45 Healthy Soup Recipes to Ease the Transition From Summer to Fall
The first chilly fall day is a stark reminder that eating food above room temperature is both possible and desirable. We reach for warm jackets and hot, healthy soup recipes, seeking comfort and warmth from the inside out. There’s just nothing like a steaming bowl of soup when you’re chilled to the bone—it heats you up faster than any blanket could.
Switching from making summer salads to fall soups isn’t as tricky as you might think. The most you’ll need to do is dust off your big pot or Dutch oven, because you can probably repurpose whatever fresh produce you already have into a big, bubbling pot of cold-day comfort. And soups can make for an extremely nourishing and well-rounded meal—which typically consists of a balance of fat, protein, carbohydrates, and fruits or vegetables that keeps you full, satisfied, and energized, as Jessica Jones, M.S., R.D., certified diabetes educator and cofounder of Food Heaven, has told SELF.
Make one of these 45 healthy soup recipes as soon as the temperature drops. Along with being guaranteed to both fill and warm you up, these ideas include just about any type of soup you could possibly want. From creamy vegan options to pasta-filled, tomato-based numbers, the whole team is here.
A note about the word healthy here: We know that healthy is a complicated concept. Not only can it mean different things to different people, it’s a word that’s pretty loaded (and sometimes fraught), thanks to the diet industry’s influence on the way we think about food. At SELF, when we talk about food being healthy, we’re primarily talking about foods that are nutritious, filling, and satisfying. But it also depends on your preferences, your culture, what’s accessible to you, and so much more. We selected these recipes with those basic criteria in mind, while also trying to appeal to a wide variety of nutritional needs and taste buds.
- Monique Volz via Ambitious Kitchen
Chicken and Couscous Soup from Ambitious Kitchen
If you’ve had a box of Israeli couscous in your pantry for ages but never knew what to do with it, this is by far one of your coziest options. Filled with spices like ginger and turmeric, and herbs like rosemary and thyme, it’s especially soothing when you’re feeling a bit under the weather.
Get the recipe here.
- Eric Jones via Dude That Cookz
Black Truffle Asparagus Soup from Dude That Cookz
Remember that container of truffle salt in the back of your pantry? This luxurious asparagus soup is the perfect occasion to break it out. It elevates the whole thing from simple vegetable side to restaurant-quality main course.
Get the recipe here.
- Vallery Lomas via Foodie in New York
Roasted Acorn and Butternut Squash Soup from Foodie in New York
The only thing that says fall more than one squash is two! This silky butternut squash soup adds acorn squash to the mix for autumn lovers who can’t get enough gourds. If you feel like turning up the vibes even more, serve it inside of a carved acorn squash instead of a regular bowl.
Get the recipe here.
- Marwin Brown via Food Fidelity
Haitian Soup Joumou from Food Fidelity
Though this hearty stew isn’t hard to make, the recipe admits that it does come with a very long list of ingredients. Luckily, a lot of them are probably already in your kitchen, like nutmeg, garlic, carrots, and onions.
Get the recipe here.
- Esteban Castillo via Chicano Eats
Vegan Pozole from Chicano Eats
- Sarah Bond via Live Eat Learn
Roasted Red Pepper Soup With Lentils from Live Eat Learn
Roasting instead of simmering vegetables allows them to brown and caramelize, giving the final product way more flavor. In general, you can use the same technique to lend extra flavor to any veggie soup.
Get the recipe here.
- Kathryne Taylor via Cookie and Kate
Broccoli Cheese Soup from Cookie and Kate
No list of soup recipes would be complete without this old standby. Creamy, cheesy, and full of greens, it’s always going to be a success—even moreso if eaten out of a bread bowl!
Get the recipe here.
- Krysten and Marrakus via Cooks With Soul
Black-Eyed Pea Stew With Leeks and Tomatoes from Cooks With Soul
Fall is a perfect opportunity to get excited about beans again, starting with this vegan black-eyed pea number. It’s made with just five ingredients.
Get the recipe here.
- Jazzmine Woodard via Dash of Jazz
Creamy Chicken Mushroom Soup from Dash of Jazz
Despite the simplicity of this soup—there are three main ingredients you’ll need to buy, and everything else you probably already have—it does not skimp on flavor.
Get the recipe here.
- Aaron Hutcherson via The Hungry Hutch
Spicy Tomato Chickpea Soup from The Hungry Hutch
This spicy chickpea-topped tomato soup is like the adult version of the plain tomato soup you might have eaten as a kid. Probably also a good idea to pair it with an adult version of a grilled cheese in that case.
Get the recipe here.
- Erin Clarke via Well Plated
Slow-Cooker Vegetable Beef Soup from Well Plated
This filling beef stew is an excellent reason to bring your slow-cooker back from summer vacation. After all, there’s really nothing better than coming home from a cold day to a hot meal that’s ready to eat.
Get the recipe here.
- Ali Ebright via Gimme Some Oven
Italian Orzo Spinach Soup from Gimme Some Oven
Can’t decide if you’re in the mood for rice or pasta? Orzo is like the best of both worlds, and an excellent addition to this fresh, veggie-filled soup.
Get the recipe here.
- Jessica Merchant via How Sweet Eats
Chickpea Pasta Soup from How Sweet Eats
Noodle soup is never a bad idea, but especially not when it’s also packed with chickpeas and cheese. The recipe calls for whole-wheat shells, but you can use whatever short pasta you have on hand.
Get the recipe here.
- Lindsay Cotter via Cotter Crunch
Curried Cauliflower Rice and Kale Soup from Cotter Crunch
Even though this soup is totally dairy-free, it’s still extremely creamy thanks to coconut milk (though you can use almond if you prefer the taste).
Get the recipe here.
- Andrea Bemis via Dishing Up the Dirt
Kale, Zucchini, and Wild Rice Soup from Dishing Up the Dirt
Packed with plenty of protein and complex carbs, this recipe is totally filling yet also light. You can thank all the fresh veggies and wild rice for that.
Get the recipe here.
- Lindsay Ostrom via Pinch of Yum
Spicy Ancho Turkey Chili from Pinch of Yum
This chili is great as its own dish, as well as an excellent accompaniment to other recipes like hot dogs, baked potatoes, and even pasta. If it’s salty and starchy, it probably goes well with chili.
Get the recipe here.
- Beth Moncel via Budget Bytes
Cabbage Soup from Bugdet Bytes
Brimming with both veggies and flavor, this soup is one that you can easily eat multiple bowls of, and it costs less than a dollar per serving to make. Keep bread handy to soak up any remaining broth at the bottom of your bowl.
Get the recipe here.
- Ashley Melillo via Blissful Basil
Smoky Jackfruit Stew from Blissful Basil
- Sue Pressey via My Korean Kitchen
Korean Egg Drop Soup from My Korean Kitchen
Gyeran-guk, or Korean egg drop soup, is as comforting as chicken noodle soup—and easier to make. Just add beaten eggs to boiling broth, wait a few minutes, and eat it with rice.
Get the recipe here.
- Shanika via Orchids and Sweet Tea
Garlic, Broccoli, Kale, and Rotini Soup from Orchids and Sweet Tea
For cheddar-broccoli soup lovers that are trying to avoid dairy, this recipe has everything you need minus the cream and cheese—plus full-fat coconut cream.
Get the recipe here.
- Richa Hingle via Vegan Richa
Turmeric Miso Soup from Vegan Richa
Filled with turmeric, ginger, and miso, plus a bit of chili, this soup is a great sore throat and stuffy nose soother. But it’s worth eating even if you aren’t sick.
Get the recipe here.
- Lisa Lin via Healthy Nibbles and Bits
Red Curry Wonton Soup from Healthy Nibbles and Bits
You can make the wontons for this soup from scratch if you feel so inclined, but using your favorite frozen version from the store will make this recipe much more manageable on a weeknight.
Get the recipe here.
- Stephanie Le via I Am a Food Blog
Khao Soi from I Am a Food Blog
This Thai-style coconut curry chicken and noodles tastes complex, but is super easy to make. You can whip the whole thing up in just 15 minutes.
Get the recipe here.
- Alex Overhiser via A Couple Cooks
Instant Pot Split Pea Soup from A Couple Cooks
This soup, which is classically slow-cooking, can be ready in less than an hour with some help from an Instant Pot. If you don’t have one, though, follow the same instructions using a pot and your stovetop—it’ll just take a while longer.
Get the recipe here.
- Erin Alderson via Naturally Ella
Pea Soup With Freekeh and Pesto from Naturally Ella
Your more traditional thick and creamy pea soups don’t quite capture the crisp freshness of the bright green legume in the way this recipe does.
Get the recipe here.
- Jenny Park and Teri Lyn Fisher via Spoon Fork Bacon
Loaded Baked Potato Soup from Spoon Fork Bacon
This soup simplifies the often messy process of building and eating a baked potato, while also being much more satisfying. All the toppings you usually select are fair game here.
Get the recipe here.
- Vaishali Honawar via Holy Cow Vegan
Eggplant Soup from Holy Cow Vegan
This soup is great when hot, but it also makes an excellent dip after it’s had a chance to cool off. Try eating the leftovers as a snack with sliced veggies or pita chips.
Get the recipe here.
- Eden Westbrook via Sweet Tea and Thyme
Avgolemono Soup from Sweet Tea and Thyme
This Greek-style soup is like egg drop and chicken noodle soup combined. (Plus orzo!) It is both refreshing and warming, which is exactly what you want when you’re not feeling so great.
Get the recipe here.
- Cathy Erway via Not Eating Out in New York
Chicken Soup With Fennel and Farro from Not Eating Out in New York
Fennel is a great vegetable for soups because it’s so crunchy that it retains a lot of its texture even after being cooked for a long time. Farro is also better at holding its texture in soups than some other grains, like couscous and quinoa.
Get the recipe here.
- Marisa Moore via Marisa Moore
Black Bean Soup With Ancho Chile Pepitas from Marisa Moore
Though you might not feel like going through the extra step of toasting pepitas, their crunchy texture and spicy flavor really add so much to the soup.
Get the recipe here.
- Lindsay Ostrom via Pinch of Yum
Sweet Potato Peanut Stew from Pinch of Yum
We’re in favor of using peanut butter in savory ways, and this recipe is no exception. Nutty, creamy, and oh, so cozy, it’s another one that makes an excellent dip when cooled.
Get the recipe here.
- Dana Shultz via Minimalist Baker
Curried Beet Soup With Tandoori Chickpeas from Minimalist Baker
The natural sweetness in beets is the perfect counterpart to all the spices and flavors in this rich, colorful soup. The crispy chickpeas add a bit of crunch to what is otherwise a very smooth soup.
Get the recipe here.
- David Frenkiel and Luise Vindahl Andersen via Green Kitchen Stories
Summer Gazpacho With Dill from Green Kitchen Stories
This refreshing gazpacho is for those unexpectedly sweltering fall days. It’s the perfect way to use the last tomatoes from your summer farmers market haul.
Get the recipe here.
- Alanna Taylor-Tobin via The Bojon Gourmet
Green Noodle Soup With Coconut Lemongrass from The Bojon Gourmet
This aromatic broth is as fun to smell as it is to eat, meaning the cooking process will be extra enjoyable. The recipe calls for black rice noodles, but you can sub whatever you can find. Even spaghetti noodles will do.
Get the recipe here.
- Elizabeth Starks via Brooklyn Supper
Roasted Garlic Soup from Brooklyn Supper
This soup is all about the flavor of roasted garlic, so you better love the stuff if you plan to make it.
Get the recipe here.
- Jeanine Donofrio via Love and Lemons
Yellow Split Pea Soup from Love and Lemons
This recipe is proof that split pea soup doesn’t have to be green. Paired with lightly cooked sweet corn, it’s a bit more refreshing than its green counterpart too.
Get the recipe here.
- Alyssa Rimmer via Simply Quinoa
White Bean and Mushroom Soup from Simply Quinoa
Beans in general, and white beans specifically, are ideal for making creamy soups that are totally vegan, like this simple mushroom-packed recipe.
Get the recipe here.
- Meiko Drew via Meiko and the Dish
Smoky Beef and Tomato Soup from Meiko and the Dish
This dish gets its smokiness completely from the chili peppers in adobo paste, which you can usually find alongside the beans or in the international section at the supermarket.
Get the recipe here.
- Lori Yates via Foxes Love Lemons
Slow-Cooker Carrot Apple Soup from Foxes Love Lemons
If you’re in need of another way to use up the apples from your recent (or future) apple-picking trip, this soup is a great savory reimagination of the fruit.
Get the recipe here.
- Tiffany Azure via Creme de la Crumb
Turkey Wild Rice Soup from Creme de la Crumb
This soup is great for those nights when you really aren’t in the mood to cook. You don’t need many ingredients, can do it all in on pot, and will be finished in less than 30 minutes.
Get the recipe here.
- Sommer Collier via A Spicy Perspective
Italian Wedding Soup from A Spicy Perspective
Let’s just say you don’t need to be at an Italian wedding to enjoy this soup. Eat it anytime the weather stinks, or you just want to eat meatballs in broth.
Get the recipe here.
- Lee Hersh via Fit Foodie Finds
Vegetarian Beer Chili from Fit Foodie Finds
Since this recipe skips the meat, it uses beer to infuse the chili with extra flavor. Don’t worry, though—it won’t make you tipsy; all the alcohol will burn off well before you even sit down to eat.
Get the recipe here.
- Angela Liddon via Oh She Glows
Beet and Cabbage Soup from Oh She Glows
This bright red soup is worth the mess it takes to make it. Loaded with beets, cabbage, and onions, it will help you hit your daily vegetable servings.
Get the recipe here.
- Kiersten Frase via Oh My Veggies
Coconut Lime Tofu Soup from Oh My Veggies
Made with lime and coconut, this protein-rich tofu soup will transport your tastebuds to a warm place, even if it’s freezing outside.
Get the recipe here.
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