Soup is the ultimate comfort food: It supports you when you're sick, recovering, nostalgic, or far from home. Whether fragrant pho from a go-to restaurant brings you back to life or your mother's classic chicken noodle does, a bowl of soup is so much more than a cold-weather standby. It's a connection to loved ones who have passed away, frigid winters with old friends, and intriguing, new-to-you cultures that embrace the universal language of broth. It can be indulgent and decadent or healthy and light. Soup meets you where you're at.
To pay this dish the respect it deserves, we've rounded up our 10 favorite soup recipes: From bright, lemony options to heartier fare, this list has everything you need to warm up tonight. We've got you covered if you're vegetarian, but we've also got beef, pork, and chicken selections on hand. Some of these recipes call for a splash of cream or a sprinkle of cheese; others use nourishing stock as a base. No matter your journey, you'll be smiling at first sip.
10 Best Soup Recipes
"Live to 100" minestrone
This feel-good, veggie-packed classic is the first of three minestrones on this list — and they've all earned their place for wide-ranging reasons. Chef Francesco Mattana developed this recipe, which cheekily suggests that you'll live longer if you eat it regularly. While there are no guarantees, the dish is adaptable to a variety of seasonal vegetables and whatever beans you have in your pantry; you'll clean out your crisper and have dinner on the table in a flash.
Wonton soup
We need you to know that making wonton soup at home is easier than you think. With store-bought wrappers, a simple meat mixture, and a couple of cups of stock, you can easily craft plump dumplings and a savory, chili-sauce-spiked broth. One slurp and you'll be freed from the takeout trap.
Italian meatball soup
This hearty option looks complicated, but it comes together in just 30 minutes. You'll combine mortadella, ground pork, prosciutto, and pecorino cheese to form meatballs. While they roast, cook pasta in broth. Dunk your finished meatballs in the soup, and enjoy.
Cream of broccolini and smoked gouda soup
If you loved broccoli cheddar soup as a kid, here's the grown-up version. To make this unapologetically cheesy dish, you'll simmer broccolini and aromatics in broth until tender, then add heavy cream and blend everything until smooth. You'll finish things off with a sprinkle of vinegar and a hefty handful of shredded gouda.
Zucchini dill bisque
This light, deceptively simple, zucchini bisque is smooth and luscious despite being dairy-free. The secret is using collagen-rich homemade chicken stock instead of the store-bought stuff. If you need guidance, this recipe includes instructions on how to make your own — once you notice the difference, you'll never go back.
"Minestrone-ish" soup
Culinary creator Julia Turshen elevates her flexible, unfussy take on minestrone by adding something truly dazzling: savory sprinkles. This simple mixture of toasted breadcrumbs, lemon zest, and grated Parmesan cheese will take your hearty vegetarian soup to the next level.
Avgolemono
This lemony chicken soup is a Greek classic, prized for its silky broth. You won't need cream to achieve that texture; instead, carefully adding egg creates it. This dish is more of a labor of love, so if you're in the mood to learn some new techniques, here's your chance.
Thai pork meatball soup
Your favorite Thai takeout options might include tom yum, but don't sleep on kang jued woon sen. This tasty pork meatball soup is appealing to eaters of all ages, thanks to its simplicity. Here, glass noodles add a bouncy chew, tofu adds a soft, comforting bite, and optional fried garlic can infuse each bite with aromatic funk.
Moroccan harissa minestrone
When Edy Massih trained in Italy, he made a lot of minestrone. The dish, so adaptable to whatever veggies you need to use up, reminded him of Lebanese cuisine's thriftiness. Inspired, he crafted a version of the Italian staple that draws on his native Lebanon; Massih uses harissa, a bold Moroccan chili paste, to spice up the broth. Couscous, in place of traditional pasta, makes the soup more substantial. Expect warming, satisfying results.
Carrot soup with chile-fried spelt
The carrot is a humble root vegetable that's often overlooked for more exciting produce. This recipe allows the colorful veggie to take center stage — and its natural sweetness perfectly complements a spicy garnish of chile-fried spelt. A splash of cream lends the carrots richness, making a strong case for giving this orange icon a starring role more often.
