Handy Chef
A bowl of chicken soup can cure what ails you, but other soups can also provide a reliable pick-me-up. Soup is, after all, comfort food at its finest—it’s warm, rich, and incredibly nourishing. But how many types of soup do you have in your weekly meal rotation? Most people rely on one or two go-to options. So we’re here to expand your repertoire with some quick and easy soup recipes, whether you’re seeking comfort (without much effort) or a fast workday dinner plan.
Most of these soup recipes take an hour or less (with many coming in under 20 minutes of hands-on time). We recommend doubling up on ingredients and freezing the leftovers for busy weeknights. Gallon-size Ziploc bags work surprisingly well and take up almost no space inside your freezer when lying flat. Without further ado, here are some of our simplest soup recipes for any time of year.
Red Lentil Squash Soup With Lemon
This simple soup differs from your standard lentil recipe since it requires only ten minutes of hands-on time. The silky, spiced soup is one of the most warming, comforting concoctions you’ll start to crave time and again. The recipe combines carrots, butternut squash, harissa paste, and plenty of spices for a layered flavor. Fresh ginger gives it an extra zing, too.
Creamy Enchilada Soup
Jennifer Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
This crave-worthy creamy enchilada soup was made to please. It has all the warm flavors you desire from enchiladas, it’s ready in just 30 minutes, and has all the toppings that you love. If you don’t have taco seasoning on hand, you can quickly make your own with our simple seasoning combo.
Broccoli Soup With Cheddar Croutons
This quick broccoli soup recipe is perfect because it manages to be both comforting, healthy, and decadent. In just 15 minutes, you can puree all the ingredients in a blender to get the smoothest, creamiest results. The cheddar croutons add extra cheese while the broccoli loads this dish with plenty of veggies.
Curried Cauliflower Soup
This cauliflower soup proves that a simple, nutritious vegan recipe can be just as comforting and delicious as meat-and-dairy-rich dishes. Curry powder gives the soup its soothing spice and golden color. The combination of nutritional yeast (a vegan alternative to parmesan) and roasted cauliflower doubles down on the savory umami flavor. Pair with a green salad or basmati rice with tofu.
Cauliflower Soup With Toasted Garlic
This easy dairy-free soup has minimal ingredients but lots of deep flavors. And in 15 minutes, you’ll be able to finish all the necessary prep. First, toast some garlic to give this soup a unique flavoring—two to three minutes. After, add cauliflower, chicken broth, thyme, salt, and pepper to a pot to simmer until it is tender. Finally, transfer the mixture to a blender and puree until it is smooth.
Curried Butternut Squash Soup
Antonis Achilleos
This Thai-inspired soup incorporates red curry paste, coconut milk, and tart lime juice for lush, bright flavors. For a plant-based protein, try blending Silkten tofu, which combines well in soups because it has a silky-smooth texture. This quick soup recipe uses plenty of rich ingredients, so expect a rich, well-seasoned dish.
Vegan Creamy Tomato Soup
This tomato soup recipe is one you’ll want to make year-round. Pureed tomatoes mixed with onions, garlic, and oregano create a silky-smooth texture. Garnish with fresh oregano, a drizzle of olive oil, and freshly ground black pepper. If you have some extra time, make easy homemade croutons for a crisp, delicious soup topping.
Red Cabbage and Beet Borscht
Borscht is as beautiful as it is good for you, and it comes together in 40 minutes or less. This jewel-colored cure-all combines beets, cabbage, carrots, parsnips, and onions with beef broth, caraway seeds, apple cider vinegar, and plenty of fresh herbs. Top each bowl with a dollop of sour cream and more dill. Serve with buttered rye bread.
Salsa Verde Chicken Soup
Inspired by posole, a traditional Mexican stew, this easy-to-assemble soup comes together quickly with the help of a few supermarket staples. For starters, you’ll need cans of pinto beans, hominy, and a jar of tomatillo salsa. Top with fresh avocado, cilantro, and some tortilla chips.
Chicken Paprikash Soup
This take on a classic Hungarian dish is flavored with sweet paprika, onions, red bell peppers, and tomatoes. Use leftover, store-bought, or rotisserie chicken to help this soup come together even more quickly.
Peruvian-Style Chicken Soup With Cilantro and Lime
If you’ve ever had Peruvian-stye chicken soup, you know what a treat it is. This dish starts with your basic chicken soup ingredients (chicken, carrots, broth), then gives them a flavorful upgrade with cumin, bell peppers, and potatoes. A spoonful of lime-scallion-cilantro puree is the perfect finishing touch to the bowl. The best part? This soup only requires 20 minutes of hands-on time and will be completed in under an hour.
Chicken and Chard Dumpling Soup
If you’re bored of traditional chicken soup, bring this delicious chicken and chard dumpling rendition into your noodle soup recipe rotation. It’s a super healthy fridge-and-freezer cleanout dish, meaning you can make it almost entirely with pantry staples in the freezer (and swap them for whatever you have on hand). To make it vegetarian, skip the chicken and go for tofu instead.
Miso Chicken Noodle Soup With Kimchi
This ultra-fast soup combines Korean kimchi and Japanese miso paste flavors and comes together in less than 20 minutes (this includes prep and cooking time). If you’re looking for a meatless meal, substitute vegetarian-friendly alternatives like tofu instead of shredded chicken.
Zesty Corn Soup With Chicken
This cozy treat combines savory cotija cheese, spicy cayenne, tart lime, and toasted sweet corn. And thanks to shortcut items like frozen corn kernels and rotisserie chicken, you can whip up this easy soup recipe in under 20 minutes. Just make sure to cook the cilantro stems in butter and garlic. Pair this soup with tortilla chips, homemade guacamole, and fresh-cut mango.
Creamy Potato-Cabbage Soup
Enjoy a warm, hearty soup in 35 minutes or less. This mixture of cabbage, potatoes, and carrots simmers in vegetable broth for a healthy and satisfying meal. Add a dollop of sour cream at the end of the cooking process for some richness.
Cod and Clam Chowder With Smoky Oyster Crackers
We gave classic clam chowder a modern twist by combining in-shell littleneck clams with chunks of tender cod. Adding leeks, onions, and fennel to the broth makes for a deliciously aromatic base. And the last delicious upgrade? These semi-homemade spiced oyster crackers. The entire meal—crackers and all—comes together in 45 minutes.
Ginger Meatball Ramen With Greens and Scallions
This easy soup recipe is truly the best of both worlds, combining two comfort food classics: spaghetti with meatballs and ramen noodles. The flavors mesh perfectly in 25 minutes because the pork gets mixed with fresh ginger, scallions, and soy sauce. You’ll drop the finished meatballs into a miso-spiked broth with bok choy and wonder why you didn’t think of this match sooner.
Gochujang Gumbo
This just-spicy-enough stew gets its delicious flavor from a mixture of Andouille sausage, fresh garlic, Gochujang (Korean chile bean paste), red Fresno chiles, and a dusting of filé powder. Here, you’ll use Gochujang, available in the international aisle of most supermarkets, as you would tomato paste—by sautéing it with celery, bell pepper, and garlic.
Lentil Soup With Sausage
Start with browning slices of kielbasa to add a lot of flavor to this easy soup without spending a lot of time. Adding canned diced tomatoes and lentils also helps save time when simmering this aromatic dish filled with onions, celery, and fragrant rosemary. If you don’t have celery on hand, use carrots instead.
Whole-Grain Minestrone With Parmesan Crisps
We made this veggie-packed minestrone recipe extra hearty (and healthy) by swapping the noodles for farro, a whole grain. If you’re gluten-free, feel free to substitute brown rice instead. And who knew: DIY parmesan crisps only require one ingredient and three minutes to make. They’ll add a salty, satisfying crunch to your soup.
White Bean and Barley Soup With Tomatoes and Greens
This veggie-filled soup is ideal for a cold winter day and features crushed tomatoes, kale, and barley to keep you full. With just 25 minutes of hands-on time, you’ll have a plant-based meal that is as comforting as it is flavorful.
Mushroom Barley Soup
Pearl barley might take a little longer to cook, but its nutty, hearty flavor and health benefits are well worth it. Start by heating oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms, carrots, garlic, thyme, salt, and pepper. After the carrots are tender, add the broth and barley and simmer until the barley is tender. Top with chopped flat-leaf parsley before serving.
Rotisserie Chicken Chili
Fred Hardy
A rotisserie chicken is the hero ingredient in this chili recipe, which utilizes canned pinto beans and chilis for a spicy, hearty soup that’s worthy of a main course. A cooked onion adds flavor while masa harina (a gluten-free flour made from nixtamalized corn) adds heft and texture.
Chicken and Spaghetti Soup
A classic for a reason, chicken soup somehow always hits the spot, whether you’re feeling under the weather or not. This version combines all the usual suspects—chicken, carrots, celery—with broken spaghetti. A sprinkling of fresh dill adds brightness to the soup.
Spicy Shrimp and Farro Soup With Winter Greens
This simple soup recipe is anything but basic. Featuring farro, a nutty, hearty grain that’s similar to barley, juicy shrimp, and Swiss chard in a spicy tomato-based broth, it’s sure to warm you up on a cold night.
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