5-Ingredient Soups
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Beefy Corn and Black Bean Chili
No one will ever guess that this chili hasn't simmered on the stove all day. (Our secret: it's ready in about half an hour.)
Pantry Checklist:
- Ground round (1 pound)
- Chili powder blend
- 1 package frozen seasoned corn and black beans
- Beef broth (fat-free, less sodium)
- 1 can seasoned tomato sauce for chili
- Optional: sour cream, green onions
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Posole
Posole (poh-SOH-leh) is a thick and saucy Mexican soup that's hearty enough for a meal. Set out bowls of garnishes―chopped lettuce, radishes, onions, cheese, extra cilantro―that folks can customize their soup.
Pantry Checklist:
- Pork tenderloin (1 pound)
- Salt-free Southwest chipotle seasoning blend (such as Mrs. Dash)
- 1 can white hominy
- 1 can Mexican-style stewed tomatoes
- Fresh cilantro
Prep: 3 minutes
Cook: 30 minutes
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Spicy Poblano and Corn Soup
Poblano chile peppers are in peak season in summer and early fall. Ripe specimens are reddish brown and sweeter than the green ones. Be sure to remove the seeds and membranes before cooking; that's where the heat comes from.
Pantry Checklist:
- 1 package frozen baby gold and white corn
- Fat-free milk
- Poblano chiles (4) or green chiles
- Onion
- Reduced-fat sharp cheddar cheese
Prep: 3 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
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Corn and Bacon Chowder
Our taste testers gave this 16-minute recipe our highest rating. Frozen corn blended with low-fat milk creates the sweet, summery base of this creamy chowder. Bits of bacon add a punch of flavor.
Pantry Checklist:
- Bacon
- Prechopped celery, onion, and bell pepper mix
- Low-fat milk
- 2 packages frozen baby gold and white corn
- Reduced-fat shredded extra-sharp cheddar cheese
Prep: 2 minutes
Cook: 14 minutes
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Sweet Potato, Leek, and Ham Soup
Pureed in a blender, this creamy soup spells comfort in a bowl. Though it tastes like slow food, it comes together in a flash thanks to pre-chopped sweet potato and cooked ham.
Pantry Checklist:
- Cooked ham (diced)
- Leek
- Sweet potato (pre-chopped)
- Chicken broth (fat-free, less-sodium)
- Evaporated fat-free milk (1 can)
Prep: 6 minutes
Cook: 28 minutes
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Southwestern Chicken and White Bean Soup
The time-saving trick to this superfast soup is taco seasoning. Shredded cooked chicken breast and cannellini beans add substance. A one-cup serving contains only 134 calories.
Pantry Checklist:
- Cooked chicken breast
- Taco seasoning (less-sodium)
- Chicken broth (fat-free, less-sodium)
- Cannellini beans or other white beans (1 can)
- Green salsa
- Optional: Light sour cream, cilantro
Prep: 2 minutes
Cook: 13 minutes
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Chicken-Escarole Soup
This 15-minute recipe (prep time included) is wonderfully simple and sure to become a weeknight staple. One of the key ingredients, escarole, is a variety of endive that's milder in flavor than the slightly bitter Belgian endive or curly endive.
Pantry Checklist:
- Italian-style stewed tomatoes (1 can)
- Chicken broth (fat-free, less-sodium)
- Cooked chicken breast
- Escarole
Prep: 1 minute
Cook: 14 minutes
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Sausage and Barley Soup
Time-saving tip: Pureeing the vegetables in a blender before cooking allows you to drastically cut cooking time while maintaining all the rich flavors of the vegetables. Serve with Asiago-Topped Garlic Bread.
Pantry Checklist:
- Turkey breakfast sausage (6 oz.)
- Italian stewed tomatoes (1 can)
- Frozen bell pepper stir-fry mix
- Quick-cooking barley
- Baby spinach
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 18 minutes
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Turkey Sausage-Gnocchi Soup
This quick-cooking comfort food showcases gnocchi: small, quick-cooking dumplings that are wonderfully chewy. Opt for vacuum-packed packages instead of the dried version. You can find them in most grocery stores, often in the refrigerated section.
Pantry Checklist:
- Hot turkey Italian sausage
- Vacuum-packed gnocchi
- Beef broth (fat-free, less-sodium)
- Italian-style stewed tomatoes (1 can)
- Parmesan cheese
Prep: 1 minute
Cook: 14 minutes