Superfast Soups

Chicken Corn Chowder

This soup is an excellent way to transform leftover chicken into something wholly different. Plenty of corn, both whole and pureed with milk, gives this soup a nice sweet-and-savory flavor. If you've got leftover vegetables, throw them in, too; just about any cooked veggies would make a good addition.

View Recipe: Chicken Corn Chowder

Cioppino-Style Seafood Stew

Shellfish are a boon to superfast recipes: They cook quickly and require minimal prep work. Hardly any seasoning at all interferes with the pure seafood flavors of this dish―onion, garlic, tomatoes, parsley, and red pepper are all that's needed―but its briny taste will transport you to the northern California coast. Don't forget the French bread for dipping!

View Recipe: Cioppino-Style Seafood Stew

Summer Squash Soup with Pasta and Parmesan

When in season, yellow squash and zucchini grow in such abundance they're hard to use up, and even in the winter they're tasty, readily available, and inexpensive. Take advantage with this simple, fresh soup. Fresh herbs, lemon juice, and pasta complement the squash, while a generous topping of Parmesan adds distinctive nutty and salty notes.

View Recipe: Summer Squash Soup with Pasta and Parmesan

Cannellini Stew with Sausage and Kale and Cheese Toasts

This unexpectedly easy recipe gets a note of comfort food from the cheese toasts (which are as simple as melting some cheese on baguette slices), as well as a note of elegance from the sophisticated flavor of turkey and duck sausage (though you can substitute chicken sausage if you prefer). The fresh crispness of lightly cooked kale balances the earthy flavor of the beans, and a squeeze of lemon at the end brightens everything up.

View Recipe: Cannellini Stew with Sausage and Kale and Cheese Toasts

Spinach, Pasta, and Pea Soup

For a vegetarian version of this lemony soup, use organic or lower-sodium vegetable broth in place of chicken broth.

View Recipe: Spinach, Pasta, and Pea Soup

Spicy Asian Chicken and Noodle Soup

This broth packs a lot of flavor in just a little time. If you don't have the Sriracha on hand, thin slices of jalapeño pepper make a good substitute.

View Recipe: Spicy Asian Chicken and Noodle Soup

Bacon-Corn Chowder with Shrimp

Looking for a Superfast starter? This delicious soup can also serve 6 as a first course instead of an entrée.

View Recipe: Bacon-Corn Chowder with Shrimp

Spicy Tortilla Soup with Shrimp and Avocado

Chipotle chile and fire-roasted tomatoes lend smokiness to the soup. A garnish of chopped avocado added right before serving makes the perfect fresh topping.

View Recipe: Spicy Tortilla Soup with Shrimp and Avocado

• Watch the Video: How to Cook Spicy Tortilla Soup

Escarole, Bean, and Sausage Soup with Parmesan Cheese

Escarole has a milder flavor than endive but still offers a slight bitterness that is balanced by the creamy beans and sweet sausage. This soup has lots of flavor without being heavy--sounds like a winner.

View Recipe: Escarole, Bean, and Sausage Soup with Parmesan Cheese

White Bean Soup with Kale and Chorizo

Be sure to use smoked Spanish chorizo, not raw Mexican chorizo when preparing this 20-minute soup. This is the perfect dinner option for a cold winter's night.

View Recipe: White Bean Soup with Kale and Chorizo

Southwestern Pork Soup

With two kinds of peppers, two kinds of beans, and tender pieces of pork, this hearty soup is satisfyingly chunky. Its chili-and-spice flavors taste like they've been simmering all day long, but canned beans let you cook this soup start to finish in just over 10 minutes.

View Recipe: Southwestern Pork Soup

Spicy Tomato and White Bean Soup

We punched up this tomato soup by adding southwestern spices, beans, and poblano pepper, but it's still a fantastic accompaniment to grilled cheese sandwiches. Good thing you can cook both in less than 10 minutes.

View Recipe: Spicy Tomato and White Bean Soup

Thai Shrimp and Chicken Soup

Authentic Thai flavor relies on a delicate balance of hot, sour, salty, and sweet. All four are present here, with curry, lime juice, fish sauce, and sugar seasoning a soup of chicken, shrimp, mushrooms, and snow peas. A can of coconut milk added at the end contributes a velvety texture that's a perfect completion to the dish.

View Recipe: Thai Shrimp and Chicken Soup

Asian Chicken Noodle Soup

The old classic chicken noodle gains new life with the addition of garlic, ginger, lemongrass, and lime in this recipe. It's still warm, soft, and comforting, but with an updated, modern edge. Lots of easy variations on this dish are possible: Try soba, udon noodles, or rice instead of angel hair, or cubed tofu instead of chicken.

View Recipe: Asian Chicken Noodle Soup

Tomato Soup with Chicken and Gorgonzola Cheese

This is a soup for cheese lovers. A basic tomato soup gets a spicy hit of red pepper and some shredded chicken for body, but the real attraction is the strongly flavored Gorgonzola, which melts into the soup to add creaminess in addition to its distinctive pungent taste. Tomatoes go well with many blue cheeses, so try your favorite Roquefort or Stilton instead of Gorgonzola. Or, for something milder, try chèvre or feta.

View Recipe: Tomato Soup with Chicken and Gorgonzola Cheese

Salsa Bean Soup

Pureeing some, but not all, of the beans in this soup makes it gives it a pleasingly hearty texture, creating comfort food at its best. The topping of Monterey Jack cheese (if you like spicy, try pepper jack) provides creamy contrast. Bottled salsa lets you customize the dish to your tastes―use mild, hot, or whatever flavor you like best.

View Recipe: Salsa Bean Soup

Herbed Fish and Red Potato Chowder

Seafood chowder has a mystique that makes some people think they can't cook it from scratch, but it's really very easy. Sauté some vegetables, add flour and liquid, then simmer your fish (we call for halibut, but you can use any flaky white fish, or even clams if you prefer). This recipe uses milk for a creamy texture, and adds crisp bacon because, let's face it, everything's better with bacon.

View Recipe: Herbed Fish and Red Potato Chowder

Chipotle Chicken Tortilla Soup

If you're intimidated by making soup, this is the recipe to show you how easy it really is. Quickly sauté the chicken, add spices, broth, and a can of tomatoes, and you're all set. A topping of crushed tortilla chips adds a unique crunchy dimension to this dish that sets it apart. Serve with corn bread or a hearty three-seed multigrain bread.

View Recipe: Chipotle Chicken Tortilla Soup

Sausage and Spinach Soup

Similar to minestrone, this simple soup's flavor blows canned out of the water. Sausage and beans bring the meaty heartiness that makes this a meal in a bowl, while spinach and herbs lend their bright freshness. A topping of Romano cheese seasons everything to perfection.

View Recipe: Sausage and Spinach Soup

Spicy Shrimp and Rice Soup

If you cook the shrimp and the rice at the same time, this dish comes together in literally five minutes. It's great for picky family members because it's so customizable: Serve the lime wedges, bean sprouts, green onion, cilantro, and jalapeño slices on the side on a big plate, and let everyone add what they want and make the soup their own. This is also a great soup for dipping baked wontons, toasted bread, or even baked tortilla chips.

View Recipe: Spicy Shrimp and Rice Soup

Chickpea Stew Scented with Lemon and Cumin

Culinary worlds collide (to excellent result) in this unique dish. North African-flavored chickpeas top thick and creamy Italian polenta, garnished with cooling sour cream. It's a vegetarian dish that's both filling and healthful, with almost 10 grams of fiber and almost 13 grams of protein per serving.

View Recipe: Chickpea Stew Scented with Lemon and Cumin

Chicken and Barley Stew

To make for a satisfying main dish, a soup needs to be thick or chunky. This one fits both bills. Each spoonful offers a plethora of vegetables, plenty of chicken, and lots of hearty, chewy barley. Frozen vegetables are a great way to get variety in this recipe, but if you have leftover cooked veggies lying around, throw them in instead.

View Recipe: Chicken and Barley Stew

Hot and Sour Soup with Shrimp

This Chinese-restaurant classic makes an easy one-pot meal in about 10 minutes. A cornstarch slurry thickens just right, and strings of cooked egg white make for authentic texture. Powerfully spicy chili oil and lemon juice give the soup its eponymous flavors―add more or less than we call for to suit your own taste.

View Recipe: Hot and Sour Soup with Shrimp

Chipotle Turkey and Corn Soup

Chipotle peppers and the spicy adobo sauce they're usually canned in are remarkably versatile ingredients, adding sweet mild heat or scorching fire depending how they're used. Just a little of each gives this soup a pleasant spice, but if you're a real chile-head, go ahead and add more. Any thinly sliced tender meat will work in place of turkey, from chicken breasts to pork tenderloin, so try a variation if you like.

View Recipe: Chipotle Turkey and Corn Soup

Pasta Fagioli Soup

Cooking the pasta in broth not only simplifies this recipe, it also makes for more flavor. Combine that with zesty sausage, filling (and fiber-packed) kidney beans, vegetables, and a sprinkle of sharp Asiago cheese, and you've got a delicious, quick, and easy soup.

View Recipe: Pasta Fagioli Soup

Loaded Potato Soup

This delicious comforting soup tastes like it took hours to make. Don't forget to add on a few of your favorite toppings before serving.

View Recipe: Loaded Potato Soup

Avocado Soup with Citrus-Shrimp Relish

This soup is just about the fastest possible recipe: Throw everything in a blender and puree, no cooking involved. The result is a refreshing and creamy main-dish soup that's packed with fiber, protein, and healthy fats. Jalapeño adds just a hint of heat, the tangy shrimp relish gives texture and meatiness, and a nice salty bite from queso fresco tops everything off.

View Recipe: Avocado Soup with Citrus-Shrimp Relish

Tex-Mex Chicken Soup

This is a true fiesta in a bowl. This soup is chock-full of the southwestern flavors we all love. Serve this showstopper with a garnish of lime.

View Recipe: Tex-Mex Chicken Soup

Fast Chicken Chili

Don't let dinner bust your budget. This recipe costs just $1.66 per serving. Serve with lime wedges.

View Recipe: Fast Chicken Chili

Halibut and Chorizo Stew with Garlic Toasts

Firm-fleshed halibut works best in this stew, but cod would also be a tasty, more delicate choice. Pair this dish with a side salad for a complete meal.

View Recipe: Halibut and Chorizo Stew with Garlic Toasts

Curried Lentil Soup with Yogurt and Cilantro

Look for packaged precooked lentils without salt or fat added. We like Target's Archer Farms brand beluga lentils.

View Recipe: Curried Lentil Soup with Yogurt and Cilantro

Thai Butternut Soup

If you can't find frozen pureed squash, you can cook this soup with 4 cups cubed butternut squash. Just add 5 extra minutes to the cooking time in step 2.

View Recipe: Thai Butternut Soup

Peanut Chicken Noodle Soup

If you can't find udon, substitute 6 ounces uncooked spaghetti.

View Recipe: Peanut Chicken Noodle Soup

Beef Noodle Soup

If you have the time, freeze the steak for 20 minutes prior to preparation for easier slicing.

View Recipe: Beef Noodle Soup

Broccoli-Cheese Soup

Traditional broccoli-cheese soup has nearly 400 calories and more than 18g saturated fat per serving. Ours has less than half the calories and one-fourth of the saturated fat.

View Recipe: Broccoli-Cheese Soup