If there’s one thing I love about cold weather, it’s soup! Read on to find over 30 easy soup recipes I’ll be making all fall and winter long.
Soup season is here! There’s a lot to love about fall – beautiful weather, changing leaves, cozy baked goods, and hot drinks – but the soup recipes are hands down my favorite part. I adore soup. I love making it, I love eating it, and I love packing up the leftovers so that I can enjoy it again the next day. When I’m stressed, I turn to soup because I find it meditative to cook. When I’m snowed in, I turn to it because I keep a stash stored away in my freezer. And when I’m in need of a healthy reset, I turn to it because it just makes me feel good inside.
To celebrate the start of soup season, I’m sharing my best tips for making soup recipes, as well as 35 of my favorite soups. In addition to classics like French Onion and Butternut Squash Soup, you’ll find a host of inventive, veggie-forward soup recipes like Golden Turmeric Noodle Miso Soup and a creamy White Bean Chili. I love them all, and I hope that you do too.
Best Tips for Making Soup Recipes
1. Season to taste. Raw vegetable ingredients need seasoning, and vegetable broths vary in salt level. If your soup is bland, don’t hesitate to add generous pinches of salt and lots of fresh black pepper. Taste as you go!
2. Drizzle with olive oil. I always finish soups with a generous drizzle of olive oil. It adds richness and makes the flavors sing.
3. Save some for lunch! Soup often tastes better on the second day, so be sure to make enough to have leftovers. Most soup recipes also freeze well for up to a few months. Check out this post for my best freezing tips!
4. Spice to your level. Customizing your soup is the fun, creative part of cooking soup recipes. If you’re making a recipe that calls for lots of spice but you prefer milder flavors, start with less. If you like things spicy, add more! Taste as you cook, and adjust the flavors to make something you really love.
Favorite Autumn Soup Recipes
In Chicago, soup season lasts from September to…well, way later than it should. I make soup recipes the whole way through, but I especially crave them now, in the heart of autumn. These 4 easy soup recipes are my favorites at this time of year. They’re cozy, comforting, and filled with aromatic flavor from herbs like rosemary, sage, and thyme.
Butternut Squash Soup
Ginger, rosemary, and sage fill this soup with cozy autumn flavor. Lightly creamy, warming, and nourishing, it’s my go-to recipe for a cool fall night.
Creamy Wild Rice Soup
It might not look like it, but this soup’s base isn’t made with dairy. Instead, it gets its creamy texture from blended white beans, cashews, and savory miso paste.
Cream of Mushroom Soup
Don’t even think about adding this cream of mushroom soup to your next green bean casserole! Brimming with rich, savory flavor, it’s meant to be enjoyed all on its own.
Potato Leek Soup
If you see a bunch of beautiful fall leeks at the farmers market or store, snatch them up to make this recipe. It’s a lighter version of the classic soup, made with blended white beans instead of heavy cream.
Smoky, Spicy Soups and Chilis
Bring on the heat! Seasonings like smoked paprika, canned chipotles in adobo sauce, and fresh and dried chiles fill these hearty soup recipes with bold flavor.
Easy Vegetarian Chili
Do we count chili as a soup? I’m on the fence, but I still had to include this recipe here. It’s super quick and easy to make, and on a cold night, its smoky/spicy flavor will warm you up in no time.
Yellow Split Pea Soup
Yellow split peas mingle with the fresh corn kernels in this vegan riff on corn chowder, making it extra-hearty and super fun to eat. It’s delicious on its own, but I like it even more with crispy, smoky coconut bacon on top!
White Bean Soup
This white bean soup is my spin on creamy chicken chili (minus the chicken, of course). Green chiles and fresh lime juice fill it with addictive zingy flavor. Pile your bowl with avocado, cilantro, and jalapeños, and serve with tortilla chips!
Creamy Potato Soup
Can comfort food be…healthy? This recipe answers with a resounding, “YES!” It’s thick, creamy, and packed with smoky flavor, but it’s entirely plant-based. Instead of heavy cream, blended white beans and potatoes create its luscious texture.
Vegetarian Tortilla Soup
Potentially one of my all-time favorite soup recipes! A blended corn tortilla thickens its rich, flavorful tomato and chile broth. Don’t skip the toppings here – crispy tortilla strips, avocado, sliced radishes, and Cotija cheese take this soup to a whole new level.
Black Bean Soup
This black bean soup is creamy, spicy, and satisfying, but best of all, it’s really darn easy to make. It has a permanent spot in my regular recipe rotation, and I think it will in yours, too!
Easy Blended Soup Recipes
Traditional puréed soup recipes commonly call for butter, heavy cream, or whole milk, but you won’t find any of those ingredients in the creamy soups below. Instead, blended vegetables give each one its smooth, velvety texture. Yum!
Tomato Basil Soup
Served with a gooey grilled cheese sandwich, this rich, savory soup is a tough one to beat.
Sweet Potato Soup
Two bowls for me, please! Given that I’m a massive sweet potato fan, it’s probably not surprising that I adore this soup. It’s tangy, sweet, and smoky, and the blended sweet potato gives it a mouthwatering velvety texture.
Vegan “Cheesy” Broccoli Soup
Tasting this soup, you’d never guess that it’s totally dairy-free. It’s creamy, tangy, rich, and satisfying – everything cheesy broccoli soup should be!
Carrot Ginger Soup
You only need 7 ingredients to make this energizing, refreshing carrot ginger soup! If you can get your hands on a bunch of carrots with good greens, make sure to blend up the carrot top pesto to drizzle on top.
Roasted Red Pepper Soup
A fan favorite from our first cookbook, this bright red soup is super easy to make! Serve it with homemade focaccia or a big hunk of crusty bread for a quick, healthy, and comforting dinner.
Cauliflower Soup
Roasted garlic, shallots, and miso fill this creamy veggie soup with nutty, savory flavor.
Homemade Curried Soup Recipes
If you have a jar of red curry paste or a jumble of curry spices in your pantry, you’re well on your way to making a flavorful pot of soup!
Best Lentil Soup
If you open your pantry, you’ll likely find all the ingredients to this bright, warming, and weeknight-friendly lentil soup inside. It’s one of our favorites and a fan favorite, too!
Pumpkin Soup
This fall, Jack and I have eaten this ultra-creamy pumpkin soup more times than we can count. Still, we’re nowhere near tired of it. Spices like turmeric, ginger, cumin, and cardamom pack it with warm curry flavor.
Red Curry Lemongrass Soup
1 soup, 3 ways! Make this Thai-inspired recipe as written for a light, brothy vegetable soup, bulk it up with baked tofu, or add coconut milk for a creamy broth. Whichever option you pick, serve it with a scoop of freshly cooked rice.
Curried Cauliflower Soup
The beauty of this soup isn’t just its creamy texture, golden color, and bright curry flavor. It’s also a breeze to make! On a busy weeknight, you can get it on the table in 30 minutes flat.
Carrot Coconut Soup
I think of this recipe as a “gazpacho” because it comes together easily in the blender. Chill it if you want to eat it gazpacho-style, but if you’re craving something warm, it’s equally good after a few minutes on the stove.
Curried Parsnip & White Bean Soup, page 223 of The Love & Lemons Cookbook
If I had my way, we’d all cook with parsnips more often! They give this soup an amazing velvety texture, and their sweet, nutty flavor tastes wonderful with the warm curry spices.
All About the Onions
You’ll find onions in almost every recipe in this post, but most often, they’re playing a supporting role. In the recipes below, they’re finally front and center, filling each soup with rich flavor.
French Onion Soup
This easy French onion soup recipe will rival any you’ve had at a restaurant. Topped with crispy, cheesy baguette, it’s rich, comforting, and packed with umami flavor.
Oyster Mushroom Soup
This brothy soup is light and nourishing, but that doesn’t mean it’s bland. A whole lotta leeks create its savory, umami base, and miso, lemongrass, celery, ginger, tamari, and rice vinegar amp up its flavor even more.
Vegan Potato, Leek & Artichoke Chowder, page 91 of Love & Lemons Every Day
This hearty soup is like a plant-based cross between potato leek soup and clam chowder. Blended potatoes and cashews give it its rich, creamy texture, while leeks, artichokes, and capers pack it with briny, savory flavor.
Nourishing Noodle Soup Recipes
You won’t find any chicken in these noodle soup recipes, but trust me, you won’t miss it. Each one is wholesome, energizing, and fun – the perfect pick-me-up on a cold, cloudy day, or anytime you’re under the weather.
Tortellini Soup
Chewy, cheesy tortellini make this brothy soup a satisfying meal on its own. Serve it with dollops of kale pesto to take it over the top.
Easy Vegetarian Pho
In Austin, we lived just down the street from a Vietnamese restaurant that made the most amazing vegetarian pho. After ordering it on repeat for years, I finally developed my own version at home. Made with a richly flavored aromatic broth, it’s light, nourishing, and delicious.
Golden Turmeric Noodle Miso Soup
This invigorating recipe will brighten up the darkest days! Sunny turmeric and tangy citrus juices give the broth its vibrant color and flavor.
Minestrone Soup
To me, classic minestrone soup is pure comfort. The herb-flecked tomato broth is so flavorful, and I love the way the chewy noodles play off the creamy beans and tender veggies. Serve it with crusty bread and a shower of Parmesan cheese for a soul-warming winter meal.
Ginger Miso Soup
Craving a classic miso soup? This recipe is for you. With ginger, soba, mushrooms, and tofu, it’s a simple, wholesome lunch or dinner.
Lasagna Soup with Vegan Ricotta, page 93 of Love & Lemons Every Day
Soup recipes don’t get more fun than this vegan lasagna soup! I love eating through the big, curly, sloppy noodles. Tasty and nutritious, it’s the perfect easy way to satisfy a weeknight lasagna craving.
Brothy Veggie Soup Recipes
When I’m craving a light, fresh meal in the dead of winter, I make these brothy soup recipes. On a cold night, they’re the perfect way to eat your veggies, as they’re warming and comforting, but still packed with produce.
Cabbage Soup
If you’ve had a head of cabbage hanging out in your fridge for a few days (erm…weeks), this easy soup is the perfect way to use it up. It’s bright and flavorful, and it uses an entire head of cabbage in one go.
Ribollita
Don’t let your day- (or days-) old bread go to waste! Instead, toss it into this hearty Tuscan white bean soup made with kale, carrots, or whatever veggies you like best.
Instant Pot Lentil Soup
The Instant Pot makes this lentil soup gloriously simple to prepare. Once you sauté the veggies, the cooking process is entirely hands-off!
Many-Veggie Vegetable Soup
What veggies do you have in your fridge? No matter your answer, you can make this easy, flexible, many-veggie soup.
More Favorite Fall and Winter Recipes
If you love these easy soup recipes, try these cozy recipes next:
35 Best Soup Recipes
Serves 4 to 6
This creamy potato soup is one of our favorite soup recipes!
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- 1 large white onion, chopped
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 4 garlic cloves, chopped
- 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
- 4 cups vegetable broth, store bought or homemade
- 1½ pounds Yukon gold potatoes, about 5, chopped
- 1½ cups cooked white beans, drained and rinsed
- ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- Freshly ground black pepper
Optional Toppings
- Scallions or chives
- Coconut bacon
- Greek yogurt, optional
- Cheddar cheese, optional
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Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion, salt, and several grinds of pepper. Sauté 6 to 8 minutes, until softened.
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Add the garlic, stir, and cook 2 more minutes. Stir in the white wine vinegar and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds, and then add the broth, potatoes, and white beans. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer 30 minutes.
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Let cool slightly, then transfer half of the soup to a blender with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil, the mustard, lemon juice, and paprika. Blend until smooth and return the pureed soup back to the pot.
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Use a potato masher to gently smash the potato chunks and beans. Season to taste with more salt and pepper and serve with desired toppings.
