5-Ingredient Soups

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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