Creamy Soup Recipes - Cooking Light

Photo: Johnny Autry

Curried Butternut Soup

While it’s easy to think potato and tomato when coming up with ideas for creamy soups, we’re not limiting ourselves to just those. Think outside of the box by using ingredients like butternut squash and avocados for enticing twists on otherwise-predictable recipes.

First up, this butternut soup is the perfect way to brighten up cold dark days, with its vibrant color and even better taste. For multiple-meal-use, just wait to add the toppings until it’s time to reheat.

View Recipe: Curried Butternut Soup

Photo: Johnny Autry

Avocado-Buttermilk Soup with Crab Salad

This recipe has simple orange-infused crabmeat floating atop a rich, creamy soup for a unique combination. The entire recipe comes together without turning on the cooktop, making it an ideal warm-weather dish.

View Recipe: Avocado-Buttermilk Soup with Crab Salad

Photo: Johnny Autry

Red Lentil-Pumpkin Soup

The hearty crunch of pumpkinseed adds wonderful contrast and texture to this rich, creamy soup. And when paired with a slice of sourdough bread, it’s a complete, filling meal in just under 30 minutes.

View Recipe: Red Lentil-Pumpkin Soup

Photo: Randy Mayor

Crab Bisque

Indulgent and smooth, this crab bisque is perfect for all seafood-lovers. Tip: if pureeing the soup in a food processor doesn’t produce ideal results, try using a blender for an extra creamy texture.

View Recipe: Crab Bisque

Photo: Johnny Autry

Roasted Cauliflower Soup

The cook time is well worth it for this creamy delicacy. Roasting the cauliflower before blending into the soup adds robust flavor.

View Recipe: Roasted Cauliflower Soup

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Leek and Lima Bean Soup with Bacon

Fresh limas are at their peak from June to September, but don’t let that stop you from making this delectable soup year-round. Thawed frozen beans substitute well for fresh. Be sure to puree the beans well for a truly creamy texture and top with bacon and sour cream for extra flavor.

View Recipe: Leek and Lima Bean Soup with Bacon

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Cream of Asparagus Soup

Low in calories but bountiful in taste, this soup is perfect for lunch or dinner and looks visually appealing when garnished with thin asparagus spears.

View Recipe: Cream of Asparagus Soup

Photo: Oxmoor House

Creamy Lentil Soup

Crumble bacon pieces over this delicious soup for a heart-warming dish. Don’t forget the sherry because it lends a unique, rich flavor to the soup.

View Recipe: Creamy Lentil Soup

Photo: Howard L. Puckett

Creamy Sweet Potato Soup

This low-fat creamy soup gets its creamy texture from pureed sweet potatoes and evaporate skim milk, and it goes perfectly paired with a light sandwich or salad. Since it can be prepared quickly, in just under 15 minutes, it’s perfect to make in the morning to take to work.

View Recipe: Creamy Sweet Potato Soup

Photo: Randy Mayor

Creamy, Light Potato Soup

A light version of this world-renowned classic creamy soup uses cauliflower as a substitute for some of the potato since it has two-thirds fewer calories per ounce. By using a combination of both, you retain the same comforting texture and taste, while cutting back immensely on the calories and cholesterol.

View Recipe: Creamy, Light Potato Soup

Photo: Randy Mayor

Creamy Celeriac Soup

Rich in nutrients and full of flavor, this classic embraces the idea that creamy soups aren’t meant to be bland. Black pepper, celery root, olive oil, and fresh parsley send out an aroma that is irresistibly good.

View Recipe: Creamy Celeriac Soup

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Creamy Carrot Soup

This creamy carrot soup is a wonderful way to enjoy beta-Carotene-rich carrots, and it is a breeze to make in just three easy steps.

View Recipe: Creamy Carrot Soup

Photo: Randy Mayor

Cucumber Soup

This fresh first-course cucumber soup provides much of your necessary daily fruit intake and features the addition of avocado, which lends the soup a creamy touch and gorgeous color.

View Recipe: Cucumber Soup

Photo: Lee Harrelson

Butternut Squash-Leek Soup

Butternut squash is one of the most beloved vegetables of the fall harvest, and this simple soup really lets the squash's flavor shine through. The creamy texture also makes it a great match with a plump but crisp Chardonnay, for a full and flavorful meal.

View Recipe: Butternut Squash-Leek Soup

Photo: Johnny Autry

Avocado-Corn Chowder with Grilled Chicken

Top a creamy chilled avocado soup with fresh corn and grilled chicken for colorful and flavorful main dish entrée. Serve with tortilla chips for a well-rounded Southwestern meal.

View Recipe: Avocado-Corn Chowder with Grilled Chicken

Photo: Howard L. Puckett

Creamy Turnip Soup

This soup is warming and comforting and works great as an appetizer to a large meal or as a main course with a winter salad and French bread.

View Recipe: Creamy Turnip Soup

Photo: Johnny Autry

Creamy Pumpkin-Red Pepper Soup

Take your basic pumpkin soup to the next level by making this simple recipe featuring red peppers. What’s better? Reviews say it tastes great reheated the next day, making it an ideal weeknight recipe.

View Recipe: Creamy Pumpkin-Red Pepper Soup

Photo: Romulo Yanes

Creamy Garlic-Seafood Soup

If served as an entrée, this is a special-occasion splurge, nutritionally. But you can serve a smaller portion as an appetizer, guilt-free.

View Recipe: Creamy Garlic-Seafood Soup

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Grilled Corn and Potato Chowder

The addition of grilled fresh corn and fresh herbs to this creamy, reduced-fat chowder creates a deeper level of flavor for the soup. So good, in fact, you might not get the chance to freeze any leftovers for tomorrow.

View Recipe: Grilled Corn and Potato Chowder

Photo: Ellen Silverman

Creamy Carrot and Sweet Potato Soup

Known for heightened flavor over time, we recommended making this delightful, creamy soup several days in advance and reheating over medium-low heat when ready to eat.

View Recipe: Creamy Carrot and Sweet Potato Soup

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Creamy Tomato-Balsamic Soup

Try baking the onion, garlic, and tomatoes in this not-so-traditional tomato-balsamic soup at 500° in order to caramelize their natural sugars and deepen the flavor of the overall dish.

View Recipe: Creamy Tomato-Balsamic Soup

Photo: Howard L. Puckett

Creamy Truffle-Scented White Bean Soup

Minced roasted garlic adds a deep, sweet, caramelized flavor, while a drizzle of intensely flavored truffle oil makes this soup extra special.

View Recipe: Creamy Truffle-Scented White Bean Soup

Photo: Randy Mayor

Creamy Wild-Rice Soup with Smoked Turkey

This top-rated smoked turkey soup is perfect paired with a hot grilled cheese sandwich or hearty panini.

View Recipe: Creamy Wild-Rice Soup with Smoked Turkey

Photo: Iain Bagwell

New England Clam Chowder

So good, you’ll think you were transported to New England, this chowder combines the rich flavors of clam, thyme, celery, bacon and more into the perfect dish.

View Recipe: New England Clam Chowder

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Yellow Pepper Soup with Wild Mushroom Croutons

This recipe is a delicious lesson in how roasting sweetens and deepens the flavor of bell peppers. The peppers can be roasted a day ahead and refrigerated until you are ready to prepare the soup.

View Recipe: Yellow Pepper Soup with Wild Mushroom Croutons

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Beer-Cheddar Soup

Bring the tastes and smells of a pub home with this beer-cheddar soup. Be sure to use light beer to avoid a bitter taste to this soup, which is perfect for dinner parties where guests can serve themselves and add on toppings as desired.

View Recipe: Beer-Cheddar Soup

Photo: Oxmoor House

Canadian Cheese Soup with Pumpernickel Croutons

With a preparation time of only five minutes, this recipe is great for busy weeknight dinners with the family. And at only 200 per serving, you can feel less guilty adding on a few extra croutons.

View Recipe: Canadian Cheese Soup with Pumpernickel Croutons

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Oyster and Wild Rice Bisque

Reminiscent of chowder, this bisque is a touch lighter, filled out with wild rice rather than the more common potatoes. We love this soup for its practicality, because in just under 30 minutes, it’s convenient for lunch or a simple dinner.

View Recipe: Oyster and Wild Rice Bisque

Photo: Randy Mayor

Broccoli and Cheese Soup

This 30-minute broccoli and cheese soup has a smooth texture, mild flavor, and lots of veggies, making it an obvious family favorite.

View Recipe: Broccoli and Cheese Soup

Photo: Randy Mayor

Black Bean Soup

Our Mexican-inspired soup uses black beans blended with a rich base for a creamy texture and full flavor in every bite.

View Recipe: Black Bean Soup

Photo: Randy Mayor

Corn-Poblano Soup with Salsa Verde

Salsa verde (green sauce) is added to this soup in Mexico to produce a vibrant color and to compliment the underlying flavor of the roasted poblanos.

View Recipe: Corn-Poblano Soup with Salsa Verde

Photo: José Picayo

Parsnip and Apple Soup

Tangy yogurt and smoky bacon provide a nice and unexpected counterpoint to this sweet, creamy soup. Serve with fresh bread or as a starter with a meat-based entrée.

View Recipe: Parsnip and Apple Soup

Photo: Randy Mayor

Creamy Root Vegetable Stew with Gruyere Crostini

This hearty, homestyle vegetable stew is comforting and warming, and sure to leave you satisfied and full.

View Recipe: Creamy Root Vegetable Stew with Gruyere Crostini