18 Cozy Winter Soup Recipes

Creamy Winter Soup Recipes

If you’re someone who loves a thick, creamy soup, start here. These are the kinds of soups that practically demand a piece of bread for dipping.

1. Chicken Wild Rice Soup

I really enjoyed this chicken wild rice soup. It has tender chicken, carrots, celery, and seasoned wild rice, but what makes it especially good is the combination of half-and-half and chive and onion cream cheese.

The cream cheese adds a lot of flavor without needing a long list of extra seasonings. Plus, the rice cooks right in the soup, so you’re not dirtying another pot just to make dinner.

2. Leek and Potato Soup

Leeks aren’t exactly the first vegetable most people grab at the grocery store, but they really deserve a little more attention. This leek and potato soup has a mild onion flavor, tender potatoes, and a creamy broth made with evaporated milk.

I used yellow potatoes when I made mine, and I liked how they stayed in nice little pieces instead of falling apart. This isn’t one of those completely blended potato soups, which I actually prefer when I want something with a little texture.

3. Broccoli Cheese Soup

It’s hard to go wrong with broccoli and cheese, especially when there’s plenty of cheese involved. This broccoli cheese soup combines fresh broccoli, shredded carrots, cheddar, and half-and-half.

We originally tested this one after seeing it on TikTok, and it turned out to be a really good homemade version. It’s creamy, cheesy, and ready in about 30 minutes, which is always a plus.

4. Roasted Red Pepper Gouda Soup

If you’ve never made soup with roasted peppers, this roasted red pepper Gouda soup is worth trying. The red peppers roast in the oven until their skins blister, which gives the finished soup a much deeper flavor than simply tossing raw peppers into a pot.

After blending everything smooth, heavy whipping cream makes the soup rich, and shredded Gouda goes on top. This is one I’d definitely serve with bread because you won’t want to leave much in the bowl.

5. Creamy Tomato Soup

I’ve had plenty of tomato soup over the years, but this homemade tomato soup has a lot more flavor than the canned version. It’s made with fire-roasted tomatoes, roasted red peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, and heavy whipping cream.

This was another viral recipe we tested, and I liked it enough to freeze individual portions for lunch. They reheated really well, too. Of course, a grilled cheese sandwich wouldn’t hurt!

6. Butternut Squash Soup

Butternut squash is one of those vegetables that really comes into its own during the cooler months. This butternut squash soup combines fresh squash with carrots, celery, onion, garlic, and herbs.

Everything cooks until tender before being blended into a smooth soup. And even though it looks creamy, there’s no cream in the recipe. The squash does all that work on its own.

Hearty Winter Soups for Dinner

Sometimes a light bowl of soup just isn’t going to cut it for dinner. These recipes have plenty of meat, beans, potatoes, or pasta, so you can put a bowl on the table and call it a meal.

7. Ham and Bean Soup

I’m a big fan of a good bean soup, and this ham and bean soup turned out especially well. I used a 16-bean mix, which gives you all sorts of different beans and textures, along with chopped ham, carrots, celery, and seasonings.

I didn’t have a ham bone when I made mine, so I used regular chopped ham, and it worked just fine. If you like your bean soup thicker, you can blend a little of the cooked beans and stir them back into the pot. That’s a trick I use with other bean recipes, too.

8. Stuffed Pepper Soup

Here’s a funny thing: you don’t have to be a huge fan of stuffed peppers to enjoy stuffed pepper soup. All those familiar ingredients are there, including ground beef, red and orange peppers, tomatoes, and white rice, but everything cooks together in one pot.

It’s much easier than filling individual peppers, and you still get all those savory flavors. This recipe also makes a pretty big batch, so plan on leftovers.

9. Lasagna Soup

I love lasagna, but I don’t always feel like dealing with all the layers. That’s where lasagna soup comes in.

It has Italian sausage, broken lasagna noodles, tomatoes, and a mixture of ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese. You get plenty of that familiar cheesy pasta flavor without having to assemble and bake a whole pan of lasagna.

10. Crockpot Sausage Tortellini Soup

There are days when I really appreciate being able to get dinner started early and not think about it again for a while. This slow cooker sausage tortellini soup is made with Italian sausage, cheese tortellini, spinach, tomatoes, and a creamy broth.

The tortellini and cream go in toward the end, so the pasta doesn’t sit in the slow cooker all day getting mushy. Between the sausage and cheese-filled pasta, there’s plenty in every bowl.

11. Creamy Hamburger Soup

Think of this creamy hamburger soup as a cross between cheesy potato soup and a cheeseburger. You’ve got ground beef, tender potatoes, carrots, and Velveeta all mixed into a thick, creamy soup.

This is definitely one of the richer soups on the list, and I don’t think anyone will be wondering where the rest of dinner is.

12. Beef and Cabbage Soup

Cabbage soup sometimes gets a reputation for being a little boring, but this beef and cabbage soup has plenty going on.

It’s made with ground beef, shredded cabbage, carrots, tomatoes, and beef broth, with taco seasoning, paprika, and cumin for extra flavor. The cabbage cooks down quite a bit, so even if your pot looks packed when you first add it, don’t worry.

You can make this one on the stovetop or in the slow cooker.

13. Slow Cooker Split Pea and Ham Soup

If you have leftover ham from a holiday dinner, this slow cooker split pea and ham soup is a good way to use it.

It has dried split peas, diced ham, sweet potatoes, and chicken broth. As the peas cook, they soften and naturally thicken the soup. A little half-and-half and fresh dill finish everything off.

I especially like that this version uses sweet potatoes instead of the usual white potatoes.

Easy Chicken, Pasta, and Vegetable Soups

Not every soup needs to be thick and cheesy. Sometimes I want a nice, flavorful broth with plenty of vegetables, chicken, or pasta. These are good options when you’re in the mood for something a little lighter.

14. Chicken Vegetable Soup

This chicken vegetable soup reminds me of the kind of homemade soup that doesn’t need anything fancy to be good.

It’s made with chicken breast, potatoes, mushrooms, diced tomatoes, and mixed vegetables. I like that it uses frozen vegetables along with fresh ingredients because there’s only so much chopping I feel like doing on a weeknight.

It also freezes well. I’ve portioned this one out for lunches, which makes it especially handy.

15. Italian Penicillin Soup

Don’t let the name throw you off. Italian penicillin soup is a simple vegetable broth with tiny star-shaped pasta called pastina.

Carrots, celery, onion, and garlic simmer until soft, then get blended into the broth. The little pasta stars cook separately and are added to each bowl.

It’s the kind of soup I would reach for when I want something warm and simple without a lot of heavy ingredients.

16. Italian Meatball Soup

Here’s a good shortcut recipe for nights when you don’t want to spend forever making dinner. This Italian meatball soup uses frozen Italian meatballs, orzo pasta, Italian-style tomatoes, and frozen vegetables.

Everything comes together in one pot in less than 30 minutes. And because the meatballs are already made, you can skip all the mixing and rolling that usually comes with homemade meatball recipes.

17. Chicken Tortilla Soup

If you’ve been eating a lot of creamy soups lately, this chicken tortilla soup is a nice change.

It’s made with chicken, tomatoes, lime, and seasonings in a flavorful broth. You can add fresh cilantro, avocado, sour cream, or crunchy tortilla chips on top.

I like recipes where everyone can add their own toppings, especially when you have a few different opinions at the dinner table.

18. Sausage and Black Bean Soup

This slow cooker sausage and black bean soup has a little bit of everything: pork sausage, black beans, hominy, potatoes, and seasoned tomatoes.

Chili powder, garlic, and lime give it a different flavor from your typical bean soup. It’s another good slow cooker recipe when you want dinner ready without standing over the stove all evening.

What to Serve with Winter Soup

I’m pretty happy with a bowl of soup and a good piece of bread, especially if it’s something creamy that I can dip into. My Parmesan puff pastry breadsticks are a good choice for tomato soup or any of the creamy potato soups.

Grilled cheese is always a favorite with tomato soup, and a simple salad works well with the heavier beef and pasta recipes.

And if you’re making a big pot, don’t forget about the leftovers. Some of my favorite lunches are just reheated homemade soup from the night before!