What To Serve With Split Pea Soup: 19 Mouth-Watering Pairings

Split pea soup is one of the tastiest soups and it is common in different parts of the world. It has a green-yellow color and the main ingredient is dried peas.

The traditional recipe calls for split peas, but ultimately, you can use any type of peas you want. But what can you eat along with the split pea soup? We put together a list of side dishes so you can have plenty of choices every time you want to enjoy this soup.

You can enjoy this soup with a side of rice, beans, potatoes, coleslaw, or some of the next dishes. Scroll down to find which side dishes go best not only with your split pea soup but also with your culinary preferences.

Best Side Dishes For Split Pea Soup 

All of the following side dishes are tasty and extremely easy to prepare even for those with little or no experience in the kitchen

1. Beans

You can use canned beans that are pre-baked in tomato sauce or you can boil your beans at home and add some sauce of your choice.

Either way, the combination of beans and this soup is not just filling but extremely tasty too, so, you have to give it a try!

2. Rice

Rice, of all kinds, will compliment your split pea soup amazingly.

You can use white or brown rice but also a wild strain. Boil your rice as you normally would and add salt. Turmeric is a great ingredient as well if you like the yellowish color it adds to your rice.

Serve it plain next to your soup and you will not be hungry again for several hours as this combination is very filling.

3. Coleslaw

Coleslaw is one of the most appreciated salads and you might love it even more next to your split pea soup. Make your coleslaw at home even if you can find it in stores already made as it is very easy to prepare.

You need chopped cabbage and carrots and a dressing made of mayo, vinegar, salt, and just a pinch of sugar. You will enjoy every bite of such a meal and we are sure that you will make it again very soon.

4. Roasted Green Beans

Roasted green beans are ready in minutes and they taste charming next to a warm serving or split pea soup. They are low in calories and very rich in flavor.

All you need to make them is olive oil, salt, and a sprinkle of parmesan for extra flavor.

5. Noodles

Noodles of any kind will taste even better inside your split pea soup.

You can have your noodles as a side dish or you can add them to your bowl of soup and you will be amazed by the results. Feel free to use instant noodles, such as those for ramen soup. Or any other type of noodles and you will not regret it!

6. Pasta Salad

Pasta salads come in all kinds of recipes but all of them include short pasta such as penne and a mix of veggies as well as a sauce or dressing as a topping.

Either one of these combos would taste deliciously next to your split pea soup. Not to mention that your lunch or dinner will suddenly become a lot more filling and with plenty of nutrients.

7. Wedges

Wedges are similar to fries only they are thicker and generally have more herbs on them. You can eat them plain but next to your split pea soup they will taste amazing.

We recommend making the potatoes fresh so you can have the best meal possible and why not add a pinch of chili flakes on them or maybe melted cheese for an even more intense taste.

8. Baked Potatoes

Baked potatoes sprinkled with salt, pepper, and rosemary will be just what you need to complete your meal, next to your bowl of split pea soup. You can even roast the potatoes until they get the crunchy skin and add a tasty sauce next to them.

Such a side dish will convert your split pea soup into a wholesome delicious dinner even if many people love this combination for lunch as well.

9. Mashed Potatoes

Mashed potatoes go with split pea soup in the same way rice does.

They add a creamy texture that compliments soups wonderfully. And they taste delicious. Not to mention that you can make your mashed potatoes in just a matter of minutes.

For a more filling taste and texture, we recommend adding a spoon of butter as you mash them.

10. Dinner Rolls

Dinner rolls pair nicely with split pea soup or any soup if prefer bread as a side dish. They are even better made fresh as they will taste deliciously combined with your soup.

If you like dinner rolls, you can always make more of them and freeze them for when you want a side dish next to your warm soup

11. Spring Rolls

This traditional Asian dish tastes amazingly next to a bowl of split pea soup. You can make your own spring rolls or buy them frozen and just fry them at home.

They usually have cabbage, carrots, and mushrooms. However, you can find them in other combinations of veggies. Spring rolls are not just tasty but also very filling.

12. Fresh Salad

Nothing compares to a fresh salad next to a warm dish such as split pea soup.

Use season veggies such as fresh tomatoes and cucumbers. You can even add peppers and carrots in it to have a wider variety of nutrients.

Add a dressing made of vinegar, salt, pepper, and mustard and you have the ideal combination for your split pea soup.

13. Pickles

Pickles go great with split pea soup but only if you eat the soup warm. Moreover, if you like your split pea soup spicy, you will enjoy a side of pickles next to it even more.

The taste of pickles goes great with a warm, spicy soup and you might not even want any other combination once you try this one.

14. Croutons

Croutons are some of the fastest side dishes to add to any soup. You can buy them already made and in different flavors such as with garlic, olive oil, or spices, or you can make them yourself if you have extra bread.

If you make your own croutons, used a few slices of bread to cut them into smaller cubes and roast them in the oven until they get a golden, crispy crust. Sprinkle olive oil and seasonings of your choice and you have tasty, crunchy croutons in no time.

15. Chips

If you want a fast side dish to go with your split pea soup, you can always open a bag of your favorite chips.

Cheese flavored chips tend to go the best with this soup but ultimately you can pick the flavor you like best as even spicy chips would complement your meal beautifully.

16. Chicken Nuggets

Chicken nuggets can give you the best of both worlds if you serve them next to your split pea soup. They are great comfort food and they will mix perfectly with the delicious veggie soup.

Feel free to add your favorite dipping sauce for an even more delicious, wholesome meal.

17. Cheese Fingers

Cheese fingers are easy to bake. You can even find them frozen if you are looking for a quick fix. They taste great on their own or with a dipping sauce of your choice. However, they taste even better next to your split pea soup.

If you use frozen cheese fingers, all you have to do is bake them for about 10-15 minutes and you have a tasty side dish for your meal.

18. Fish Fingers

Similar to cheese fingers, fish fingers also come frozen. However, you can also make them from scratch without too much hassle as well.

They go great with the pea flavor of the soup. They taste even better if you add a pinch of your favorite spice such as chili or paprika.

Lastly, don’t forget to add a dipping sauce to go with your fish fingers and enjoy one of the best comfort foods put together in minutes!

19. Your Favorite Sandwich

If you like sandwiches but also split pea soup, why not eat them together? Such a meal can bring you everything you like in one sitting.

Grilled cheese sandwiches are particularly a perfect match. However, you can get as creative as you want with these sandwiches in order to make them perfect for your preferences.

What Salad Goes With Split Pea Soup?

Even if almost all kinds of salads will taste great with this type of soup, we recommend a pasta salad of your choice in order to obtain the maximum in terms of taste.

You can add grilled chicken into your salad so you have more protein and simply combine it with pasta and your favorite veggies. Finally, don’t forget to add a dressing that satisfies your taste as well.

For a chicken and pasta salad, a perfect dressing would be mayonnaise with oregano, rosemary, salt, and pepper. However, you can’t go wrong if you prefer other combinations either!

Best Split Pea Soup Recipe

If you want to make your split pea soup from scratch know that it is not difficult at all.

You will need some olive oil, onion, celery, carrots, garlic, chicken broth and water, dried split peas, bay leaves, thyme, and a bit of parsley as well as the classic salt and pepper. For a more intense taste, we recommend using ham bone as well.

The quantities do not matter much since you will have to consider your taste. For instance, if you like a specific ingredient, add it in large amounts. Try to chop all the veggies into bite-size pieces and at roughly equal sizes so they get cooked at the same time.

Step 1: Saute The Veggies 

Heat some olive oil in a large pot, then add your veggies, except carrots. You will let them saute for about four minutes to make sure the onion gets a yellowish shade.

Step 2: Add The Peas, Herbs, And Liquid

In the same pot with the sauteed veggies, pour the water and chicken broth along with the peas and herbs. Also, while you do that, season with salt and pepper.

Step 3: Add The Ham Bone

After you added the peas, add the ham bone and let your mixture boil at medium heat. When your soup starts to boil, reduce the heat to low and cover the pot with a lid. Allow your soup to simmer for about one hour.

Step 4: Remove The Ham To Chop The Meat Off Of It 

Take the ham bone off the soup and let it cool down for five minutes before you remove the meat. Once you got the ham off the bone, let it cool down another five minutes. Make sure you cut the ham into smaller pieces so it will mix well with the rest of the ingredients.

Step 5: Add The Ham And Carrots 

When you add the ham into the soup, also add the chopped carrots. You will now allow your soup to simmer at low heat for about 30 minutes.

Mix it every now and then so all the ingredients are well cooked.

Step 6: Serve And Enjoy!

Put some soup in a bowl and serve it with one or more of the side dishes in this guide!

Final Words

If you never tried split pea soup, you should definitely see how you like it by following the recipe above and choosing the best side dish for your taste.

Get creative with the recipe as it differs from region to region and you can’t really ruin it by adding more or less of one ingredient or another!