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This split pea soup is packed with high-protein split peas, fresh vegetables, and chicken drumsticks. It’s the perfect soup to nourish your whole family.
What Is Split Pea Soup?
Split pea soup is a hearty soup made with sauteéd vegetables (featuring green split peas), potatoes, and chicken. The soup has a golden yellow-green color and a deliciously thick and creamy texture from the split peas.
This split pea soup recipe is a version that comes directly from my grandma’s kitchen. Growing up in Ukraine, there was a lack of food diversity, so my family often made this soup when fresh vegetables were scarce but split peas were abundant. Out of necessity, we created a hearty meal with what we had.
Did you know? Split peas are regular peas that have been cut in half and dried to make them more shelf-stable and faster to cook.
How To Make Split Pea Soup
This split pea soup is made of wholesome ingredients and takes only 25 minutes of prep time. After an additional 50 minutes of cooking, your soup will be ready to devour!
- Make the broth: To make the chicken broth, place the chicken into a pot of boiling salted water and cook over medium-high heat until the chicken is almost fully cooked.
- Sauté the aromatics: In a frying pan, sauté the diced yellow onion and carrots until they are tender. Then, add the veggies to the pot.
- Add the peas: Add the split peas to the pot, then season with salt and black pepper to taste. Continue cooking for 20 minutes.
- Slice the potatoes: Cut the potatoes into bite-size chunks, then add them to the soup. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the dill and cook for about five more minutes.
- Serve: Serve the soup while it’s warm.
Hot tip: If you like even creamier soup, use an immersion blender to puree the soup to your desired consistency. Or, let it simmer longer until more liquid evaporates.
Meats To Use in Split Pea Soup
An awesome perk about split pea soup is that the ingredients are very versatile. The earthy flavor of split peas pairs well with almost any meat. Feel free to play around with the type of protein in the soup to get a different, yet delicious, outcome each time.
- Chicken thighs: Chicken thighs are a freezer staple in most households. Use either bone-in or boneless skinless thighs in this soup.
- Ham: If you have extra ham left over from the holidays or a dinner party, use it up!
- Ham hock (or ham bone): Ham hock is a cheap and delicious alternative to actual ham. Pop a ham hock into the soup and let it slow cook and release all that delicious ham flavor. Or, if you have a leftover ham bone, do the same! Yum!
- Bacon crisps: If you prefer a soup that’s heavier on the veggies, skip the meat in the beginning and just top the soup with crispy air fried bacon bits.
- Bone-in beef: Craving a beefy flavor? Snag a few bone-in beef short ribs, beef shanks, or oxtail. All the delicious marrow and collagen from the bones make for a delicious, beefy broth.
- Vegetarian option: If you prefer to be 100% vegetarian, double up on the vegetables and use a vegetable broth concentrate to season the soup.
Soup Tips & Tricks
Whether you’re a newbie or seasoned veteran at making split pea soup, here are three tips guaranteed to help you on your journey.
- Soak the peas before cooking: If you have time, soak the peas overnight. If not, soak them for an hour before cooking. Soaking helps speed up the cooking process — however, don’t fret if you don’t have time to spare! The soup may just take a little bit longer to cook.
- Alter the consistency: For a thicker soup, continue cooking and stirring until the split peas are cooked down and the soup is thick. For a thinner soup, add more water or chicken broth.
- Add more ingredients: For more flavor, sauté a few cloves of garlic and celery and combine them with the onions and carrots. Feel free to season with your favorite spices such as garlic powder, cayenne, thyme, or a few bay leaves. Or, add Better than Bouillon to the broth for a major flavor boost.
Hot tip: Peas are high in fiber and contain a natural sugar that may lead to gassiness. Rinsing and soaking the peas is thought to help reduce this!
Serving Split Pea Soup
Split pea soup is a whole meal on its own, so there’s not much you’ll need to add, except for the classic soup and bread pairing. Make this easy no-knead bread, garlic knots, or easy flatbread to soak up that nice broth hanging out at the bottom of your soup bowl!
If you like soup toppings, add croutons, grated cheese, a dollop of sour cream, or fresh herbs on top of individual bowls of soup. For a salad pairing that can almost pass as dessert, make berry spinach salad or pear and walnut salad.
Storing & Reheating The Soup
This split pea soup recipe makes eight servings, so chances are you’ll have at least a few bowls of soup left over. Here are a few pointers to make storing and reheating your soup trouble-free.
- Refrigerator: To store leftovers for up to three days, place the cooled soup in an airtight container. Don’t worry if you notice the soup thickening up in the fridge — it’s totally normal and fixable!
- Freezer: To store leftover soup for up to three months, place the cooled soup in an airtight container. Leave about an inch of empty space at the top of the container to allow the soup room to expand as it freezes. Thaw the soup in the fridge when you’re ready to enjoy it again.
- Reheating: Reheat leftover soup on the stove over medium heat, stirring frequently to evenly warm the soup. The soup should thin out a bit as it warms, but if needed, add a little bit of water to make it your desired consistency.
More Slavic Soup Recipes
- Red Borscht – The classic and amazing beet soup!
- Cabbage Soup Recipe — Delicious shredded cabbage soup made with loads of veggies
- Fish Soup (Ukha) — A light and herby salmon soup
- Dumpling (Pelmeni) Soup — Homemade pelmeni in a light, veggie-filled broth
Recipe
Split Pea Soup (My Grandma’s Recipe)
Print Pin
Servings
8 servings
Prep Time 25 minutes mins
Cook Time 50 minutes mins
Total Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins
Recipe contributed by: Natalya Drozhzhin
This split pea soup is packed with high-protein split peas, fresh vegetables, and chicken drumsticks. It's the perfect soup to nourish your whole family.
Ingredients
US Units – Metric
Instructions
Prepare the ingredients.
Place the chicken into salted water and cook about 30 minutes, until it is almost fully cooked.
In a frying pan, sauté the onions and carrots in oil. Cook until they are soft (7-10 minutes). Add the mixture to the boiling pot of chicken.
Add the peas to the pot. Season with salt and pepper and cook for about 20 minutes.
Add sliced potatoes to the pot. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for another 20 minutes, occasionally stirring. Add dill and cook for another 5 minutes.
Serve the split pea soup while it's warm or reheat before serving.
Nutrition Facts
Split Pea Soup (My Grandma's Recipe)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 178 Calories from Fat 36
% Daily Value*
Fat 4g6%
Saturated Fat 1g5%
Trans Fat 0.02g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 2g
Cholesterol 17mg6%
Sodium 927mg39%
Potassium 444mg13%
Carbohydrates 24g8%
Fiber 10g40%
Sugar 4g4%
Protein 13g26%
Vitamin A 1351IU27%
Vitamin C 2mg2%
Calcium 42mg4%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Posted January 27, 2024
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LucyMar 4, 2024 Way way way too watery. Recipe needs to be modified.
Natalya DrozhzhinMar 4, 2024 You can always add less liquid next time to suit your taste. Thanks for sharing Lucy.
LanaFeb 18, 2024 Simple and delicious!
Natalya DrozhzhinFeb 19, 2024 Thanks Lana! Glad you enjoyed it!
LizaFeb 14, 2024 Hi. I tried to make this recipe last night and it was a disaster. The water is WAY to much for the other ingredients - it ended up a tasteless, watery mess. I tried to salvage it by doubling up all the other ingredients, adding a lot of stock cubes, and even cornstarch as thickening agent, and it's still too watery. I've looked at other similar recipes, and for the amount of your other ingredients, I think you should be using a maximum of 2 quarts ie. 8 cups of water and double up on the onion, carrots and chicken. 4 quarts = almost 4 litres = 16 cups of water = WAY too much. Sorry for negative review, but want to help others from not wasting their time and money making this recipe according to the current instructions.
Natalya DrozhzhinFeb 14, 2024 Hi Liza, this is my grandmas recipe, which is Ukrainian version. Its not supposed to be like stew but very runny light soup. Also, as the soup sits, peas absorb more liquids so it does thick out. I am sorry you didnt like the end result. Thanks for leaving your feedback.
April JohnsonMar 4, 2023 This is a really tasty soup. I doubled everything except the water and added a touch of cayenne pepper. Great for a winter night. Thanks for posting!
Natalya DrozhzhinMar 4, 2023 Hi April! I am so glad that this recipe was a success! Thank you for your feedback. Enjoy!
Patricia NellisJan 27, 2023 Tying your soup recipe today! I’ve never had split soup! My one question is I only have dried dill. How much should I add to the soup! Thanks so much and I will leave a comment after we try ! I’m sure we will love it! Thanks Pat
Natalya DrozhzhinJan 27, 2023 Hi Patricia, I think you are going to love it! If you only have dried dill, add 1 tbsp. You can always add more if it's to your liking. Thank you for reaching out. Enjoy!
LyudaJan 26, 2023 You are saying that this recipe is from your Ukrainian grandmother. But you call the soup russian....🤔
Natalya DrozhzhinJan 27, 2023 Hi Lyuda, you make a good point. Thank you for your feedback.
Susan FlemingJan 26, 2023 I have a lot of leftover cooked peas and carrots from a dinner party. How could I incorporate this into your recipe to use them up?
Natalya DrozhzhinJan 26, 2023 Hey there Susan! The recipe calls for carrots. You can always add the peas into the soup as well. I have not tried adding in fresh cooked peas, but if you give it a try, I would love to know the results!
Pat McCartyMay 21, 2023 I’m Pat. Ukrainian grandfather, Polish grandmother. I’m in the process of making my grandmothers split pea soup, which is exactly like yours. I had a hambone, chicken broth, and leftover peas and carrots, which I threw in to the pot . Perfect outcome. I am in southwest Florida, it is hot as Hades and I am still enjoying my split pea soup today and to add ,dill is a staple in my house.
Natalya DrozhzhinMay 22, 2023 Pat, thats such a sweet story. My grandma would make it all the time and I felt like we have a same connection. Thank you for sharing this.
ChristineJan 22, 2023 This looks very good please send me the website thank you
Natalya DrozhzhinJan 23, 2023 Hi Christine, I am not sure which website you are referring to. You can find all of our recipes on Momsdish.com Hope this helps!
DarioNov 28, 2022 Is it safe to add the vegetables to the same pot the chicken was cooked in? In other recipes, they always mention to drain the water to avoid any bacterial issues.
Natalya DrozhzhinNov 28, 2022 Hi Dario, Yes, it is safe. All the bacteria gets cooked and boiled out, so there would be no issues with contamination. I am surprised to hear that other recipes call for draining the water because that's the broth you would use for the soup.
jVPETCOct 23, 2022 PLEASE CHANGE THE NAME OF YOUR SOUP TO UKRAINIAN MOM'S HARDY PEA SOUP.
Jesus is KingNov 20, 2022 Haha wow
Natalya DrozhzhinOct 24, 2022 Love the name, thanks for your feedback! It is my grandmas recipe but I will use your tip in the future!
InnaSep 24, 2022 Hey Natalya,
Made this soup. We love it so much. Thanks for this yummy recipe.Natalya DrozhzhinSep 24, 2022 Hello Inna, I'm so glad you love it, thank you for taking time to leave feedback!
RitaJul 24, 2022 16 quarts of water made for a watery almost tasteless soup. Looked nothing like the picture.
Very disappointing.Karin limaJan 25, 2023 4 quarts not 16…;))))
Natalya DrozhzhinJul 25, 2022 Hi Rita- I'm sorry yours came out watery. I add a lot of water because the split peas absorb liquid. You could always use less water in the beginning and add more liquid at the end as needed.
QuinApr 9, 2022 Question about the salt: is the sodium level per serving based on 1tsp=6grams?
Natalya DrozhzhinApr 9, 2022 Hey Quin- I'm honestly not sure. We use an outside program to calculate the nutrition information, and I'm not sure how they calculate everything. I wish I could be of more help!
KarenOct 3, 2021 I don’t think you really want to grate the carrots, do you? They look to be chopped to me.
Natalya DrozhzhinOct 3, 2021 Karen, you are so right, lol... I will update the recipe but grating is a great option 🙂
Ka Yee Julie MeckAug 17, 2021 Love this recipe! I followed this recipe exactly and the end result had my Russian husband's full approval 🙂 Thanks Natalya!
Can this recipe be adapted for the slow cooker/ crock pot to save time? xxNatalya DrozhzhinAug 17, 2021 Hey dear, I havent tried making it in a slow cooker. Thats a great idea. Meed to test it out.
Ka Yee Julie MeckAug 18, 2021 Thanks for your reply Natalya. Will test it out in a slow cooker today and let you know how I get on!
LyndaJan 27, 2021 Pretty darn good! I have never made split pea soup and this was delicious!
Natalya DrozhzhinJan 27, 2021 Hi Lynda,
I'm glad you enjoyed this recipe! It really is a delicious one!
RichardJan 7, 2021 Natalia,
This went very well with maybe 2-3 qt of water and some extra chicken (we have more meat than the USSR did, after all). I'm quite surprised how good it tastes with so few seasonings. Thanks for posting it.
Natalya DrozhzhinJan 7, 2021 Thank you, Richard, for the tips. I'm glad you enjoyed the soup!
franJan 3, 2021 Can you double this recipe? In which case, do you just double all the ingredients, including the water?
Natalya DrozhzhinJan 3, 2021 Hey Fran, if you double the recipe you should double all ingredients. Enjoy
Cristen RymanSep 22, 2020 I smoked my chicken thighs with some seasoning. Can't wait!
Natalya DrozhzhinSep 22, 2020 Oh Cristen, that sounds so amazing! I am excited for you!
KristinaSep 4, 2020 It’s a good ingredient recipe, but didn’t make sense. Like why would you cook the chicken alone when peas need to cook longer. 4 qts of water, that’s 16 cups of water! I browned the chicken, then sauted vegetables and cooked everything with peas for over an hour. Even though I used 3 qt of water, it was still liquidy. I just don’t get the proportions, timing and just don’t understand how it all works together.
Natalya DrozhzhinSep 5, 2020 Hey Kristina, I like to cook chicken alone and remove all the stuff that comes to the top as the chicken cooks and it creates a better broth when chicken cooks for a longer time. The soup does thicken up the longer it sits. Also, it would depend on the type of peas you use, some fall apart quicker than others.
KristinaSep 5, 2020 Thanks for your reply! I am curious now what peas you use. I grew up with my mom making this soup and I remember it was always a long process. It did thicken up a bit today, but it’s still watery and I only used 3qts. Either way, great flavor! Very nostalgic. Thank you!
Natalya DrozhzhinSep 6, 2020 We always use green peas, organic. Ours is still a bit watery, maybe you prefer a much thicker soup.
Claudia MylesJul 11, 2020 How does the pea soup thicken.
Natalya DrozhzhinJul 12, 2020 Peas absorb liquids as they cook so it does thicken.
Janice RowwMay 11, 2020 I followed the recipe with a few exceptions. I omitted the potatoes and threw in a few pieces of baked hame. Let it all simmer for several hours and used my immersion blender to have a uniform texture. It was yummy at this point, but missing something that I remembered from childhood. I added some heavy whipping cream and my granddaughter and I were immediately in love with our new/old soup! Thanks SO much for this delicious bowl of nostalgia! It won’t be my last !
Natalya DrozhzhinMay 11, 2020 Hey Janice, I am so glad you loved the soup. Thank you for sharing your tips, I think they will be helpful to others. Have a great day!
JuliaFeb 20, 2020 Made this vegetarian and it turned out fabulous! I did add half a teaspoon of sour cream to my bowl and loved it even more. Thanks for the recipe!
helenaJan 3, 2021 my mom use seleryroot cut in cuber
Natalya DrozhzhinJan 3, 2021 Helena, great tip! Thank you for sharing
Natalya DrozhzhinFeb 21, 2020 Hey Julia, thank you for sharing that. My hubby loves soups with sour cream, I will pass on your idea to him. 🙂
SherryJan 24, 2020 I browned the chicken thighs then sautéed the carrots and onions in the same pan I browned the chicken in. The leftover fat is to good to waste! Added this to boiling salted water and continued with recipe as written. Delicious and comforting.
Natalya DrozhzhinJan 24, 2020 Sherry, I appreciate you sharing this with us. My mom would always use the leftover fat in the soup. 🙂 There was no waste in our home for sure!
YuliyaJan 11, 2020 In the final product, are the peas supposed to be hard? I soaked mine for 24 hours and boiled longer than 20 minutes and my peas were still hard.
SherryJan 24, 2020 I always have to cook split peas double the time most recipes call for to get my desired texture. It also depends if you are at sea level or high altitude. If high altitude try not adding salt until tender, that works for me.
Natalya DrozhzhinJan 24, 2020 This is so neat, thanks for sharing!
Natalya DrozhzhinJan 12, 2020 After you add peas you still have 45 minutes of cooking time, see steps 4, 5 and 6. They still have texture but they shouldn't be hard.
AtourNov 8, 2019 Great soup. I just finished making it and I'm eating as I'm leaving this review. I definitely recommend soaking the split peas overnight. I soaked mine for about 3 hours and I felt it wasn't enough. I'm under the weather and this soup is hitting the spot. Grandmother's always have the best recipes ♡
Natalya DrozhzhinNov 8, 2019 Hey!!! I am so happy this soup is hitting the spot. I do a like a bit of texture in the soup. Yes, it’s a good idea to soak peas if you want that creamy texture.
OlgaOct 7, 2019 Made this soup again. We love it so much. I also added some chili flakes for a little kick. Thanks for this yummy recipe.
Natalya DrozhzhinOct 8, 2019 Thanks for the idea with chili flakes, I really like spicy soups so this is amazing tip. I dont know why I have never considered adding flakes to mine. Thank you again. 🙂
KatJul 15, 2016 When you say to bring a new pot of water to boil, does this mean add 3 cups to the previous water? Or throw out the previous water and then fill with 4 quarts + 3 cups?
Natalya DrozhzhinJul 15, 2016 I usually pre cook chicken separately, and rinse out the chicken. You can just continue cooking with the previous water.
TallyaJun 9, 2015 Yum! I love pea soup! And it's delicious without meat too. My daughter really likes the book Owl at Home lately, there is one story about how owl is eating pea soup when he lets winter into his home and it freezes the soup into green ice. Might have to make the soup to go along with the story sometime, even though its not winter 😉
Natalya DrozhzhinJun 10, 2015 That's so cute!! We need more stories about soups lol
AmandaNov 17, 2014 So, this makes a gallon of soup? Is that really enough peas and chicken for a whole gallon of water?
amandaNov 17, 2014 Your pot only looks like a 2 quart pot...that's the main reason I'm asking. Thanks for the post!
Natalya DrozhzhinNov 17, 2014 The pot int the picture is actually over 4 quarts. There is more water because as the soup cooks the liquid evaporates, it will turn out just like in the picture if you follow instructions. This soup absolutely delicious.
