41 Best Soup Recipes

Ask any diehard soup fan and they'll tell you the truth: Soup season lasts all year round. In a Tasting Table exclusive survey, over 35% of foodies named chicken noodle as their favorite go-to cozy soup, but there are so many options out there that are just as comforting and easy to make. Fragrant ginger and a hint of chili in Tom Yum soup can awaken your senses during a winter slump or help clear your sniffles, and the simple combination of ham and beans is like getting a big hug in a bowl. 

You may normally reach for a can when you're looking for comfort, but you would be surprised by how easy it is to whip up a big batch of soup to serve a crowd (or yourself) on a dime. To "stir the pot" and get your brainstorming started, we've rounded up 41 of our best recipes.

Few soups say "stick to your ribs" like minestrone. It's the perfect healthy one-pot meal for last-minute potlucks and busy weeknights. The most time-consuming part of the whole dish is chopping the veggies. The combination of potatoes, beans, and pasta will keep hungry bellies full all evening long, while the veggie lineup of spinach, celery, and more make it a comfort food that won't weigh you down.

Plus, this minestrone soup is sturdy enough to hold up well in the freezer, making it an ideal recipe for make-ahead meal prep.

Recipe: Hearty Minestrone Soup

This Thai chicken noodle soup is an unequivocal flavor bomb loaded with lemongrass, coconut milk, red chili pepper, mushrooms, rice noodles, and other delectable ingredients. Its unique flavor profile is a welcome departure from the other chicken-based soups in your repertoire (i.e. chicken noodle, chicken vegetable, etc.).

Familiar favorites have earned their enduring residency in your regular rotation for a reason, but if they're starting to get a little tired, look no further than this creamy, zesty recipe to shake things up.

Recipe: Thai Chicken Noodle Soup

This traditional French recipe is perfect for spring as leeks come into season starting early June. The leeks provide the flavor base, then potatoes, garlic, vegetable broth, and a few herbs and spices that you probably already have floating around your kitchen are added (which makes this recipe just as healthy as it is economical).

This soup is puréed, which can also serve double duty in both the culinary and utilitarian sense. Upset stomach? This smooth, mild soup goes down easy. Just got your wisdom teeth out? No chewing required. To complete the meal, serve this dish with crusty bread, or ladle it into smaller bowls and serve it as a side to chicken or steamed fish.

Recipe: Classic Potato Leek Soup

You heard us right. This recipe proves that peanut butter is not just for lunch sandwiches and apple slices; it can take your soup game to the next level. In this recipe, the sweet-savory spread is paired with jalapeños and sweet potatoes for a complex flavor profile that's sure to leave dinner guests talking (and inspired). Red pepper, coconut milk, and curry powder round it out to make this a truly one-of-a-kind soup.

Serve the dish with crispy seed-packed crackers and a smoky mezcal cocktail (like an Oaxaca Old Fashioned) to complete the meal.

Recipe: Hearty Peanut Butter Soup

This recipe combines shrimp and chicken with a bevy of fiber-rich ingredients, such as baby bok choy, mushrooms, and snow peas, to create a delicious soup that'll have you feeling both satiated and invigorated. But what really makes this dish special is the crispy rice — toasted in the oven and then fried in oil. As the piping-hot grains sizzle in the soup, the visually and aurally stunning presentation elevates the meal. This recipe is also a surefire way to make a bowl full of veggies look a lot more appealing to kiddos and picky eaters.

Recipe: Sizzling Rice Soup

Calling all lovers of spicy food — if you've bought into soup's reputation as only being comfortable and mild, think again. This recipe provides a knockout hit of heat that's perfect for your next tailgate or backyard barbecue, combining chipotle pepper, adobo sauce, and red pepper flakes. Black beans lend a hearty mouthful, while paprika, lime juice, and red bell pepper make for a bright finish.

This soup is a few clicks away from chili, but totally its own thing too. Garnish it with diced avocado, shredded gouda or sharp cheddar cheese, and fresh cilantro. Serve it with cornbread and a full-bodied Mexican lager.

Recipe: Spicy Black Bean Soup

This just might be the ultimate bread-dunking soup in our lineup. Creamy, salty, and bulked up with diced potato, this soup is a foodie's one-stop shop for making a warming, filling meal for a crowd. As if we needed any more reason to make it, everything gets cooked in one pot, leading to a largely hands-off dinner with easy cleanup. Plus, it's sturdy enough to keep well in the freezer. (If there are any leftovers remaining, that is.) 

Serve this broccoli cheddar soup with a Caesar salad, garlic bread, or rib eye steak.

Recipe: Classic Broccoli Cheddar Soup

This Portuguese kale soup is a great way to get a green vegetable into your diet during colder months, while simultaneously being light enough to satisfy during springtime. It combines chorizo, kale, potatoes, chicken broth, and garlic to make a nourishing bowlful that only takes 35 minutes to put together. This soup is uncomplicated and affordable, and it will hold up well in the fridge if you want to make a big batch and enjoy it for make-ahead lunches all week long.

Recipe: Portuguese Kale Soup

Zucchini, red peppers, and onions walk into a bar... or, actually, into a blender. This soup has an elegant creamy texture similar to a bisque or thick tomato soup. Pair it with a grilled cheese sandwich (perhaps smeared with red pepper jam).

This dish could also be a sophisticated side for an entrée like barbecued pork shoulder or Parmesan-crusted tilapia. It's also hearty enough to serve on its own, topped with fresh parsley and garlic croutons or Goldfish-style crackers.

Recipe: Hearty Red Pepper Soup

Aside from the fact that earthy carrot and spicy ginger are a classic flavor combo, there are two particularly special things about this recipe — its straightforward prep and super low ingredient cost. On your grocery run, all you'll need to grab are carrots, fresh ginger, onions, and vegetable stock. 

To complete the soup, you can top it with chopped parsley or cilantro.

Recipe: Carrot Ginger Soup

You're looking at a fix-it-and-forget-it meal that's ideal as a healthy, warming dinner on the table — even on busy weeknights when you're working overtime or have a kiddo's soccer game to cheer at. Everything — including the chicken breasts — gets cooked right in your slow cooker. 

Garnish the soup with shredded sharp cheddar, sour cream, cilantro, fresh avocado slices, and crispy tortilla strips.

Recipe: Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup

This classic French dish can keep you reaching for a bowl of soup well into spring as asparagus enters peak season in April. The delicate, mild flavor of cream of asparagus soup makes it a culinary chameleon that pairs well with a wide variety of dishes ranging from fancy to casual, like lemon-garlic baked salmon or a hot ham and cheese sandwich.

You could even serve it alongside eggs Benedict with a Bloody Mary for a knockout savory brunch. For added ease, it keeps in the refrigerator for a full week, but it can also be frozen for future use.

Recipe: Easy Cream of Asparagus Soup

This turkey vegetable soup is a crowd-pleaser that can make use of any Thanksgiving leftovers, and incidentally, it's also super easy to whip up a large enough batch to serve a houseful. The recipe is highly customizable; it uses orzo, but farfalle pasta or egg noodles would also fit well and add a little more substance if you're looking to make this soup stretch further. 

Or, for gluten-free foodies, forego the pasta altogether and use chickpeas or butter beans instead. To make a vegan version, simply swap the chicken broth for a vegetable one, and sub the turkey for a plant-based meat alternative or omit it.

Recipe: Turkey Vegetable Soup

Imagine the thin soup that comes out before your entrée in a Japanese restaurant. (It's delicious... but not so substantial.) Turn it into a main dish on its own by cooking up this shiitake mushroom version.

Mushrooms and bok choy are married in a delicate white miso broth, then bulked up with cubed tofu and shredded carrots. The best part? It's ready in right around half an hour.

Recipe: Shiitake Mushroom Soup

Take full advantage of peak soup season (or fall, as non-foodies call it) with this butternut squash soup. Its Thai-inspired twist takes an otherwise mild soup to a savory new echelon. The autumnal squash first gets roasted in the oven, which enhances its natural flavor. Lime juice, lemongrass paste, and coconut milk build a mosaic of flavors, while grated ginger, serrano chiles, and turmeric turn up the heat.

It all gets puréed until smooth — ready to enjoy on its own or as an unconventional side dish. Try pairing it with pad see ew or other traditional Thai dishes you like.

Recipe: Thai-Style Butternut Squash Soup

The unsung hero of the Chinese restaurant experience — we see you, wonton soup, and we would never take you for granted. Luckily, it only takes a few steps and about 20 minutes to make this familiar favorite at home. After all the ingredients get tossed into a pot and simmered on the stove, your wonton soup is ready to enjoy.

Use pre-made wontons for a quick-and-easy dinner option, or for more intrepid home cooks, you could even make them yourself. You can go ahead and dig into that steaming wonton soup as is, but if you want to turn it into a more filling meal, feel free to add in rice, noodles, tofu, or chicken.

Recipe: Easy Wonton Soup

When you think of "low-effort go-to dinners," there's probably a pretty good chance that tacos and soup are among the dishes that first come to mind. They're both hodgepodges of complementary ingredients that come together to create something greater than the sum of their parts. These dishes promise an easy weeknight, and the conglomerate "taco soup" delivers it.

The base is reminiscent of beef taco filling — a playful reimagination of chili with black beans, corn, red pepper, and taco seasonings. Top the soup with cilantro and a squirt of fresh lime juice. Serve it with tortilla chips or even as an accompaniment for steak fajitas.

Recipe: Creamy Taco Soup

Plant-based eaters, buckle your seatbelts: This hot and sour soup is naturally vegan. Its explosive flavor comes from a harmonious mix of curry paste with galangal, ginger, lemongrass, and mushrooms. In case you've never worked with it before, galangal is a root that belongs to the ginger family with a spicy, piney, and citrusy taste. The ingredient creates a compelling depth of flavor in this spirited take on a Thai classic.

This fresh, acidic dish is a great way to enjoy soup season all year long without getting bogged down by heavier ingredients. Pair it with rice or a fresh cucumber salad,

Recipe: Tofu Tom Yum Soup

This nutrient-dense, low-calorie cabbage soup is ideal for the winter months when many vegetables are out of season. Hearty, resilient cabbage remains at the ready to deliver a filling, healthy meal to your dinner table in just 10 minutes of hands-on prep time.

This soup can work well as a dish to bring along to a holiday potluck or as part of a St. Patrick's Day spread, where it'd make a killer side to corned beef or roasted chicken breast. You could even dunk Reuben egg rolls in it for a fun kid-friendly supper.

Recipe: Old-Fashioned Cabbage Soup

The way we do it at Tasting Table, vegetable soup is anything but boring. This chickpea orzo soup combines both pasta and beans to create a dish so flavorful and satisfying that you won't even notice it's vegan. Lemon juice adds brightness and acidity, while the miso broth packs a knockout punch of umami. This recipe boasts all the protein of a chicken-vegetable soup with lots of fiber to boot.

Shall we sweeten the deal even further? This chicken orzo soup is a one-pot meal; everything gets thrown into a Dutch oven and left to simmer, making cleanup a breeze. Serve it with a flavorful crusty bread like Jewish rye or rosemary pugliese.

Recipe: Chickpea Orzo Soup

Celery has been having a moment lately. Outlets have been singing the praises of celery juice, and Martha Stewart reportedly adds it into her green juice every morning. But today, we're talking about this vegetable's perhaps lesser-known but just as newsworthy medium: soup. It's a simple ingredient lineup of celery, stock, potato, garlic, and onion — all blended into a velvety purée that's mixed with milk and cream.

This recipe is perfect for a girls' night in, Mother's Day, Easter, a book club gathering, or your next dinner party. (Incidentally, it's also a great way to use up the rest of the leftover celery that ordinarily sits in your fridge and goes bad before you have a chance to use it all.) To complete the meal, pair it with duck confit and a semi-dry white wine like Riesling.

Recipe: Silky Cream of Celery Soup

Craving Tex-Mex but can't decide which dish to make? This tortilla soup has arrived to satiate your appetite and remove your decision fatigue. It combines red pepper, jalapeño, black beans, corn, roasted tomatoes, and all your favorite spices like cumin and chili powder.

The whole thing gets topped with fresh avocado, cilantro, and crunchy tortilla strips. You could also add in sour cream and shredded cheese. In short, this soup packs an entire Mexican-inspired menu into a single bowl. Pair it with a margarita or a zesty Paloma.

Recipe: Hearty Vegetarian Tortilla Soup

This minestrone blurs the line between what soup is and what it can be. It's a pasta-meets-soup dish so evenly split on the line that we might even call this a "really brothy pasta." Penne pasta lends a dense mouthfeel, further bulked up by two different types of beans and an array of fresh veggies. When you're looking for a low-effort vegetarian meal that'll keep you satisfied all evening long, look no further than this slow cooker minestrone.

Recipe: Slow Cooker Minestrone

Your tried-and-true tomato soup recipe has served you well, but it deserves a glamorous makeover. Introducing: this creamy tomato tortellini soup. It's comforting, it's sophisticated, and it's the main event of mealtime. (No grilled cheese sandwich necessary... unless you want to, of course.)

Tortellini (not to be confused with tortelloni) imparts little pockets of luxurious cheese in every bite. Garnish the dish with grated Parmesan and a few fresh basil leaves. To serve, pair the soup with garlic bread and a glass of Lambrusco.

Recipe: Creamy Tomato Tortellini Soup

When you get Japanese takeout, have you ever noticed that the miso soup you ordered tends to run on the tepid side by the time it reaches your door? Or, alternately, have you ever been scalded by a piping hot takeout container of miso soup and walked around with a tongue burn for the next three days? 

It's time to start making your own miso soup at home so you can enjoy the dish at the perfect temperature every time you want it. This recipe is vegetarian-friendly and inexpensive: All it takes is miso paste, tofu, vegetable broth, mushrooms, scallions, powdered ginger, and soy sauce. Still chowing down on your teriyaki chicken leftovers? No sweat — this soup will keep in the fridge for up to five days.

Recipe: Simple Miso Soup

It's refreshing to come across something that is exactly what it says it is — like, for instance, this Mexican rice soup. This classic recipe calls for three different types of beans, tomatoes, rice, hominy, and a slew of savory spices — no frills added.

Top it with fresh avocado slices, chopped cilantro, and diced red onion. This soup is thick enough that it could even be served in a tortilla as a rice-forward burrito. If you prefer something thinner, feel free to add more water or broth to your batch.

Recipe: Mexican Rice Soup

Vichyssoise is a fancy name for a decidedly uncomplicated dish: potato and leek soup. Still, its simplicity doesn't make it any less great, even earning it a permanent residency in the elite lineup of traditional French dishes. To make this version, leeks, garlic, onion, Yukon Gold potatoes, and chicken stock are simmered with a bouquet of herbs, puréed until smooth, and mixed with heavy cream and lime juice and zest.

The soup is served cold with an extra drizzle of cream and a sprinkle of chopped chives. Keep it light and pair your vichyssoise with rice pilaf or bread. The dish can also be a delightful side for heartier entrées like pan-seared lamb chops, grilled salmon, or beef tenderloin.

Recipe: Vichyssoise

Don't let the "carcass" part scare you off. This chicken soup is just as friendly and accessible as the company you'd want to share it with on a cold day. All it takes is some chicken (leftovers work great here), a few vegetables, and water. Potatoes, chickpeas, and frozen spinach are a yummy jumping-off point, but this soup is highly customizable and will work well with whatever vegetables or scraps you happen to have on hand. 

Admittedly, this is one of the more time-consuming recipes in our soup lineup due to the homemade stock. But we think you'll find that the extra time is quite worth it for that inimitable made-from-scratch taste.

Recipe: Easy Chicken Carcass Soup

Take a cue from northern Europe with this savory Nordic fish chowder. If you've ever ordered a smoked whitefish bagel from your local Jewish deli and fallen in love at first bite, you're in for a real treat here.

The name "chowder" already implies a hearty bowlful, but this offering is especially thick and creamy — almost more comparable to gravy than a regular broth. Serve it with fresh fennel, dill, and lots of cracked pepper, and dunk as much crusty bread as you can eat in it.

Recipe: Nordic Fish Chowder

Unlike its namesake layered pasta dish, this deconstructed lasagna soup takes less than a half hour to put together. Beef, hot sausage, lasagna noodles, and pesto float around in a tomato broth, making for an uncanny flavor doppelganger. But what really makes this dish a home run is the topping: a dollop of whipped ricotta cheese, which is added to serve. 

Enjoy this delicious avant-garde soup on its own, or pair it with a similarly imaginative deep-fried grilled cheese.

Recipe: Deconstructed Lasagna Soup

This creamy chicken spinach soup is a total nutrient bomb — just in time to whisk away your soup season sniffles. Chicken, mushrooms, onion, and spinach mingle in a thick, creamy broth for a hands-off one-pot meal. This soup needs to simmer for at least 10 minutes, but over low heat, it can sit on the stovetop for as long as you desire while you mingle with dinner party guests or catch up with a friend in the living room during an impromptu visit. 

The best part? The longer you allow this soup to simmer, the more the flavors will intensify. Serve it with a hunk of crusty bread for dipping and sprinkle on freshly grated Parmesan to garnish.

Recipe: Creamy Chicken Spinach Soup

This lemony chicken orzo soup is warming in the wintertime but still bright enough for sunny summer days. The classic base of chicken and pasta is livened up with both lemon juice and zest, then complemented by an herbaceous twist of rosemary. This dish is a great way to use up leftover chicken breast — or, to make a vegan version, simply substitute the chicken for chickpeas or soybeans, and opt for vegetable broth.

It's deceptively easy considering how impressive it looks, making it perfect for any time you've just sent out the "WYD" text in the group chat but realize you don't have anything prepared to serve impending dinner guests.

Recipe: Lemony Chicken Orzo Soup

Your favorite loaded baked potato soup just got a whole lot healthier. This creamy cauliflower potato soup substitutes some of the potatoes for the nutrient-dense, low-calorie veggie, resulting in a soup as exciting and indulgent as it is nourishing.

To serve, load this bad boy up any way you would normally load a baked potato — pile on chives, bacon bits, shredded cheese, sour cream, and crispy fried onions. Don't hold back. The world is your oyster cracker.

Recipe: Cauliflower Potato Soup

It's about as straightforward a recipe as they come. But what sets this simple tomato soup apart is how the vegetables are prepared. Baby plum tomatoes, onions, and fresh garlic cloves get roasted in olive oil in the oven to bring out their natural flavors.

From there, the roasted veggies get blended with stock, heavy cream, and basil, creating a smooth and rich soup that's perfect for dunking mozzarella sticks, a sandwich, or a quesadilla. Garnish it with basil to serve.

Recipe: Roasted Tomato Soup

Like the deconstructed lasagna soup we covered a few slides back (feel free to scroll up if you missed it), this cabbage roll soup dares to ask the question: "What would happen if you simply decided not to do all the work of assembling a dish, but still got to enjoy its signature flavor?" Skip labor-intensive cabbage rolls and whip up a pot of this soup instead.

It's loaded with all the ingredients that make you love the original, and it's ready to eat in under an hour. Plus, unlike delicate cabbage rolls, which tend to get soggy after a day or two in the fridge, this sturdy soup will last for five days in the refrigerator or up to three months in the freezer.

Recipe: Cabbage Roll Soup

Cold soup fans, rise up. This Mexican gazpacho is a lively friendship of tomato, Tabasco, and lime zest. (It's like a Bloody Mary you can eat for lunch.) Bell peppers, cucumber, and jalapeño jazz up the dish, which is ready in just 15 minutes of prep time.

Pair it with blue corn tortilla chips or serve it as a side dish alongside grilled fish. Thirsty? Mango lemonade or a frozen piña colada with a Tajín rim would complete the meal.

Recipe: Mexican Gazpacho Soup

This dish may be called "spinach" soup, but it also packs leeks and Yukon gold potatoes into the mix for a nourishing bowlful with interesting flavor. Plus, it's an effortless, versatile way to incorporate more leafy greens into your diet. As a blended soup, it goes down easy and pairs well with all sorts of dishes — from glazed ham to ceviche. 

Since this soup is so mild, feel free to take a little liberty with your garnishes. Hemp seeds, fresh herbs, red chile flakes, fennel, anise, or anything else your heart desires are fair game. One of the most exciting parts about eating healthy is the opportunity to get creative in the kitchen.

Recipe: Easy Sauteed Spinach Soup

It would be impossible for us to present a roundup of soup recipes without talking about the undisputed king of the soup world: the classic chicken noodle. It's regarded as much as medicine and a comforting friend as it is food.

To save on prep time, use pre-cooked chicken leftovers, or swing by the grocery store and pick up a rotisserie chicken. Transition this soup into spring and summer months by adding a squeeze of bright, acidic lemon juice and a bundle of fresh herbs like thyme, rosemary, or sage.

Recipe: Easy Chicken Noodle Soup

This recipe is ideal for ringing in the start of soup season. If you've been looking forward to cozy, warming soup-time all summer long, launch into autumn the right way with this fall vegetable soup. It's a fresh take on classic butternut squash bisque, incorporating other produce like onions, carrots, and leeks into a blended soup with diverse flavors that fit together oh-so-well. 

Serve it as a side to pot roast, or enjoy on its own and sprinkle on pumpkin seeds, garlic-herb croutons, and a drizzle of olive oil.

Recipe: Fall Vegetable Soup

Ham and bean soup (aka "navy bean" soup) is an American classic for a reason. It's a protein bomb with enough fiber to help foster gut health during cold and flu season. For an extra strong, smoky flavor, use a ham hock and toss in a ham bone or two to up the ante.

With an herb bundle of fresh rosemary and thyme, this herbaceous ham and bean soup is ready to steal the show at your next gathering. As an added bonus, the whole thing is assembled in a Dutch oven — no sink full of dishes here.

Recipe: Herby Ham and Bean Soup

Vegan soup lovers — this one's got your name on it. This zesty, slightly spicy soup combines red lentils, lemon, smoked paprika, and chicken broth (which can easily be swapped for veggie). The result is a thick, filling bowlful ready in under a half hour.

It'll last for up to four days in the fridge or much longer in the freezer, which means it's perfect for stocking meals that can be instantly enjoyed for future use. Or, if you have plans for a dinner party with fellow vegan foodies, you can whip up a big batch of this soup a few days in advance.

Recipe: Red Lentil Soup with Lemon