Let’s skip straight to the best! There are lots of soup recipes out there, but these hearty, filling and deliciously warm soups, stews and chilis are ones I make over and over every year!
Chilly days are here! But don’t let winter’s blustery, gray days get you down. Call it soup season and warm up head to toe with one of these easy soup recipes! From tender beef stew and easy southern chicken and dumplings to quick shortcut recipes like Italian Tortellini and Creamy Cauliflower Parmesan (tastes just like Potato Soup!) with a few classics in between, there’s something here to keep you are yours cozy every day of the week.
Table of Contents
- Insider Tips
- My Soup Essentials
- Avoid Common Soup Mistakes
- 19 Best Soups, Stews & Chilis
- 7 Perfect Soup Partners
Insider Tips
- While I love all of these recipes, the top 3 soup recipes (reader favorites/ top performers) on Southern Discourse are Southern Chicken & Dumplings, Real (but easy)Louisiana Gumbo, and my Cream Cheese Chicken Chili.
- Soup is actually one of the easiest ways to get to hot meal on the table even on the busiest weeknights.
- To become instantly better in the kitchen, read a recipe all the way through, measure + cut or chop all your ingredients and THEN start cooking. This makes cooking so much easier.
My Soup Essentials
Another way to make cooking easier is having the right tools. I’m not talking lots of gadgets or 42 pots & pans you have to find a place to store. I mean focusing on solid, versatile, reliable tools that get more than one job done really well. Basics. And in this case, essentials that make one mean pot of soup.
- End Grain Cutting Board
- Chef’s Knife (I always recommend this brand.)
- 3 Ply Soup Pot
- Immersion Blender (a lifesaver)
- Wooden Cooking Utensils (standards since the beginning of time)
- Dutch Oven (If I had to choose between this and the soup pot, I would get this.)
- A Really Nice Soup Ladle
Avoid Common Soup Mistakes
- Don’t overcook the ingredients. Vegetables, pastas, proteins, all should retain their individual textures. This gives the soup variety and interest. With the exceptions of a few (like cream of… or tomato and the like), soups should never eat as all one texture, and the defining texture definitely shouldn’t be mushy.
- Simmer instead of boil. A nice simmer over a low temp gives ingredients time to develop and marry. This will give your soups a depth and richness.
- Don’t skip steps and just dump everything in. If a recipe calls for adding a few ingredients and simmering before adding in more, take the 5 minutes or so and do it. Good soup, stew and chili recipes build flavor. Layering in ingredients a little at a time also protects the integrity of textures. It’s rarely a dump and go.
19 Best Soups, Stews & Chilis
These easy Southern Chicken and Dumplings are loaded with tender, flat southern-style dumplings and shredded chicken bathed in a thick, hearty chicken stew to create the ultimate southern comfort dish! Add a little cracked pepper and you have hearty and completely satisfying recipe that sure to be a comfort favorite.
This easy Louisiana gumbo has a simple blonde roux with a savory nutty flavor and is packed with enough spices, herbs, veggies, rich smoked sausage and tender shrimp.
This easy recipe for Out of This World White Chicken Chili is made wonderfully thick and creamy using rich cream cheese, creamed corn, shredded chicken, and white beans. And don’t forget about the spicy little kick from a jar of tangy salsa verde! Out of this world, you say? Oh, yes. One bite and this quick & simple recipe is sure to find its way to your table again and again.
Rich and hearty Homemade Beef Stew with Sweet Potatoes is guaranteed to keep your insides warm and your heart full! Loaded with tender, melt-in-your-mouth beef roast, soft sweet potatoes and Yukon Gold potatoes all bathed in a thick, savory red gravy, this old fashioned beef stew is absolutely pure comfort in a bowl.
Sausage Potato Kale Soup is a hearty, comfort soup the whole family will love! Loaded with velvety red potatoes, savory sausage, salty bacon and tender kale, this cozy one pot recipe is reminiscient of Zuppa Toscana, uses simple, everyday ingredients and is sure to find a place in your regular dinner rotation!
Creamy Chicken & Ravioli Soup is what comfort food is all about. Chock full of cheese ravioli, shredded chicken, spinach and mushrooms, it’s Italian-style comfort food that is sure to give the whole family the warm fuzzies.
A classic comfort food, French Onion Soup is loaded with sweet caramelized onions, rich, savory broth, oodles of melted cheese & crusty bread. Made with simple ingredients and a little time, this homey, satisfying soup is the ultimate in cozy for you and your family!
When your week calls for something warm and comforting, answer with a big pot of Chile Verde Pork Stew. Made with pork roast that’s simmered until it’s fall-apart tender and simple, fresh ingredients, each spoonful is loaded with bold, restaurant-quality flavor that eats like a big hug.
This easy Hearty Lasagna soup recipe has all the flavors of a perfect layered lasagna with meat sauce- velvety pasta, a creamy, cheesy ricotta layer and a saucy marinara with loaded seasoned beef and Italian sausage- but it’s in a warm bowl you can wrap your hands around on a chilly day.
Whip up the cozy, familiar feels of home with comforting Chicken and Wild Rice Soup with Portabella Mushrooms. Loaded with carrots, celery, onion, rich wild rice, chicken, sliced mushrooms and a luscious creamy base, this easy homemade soup recipe is guaranteed to warm you heart and soul.
Using a shortcut or two, Italian Tortellini Soup with Sausage & Spinach is a quick and easy supper that’s perfect when you want something homemade but you don’t want to stand in the kitchen all day! With a rich tomato soup base, refrigerated 3 cheese tortellini, ground sausage and baby spinach, this is simple comfort food everyone will love!
Chicken Tortilla Soup is so easy to make and is one of our very favorites! It's bright and lively colors and flavors are like a little Tex Mex fiesta in a bowl!
This loaded bowl of cheesy goodness is our version of a Farmhouse Cheese Soup. It's creamy cheddar cheese soup full of herbs and topped with bacon. Serve it with a loaf crusty bread for top notch comfort soup goodness!
Warm up with a b ig pot of Texas Chili! Meaty, hearty and loaded with all the big Texas flavor you'd expect, this post actually has two versions of this famous chili recipe included so you can make your favorite!
Creamy Tomato Basil Soup is easy comfort served up in a bowl! With a base of carrots, onions, celery, chicken broth and butter simmered with bright tomato puree, fresh basil and cream, layer after layer of surprising rich, savory flavor make this simple classic a heart and soul favorite everyone craves.
Put a southern twist on your favorite potato soup with this indulgent sweet potato soup recipe. Both creamy and savory with just a little natural sweetness, this easy soup is one that is sure to make it onto your ‘favorite winter suppers’ list.
This rich & creamy Cauliflower Soup topped with bacon could almost be mistaken for potato… but it’s not! Riced Cauliflower, sharp Parmesan, a little cream cheese, cream and broth come together in this easy recipe to create a deliciously cheesy soup that is guaranteed to become a surprising family favorite!
Peeling potatoes is a real downer when it comes to making tasty homemade potato dishes…. Except for this super easy Slow Cooker Shortcut Potato Soup! It’s packed with all the yummy flavors of a loaded baked potato soup but none of that peeling and dicing that usually comes with it.
7 Perfect Soup Partners
But that’s not all! From stuffed cheesy breads to one-of-a-kind croutons, biscuits, cornbread and more, these 7 easy recipes are the perfect partners for your favorite bowl of soup this winter!
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