Bulgarian split squats are a lower body exercise that can develop massive strength in your quads, hamstrings, glutes, hips, adductors, and calves. They are a knee-dominant movement that primarily targets your quads and glutes, but your hamstrings, hips, and core muscles also play important supporting roles. The primary muscles worked by the Bulgarian split squats are the quadriceps, glutes, hip, and adductors (inner thighs muscles), while the secondary muscles worked are the abdominals, hamstrings, and calves. By performing the exercise with bodyweight only or holding a dumbbell in each hand instead of a barbell across your shoulders, you take some load off your lower back. However, it doesn’t change the muscles worked in the exercise. Bulgarian split squats can be used to find and fix muscle imbalances, and they are a must-have exercise for a lower body strength workout plan.