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instant pot ham and bean soup | instant pot ham and beans | pressure cooker ham and bean soup
4.88 from 31 votes

Instant Pot Ham and Bean Soup

Recipe by Amy + Jacky | PressureCookRecipes.com
Easy, hearty, flavorful Instant Pot Ham and Bean Soup. Smoky juicy ham, creamy beans, refreshing tomatoes, and sweet carrots in a deliciously savory broth. A family-favorite way to use leftover holiday ham. No need to soak your beans. Includes Dump-and-Go or Fancy options.
Servings 4 - 6
Total Time 1 hour 35 minutes

Ingredients

Garnish

  • Cilantro , chopped
  • Tomatoes , minced
  • Optional: Jalapeno pepper to add spiciness

Equipment

Instructions

Option A - Dump & Go Version:

  • Add Ingredients in Instant Pot: Add smoked ham hock, sliced onions, 6 crushed garlic cloves, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1 pinch dried oregano, 2 bay leaves, ¼ tsp fine table salt, 2 cups (412g) pinto beans, and chopped carrots in Instant Pot. Pour 5 cups (1250ml) unsalted chicken stock in Instant Pot.
  • Pressure Cook Ham and Bean Soup: Close lid and pressure cook at High Pressure for 50 minutes, then Full Natural Release (roughly 20 minutes). Open the lid carefully.
  • Thicken, Season, Garnish, Serve: Thicken soup by giving it a few quick stirs with a wooden spoon. Taste and season with kosher salt. Garnish with cilantro, minced tomatoes, and Jalapeno pepper (optional). Serve and enjoy~

Option B - Fancy Version:

  • Saute Onions and Herbs in Instant Pot: Press “Saute” button to “Sauté More” function to heat up Instant Pot. Wait until it says “HOT” on the screen (~8 mins).
    Add 2 tbsp (28g) unsalted butter or olive oil in Instant Pot, then quickly add in sliced onions to prevent the butter from burning. Season it with a pinch of salt. Saute sliced onions for 3 minutes.
    Add in 6 crushed garlic cloves, 1 tsp (2.7g) ground cumin, 1 pinch dried oregano, 2 bay leaves, ¼ tsp (1.5g) fine table salt. 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 Ham and Bean Soup: Add in 2 lbs smoked ham hock and 1 cup (206g) pinto beans. Pour in 2½ cups (625ml) unsalted chicken stock.
    Amy + Jacky’s Tips: Mix well and make sure all the pinto beans are submerged in the stock.
    With Venting Knob in Venting Position, close the lid, then turn Venting Knob to Sealing Position. Pressure cook at High Pressure for 10 minutes, then Full Natural Release (roughly 15 minutes). Carefully remove the lid.
  • Pressure Cook Ham and Bean Soup Again: Add chopped carrots, remaining 1 cup (206g) pinto beans, and 2 cups (500ml) unsalted chicken stock in Instant Pot. Mix well and make sure all pinto beans are submerged in the stock.
    With Venting Knob in Venting Position, close the lid, then turn Venting Knob to Sealing Position. Pressure cook at High Pressure for 25 minutes, then Full Natural Release (roughly 20 minutes). Carefully remove the lid.
  • Cut Ham, Thicken, and Season Bean Soup: Remove and set aside the ham hock in a large mixing bowl.
    Bring the soup back to a boil using “Saute High” function. Allow the soup to boil for 1 to 2 minutes.
    While you’re waiting for the soup to boil, cut the meat with a knife on the chopping board. Shred them if you like.
    Add the ham back in the bean soup.
    Taste the soup, then adjust the seasoning with kosher salt.
  • Garnish & Serve: Garnish soup with cilantro and minced tomatoes. To spice it up, garnish with Jalapeno pepper. Serve and enjoy immediately~

Video

Notes

1. Ham: We developed this recipe with a smoked ham hock. But you can use leftover ham, ham steaks, or ham bone.
  • Substitute with Honey-Baked Ham: It’ll add some sweetness to the soup.
  • Substitute with Ham Bone: Best to use a smokey ham bone with some meat.
  • Tenderness: We crafted the recipe so the ham hock will have some chew and a satisfying mouthfeel. If you want fork-tender ham, cut the smoked ham hock in half or quarter it before pressure cooking.
2. Beans: No need to pre-soak or quick soak the pinto beans for this recipe.
  • Substitute with Other Beans: Our readers have successfully substituted the pinto beans with other types of beans (i.e. 15 bean mix, navy beans). Check out the Comments section below.
  • Substitute with Canned Beans: Follow Option B – Fancy Version instructions. Pressure cook the soup at High Pressure for 30 minutes, then put the canned beans in Instant Pot, then pressure cook at High Pressure for another 10 minutes.
  • Old Dried Beans: Older beans with varying dryness may need a much longer cooking time. Sometimes dry beans can get so old and stale that they’ll still be hard or crunchy after a long cooking time.
3. Unsalted Chicken Stock & Unsalted Butter: We prefer to develop recipes using unsalted ingredients for more control and consistency in the dish’s flavors. If you’re substituting with salted ingredients, taste and adjust the saltiness accordingly.
4. Option B - Fancy Version: We separated the pinto beans into 2 batches. Then add them in the Instant Pot at 2 separate times. This method adds texture, body, and depth of flavors to the soup.
5. Glass Lid: If you have a glass lid, cover the soup as you bring it back to a boil (In Step 5). It’ll speed up the process.
Rate Amy + Jacky's Recipe: If you've tried our recipe, rate the recipe in the Comments section. Thank you!
Author: Amy + Jacky
Calories: 510kcal

Nutrition

Calories: 510kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 42g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 126mg | Sodium: 352mg | Potassium: 896mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin C: 3.1mg | Calcium: 72mg | Iron: 3.8mg