22 Soothing Soup Recipes That Are Incredibly Easy to Make

And they're satisfying enough to be the main course.

By
Betty Gold
Betty Gold
Betty Gold

Betty Gold is the former senior digital food editor at Real Simple.

Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines
Updated on December 12, 2022
Different types of soup recipes
Photo: Getty Images

A bowl of soup can cure what ails you, whether it's peak summertime or mid-winter. Soup is, after all, comfort food at its finest—it's warm, rich, and incredibly nourishing. Most of the recipes here should only take 20 minutes or less, and a single pot can feed a crowd on its own. We recommend doubling up on ingredients and freezing the leftovers for busy weeknights ahead if you know you'll be craving more in the future. Gallon-size Ziploc bags work surprisingly well and take up almost no space inside your freezer when lying flat. Here are 22 of our finest soup recipes for any time of year.

01 of 22

Gochujang Gumbo

Gochujang Gumbo
Hector Manuel Sanchez

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 the celery, bell pepper, and garlic at the start, so it gets infused into the entire dish.

02 of 22

Lentil Soup With Sausage

Lentils, Kale, and Sausage Soup in a White Bowl on Top of a Wooden Board with a Piece of Baguette Bread Next to the Bowl
Greg DuPree

Start with browning slices of kielbasa to add a lot of flavor to this 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.

03 of 22

Creamy Potato-Cabbage Soup

A Bowl of Creamy Cabbage Potato Soup Next to a Spoon and a Piece of Toasted Bread
Greg DuPree

Enjoy a warm, hearty soup in 30 minutes. This mixture of sliced cabbage and onions, chopped potatoes and carrots, simmer 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. Serve with fresh, crusty bread.

04 of 22

Zesty Corn Soup With Chicken

chicken corn soup recipe
Jennifer Causey

This cozy treat combines savory cotija cheese, spicy cayenne, tart lime, and toasted sweet corn. Best part? Thanks to shortcut items like frozen corn kernels and rotisserie chicken, you can whip up this easy 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.

05 of 22

Ginger Meatball Ramen With Greens and Scallions

Ginger Meatball Ramen Recipe
Caitlin Bensel

Truly the best of both worlds. This delicious dish combines two comfort food classics: spaghetti with meatballs and ramen noodles. The flavors mesh perfectly 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.

06 of 22

Curried Cauliflower Soup

Curried Cauliflower Soup Recipe
Jennifer Causey

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.

07 of 22

Red Lentil Squash Soup With Lemon

Red Lentil Squash Soup Recipe
Caitlin Bensel

This soup isn't your standard lentil recipe. Instead, this silky, spiced soup is one of the most warming, comforting concoctions you'll start to crave time and again. The dish combines carrots, butternut squash, harissa paste, and plenty of spices for a layered flavor. Fresh ginger gives it an extra zing, too.

08 of 22

Chicken and Chard Dumpling Soup

Chicken and Chard Dumpling Soup Recipe
Greg DuPree

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.

09 of 22

Whole-Grain Minestrone With Parmesan Crisps

Whole-Grain Minestrone Recipe
Caitlin Bensel

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.

10 of 22

Red Cabbage and Beet Borscht

Red Cabbage and Beet Borscht Recipe
Caitlin Bensel

Borscht is as beautiful as it is good for you. 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.

11 of 22

Cod and Clam Chowder With Smoky Oyster Crackers

Cod and Clam Chowder Recipe
Caitlin Bensel

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.

12 of 22

Peruvian-Style Chicken Soup With Cilantro and Lime

Peruvian-Stye Chicken Soup Recipe
Caitlin Bensel

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.

13 of 22

Spicy Chicken and Hominy Soup

Spicy Chicken and Hominy Soup
Paul Sirisalee

Spice up a traditional chicken soup with chopped chipotle in adobo. Shredded rotisserie chicken helps this dish come together quickly so you can prepare it on busy weekday nights. Serve with lime for a burst of citrus flavoring.

14 of 22

Vegan Creamy Tomato Soup

Vegan Creamy Tomato Soup
Greg DuPree

Make easy homemade croutons for a crisp, delicious soup topping. 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.

15 of 22

Mushroom Barley Soup

Mushroom Barley Soup
Paul Sirisalee

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.

16 of 22

Broccoli Soup With Cheddar Croutons

Broccoli Soup With Cheddar Croutons Recipe
Caitlin Bensel

Puree all the ingredients in a blender to get the smoothest, creamiest results. This recipe is perfect because it manages to be both comforting, healthy, and decadent. The cheddar croutons add extra cheese while the broccoli loads this dish with plenty of veggies.

17 of 22

White Bean and Barley Soup With Tomatoes and Greens

White Bean and Barley Soup With Tomatoes and Greens
Con Poulos

Start with fully cooked chicken sausages to cut down on prep time. This veggie-filled soup is ideal for a cold winter day. This soup features crushed tomatoes, kale, and barley to keep you full.

18 of 22

Cauliflower Soup With Toasted Garlic

Cauliflower Soup With Toasted Garlic
Paul Sirisalee

This dairy-free soup has minimal ingredients but lots of deep flavors. Start by toasting a bit of garlic to give this soup a unique flavoring—two to three minutes should be enough time. After, add cauliflower, chicken broth, thyme, salt, and pepper to a pot to simmer until it is tender. Transfer the mixture to a blender and puree until it is smooth.

19 of 22

Miso Chicken Noodle Soup With Kimchi

Easy chicken recipes - Miso Chicken Noodle Soup
Linda Pugliese

Make quick "noodles" by slicing wonton wrappers into strips—they'll cook quickly in the broth. This soothing soup combines Korean, kimchi, and Japanese, Miso paste flavors. This pair assembles in less than 20 minutes and can include vegetarian-friendly alternatives like tofu instead of shredded chicken.

20 of 22

Salsa Verde Chicken Soup

Salsa verde chicken soup
Victor Protasio

Inspired by posole, a traditional Mexican stew, this easy-to-assemble soup comes together with the help of a few supermarket staples. The chicken-flavored soup contains cans of pinto bean, hominy, and a jar of tomatillo salsa for a hearty and flavorful dish. Before it finishes cooking, stir in chopped cilantro and lime juice and top it with avocado. Serve with tortilla chips.

21 of 22

Chicken Paprikash Soup

Chicken Paprikash Soup
Antonis Achilleos

Use leftover, store-bought, or rotisserie chicken to help this soup come together quickly. This Hungarian dish, flavored with sweet paprika, onions, red bell peppers, and tomatoes, is inspired by a beloved chicken dish.

22 of 22

Curried Butternut Squash Soup

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 recipe uses plenty of rich ingredients, so expect a rich, well-seasoned dish.

Was this page helpful?
Related Articles
canned-tomato-realsimple-shrimp-potatoes-recipe-1020din-5b10a37f946c46b88aee7b47dce74276
10 Recipes That Start With Canned Tomatoes For Easy, Delicious Meals
easy-chicken-noodle-soup-hacks-tout-realsimple
Make Easy Chicken Noodle Soup Using These 7 Hacks
Easy chicken recipes - chicken quesadilla
27 Essential, Easy Chicken Recipes for Every Day of the Week
Buttery Shrimp With Marinated White Beans
26 Recipes for Canned Beans
healthy-soup-recipes: Red Lentil Squash Soup With Lemon
20 Simple, Healthy Soup Recipes for Every Season
red lentil squash soup
23 Delicious Squash Recipes You Can Cook in Any Season
kale
The 10 Tastiest Ways to Eat More Kale—Even if You're Over Kale Salad
10-ingredient-soup-miso-chicken-noodle-soup-57dafd89569a4faea2dc80d0491b26fa
12 Winter Soups You Can Make With 10 Ingredients or Less
Fancy Tomato Sandwiches
26 Hearty, Satisfying Lunches
Veggie taco station on an yellow tray
27 Taco Recipes So Good You'll Never Want to Make Anything Else
mexican-beef-sliders
31 Easy Slow Cooker Recipes for When You're Craving Comfort Food
Skillet Polenta in Creamy Tomato Sauce
35 Satisfying Vegetarian Recipes That Are Incredibly Easy to Make
Black Bean Tostadas
30 High-Protein Dinner Ideas
Green salsa on a table surrounded by chips
4 Salsa Styles and How To Make Them
Miso Roasted Radishes
25 Radish Recipes to Add Zing to Your Life
Grilled Pork Chops with Peach-Parsley Salad Recipe
35 Quick and Easy Recipes to Make for Dinner Tonight