25 Best Soup Recipes - Cooking Light

Photo: John Autry

Loaded Potato Soup

In honor of our 25th anniversary, we compiled a collection of our readers' best-loved soup recipes from the past 25 years. Based on research from MyRecipes.com, we pulled the Cooking Light recipes that received the most votes and highest star ratings.

First up: This delicious and comforting soup tastes like it took hours to make, yet is ready to eat in just 20 minutes. Provide a toppings bar of crumbled bacon, shredded cheddar cheese, and thinly sliced green onions so family members can pick and choose their favorites.

View Recipe: Loaded Potato Soup

Photo: Randy Mayor

French Onion Soup

Once you try this classic French Onion Soup recipe, you'll never try another. It culminates in a rich-tasting soup with melt-in-your-mouth onions.

View Recipe: French Onion Soup

All-American Chili

With more than 50 stellar reviews, this traditional American chili recipe hits the spot. We love what meredith had to say: “I love chili – and this is the best chili recipe I have ever tried. I will stop trying new recipes and use this one from now on. This is how chili should taste.” Like most chilis, this version tastes even better the next day.

View Recipe: All-American Chili

New England Clam Chowder

Few things are more welcome than a hearty bowl of New England Clam Chowder. Bacon crumbled atop each serving is the key to this chowder's deep, satisfying smokiness. We enjoy this hearty, simple soup with crusty bread, a tossed green salad, and a crisp sauvignon blanc.

View Recipe: New England Clam Chowder

Beef Daube Provençal

All stews are wonderfully warm and comforting, but this recipe stands out for its simplicity and versatility. Spend 10 minutes browning the meat and garlic, then toss in the oven or slow cooker and your work is done. Ingredients you likely have in your pantry right now combine for deep flavor that can be a weeknight family dinner as easily as the centerpiece of a fancy party.

View Recipe: Beef Daube Provençal

Photo: John Autry

Tortilla Meatball Soup

Try a new take on tortilla soup by adding chipotle-spiked meatballs to the mix. If you can't find fresh corn on the cob, substitute 2 cups frozen corn kernels, and broil them with peppers. Use a few extra chipotle chiles to spice up a pot of beans, rice, stews, or canola mayonnaise.

View Recipe: Tortilla Meatball Soup

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Roasted Butternut Squash and Shallot Soup

This three-step recipe (roast, blend, simmer) is an easy and flavorful way to warm up with a creamy vegetable-based soup on a chilly fall afternoon. And according to cathyr, the soup is not only tasty, but also makes for a bright presentation. “This soup was SPECTACULAR!,” she says. “Gorgeous color, luscious flavor, velvety texture! My mom and my neighbor both raved!”

View Recipe: Roasted Butternut Squash and Shallot Soup

Photo: Randy Mayor

Saffron Fish Stew with White Beans

A unique blend of herbs and spices find their home in this one-dish-wonder. The broth—infused with saffron, thyme leaves, and orange rind—pairs magnificently with a white flakey fish of your choosing. We suggest sustainable options like wild-caught Pacific flounder or wild-caught Alaskan halibut.

View Recipe: Saffron Fish Stew with White Beans

Photo: John Autry

Beef Tagine with Butternut Squash

Take your basic beef stew to the next level by making this simple, fragrant beef tagine featuring butternut squash. A "tagine" is a cone-shaped cooking vessel commonly used in North Africa. The unique shape allows the meat to slow cook for a luscious, tender texture. You can buy tagines at most cookware stores, or use a heavy-bottom Dutch oven like we do in this recipe.

View Recipe: Beef Tagine with Butternut Squash

Summer Squash and Corn Chowder

Enjoy soup in the summertime by making this satisfying chowder featuring the season's best produce. A topping of cheese and bacon gives the soup extra kid appeal. Serve with this easy bruschetta: Top toasted baguette slices with a mixture of chopped tomato, basil, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and salt.

View Recipe: Summer Squash and Corn Chowder

Photo: Randy Mayor

Broccoli and Cheese Soup

Processed cheese melts beautifully, giving this 30-minute broccoli and cheese soup a smooth texture and mild flavor. Broccoli and Cheese Soup is a kid-friendly way to eat more veggies—making it a winner in our book!

View Recipe: Broccoli and Cheese Soup

White Bean and Turkey Chili

Using canned beans and chicken broth make this crowd-pleasing chili convenient. Roasting turkey tenderloins is easy and lower in sodium than buying deli turkey. Skinless, boneless chicken breasts are another option.

View Recipe: White Bean and Turkey Chili

Tomato-Basil Soup

Fresh tomato and basil are the stars of this classic summertime tomato soup recipe. Low-fat milk and light cream cheese keep it healthy. Serve with a slice of French bread baguette.

View Recipe: Tomato-Basil Soup

Photo: John Autry

Chicken Verde Stew with Hominy

This "outstanding" reader-rated recipe could quite possibly be even better the second day—as is common with stews. The extra time will allow the flavors to meld and develop in a way that will bring out that beloved slow-cooked taste.

View Recipe: Chicken Verde Stew with Hominy

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Chili-Spiced Chicken Soup with Stoplight Peppers

Fresh, high-impact flavors like those in our Chili-Spiced Soup with Stoplight Peppers and Avocado Relish, will give your soup a made-from-scratch taste that cannot be beat. Reader and recipe developer Jamie Miller created this recipe for her husband who loves Mexican food. "This recipe is everything you'd find in a fajita in a healthy, tasty soup instead."

View Recipe: Chili-Spiced Chicken Soup with Stoplight Peppers and Avocado Relish

Photo: Jonny Valiant

Beef and Guinness Stew

This reader- and staff-favorite stew, layered with complex flavors from caraway seeds, sweet raisins, and full-bodied Guinness Draught, pays homage to the best of Irish cooking. You may not get a chance to freeze any leftovers; Executive Food Editor, Ann Taylor Pittman, promises “This meaty stew is so good, I sopped up every drop of the gravy-like broth with bread.”

View Recipe: Beef and Guinness Stew

Photo: Randy Mayor

Coconut-Curry Chicken Soup

Start with shredded cooked chicken breast and transform your dinner tonight into restaurant-quality Thai cuisine. The coconut milk gives the soup a creamy, smooth texture.

View Recipe: Coconut-Curry Chicken Soup

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Three-Bean Vegetarian Chili

This recipe proves that hearty chili doesn’t necessarily mean meat on the ingredient list. The variety of beans give great texture and flavor.

"According to me, my husband, and my in-laws, this is the BEST chili (not just vegetarian chili) we have ever eaten," raves AlyBoudreau18. "It is so fresh, hearty and whomever said the flavor was 'exceptional' was spot on! I want a second serving everytime I eat it!"

View Recipe: Three-Bean Vegetarian Chili

Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

Light cheese and a flour-and-milk mixture keep this soup creamy but surprisingly low in fat. Make a batch and reheat throughout the week for effortless and satisfying meals.

View Recipe: Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

Photo: Randy Mayor

North Woods Bean Soup

Adding turkey kielbasa lends this hearty soup recipe a rich, slow-simmered flavor even though it takes less than 30 minutes to make.

View Recipe: North Woods Bean Soup

Photo: John Autry

Turkey and Bean Chili

Make this low-calorie chili in just 20 minutes for a quick, one-pot supper. Serve with corn bread to complete the meal.

Reviewer KelleyHepler loved it: "This chili is AWESOME! I make a lot of Cooking Light recipes, but this is over the top. My husband isn't fond of ground turkey, but he can't get enough of this chili."

View Recipe: Turkey and Bean Chili

Photo: Randy Mayor

Indian-Spiced Lentils and Lamb

Hearty, healthy lentils get a spicy and saucy Indian treatment thanks to curry powder, coconut milk, and chopped jalapeño pepper. A dollop of Greek yogurt and a sprinkling of fresh cilantro leaves tames the heat.

View Recipe: Indian-Spiced Lentils and Lamb

Roasted-Chicken Noodle Soup

It doesn't get more classic than chicken noodle soup, and this creamy recipe is certainly a favorite. For the sake of convenience, we call for canned low-salt chicken broth. But, if you have a bit of time on your hands, feel free to use our recipe for Roasted Chicken Stock, if you are so inclined.

View Recipe: Roasted-Chicken Noodle Soup

Baked Potato Soup

A simple white sauce of flour and reduced-fat milk is the base for this supercreamy soup. To save time, bake the potatoes, shred the cheese, chop the onions, and cook the bacon in advance.

View Recipe: Baked Potato Soup

Garden Minestrone

An adaptation of the classic Italian minestra, this recipe is full of late-summer produce: tomatoes, squash, fresh spinach, corn, and carrots. In cooler months, use peeled acorn squash and Swiss chard in place of squash and spinach. We love this soup for its practicality, since it's convenient for lunch or a simple dinner (just serve it with a tossed green salad and some crusty bread).

View Recipe: Garden Minestrone

25 Best Soups

Loaded Potato Soup

French Onion Soup

All-American Chili

New England Clam Chowder

Beef Daube Provençal

Tortilla Meatball Soup

Roasted Butternut Squash and Shallot Soup

Saffron Fish Stew with White Beans

Beef Tagine with Butternut Squash

Summer Squash and Corn Chowder

Broccoli and Cheese Soup

White Bean and Turkey Chili

Tomato-Basil Soup

Chicken Verde Stew with Hominy

Chili-Spiced Chicken Soup with Stoplight Peppers

Beef and Guinness Stew

Coconut-Curry Chicken Soup

Three-Bean Vegetarian Chili

Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

North Woods Bean Soup

Turkey and Bean Chili

Indian-Spiced Lentils and Lamb

Roasted-Chicken Noodle Soup

Baked Potato Soup

Garden Minestrone