Skip to content

Top Navigation

Cooking Light Cooking Light
  • Recipes
  • Holidays
  • Cooking 101
  • Healthy Living
  • Shop
  • News
  • Good.Food.Fast
  • CL Diet

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • Register/Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Email Preferences
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
Login
Logout
Pin FB

Explore Cooking Light

Cooking Light Cooking Light
  • Explore

    Explore

    • 31-Day Healthy Meal Plan

      Our 31-day calendar of meals and tips shows you how to cook more and love it with fun, family-friendly meals that come together quickly and deliciously. Read More Next
    • Dinner Tonight: Quick and Healthy Menus in 45 Minutes (or Less)

      Hundreds of delicious recipes, paired with simple sides, that can be on your table in 45 minutes or less. Read More Next
    • Our Favorite Healthy Air Fryer Recipes

      Who ever said that chicken wings, doughnuts, and pizza couldn't be healthy? Read More Next
  • Recipes

    Recipes

    See All Recipes
    • Breakfast & Brunch
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Drinks
    • Recipe Makeovers
    • Quick & Healthy
    • Diabetic
    • Gluten-Free
    • Vegetarian
    • Cooking Light Live
  • Holidays

    Holidays

    See All Holidays
    • New Year, New You
    • Super Bowl
    • Valentines
    • Easter
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas
  • Cooking 101

    Cooking 101

    See All Cooking 101
    • Essential Ingredients
    • Cooking Techniques
    • Meet the Chef
    • Cooking Resources
    • Budget Friendly
    • Smart Choices
  • Healthy Living

    Healthy Living

    See All Healthy Living
    • Weight-Loss
    • Health
    • Fitness
    • Home
    • Travel
    • Nutrition 101
  • Shop
  • News
  • Good.Food.Fast
  • CL Diet

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • Register/Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Email Preferences
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
Login
Logout
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

CookingLight diet CookingLight diet
  1. Home Chevron Right
  2. Recipes Chevron Right
  3. Superfast Soups

Superfast Soups

January 22, 2009
Skip gallery slides
Pin
Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey
Warm up to these soups, all ready in 20 minutes or less.
Start Slideshow

1 of 51

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Chicken-Poblano Tortilla Soup

Credit: Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez
View Recipe: Chicken-Poblano Tortilla Soup

Chilly evenings call for a comforting soup with a bit of restorative kick and plenty of vibrant toppings. Top with tortilla chips, or make your own crispy tortilla strips as shown. Cut 4 (6-inch) corn tortillas into 1/2-inch strips and bake at 375° for 10 minutes. Crush halve the strips for the soup and garnish with the rest. Make these ahead and store in a zip-top bag at room temperature for a day or two. Poblano peppers range in heat; add cooling avocado or crushed red pepper as needed.

1 of 51

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 51

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Chicken and Rice Soup with Lemon and Ginger

Credit: Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Chicken and Rice Soup with Lemon and Ginger

The lemon-ginger pairing delivers distinct brightness to this comforting soup.

2 of 51

3 of 51

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Green Gazpacho with Shrimp

Credit: Photo: Caitlin Bensel
View Recipe: Green Gazpacho with Shrimp

Fresh bread gives gazpacho body, making it a substantial summer entrée soup. Use bread from the bakery section for the best results (bread from the supermarket aisle can be overly soft and sweet).

3 of 51

Advertisement

4 of 51

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Pumpkin Soup With Almonds and Sage

Credit: Photo: Romulo Yanes
View Recipe: Pumpkin Soup With Almonds and Sage

This fast recipe delivers slow-cooked flavor. Pumpkin is one of the few vegetables whose canned version is quite good, saving you lots of time and effort. Just be sure you don't accidentally grab pumpkin pie filling, which contains added sugar and spices.

4 of 51

5 of 51

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

White Bean & Vegetable Bowls with Frizzled Eggs

Credit: Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez
View Recipe: White Bean & Vegetable Bowls with Frizzled Eggs

This easy bowl of brothy goodness is loaded with both veggies and umami depth—it's comfort food you can feel good about. It's also great for times when the food budget is tight, as it costs only about $11 for 4 servings.

5 of 51

6 of 51

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Silky Tomato Soup with White Beans and Garlic Oil

Credit: Photo: Victor Protasio
View Recipe: Silky Tomato Soup with White Beans and Garlic Oil

Creamy, silky tomato soup is the ultimate comfort food. We've elevated the traditional soup with the addition of white cannellini beans and toasty garlic oil. You won't miss any of the cream or calories from this dairy-free tomato soup as the texture is still silky from blending the tomato base. With the addition of the white beans, each serving provides 8 grams of protein making this vegetarian meal foolproof. Serve alongside our revamped Grilled Cheese Skillet "Panini" for a complete meal kids and adults will all approve of. We lean on reduced-fat cheddar in this sandwich but add a little canola mayo to stretch the cheese and encourage extra meltiness for a mixture that has 50% less sat fat than regular cheddar and saves 190mg sodium over processed American cheese. 

6 of 51

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 51

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Summer Squash and Chicken Chowder

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Summer Squash and Chicken Chowder

This silky, veggie-forward soup is a fantastic way to use up a load of fresh summer squash. This would also work well with zucchini.

7 of 51

8 of 51

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Roasted Red Pepper and Ricotta Soup

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Roasted Red Pepper and Ricotta Soup

To make your satisfying supper hit the table even faster, go ahead and prep this creamy soup through step 1 in the morning. Then, all that's left to do is heat the soup and throw together a salad.

8 of 51

9 of 51

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Onion, Kale, Chickpea, and Chicken Soup

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Onion, Kale, Chickpea, and Chicken Soup

Few things beat a steaming bowl of veggie-packed chicken soup on a crisp autumn evening, and this one happens to be a perfect potion for the seasonal chills. You can leave the thyme sprigs in the broth (just ladle around them) so they'll keep releasing herbaceous goodness into any leftovers.

9 of 51

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 51

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Chicken Corn Chowder

Credit: Lee Harrelson
View Recipe: 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.

10 of 51

11 of 51

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Cioppino-Style Seafood Stew

Credit: Lee Harrelson
View Recipe: 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!

11 of 51

12 of 51

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Summer Squash Soup With Pasta and Parmesan

Credit: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: 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.

12 of 51

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 51

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Cannellini Stew with Sausage and Kale and Cheese Toasts

Credit: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: 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.

13 of 51

14 of 51

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Spinach, Pasta, and Pea Soup

Credit: Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: 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.

14 of 51

15 of 51

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Spicy Asian Chicken and Noodle Soup

Credit: Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: 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.

15 of 51

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 51

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Bacon-Corn Chowder with Shrimp

Credit: Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: 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.

16 of 51

17 of 51

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Spicy Tortilla Soup with Shrimp and Avocado

Credit: Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: 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.

17 of 51

18 of 51

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Escarole, Bean, and Sausage Soup with Parmesan Cheese

Credit: Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: 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.

18 of 51

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 51

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

White Bean Soup with Kale and Chorizo

Credit: Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: 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.

19 of 51

20 of 51

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Southwestern Pork Soup

Credit: Lee Harrelson
View Recipe: 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.

20 of 51

21 of 51

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Spicy Tomato and White Bean Soup

Credit: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: 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.

21 of 51

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

22 of 51

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Thai Shrimp and Chicken Soup

Credit: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: 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.

22 of 51

23 of 51

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Asian Chicken Noodle Soup

Credit: Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: 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.

23 of 51

24 of 51

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Tomato Soup with Chicken and Gorgonzola Cheese

Credit: Beau Gustafson
View Recipe: Tomato Soup with Chicken and Gorgonzola Cheese

This one is 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.

24 of 51

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

25 of 51

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Salsa Bean Soup

Credit: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: 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.

25 of 51

26 of 51

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Herbed Fish and Red Potato Chowder

Credit: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: 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.

26 of 51

27 of 51

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Chipotle Chicken Tortilla Soup

Credit: Beau Gustafson
View Recipe: 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.

27 of 51

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

28 of 51

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Sausage and Spinach Soup

Credit: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: 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.

28 of 51

29 of 51

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Spicy Shrimp and Rice Soup

Credit: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: 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.

29 of 51

30 of 51

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Chickpea Stew Scented with Lemon and Cumin

Credit: Karry Hosford
View Recipe: 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.

30 of 51

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

31 of 51

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Chicken and Barley Stew

Credit: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: 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.

31 of 51

32 of 51

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Hot and Sour Soup with Shrimp

Credit: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: 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.

32 of 51

33 of 51

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Chipotle Turkey and Corn Soup

Credit: Beau Gustafson
View Recipe: 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.

33 of 51

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

34 of 51

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Pasta Fagioli Soup

Credit: Beau Gustafson
View Recipe: 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.

34 of 51

35 of 51

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Loaded Potato Soup

Credit: Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: 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.

35 of 51

36 of 51

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Avocado Soup with Citrus-Shrimp Relish

Credit: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: 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.

36 of 51

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

37 of 51

Pin