14 Comforting Soup Recipes
Cold weather? Soup. Sniffly nose? Soup. Missing home? Soup. Too many vodka cranberries last night? Soup. Is there anything a hot, comforting bowl of soup can't do? "Nope," soup replies with a hug. We all have our favorites (holla back, French onion!), and our go-to's (um, whatever Mom is making). But, when it comes to the most comforting soup recipes, the possibilities are endless.
From spicy tortilla soup to the chicken noodle soup of Greece, we rounded up our coziest, most soothing soup recipes at Food Republic — thanks to in-house recipe developers Miriam Hahn, Julie Kinnaird, Milena Manolova, Ksenia Prints, A.J. Forget, and more — so you can cook up the brothy remedy you need whenever you want it. Snuggle up, because we're diving into the creamiest, heartiest, healthiest, and most satisfying soup recipes you could ever dream of. Don't worry — there's plenty of rustic baguette on the side to soak up every last drop!
Silky Cauliflower Cheddar Soup
Slurp up some cauliflower with this velvety, savory — and wonderfully cheesy — dish. Freshly chopped herbs like fennel, sage, and thyme add flavor to the creamy cauliflower and potato base. Shallots, vanilla, floral-kissed Anjou pears, and sherry wine offer sophisticated depth. White shredded cheddar keeps the calm color palette feeling properly hygge, but yellow cheddar works just as well. A garnish of fragrant herbs makes it feel like fine dining, but the fact that this is a simple, pot-to-blender soup-making situation keeps this one in weeknight rotation.
Recipe: Silky Cauliflower Cheddar Soup
Simple Chicken Tortilla Soup
Feel like tacos but want them served in a bowl? These bold, belly-warming ingredients of this chicken tortilla soup layer together like your coziest socks and your favorite blanket. Cut down the work by grabbing a rotisserie chicken, and don't skimp on the avocado, sour cream, and crunchy tortilla strip topping. Onions, garlic, and jalapeños form the base of this soup, along with chicken stock, beans, and crushed tomatoes. Nutty cumin, spicy chili powder, and tart lime juice add effortless umami. Already-prepped chicken hits the pot at the last minute, and you've got dinner on the table in "when are we eating?" flat.
Recipe: Simple Chicken Tortilla Soup
Tuscan White Bean Soup
Whisk yourself away to Italy without the jet-lag. Book the Tuscan kale express and let your troubles melt away in a bowl of hearty, buttery white bean soup. First you saute a mirepoix and deglaze the pot with a little white wine (maybe a soft and fresh-fruited Vermentino from Tuscany?) The secret lies with the cannellini beans, a portion of which are removed, blended, and returned to the pot. The quick trick adds an instant, velvety texture. Sweet Tuscan kale goes in just before serving. Don't forget a crusty baguette to soak up that savory broth.
Recipe: Tuscan White Bean Soup
Simple Chicken Noodle Soup
It's the most popular soup in America for a reason. Chicken noodle soup cures everything from common colds to broken hearts and everything in between. It's a breeze to throw together, so you'll feel better before you know it.
Store-bought chicken stock and a rotisserie chicken help this recipe come together in less than 45 minutes. Egg noodles offer a robust and filling spoonful, and the protein in the chicken gives you that boost you'll need to delete their number — for real. Lightly toasted sourdough with salted butter assures that you're already on the mend.
Recipe: Simple Chicken Noodle Soup
Nutty Carrot and Apple Soup
Perfect for the first blustery day of autumn, this warm and cozily-spiced recipe fits sweater weather to a tee. Topped with a drizzle of cream, a twist of the pepper grinder, and a sprinkle of rough-chopped pecans, the apple and carrot base offers sweetness, while pecans serve earthiness. Cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg lean the flavor into pumpkin spice territory, but thyme, garlic, and onions keep us simmering in soup land. After a spin in the blender where you choose your own adventure on texture, the soup is ready to serve — a rustic loaf or even crunchy croutons make the perfect pairing.
Recipe: Nutty Carrot and Apple Soup
Simple Greek Avgolemono
Greek Avgolemono ("av-go-LEH-mo-no") is the country's rendition of American chicken soup. For authenticity purposes, you'll be cooking chicken breasts for the broth (we promise it's worth it!). Chicken broth, fresh-squeezed lemon juice, and eggs are the essential components of this hearty dish. White rice provides a starchy texture. Bright yellow egg yolks and lemon juice, added to whisked egg whites, are poured into the broth to create the dish's signature velvety mouthfeel and tangy bite. Serve with a slice of lemon and peppery parsley for a Mediterranean touch.
Recipe: Simple Greek Avgolemono
Butternut Squash and Sage Soup
You're wholesome and healthy, dishing up a silky butternut squash soup with a touch of piney, citrusy sage. But, you're living your best life, topping that goodness with sage leaves that are — chef's kiss — fried. Just a few ingredients get you restaurant-quality flavors. Roasted squash becomes sweet and caramelly, and butter does double duty in the broth as well as a final garnish. The already-smooth soup hits the blender where it becomes actual velvet. The real kicker involves frying sage leaves in butter, then topping each bowl with those fried leaves and sage-infused butter.
Recipe: Butternut Squash and Sage Soup
Sopa de Fideo
Translated as "noodle soup" in Spanish, sopa de fideo is one of the many comforting soups you'll find in Mexican cuisine. Made of a humble tomato broth and short pasta combo, it tastes like home no matter where you are. The standout is the fideo pasta which is toasted for 3 minutes before it's added to the broth in order to preserve its texture. The broth is also extremely pantry-friendly, calling for a large can of any kind of tomatoes, plus chicken or vegetable broth. Floral, citrusy Mexican oregano makes this one a definite go-to.
Recipe: Sopa de Fideo
Simple French Onion Soup
A contender for the award for ultimate comfort, French onion soup comes in piping hot and cheesy. A staple of French bistros and steakhouses around the world, this recipe is easy enough to whip up at the last minute. Come for the succulent beef broth, caramelized onions, melted Gruyère, and croutons but stay for the crusty cheese bits soldered onto the bowl. With 15 minutes of prep and a broil in the oven until it's toasty and bubbly, your French onion dreams will be coming true in under an hour. More bread for that oniony, beefy broth?
Recipe: Simple French Onion Soup
Cauliflower and Arugula Soup
Creamy cauliflower makes a silky base for this soup that's packed with enough Vitamin C to soothe the most sniffly sniffles. Roasted cauliflower "croutons" paired with white pepper and arugula make this a knockout flavor combo. A spin in the blender and a trip through a fine-meshed sieve creates a flawlessly creamy spoonful. A topping of cumin and olive oil-roasted cauliflower adds the perfect hint of toasty texture and flavor.
Recipe: Cauliflower and Arugula Soup
Thai Coconut Chicken Soup
If you're a fan of sour and delightfully spicy tom kha gai, this one's for you. This Thai coconut chicken soup features many of the same ingredients and is as easy to make as your typical chicken noodle. The key is in sourcing your ingredients — which can be found on a quick trip to an Asian market. Gingery lemongrass, ginger root (or galangal), fresh lime juice, coconut milk, and bright sprigs of cilantro give this Thai favorite its signature flavors. The addition of tender chicken breast makes it a well-rounded meal for any time of the day.
Recipe: Thai Coconut Chicken Soup
Slow-simmered Caldo De Pollo
An entry from the massive roster of Mexican healing soups, caldo de pollo is also a completely enjoyable way of getting those veggies in — like, all of them. The star ingredient is a whole chicken, which gets browned and simmered into a savory broth. Corn on the cob, zucchini carrots, and shredded chicken find their way into the pot, and lime juice brightens the entire dish. A series of garnishes truly make this a special soup; it might include avocado, rice, minced onions, chopped cilantro, or your favorite hot sauce.
Recipe: Slow-simmered Caldo De Pollo
Vegan Porcini Mushroom and Herb Soup
Think you can't go high class with a mushroom soup? Meet the velvety vegan porcini mushroom and herb soup you won't be able to forget. Earthy porcini, portobello, and cremini mushrooms and herbs soothe your soul, while red wine and port add depth and dimension. Truffle oil offers an extra shroomy zhuzh. This blender-friendly recipe gets finessed with a dollop of vegan sour cream and a sprinkle of fresh parsley. Serve it alongside a fresh veggie side salad, or (do it) some rustic, crusty bread.
Silky Egg Drop Soup
Whip up a Chinese restaurant favorite that's worthy of takeout. Using just a few simple ingredients, this recipe comes together in 10 minutes or less (starting the timer now!).
Once you've chopped up the scallions and whisked the eggs, you're already just minutes away from dinner time. Eggs are added to the savory chicken broth and cook into an ethereal texture, suspended like magic. Serve with chopped green scallions on top, and maybe another dish that feels right, like fried egg rolls, or a sweet and sour walnut stir-fry.
Recipe: Silky Egg Drop Soup