Soup Recipes: Soups, Stews, and Chowders

Granny’s Best Chicken Soup

This chicken soup is the classic. Yes, it’s handed down from grandma! Generations of grandmas in cultures around the world have relied on chicken soup to treat the congestion, fever, aches, and chills of respiratory infections.

Jambalaya Soup

A hearty meal for winter months, this cold and flu fighter may even convince you to change up your chicken soup routine.

Photo credit: Sam Jones/Quinn Brein

Cauliflower and Brie Soup

Serve this rich soup with bread and a salad to make a complete meal. This dish is a good example of how a soft cheese such as Brie can enhance the flavor of soup.

Photo credit: Yulia Davidovich/Shutterstock

Ginger Thai Pumpkin Soup

This Thai-inspired creamy pumpkin soup is smooth and flavorful. It has warm and cozy curry-coconut flavors but isn’t too spicy.

Photo credit: M Shev/Shutterstock

Kale, Sausage, and White Bean Soup 

Meat, legumes, and a leafy green—what more could you ask for in a soup? To add even more color and sweetness, substitute diced winter squash for the potato. Whether you use potato or squash, add cooked pasta at the end and you’ve got minestrone!

Photo Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Aroostook Potato and Broccoli Soup 

A hearty, potato-based soup designed for cold winters—like those in northern Maine, where this recipe originates from.

Low-Country Chowder

Low-country cuisine stems from the South Carolina Lowcountry and Georgia coast. This recipe for Low-Country Chowder takes all of the flavors you love from a Low-Country boil and turns it into a creamy and satisfying one pot dish.

Photo credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Vermont Butternut Squash Soup 

Sweet maple syrup really brings out the butternut squash!

Photo credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner

German Potato Soup

With vegetables, noodles, and bacon, this German Potato Soup is a wonderfully simple and hearty meal on a cool night!

Photo credit: Sam Jones/Quinn Brein

Potato and Kale Soup 

We served this Potato and Kale Soup to the Almanac editors and everyone loved it! The soup is especially welcome in the winter months, when kale is at its peak.

Photo Credit: Gaus Alex/Shutterstock

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Everything you love about Mexican food made into a soup! Spices and a jalapeño pepper give this soup a slight kick, but feel free to adjust it for your own taste.

Photo Credit: Elena Shashkina/Shutterstock 

Slow Cooker French Onion Soup

Set it and forget it—that’s the beauty of slow cookers! With just a little prep and patience, you can make this delicious French onion soup.

Photo Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner

More Soup Recipes

• 13-Bean Good Luck Soup
• Maha’s Lentil Soup
• Black Bean, Sausage, and Bacon Soup
• Mexican Chicken and Bean Soup
• Italian Vegetable Soup
• Classic Tomato Soup
• Beautiful Beet and Carrot Soup

Stew Recipes

• Chicken Crockpot Stew
• Spicy Beef Stew
• Lazy Man’s Beef Stew
• Irish Beef Stew
• Chuckie’s Tortellini and Sausage Stew
• Paella (a Spanish Stew)

Chowder Recipes

• Seafood Chowder
• Cod Chowder
• Sweet Potato Corn Chowder
• Down East Clam Chowder

Soup Toppings

Add interest to your soup with toppings! It can make a big difference to your everyday soups such as tomato and carrot or squash. Here are some topping ideas:

• Toasted pumpkin seeds and pecans are great on heartier soups such as squash, pumpkin, and black bean soup.
• Chopped pistachios adds texture, too.
• Stir pesto into tomato or red pepper soups. 
• Yogurt pairs well with beet soup or a spicy soup.
• Fresh herbs (tarragon, dill) are wonderful added to soup, too.
• You could even add potato chips for salty crunch! Be creative!

To boost the nutritional content of soups, simply add grains or beans. See our Guide to Grains.