Dill Pickle Soup

This easy dill pickle soup recipe is an unexpected yet comforting delight with an irresistibly creamy and tangy broth! It’s a hearty and filling soup with ham, potatoes, and fresh dill.

Ingredients · Servings 6

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion (chopped)
1 medium carrot (peeled & grated)
1 cup finely chopped dill pickles
3 large red potatoes (skins on) (diced)
2.5 cups chicken broth
1 cup pickle juice
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
3 cloves garlic (minced)
1 handful fresh dill (chopped)
3/4 pounds ham (diced)
1/2 cup sour cream
1 tablespoon flour
Salt & pepper (to taste)

Method · 45 min

Add the olive oil, onion, and carrots to a soup pot. Sauté over medium-high heat for 5 minutes.
Add the remaining ingredients except for the sour cream and flour. Bring to a boil then reduce the heat to medium-low. Simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender.
Mix the flour into the sour cream until you have a smooth mixture. Stir it into the soup and cook the soup for another 5 minutes. Season with salt & pepper to taste. Garnish with extra fresh dill if desired.

Why you’ll love it

Dill pickle soup may seem a little unusual if you haven’t heard of it before. Obviously, you won’t like it if you don’t like pickles. But if you do like pickles, give it a chance! I promise it’s delicious. The savory broth is uniquely tasty, and everyone always wants seconds in my home.

I’ve been making my own simple take on classic Polish soup (zupa ogórkowa) for years now. My Czech mom makes pickle soup and so does our Polish friend, so it’s something that I enjoy often! I hope you find my version as scrumptious as I do for easy winter comfort food.

What you’ll need

Olive oil – for sautéing
Onion and garlic – tasty aromatics. I like using sweet (Vidalia) onions.
Dill pickles and pickle juice – the star of the show! Use your favorite brand, and the pickle juice is simply the juice from the jar of pickles.

Tools for this recipe

Check out Natasha’s favorite kitchen essentials, gadgets, and cookware!

I use this Dutch oven for this soup.
Easily chop up the vegetables and ham with a chef’s knife.
This ladle is my favorite since it’s sturdy and less messy than others.

How to make dill pickle soup

In a large pot, sauté the onions and carrots in the olive oil. Add the pickles, potatoes, broth, pickle juice, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, dill, and ham to the pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat.

Simmer until the potatoes are tender. In a small bowl, mix the flour into the sour cream until smooth. Add to the soup, and cook for another few minutes. Season with salt & pepper and more fresh dill if you like.

Substitutions and variations

You could always use crumbled Oven Cooked Bacon in addition to/instead of the ham. Or, try a smoked sausage like Kielbasa.
To make this a vegetarian dill pickle soup, omit the ham and Worcestershire sauce and add 1 tsp of smoked paprika for that smoky quality. Increase the veggies if desired.
If unable to find fresh dill, start with 1 tsp dried dill and add more as needed.

What to serve with dill pickle soup

It’s a filling soup with the ham and potatoes, so you can simply pair it with a slice of fresh crusty bread or a dinner roll. Or go all out with Cheesy Garlic Bread!
For a salad, serve it along with mixed greens and this Homemade Ranch Dressing. Craving something different? This Creamy Pesto Dressing is a winner, or try this bright Honey Mustard Dressing.

Leftovers and storage

This pickle soup makes amazing leftovers since the flavors intensify. Store in a covered container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Reheat over a low heat slowly until warmed through. Add a splash of chicken broth if needed.
Freeze for up to 3 months. I like to use containers for individual portions.