20+ Best Soup Recipes to Nourish You

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These soup recipes deserve a special place on everyone’s dinner table. They’re soul-satisfying, incredibly healthy, and downright delicious. Choose from nourishing chicken soups to hearty vegetarian soups, and everything in between.

A big pot of vegetable soup

A bowl of soup always hits the spot for a cozy and comforting meal. Plus, that warm steam rising from the pot on those cold weather days is the best! So I’m excited to share all my favorite soup recipes that’ll mix and match vegetables and proteins (from ground beef to chicken to lentils) in a variety of ways. I’m confident you’ll love the recipes below (they’re well-tested and loved) and find two or three new soup recipes to add to your weekly dinner rotation.

Best Easy Soup Recipes (and Stews!)

On busy weeknights, I just love easy, uncomplicated soup recipes. Not only will they guarantee dinner on the table fast, but the simple recipes below are ohh so good and will satisfy even the pickiest eaters.

A pot of beef chili.

Best Ever Chili Recipe: The next time you’re craving a classic beefy and hearty chili – this recipe won’t disappoint.

Cabbage soup in a bowl on a table.

Cabbage Soup: It doesn’t take much to make this low-calorie, healthy cabbage soup, and that’s the beauty of it! Plus, it’s a great base recipe – just add your favorite protein to “beef” it up.

Two bowls of lentil soup on a table next to a napkin.

Lentil Soup: Everyone raves about this lentil soup — for good reason. It’s satiating, healthy, and has a delicious Mediterranean flair.

Bowls of tacos soup

Taco Soup: We all love a pantry-friendly meal, and this taco soup puts those canned veggies to good use! All you need are ground beef, black beans, corn, tomatoes, and your favorite taco toppings.

A bowl of vegetable soup

Vegetable Soup: While some vegetable soups might be a bit bland and boring, this version if far from that! It’s loaded with flavor and uses the simplest vegetables to their full potential.

Chicken Soup Recipes

There’s a reason why chicken soups are our go-to when we’re feeling under the weather. They’re brothy, nourishing, and give us everything we need to feel better from the inside out. A simple chicken soup is a classic for a reason, but keep scrolling below for more ways of incorporating chicken into your next soup!

White chicken chili in a bowl next a pot of it.

White Chicken Chili: My favorite chicken chili recipe loaded with good-for-you ingredients like shredded chicken, white beans, and plenty of vegetables.

A big pot of chicken soup.

Chicken Soup: Nothing beats this classic chicken soup that will keep your immune system happy during cold and flu season.

Avgolemono soup in a white bowl with a spoon

Avgolemono Soup: It’s a Greek-inspired favorite! Lemony chicken and rice that’s naturally creamy (from blending a bit of the rice) is a light and fresh meal.

Hearty Healthy Soup Recipes

If you’re looking for a bit more heft to your veggie-forward soup, you’ll love these hearty, fill-you-up soup recipes. The extra carbs from rice, potatoes, beans, and peas always hit the spot.

A bowl of split pea soup

Split Pea Soup: Use any leftover holiday ham for this winter soup! It’s chunky, savory, and perfect for a cozy night in.

A bowl of stuffed pepper soup next to a napkin

Stuffed Pepper Soup: Turn classic stuffed peppers into an easy soup! This is one I always have frozen and ready to reheat in my freezer.

Black bean soup in a bowl next to a napkin

Black Bean Soup: A few cans of black beans are transformed into one of the most delicious, perfectly spiced, Mexican-inspired soups.

A bowl of vegetarian chili next to diced avocado.

Ultimate Vegetarian Chili: This chili will more than satisfy all the vegetarians at the dinner table. It’s layered warming spices, several varieties of beans, and a rainbow of vegetables.

Bowls of turkey chili with a spoon

Turkey Chili: Ground turkey is a blank slate for flavor, and this turkey chili recipe is ultra-flavorful and loaded with good-for-you ingredients.

Creamy Vegetarian Soup Recipes

Your favorite everyday vegetables are easily transformed into a warming, creamy bowl of goodness. Just give them a quick roast in the oven or sauté on the stovetop before you toss them into a blender. Alternatively, you can blend them in a pot with an immersion blender. Either way, the results are silky smooth and perfect for sipping on a cold day.

Butternut squash soup in a bowl.

Butternut Squash Soup: This velvety butternut squash soup is a quintessential winter recipe. Plus, it’s a delicious addition to your Thanksgiving side dishes.

Bowls of tomato soup.

Tomato Soup: My favorite tomato soup that’s made with simple ingredients, yet is so flavorful! It can also be tweaked for every season, add cream for winter or add basil in the summer.

Potato Leek soup in bowls on a table

Potato Leek Soup: This soup needs to be on your list when leek season is in full swing! It’s loaded with veggies, super velvety, and budget-friendly.

Zucchini soup in two white bowls on a table next to spoons.

Zucchini Soup: It’s the punches of garlic, onion, fresh lemon juice, and herbs that make this soup utterly delicious (even on a warm day). Oh, and did I mention it’s dairy-free thanks to creamy cashews?

Sweet potato soup topped with watercress and coconut cream.

Sweet Potato Soup: Sweet potato lovers can rejoice because this soup is everything you love about this veggie. It’s ultra-creamy with a natural sweetness that’ll have you going back for seconds.

Carrot ginger soup in a bowl with a spoon

Carrot Ginger Soup: Carrot and ginger are the ultimate nutritional powerhouse in this sweet, savory, and spiced soup! Top it with pine nuts, cilantro, and a swirl of cream for the final touch.

(dairy-free) This cream of celery soup is healthy, light and fresh. It's naturally vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free and paleo.

Cream of Celery Soup: Celery, onion, leeks, and coconut milk simmer into a super fresh and smooth soup that’s completely dairy-free!

Beet soup garnished with parsley in a bowl.

Beet Soup: A stunning, sweet, and earthy soup that puts juicy beets front and center. Plus, it’s super gut and heart-healthy.

Roasted Cauliflower soup in a bowl, topped with cauliflower, almonds and thyme.

Roasted Cauliflower Soup: Although cauliflower itself is a bit on the mild side, don’t underestimate how savory this soup is. A combination of garlic, onion, and spices quickly amps it up!

This roasted red pepper soup is a blend of red peppers, tomatoes, onion and garlic. It's a flavorful and healthy soup recipe!

Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato Soup: The perfect marriage between roasted, smoky flavors, and tomato-y goodness.

(gluten-free, paleo) Cucumber melon gazpacho with ginger shrimp. A cooling and delicious gazpacho, perfect for summer!

Cucumber Melon Gazpacho: When you need a chilled soup for summer, this gazpacho couldn’t be any more satisfying.

More Recipe Ideas

I hope the wide variety of soup recipes on this list helps you jazz up your soup routine! If you make any of these recipes, let us know how they turned out in a comment below.

Soup recipes

20+ Best Soup Recipes to Nourish You

5 from 2 votes
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 30 minutes
Total: 40 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Author: Lisa Bryan

Description

The best soup recipes that are soul-satisfying, incredibly healthy, and downright delicious. This roasted red pepper and tomato soup will surely hit the spot. Watch the video below to see how this comes together!

Video

Ingredients 
 

  • 4 red bell peppers
  • 3 large tomatoes
  • 1 small onion
  • 5 garlic cloves
  • 6 ounces tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 ½ cups water, or stock
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • salt and pepper, to taste

For Garnish (optional)

Instructions 

  • Prep the vegetables. Turn the top broiler on in your oven. Slice the red bell peppers, tomatoes, and onion in half. Remove the seeds and stems from the bell peppers, the stems from the tomatoes, and the outer peel from the onion. Then, place these all on a baking tray drizzle the veggies with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Use your fingers to rub the oil and seasoning on both sides of the veggies.
  • Roast the vegetables. Roast the vegetables for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the top side is charred black.
  • Steam the bell pepper. Use tongs to transfer the bell pepper to a glass bowl and cover with plastic wrap for about 20 minutes, to steam the bell pepper.
  • Add veggies to blender. When the other veggies are cool to the touch, remove their skins and transfer to a high-powered blender. You should easily squeeze out the garlic cloves from their skin as well.
  • Blend. Add the tomato paste, balsamic vinegar, dried basil, and water (or stock) to your blender. Blend everything on high until smooth.
  • Serve. Garnish with optional toppings and serve!

Lisa’s Tips

  • On an early recipe attempt, I added fresh basil to the soup before blending, but it turned the soup a murky brown color. So I recommend dried basil rather than fresh basil in the soup. But you can use fresh basil to garnish.
  • If you want to skip the roasting step, you could definitely used jarred roasted red peppers and canned tomatoes. Though I’d recommend dicing the onion and quickly sautéing with the garlic (mince it) in a little olive oil, to keep the flavor profile similar.

Nutrition

Calories: 196kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Sodium: 353mg | Potassium: 967mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 5146IU | Vitamin C: 177mg | Calcium: 55mg | Iron: 2mg
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Soup Recipes, Soups
Did you make this recipe?Mention @downshiftology or tag #downshiftology!

This recipe roundup was originally posted February 2022, but updated to include new soup recipes for you!

About the author

Lisa Bryan

Lisa is a bestselling cookbook author, recipe developer, and YouTuber (with over 2.5 million subscribers) living in sunny Southern California. She started Downshiftology in 2014, and is passionate about making healthy food with fresh, simple and seasonal ingredients.

5 from 2 votes

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10 Comments

  1. Hello Lisa, My friend was telling me about an apple cider beef stew you do. But I don’t see the recipe on your site. Could you please post it?

    1. Hi Joy – The apple cider beef stew recipe is actually in my cookbook! But, I’ll be coming out with a classic beef stew recipe very soon, stay tuned!

  2. I’m loving all these ideas!! Can’t wait to continue going down this list come Fall. I did try the lentil soup recently and it was SO delicious.5 stars

  3. Hello Lisa, I was looking for a mushroom soup variation of yours – didn’t find any. Do you have one? Thanks a lot!