Instant Pot Ham Potato and Cheddar Soup

Instant Pot Ham and Potato Soup is so delicious and flavorful! This ham and potato soup is perfect for chilly weather. The best part of this ham and potato soup with potatoes is that it’s perfect for weeknight dinners when you don’t have much time to prepare dinner.

This Instant Pot soup doesn’t require much prep or cook time, but it tastes as if it has been simmering on the stove for hours. This ham potato soup is naturally creamy when using Russet potatoes as they break up a little bit while cooking.

It’s getting colder outside, and that means it’s time for some delicious soup! 

But who has time to make soup from scratch? Not me. That’s why I love this Instant Pot Ham and Potato Soup recipe.

This ham and potato soup is perfect for a chilly night. It only takes a few minutes to prep, and then the Instant Pot does all the work. Plus, this soup is naturally creamy thanks to the Russet potatoes.

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp. oil
• 1 tbsp. minced garlic
• ¼ c. diced onion
• ½ c. diced celery
• 1 c. carrots, diced
• 2 c. chopped ham
• 1 lb. fresh russett potatoes (cut into 1/2-inch pieces)
• 4 c. chicken broth
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. thyme
• ¼ tsp. pepper
• ½ c. half and half
• shredded cheddar cheese (for serving)

Directions:

1. Add oil, garlic, onion and celery to the Instant Pot.
2. Set the pot to SAUTÉ and sauté the ingredients until the onion is soft, stirring frequently, about 3–5 minutes.
3. Stir in carrots, ham, potatoes, broth, and seasonings (salt, thyme, and pepper).
4. Place the lid on the Instant Pot and seal shut.
5. Close the pressure release valve.
6. Set the Instant Pot to manual, high pressure for 5 minutes.
7. When the cooking cycle is complete, let pressure naturally release for 10 minutes.
8. Open the instant pot and carefully stir in half and half.

Can you make this soup ahead of time?

This ham and potato soup is great to make ahead of time, just heat it up on the stove or in a microwave until it boils.

Can you freeze this soup?

This ham and potato soup freeze well. You can freeze it in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 3 months. I recommend thawing the soup on the countertop before reheating it on the stove or in a microwave. You can also defrost in the Instant Pot with 1 cup of broth for about 15 minutes on manual pressure.

I also like to use these Souper Cubes for freezing soup. It makes for easy reheating, too!

Tips for making ham and potato soup

• You can use a leftover ham or just buy some from the store – I always like the Costco ham.
• I like to use Better than Bouillion for
• stocks because it’s easy to store and I can just use 1 cube per cup of liquid for this ham and potato soup recipe.
• Substitute the dairy milk with almond, cashew or coconut milk.
• Do not substitute Russet potatoes with any other type of potatoes – you need the starchyness that the russets provide for this soup.
• You can use frozen green beans if you don’t have fresh ones on hand, too!
• If you are not Vegan, feel free to add some shredded cheddar cheese on top of the finished soup for more flavor.

How to store ham and potato soup

This soup keeps well in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can also freeze leftovers of this ham and potato soup recipe for up to 3 months.

When I make a batch of this Instant Pot Ham and Potato Soup, I like to portion it out into individual containers that are freezer safe, then store them in the freezer for quick and easy meals.

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What should I serve with this soup?

There are so many great options – our mind always goes straight to BREAD.

• Rolls
• Breadsticks
• Texas Toast
• French Bread

A dinner salad would go great with this soup as well!

Can I make this soup in the crock pot?

You can make this soup in the crockpot if you like. Follow all of the instructions until you get to the part where you turn on the Instant Pot! Put your slow cooker on low for 2-3 hours or high for 4-6.

How long to cook the potato soup in the instant pot?

This soup will cook for about five minutes at manual high pressure. However, take into account the time it takes to get to pressure.

What are great toppings for Ham and Potato Soup?

I love to top this ham and potato soup with some shredded cheese, a few pieces of diced green onion or a dollop of sour cream.

Variations for recipe:

• You can use other veggies in this ham and potato soup such as corn or green beans, too.
• Use bacon bits instead of ham
• Use smoked turkey instead of ham
• Adjust the spices so that it tastes great for your palate – garlic powder, salt and pepper are staples in my house when it comes to this soup.
• Use a different type of cheese – pepper jack would be fantastic with this meal!

More Recipes You Might Enjoy:

• Easy Instant Pot Chicken, Potatoes, and Carrots
• Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken
• Homemade Tomato Soup
• Homemade Tomato Soup

This Instant Pot Ham and Potato Soup is the perfect comfort food for a chilly night. It’s easy to prep, and the Instant Pot does all the work. Plus, this soup is naturally creamy thanks to the Russet potatoes. You can make this soup ahead of time, freeze it, or cook it in the crockpot – it’s so versatile!