oregano, thyme, and bay leaves. Cook an additional 3 minutes. At this point the timer for the Instant Pot should be off, if not, press the cancel button.
• Next, add in carrots, broth and peas. Mix well to combine ingredients. Place lid on Instant Pot and set valve to sealing. On manual mode, press high pressure and set the timer to 20 minutes.
• Once timer is off, hit cancel and allow to naturally release for 10 minutes before switching the valve to quick release.
• Open lid when the pressure valve has dropped, stir gently and add in salt and pepper to taste.
• Serve warm.
• Note: The soup will be very thick when served as leftovers. You can thin it with more vegetable broth if you'd like.

Notes

The calories shown are based on the recipe serving 10 people with 1 serving being 1/10 of the recipe. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate. **We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information.**

Nutrition

Calories: 278kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 26mg | Sodium: 1307mg | Potassium: 668mg | Fiber: 12g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 2455IU | Vitamin C: 17.2mg | Calcium: 35mg | Iron: 2.6mg

Author Julie Clark

Course Main Dish

Cuisine American

Calories 278

Keyword ham pea soup, instant pot soup, pea soup

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