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Home » Soups and Stews

Best Soup Recipes

Published: Oct 29, 2023 · Modified: Jan 14, 2025 by Debra Clark · 27 Comments

With fall and winter quickly approaching, it's soup season! The cravings for a hot, steamy bowl of soup take over. Okay, I'll admit that I'm down for a bowl of soup even in hot weather, but when there's a chill in the air, it's even better! You'll love these Great Soup Recipes!

The only issue you'll have is which to make first!

Each of these easy soup recipes is tried, tested, and bowl-you-over good, meals your whole family will enjoy.

A four picture collage of best soup recipes
Jump to:
  • Why these are the best
  • 1. Best Potato Soup Recipe
  • 2. Best Ham and Bean Soup
  • 3. Authentic New Mexico Posole
  • 4. Best Tomato Bisque Recipe
  • 5. Instant Pot Ham and Potato Soup
  • 6. Best Lentil Soup Recipe
  • 7. Turkey Corn Chowder
  • 8. Sausage and Okra Stew
  • 9. Crock Pot Beef Stew with Dumplings
  • 10. Vegetable Orzo Soup
  • 11. Zuppa Toscana Soup
  • 12. Easy Ramen Noodle Soup
  • 13. Classic Chicken Soup
  • 14. Clam Chowder Recipe
  • 15. Broccoli Cheddar Soup
  • 16. Split Pea Soup
  • Soup making tips
  • Homemade broth recipes

Why these are the best

Among this list, you'll find several quick options that make perfect busy weeknight meals. You'll also find several that are great for the freezer, so you can do the work once and enjoy it twice!

These are the most popular soup recipes, the BEST soup recipes, sure to make you feel warm and cozy. Many even taste better the next day! Soup is the ultimate comfort food!

A hearty bowl of potato soup garnished with sliced green onions.

1. Best Potato Soup Recipe

Our Easy Potato Soup is thick, creamy, hearty, and filling—everything you'd want in a soup when you're famished on a chilly day. The good news is that you can make it in about 30 minutes with simple ingredients you probably have on hand already.

A 30-minute soup that tastes like it's been simmering for hours? Yes, please! Instead of using milk or heavy cream, try sour cream to enhance the flavor profile.

We prefer our soup thick and chunky, but if you like yours a little soupier, add more vegetable stock. Serve with crusty bread, a light salad, or a sandwich to complete the meal.

Navy Bean Soup in White Bowl with spoon.
Navy Bean Soup with Ham has rich hearty flavor.

2. Best Ham and Bean Soup

Hearty navy bean soup is rich and hearty. This easy white bean soup can be made on the stovetop, slow cooker or in a pressure cooker. It's a comforting soup and one of the classic favorites!

Tender white beans and salty ham make the perfect combination of flavor! It's perfect for a cold night, it's a cozy soup and so delicious!

If you love this recipe, be sure and try French Onion Soup Recipe - it's amazing!

Pozole in Dutch Oven with a ladle of soup being served.

3. Authentic New Mexico Posole

Our flavorful New Mexico hominy stew is packed with rich, warm flavor with a heat that's just right. Although it takes about 4 hours to make, don't be intimated. This stew is incredibly easy; it just takes a bit of time to build up the stew and develop the flavors.

Posole is a hearty soup, made with tender pork (use butt, shoulder, or loin), hominy, red chile sauce, and basic spices. Garnish the stew with cabbage, onions, radishes, or limes. If you want to serve something on the side, try chips and salsa, tortillas, cornbread, tortilla chips or a simple salad.

Homemade Tomato Bisque soup garnished with chunks of goat cheese and ribbons of basil.

4. Best Tomato Bisque Recipe

You're going to love the layers of flavor in our Tomato Bisque! Bisque is creamier and thicker than tomato soup, so it's more filling. It's ready in just over 30 minutes, so this bisque makes the perfect weeknight or lunchtime meal.

This creamy tomato soup gets its delicious smoky flavor from the paprika and fire-roasted tomatoes and the tangy, earthy flavor from the goat cheese. Of course, if you're not a fan of goat cheese, simply sub in cream cheese instead.

Serve with warm, crusty bread. This soup is perfect for chilly nights and cool days. It freezes beautifully, so reserve some (or double the recipe) and put it in the freezer for an easy meal later.

Ham and Potato Soup is quick and easy to make in your pressure cooker.

5. Instant Pot Ham and Potato Soup

This meaty, hearty, savory, thick Ham and Potato Soup will quickly become a family favorite! It's made with two kinds of potatoes—Yukon Gold for the creamy texture and some russet potatoes to thicken the soup.

While we made ours in the Instant Pot, you can easily adapt it for the stovetop or slow cooker. Pair this filling soup with a green salad or a classic grilled cheese sandwich.

Vegetarian Lentil in bowl with spoon and bread.

6. Best Lentil Soup Recipe

This recipe for Vegetarian Lentil Soup is made in the pressure cooker for a quick and easy meal. It's finished with a splash of red wine vinegar and a drizzle of olive oil. Delish!

This delicious vegetable soup takes only minutes to make in the Instant Pot, it's such an easy way to cook a quick meal. Greek Lentil Soup is an easy stew that is simple, hearty and delicious!

A bowl of turkey corn chowder garnished with chives.

7. Turkey Corn Chowder

For a stick-to-your-ribs kind of soup, try our Turkey Corn Chowder. It's perfect for using up those holiday turkey leftovers, but it's fantastic with leftover chicken, too. With big chunks of potato and turkey in a thick, creamy soup, you can't go wrong.

Use frozen yellow corn or creamed corn for added creaminess. If you're tempted to leave out the Tobasco sauce, DON'T! Just give it a chance—it really adds something extra to the flavors.

This chowder is ready in less than an hour when using the Instant Pot!

A hearty bowl of Sausage and Okra Stew

8. Sausage and Okra Stew

Think of this as an autumn harvest stew with all the delicious, earthy flavors of fall thanks to the potatoes, corn, and okra.

It's a fusion of Italian and American flavors to create a thick, hearty, rich, flavorful stew that's so filling and delicious. The okra is coated with polenta in this recipe, giving it a bright, crunchy flavor and texture.

Serve with crusty bread to soak up all that flavorful broth!

Beef Stew with dumplings in a white bowl.

9. Crock Pot Beef Stew with Dumplings

How could you not love beef stew and dumplings in one yummy dish? The beef is so tender and flavorful, surrounded by big chunks of carrots, potatoes, and light, fluffy dumplings.

The secret to tender stew meat is cooking it low and slow, so the slow cooker is the ideal appliance for this recipe!

It's a meal on its own, but if you'd like to serve something with it, try a light salad or some dinner rolls to sop up all that beefy goodness.

A soup pot filled with vegetable orzo soup and a filled ladle ready to dish up a serving.

10. Vegetable Orzo Soup

Make a delicious, easy meal for your family in just 30 minutes. This healthy soup is chock full of flavor and good-for-you ingredients. Carrots, celery, spinach, fire-roasted tomatoes, onions, orzo pasta, and more come together in this simple weeknight soup.

It keeps in the fridge for three days, so if you meal prep your lunches, this soup's for you! It also freezes well, so consider doubling the recipe to stash some in the freezer.

A soup pot filled with Zuppa Toscana Soup

11. Zuppa Toscana Soup

We're all missing some of our favorite restaurants right now, but you can get that restaurant flavor and quality right at home. This copycat Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Soup is easy, savory, flavorful, and delicious. That's why I had to include it with these easy recipes!

Of course, you'll want to serve it with salad and some amazing breadsticks the Olive Garden way, right? Our recipe calls for kale, but if you're not a fan, swap it for spinach or Swiss chard.

With Italian sausage, diced potatoes, onions, and your favorite greens, this is a hearty, satisfying soup that is perfect for fall evenings and cold weather.

Ramen Noodle Recipe in bowl served with chopsticks, topped with a soft boiled egg.
Serve your ramen in a bowl with chopsticks and topped with a soft-boiled egg.

12. Easy Ramen Noodle Soup

Dress up ordinary Ramen noodles with crunchy veggies and leftover chicken for an easy weeknight meal that's pure comfort food! Leftover barbecued pork is another yummy addition to try in this soup.

Don't leave out the soft-boiled eggs; they add richness and protein to the bowl. While we used carrots, broccoli, mushrooms, and bok choy, you can add your favorite veggies or whatever you have on hand.

A splash of soy sauce is all the flavoring you need.

It's a versatile recipe that easily allows substitutions and will still come out tasting fantastic.

Chicken noodle soup in bowl with serving spoon.

13. Classic Chicken Soup

If you'd prefer a classic homemade chicken noodle soup recipe, then you'll love this copycat recipe for Panera Classic Chicken Noodle Soup. It is filled with tender chicken onions, carrots, celery and all kinds of yummy root vegetables AND only takes about 20 minutes to make!

Clam Chowder in bowl with spoon.

14. Clam Chowder Recipe

If you enjoy lazy walks on the beach, then Clam Chowder is a must! This copycat recipe for Mo's Clam Chowder is filled with clams, potatoes and plenty of bacon.

It's a perfect soup for a blustery day, especially when served with yummy air fryer garlic bread.

Cheesy soup in black bowl with spoon.
Hearty and cheesy comfort food bliss!

15. Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Rich and cheesy, this delicious soup only takes 30 minutes to make! Loaded with broccoli and cheddar cheese, you won't believe how easy it is to make. Why wouldn't you make this for dinner tonight?

Broccoli Cheese Soup is a great meal for lunch or dinner!

Split pea soup in white bowl with spoon.
Homemade Split Pea Soup Recipe

16. Split Pea Soup

What isn't to love about this amazing copycat Anderson's Split Pea Soup Recipe?!! The salty ham makes this simple soup a big hearty meal.

Another one of those perfect recipes for an easy weeknight dinner!

Soup making tips

You know soup is my jam, right? Well if you want all of my soup-making tips and tricks, head over to check it out!

You can up the flavor in many soups by adding just a little something at the end of the cooking process.

  • Lemon juice and freshly minced parsley brightens flavors.
  • olive oil or sesame oil will coat the inside of your mouth, giving the soup a richer flavor.
  • cider, balsamic vinegar or red wine vinegar to beef stock will wake up the flavors. Add just a touch!

If your spicy soups are a little too spicy there are some easy ways to cool the heat. Be sure to check it out for more ways to take your soup to the next level!

You'll learn how to making soup from scratch, how to thicken it, what gives them the BEST flavors and brightness. Learn what recipes freeze best and which should be eaten immediately. It's like a soup encyclopedia!

Expert Tip: Garnish with fresh parsley, green onions or cilantro for brightness. Adding a fresh squeeze of lemon, lime or a teaspoon of cider vinegar adds a briny freshness. Adding acidity and freshness at the end of cooking will take your soup to the next level!

Homemade broth recipes

Making homemade broth can take your soup from average to extraordinary! It's isn't hard and very inexpensive!

  • Beef broth recipe
  • Chicken broth recipes
  • Vegetable broth recipes

Looking for more of the best homemade soup recipes? Be sure to check this out for more slow cooker soup recipes!

Pin this list of the 10 BEST homemade soup recipes ever so you'll have the recipe for a hearty, comforting meal handy when you're craving warmth and flavor.

More Soup and Stew Recipes

  • Ladle of hearty sausage and okra stew held above the skillet, garnished with parsley.
    Sausage and Okra Stew Recipe
  • A big soup pot filled with ham and bean soup, with a ladle scooping up a serving.
    Navy Bean Soup Recipe
  • A bowl of carrot soup with a spoon in it.
    Easy Carrot Soup Recipe
  • Bowl of loaded potato soup.
    Slow Cooker Creamy Potato Soup
822 shares

About Debra Clark

Hey I'm Deb Clark, and I'm the owner of Bowl Me Over! We live in the sleepy little town of Scappoose, Oregon. And I admit it... I love food! Join me in this foodie journey (even if you've never cooked before!) I will help you learn to be confident in the kitchen! Want to learn more? Let's stay connected, you can email me at debra@bowl-me-over.com and find me on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

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  1. Sharon says

    November 30, 2023 at 12:29 pm

    I'm always on the lookout for easy soups to make at home, especially when the weather starts getting cold. Thank you for these tasty ideas.

    Reply
  2. Sam says

    November 28, 2023 at 8:07 am

    What a wonderful list of easy soups to make at home! They all look delicious, I'm not sure which one to start with.

    Reply
    • Bowl Me Over says

      November 29, 2023 at 9:48 am

      I hope you find some new favorites Sam!

      Reply
  3. Debbie says

    November 27, 2023 at 12:17 pm

    Clam chowder here I come! These are some of the best soup recipes I have come across in a long time. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Bowl Me Over says

      November 30, 2023 at 4:41 pm

      Enjoy the chowda Deb! Soup is so good this time of year!

      Reply
  4. Cynthia Rusincovitch says

    November 24, 2023 at 9:34 am

    I am always skeptical when any blog says anything is the best. But these are actually the best soup recipes I've ever had. I love the soups on your site and make a lot of them. I see a few I missed in this list and am bookmarking for my meal plan!!

    Reply
    • Bowl Me Over says

      November 24, 2023 at 9:47 am

      Wonderful, I'm glad you found some new favorite soup recipes!

      Reply
  5. Alyssa says

    November 20, 2023 at 8:09 am

    I am always looking for easy soups to make at home. Soup is one of my favorite fall/winter meals. I can't wait to try the potato soup.

    Reply
  6. One Crazy House says

    November 19, 2023 at 5:09 pm

    Oh, man! These really ARE the best soup recipes! You have all the classics here, and then some! Now I am set for the winter months, thank you!

    Reply
    • Bowl Me Over says

      November 20, 2023 at 6:33 pm

      I believe you could, yes! Enjoy the recipe!

      Reply
    • Bowl Me Over says

      November 21, 2023 at 11:18 am

      You're so welcome, I hope you find some new favorite recipes, enjoy!

      Reply
  7. Kristen says

    November 19, 2023 at 4:06 pm

    I never can get enough of easy soups to make at home--especially during the coming winter months!

    Reply
    • Bowl Me Over says

      November 23, 2023 at 6:59 am

      Soup season is here! I hope you find a new favorite soup recipe!

      Reply
  8. Cynthia says

    November 16, 2023 at 4:12 pm

    Now that fall is here, I'm constantly looking for easy soups to make at home. These look delicious!

    Reply
  9. Brandi says

    November 13, 2023 at 8:12 am

    These are the best soup recipes! I come back to this post over and over again to try new ones. Thanks so much for gathering them all in one spot!

    Reply
  10. Rita Joy says

    November 12, 2023 at 6:54 pm

    Debra, you have the BEST soup recipes! Your 30 minute chicken noodle soup is my son's favorite. Thanks for putting them all together here in one handy dandy collection. I look forward to trying some more out!

    Reply
  11. Brittany says

    November 09, 2023 at 9:11 am

    I've been looking for some new easy soups to make at home and this article is perfect! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  12. Jennifer Stewart says

    September 23, 2020 at 1:16 pm

    Of the ones I have tried, the potato is my favorite!!

    Reply
  13. Michaela Kenkel says

    September 22, 2020 at 9:47 pm

    Soup is my favorite food group! 😉 I am going to work my way through all of these this fall! We already tried the Zuppa and it was phenomenal!

    Reply
    • Bowl Me Over says

      September 24, 2020 at 1:12 pm

      Ha! My favorite food group too - you'll find several to enjoy, I'm sure!

      Reply
  14. Madi says

    September 21, 2020 at 11:17 am

    I don't know which of these soups to try first! They all look so amazing!

    Reply
    • Bowl Me Over says

      September 22, 2020 at 5:59 pm

      So much yumminess, grab a spoon and dive right in Madi!! 🥣

      Reply
  15. Michelle says

    September 20, 2020 at 8:55 pm

    I'm intrigued by the hominy stew! That's the first one I want to try!

    Reply
    • Bowl Me Over says

      September 22, 2020 at 6:00 pm

      You must try the Posole Michelle! It's so easy and unbelievably delicious - enjoy!!

      Reply
  16. Julie Menghini says

    September 20, 2020 at 7:44 pm

    We just love all of your soups, and the Ham and Potato is absolutely our very favorite and the Toscana coming in at a close second. This changes everytime I make one of your other soup recipes!

    Reply
    • Bowl Me Over says

      September 22, 2020 at 6:01 pm

      You've totally made my day Julie!! Thank you so much, I'm glad you're enjoying the recipes!!!

      Reply
  17. Debi says

    September 19, 2020 at 1:07 pm

    I've put your Vegetable Orzo Soup on my menu for this week. Making it soon. It's soup weather!

    Reply
Blogger Deb Clark smiling at camera holding a plate filled with a casserole.
Welcome to Bowl Me Over!

Hey I'm Deb Clark! I'm the owner of Bowl Me Over. We live in a sleepy little town just north of Portland in the beautiful Pacific Northwest... (read more)

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