100+ Healthy Soup Recipes

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Soups, stews, gazpachos, and purees—there is bound to be something for everyone (and every season) on our extensive list of favorite, healthy soups.

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Our Favorite Healthy Soups

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

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

Though nothing can beat cuddling up with a warm bowlful on a chilly night, soups aren't only game for the winter months. These healthy recipes will become staples all year long. The best part? We have included selections that take advantage of each season's bountiful produce and seasonal spices.

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. Have time on your hands? Most of our selections taste even better the second day.

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Easier Chicken Noodle Soup

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Easier Chicken Noodle Soup

When cheese-filled tortellini is the noodle in your chicken noodle soup, the whole bowl gets a hearty upgrade. Using cheese-filled tortellini as the noodle here adds more flavor than plain pasta; a hint of miso further enriches the broth. You can make the soup a couple of days ahead—just leave out the pasta, as it will swell once it goes into the liquid. Reheat the soup until it comes to a simmer. Then add the tortellini, and cook 6 minutes.

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Avocado-Buttermilk Soup with Crab Salad

Photo: John Autry

View Recipe: Avocado-Buttermilk Soup with Crab Salad

This simple, no-cook soup is garnished with delicious orange-infused crabmeat. A vibrant, green-hued bowlful set before a hungry diner will not last long—take our word for it. Although it is intended to be rich and creamy, if the soup seems a little too thick, add 1 to 2 tablespoons more buttermilk.

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Miso Noodle Soup with Meatballs

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Miso Noodle Soup with Meatballs

Salty, savory miso becomes the backbone of this soup; try adding it to dressings and marinades too. We add chile-and-honey-spiked pork meatballs to the soup; you could also use shredded rotisserie chicken breast or cubed tofu. Want to get ahead on tomorrow's dinner? Double the meatball mixture, shape half into patties, and sear for Asian-style sliders. Serve with Baby Bok Choy and Cucumber Salad.

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Loaded Mashed Potato Soup

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Loaded Mashed Potato Soup

This is the perfect recipe for a novice, yielding delicious results with basic skills. If you aren't great with a knife, buy pre-chopped onion, grate or press the garlic, and snip the green onions and dill with kitchen shears.

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Roasted Chesnut Soup with Thyme Cream

Photo: Jonny Valiant

View Recipe: Roasted Chestnut Soup with Thyme Cream

Roasting bottled chestnuts brings back fresh-toasted flavor. The vibrant color of this soup is sure to be a treat to the eyes as well!

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Herby Lentil-and-Sausage Soup

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Herby Lentil-and-Sausage Soup

Inexpensive dried brown lentils make up the bulk of this soup, with accents of Italian sausage for richness. Dried brown lentils hold their shape after being cooked, so this soup is a good one to make ahead. The spinach will lose its vibrant color, though, so either add it when reheating the soup or make your peace with the darker color. Here's a supersimple soup tip: Simmering with whole thyme sprigs infuses flavor without your having to strip those little leaves off the stems; simply remove the sprigs before serving.

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Beef and Pinto Bean Chili

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

View Recipe: Beef and Pinto Bean Chili

Take it slow. Let chili simmer slowly—the flavors will meld as the liquid thickens, intensifying the overall taste. For a three-alarm chili, leave the seeds and membranes in the jalapeños. The sour cream has a cooling effect, but you can seed the peppers or use less for a milder result.

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Veggie-Quinoa Soup

Photo: Greg Dupree

View Recipe: Veggie-Quinoa Soup

Toasting quinoa, like with toasting nuts or other whole grains, draws out its aroma and deepens and intensifies its flavor. New York City chef and Chopped judge Amanda Freitag uses a gardenful of vegetables in this light yet hearty soup, making it the kind of dish that can be adapted to the seasons. Try it in the spring with baby carrots and artichokes, fava beans, and asparagus. A summer version might include corn, okra, green beans, and eggplant. For a vegan version, simply substitute unsalted vegetable stock for the chicken stock. The onion, carrot, red pepper, and garlic serve as the soup’s mirepoix, a sautéed melange of veggies that make up the flavor base for the broth.

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Roasted Corn, Pepper, and Tomato Chowder

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Roasted Corn, Pepper, and Tomato Chowder

Grilling the vegetables heightens their sweetness, and blue cheese provides a pungent counterpoint in this soup. Substitute crumbled goat cheese or feta, if you prefer.

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Hummus Soup

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Hummus Soup

If you love hummus for its smooth creaminess, garlicky punch, and lemon tang, then get ready for your new favorite soup. That’s right—we turned the dip of the decade into a soup that’s savory, silky, and garlicky good. A portion of the chickpeas are reserved and toasted in a skillet to offer some chew—a nice textural contrast to the creaminess of the pureed soup. If the soup feels a little too thick, adjust by blending in more water, 1⁄/4 cup at a time. You can make the soup a day or two ahead, but you’ll definitely need to adjust the texture, as it will overthicken upon standing. Make the toasted chickpea topping up to a day ahead; store in an airtight container at room temperature. For the sake of your sanity, purchase tahini in a jar with a wide mouth; narrow tops make it difficult to stir and spoon out what you need.

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Lamb Tagine

Photo: John Autry

View Recipe: Lamb Tagine

This Moroccan-style lamb stew is hearty, delicious, budget friendly, and full of intriguing flavor combinations (cinnamon, honey, and apricots). We recommend serving with two cups hot cooked couscous.

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Immunity Soup

Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez

View Recipe: Immunity Soup

This recipe yields a big pot of brothy soup that you can make ahead and enjoy for a couple of days; the flavor just gets better over time. You may be wary of the large amount of garlic, but keep in mind that it mellows considerably after being cooked.

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Chicken Barley Soup with Walnut Pesto

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Chicken Barley Soup with Walnut Pesto

Habanero peppers are fiery hot, so handle them carefully. In this dish, you simply pierce the chile with a fork and float it in the broth as the soup cooks. Remove it with a slotted spoon before serving. If you prefer milder heat, use the same technique with a jalapeño.

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Lentil Stew with Ham and Greens

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

View Recipe: Lentil Stew with Ham and Greens

One of the best things about this supper—aside from its great flavor—is that it can be ready in less than an hour, start to finish. The hearty texture and filling lentils will ensure that everyone leaves the table satisfied.

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Caldo de Gallina (Peruvian Hen Soup)

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Caldo de Gallina (Peruvian Hen Soup)

A corner of Cusco's San Pedro Market is devoted to open kitchens where Quechua women make this soup with new crop potatoes and tough old stewing hens, which can stand up to the long simmering time better than young chickens. We find that widely available roasting hens—older than broilers and fryers—work just fine, growing tender and succulent after hours of stewing. The lime-herb-chile garnish makes the dish sing with flavor.

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Mother's Cioppino

Photo: Oxmoor House

View Recipe: Mother's Cioppino

Be sure to serve this classic Italian soup with a toasted French baguette. You won't want to risk wasting a drop of the delicious and flavorful broth.

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Roasted Garlic and Shallot Potato Soup with Cheesy Croutons

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

View Recipe: Roasted Garlic and Shallot Potato Soup with Cheesy Croutons

The strong cheeses provide a good opportunity to enjoy a full-flavored ale that doesn't dominate the food. Try Fuller's ESB from London, or Dock Street Ale from Philadelphia. The caramel flavors of Guinness stout would also work well, bringing out the sweetness of the onions.

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Chunky Tomato-Fruit Gazpacho

View Recipe: Chunky Tomato-Fruit Gazpacho

The mangoes, melons, and nectarines, along with the cucumber, give the gazpacho a sweet spin. Don't seed the jalapeño if you like a soup with more zip.

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Vichyssoise

Photo: Oxmoor House

View Recipe: Vichyssoise

This version of the classic cold potato-leek soup is also good warm. With a short list of ingredients and easy prep, this might be your family's next weeknight favorite.

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Savannah-Style Crab Soup

Photo: Oxmoor House

View Recipe: Savannah-Style Crab Soup

The richness of this soup is deceiving—lightened ingredients without sacrificing flavor. The key is the roux. But remember, the key to mastering a roux is to never leave it unsupervised. If the flour starts to brown too quickly, remove the skillet from the heat and stir the flour constantly until it cools.

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Mixed-Bean Chili with Tofu

View Recipe: Mixed-Bean Chili with Tofu

This recipe calls for canned beans to cut back on the prep time. The recipe developer hailed from New Mexico and opted to use pure ground chiles instead of chili powder, which is laced with garlic.

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Chicken and Dumplings

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Chicken and Dumplings

Diners will rave every time you make this comfort food dish. Use a whole chicken cut into pieces and skinned. You can make the store-bought chicken stock taste more like homemade by adding some fresh herbs and parsley and simmering until it's reduced by half.

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Fennel and Spinach Soup with Roasted Pepper Yogurt

Photo: José Picayo

View Recipe: Fennel and Spinach Soup with Roasted Pepper Yogurt

You can serve this light, bright-tasting soup hot or at room temperature—or if you want to get a head start, make it ahead and serve it chilled. If the soup seems a little too thick after pureeing, add a few tablespoons of water to thin it out.

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Ropa Vieja

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Ropa Vieja

This Cuban stew is made by braising beef until it can be shredded—thus the name (translated as 'old clothes'). Serve with tortillas, and pass hot sauce on the side for those who like it fiery. Because the meat is shredded, it's also suitable for tacos and burritos.

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Summer Squash and Corn Chowder

Photo: John Autry

View Recipe: Summer Squash and Corn Chowder

Enjoy soup in the summertime by making this satisfying chowder with seasonal produce. Top with cheese and bacon for kid appeal.

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Cream of Asparagus Soup

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

View Recipe: Cream of Asparagus Soup

For a vegetarian version, use vegetable broth in place of chicken broth. Garnish with thin asparagus spears for a graceful presentation.

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French Onion Soup

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: 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.

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Jamaican Chicken Stew

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Jamaican Chicken Stew

This stew is full of lively flavors that combine to create a palate pleasing Jamaican-inspired dish, perfect for any occasion. Serve over rice and garnish with a sprig of fresh flat leaf parsley for a winning presentation.

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Roasted Butternut Squash and Shallot Soup

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

View Recipe: Roasted Butternut Squash and Shallot Soup

Spicy fresh ginger complements the sweet roasted winter squash and shallots in this easy recipe. Serve with a grilled cheese sandwich for a simple supper.

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Split Pea Soup with Rosemary

Photo: Oxmoor House

View Recipe: Split Pea Soup with Rosemary

Classic split pea soup is given an herb makeover with the addition of rosemary in the ingredient list. Another unexpected (but delightfully delicious) flavor? Soy sauce—you’ve got to try this one!

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Winter Plum Soup

Photo: Oxmoor House

View Recipe: Winter Plum Soup

This rosy puree of canned plums, wine, and Cointreau is equally good served warm, at room temperature, or chilled. It makes a wonderful first course or a refreshingly light dessert. Prepare up to one day ahead, and chill in the refrigerator, allowing the flavors to meld before serving.

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Basic Beef Stew with Carrots and Mushrooms

View Recipe: Basic Beef Stew with Carrots and Mushrooms

This classic beef stew recipe has all you expect in beef stew: tender chunks of beef, carrot and potato. Yet the cremini mushrooms are a wonderful surprise.

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Canadian Cheese Soup with Pumpernickel Croutons

Photo: Oxmoor House

View Recipe: Canadian Cheese Soup with Pumpernickel Croutons

This rich and healthy soup will be a winner with everyone at the table. Always trying to sneak a few veggies into kid-friendly meals? If so, this recipe will be your next go-to.

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Golden Peach Soup with Shrimp and Crab Seviche

Photo: Gentyl & Hyers

View Recipe: Golden Peach Soup with Shrimp and Crab Seviche

As intriguing as it is beautiful, this sweet-tangy-slightly spicy soup makes a stunning first course. It’s refreshing and cool flavors (and temperature) make it the perfect choice for a mid-summer’s dinner.

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Mussels in Spicy Coconut Broth

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Mussels in Spicy Coconut Broth

This recipe can be prepared and plated to impress in a flash. While broth mixture comes to a boil, scrub and debeard mussels. Slice basil while mussels cook.

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Savory Beet Soup

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

View Recipe: Savory Beet Soup

For added creaminess and a lovely presentation, we swirled this vibrantly colored beet soup with sour cream. Even without the additional decoration, the bright and vibrant color of this soup will make a dinner table show-stopper.

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Thai Shrimp Bisque

View Recipe: Thai Shrimp Bisque

Don’t let the ingredient list intimidate you, this bisque will be well worth the effort. The rich broth with traditional Thai flavors make this an international option that will please even the least adventurous diner in the group.

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Our Favorite Healthy Soups

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Easier Chicken Noodle Soup

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Avocado-Buttermilk Soup with Crab Salad

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Miso Noodle Soup with Meatballs

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Loaded Mashed Potato Soup

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Roasted Chesnut Soup with Thyme Cream

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Herby Lentil-and-Sausage Soup

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Beef and Pinto Bean Chili

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Veggie-Quinoa Soup

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Roasted Corn, Pepper, and Tomato Chowder

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Hummus Soup

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Lamb Tagine

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Immunity Soup

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Chicken Barley Soup with Walnut Pesto

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Lentil Stew with Ham and Greens

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Caldo de Gallina (Peruvian Hen Soup)

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Mother's Cioppino

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Roasted Garlic and Shallot Potato Soup with Cheesy Croutons

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Chunky Tomato-Fruit Gazpacho

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Vichyssoise

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Savannah-Style Crab Soup

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Mixed-Bean Chili with Tofu

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Chicken and Dumplings

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Fennel and Spinach Soup with Roasted Pepper Yogurt

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Ropa Vieja

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Summer Squash and Corn Chowder

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