21 Winter Soups That Will Keep You Cozy

A comforting bowl of goodness awaits.

Chicken soup with carrots
Photo: Diana Chistruga

A bowl of one of our winter soups will warm you when you come in from the cold—and ease that lingering chill of a frosty day. For that reason, these filling soups are bowls of comfort. Some are time-honored classics. Others are creative new takes on coziness that achieve deep, smoky flavor in record time thanks to carefully chosen ingredients and a streamlined technique.

So, look no further for a soothing, quick meal. Our collection of winter soup recipes is guaranteed to make you feel cozy and satisfied.

01 of 21

Smoky Black-Bean Soup With Sausage

smoky black-bean soup with sausage
Nico Schinco

This hearty soup tastes like it is cooked long and slow, but it comes together in just 40 minutes. Using canned fire-roasted tomatoes and andouille sausage are shortcuts to the complex, smoky flavor.

02 of 21

Kapusniak (Polish Cabbage-and-Bacon Soup)

pork cabbage soup
Christopher Testani

Just what you need on a chilly night, this filling soup features pork in two forms—smoky bacon and meaty ribs—plus leeks and onions as well as fresh and fermented cabbage (sauerkraut). Serve with plenty of rye bread.

03 of 21

Test Kitchen's Favorite Tomato Soup

tomato soup with basil
Sidney Bensimon

No cream is needed for this favorite tomato soup. Instead, a butter-and-flour roux is used to achieve its velvety, rich texture. Enjoy a bowl on its own or pair it with a grilled cheese.

04 of 21

Escarole and Bean Soup

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Linda Pugliese

This quick and hearty meatless soup uses two types of canned beans, garbanzo, and red kidney, and a whole head of escarole. Swap the chicken broth for vegetable broth to make it vegetarian—and don't skip the toasted bread for serving.

05 of 21

Vegan Lentil Soup

vegan lentil soup in bowl on blue table
Justin Walker

Fiber-packed, filling, and meat- and dairy-free, this lentil soup uses crushed tomatoes for its base, while an array of vegetables—broccoli rabe, carrots, and celery—give the dish its vibrant color and deep flavor.

06 of 21

Beef, Pumpkin, and Shiitake Soup

beef pumpkin and shiitake soup served with fresh basil
Christopher Testani

From Vietnamese pho to French stew, this recipe takes inspiration from cuisines around the world. Beef chuck is boiled until it is fall-off-the-bone tender, then onion, chopped pumpkin, and its peels, shiitake stems, and cabbage leaf are added to the pot to cook. Use basil and a splash of fish sauce to add a dose of umami flavor.

07 of 21

Chipotle Chicken and White-Bean Soup

Chipotle Chicken and White-Bean Soup
Alpha Smoot

One-pot meals are the MVP of dinner, and this take on tortilla soup is no exception. Using three canned ingredients—tomato sauce, chipotles in adobo, and white beans—make it a real-time saver without sacrificing flavor.

08 of 21

Minestrone With Collard Greens and White Beans

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José Manuel Picayo Rivera

Take your taste buds to Italy without leaving the comfort of your kitchen with this minestrone soup. Here, the greens' slight bitterness plays nicely against the creamy beans and sweet tomatoes.

09 of 21

Ginger-Lemongrass Broth With Noodles, Silken Tofu, and Broccoli

Ginger-Lemongrass Broth with Noodles, Silken Tofu, and Broccoli recipe
Yuki Sugiura

This soup will keep any winter cold at bay thanks to protein-rich tofu and broccolini, which is loaded with vitamin C. The dish gets a kick of spice from Thai chile pepper.

10 of 21

Turkey-Pesto Meatball Soup

turkey pesto meatballs
Lennart Weibull

You need just a few ingredients to make the delicious meatballs for this soup. Mix ground turkey with panko breadcrumbs, egg, and Parmigiano-Reggiano. Streamline soup prep by making the meatball mixture a day early and storing it in the refrigerator.

11 of 21

Carrot-Ginger Soup

Carrot-Ginger Soup
Bryan Gardner

One way to ensure you're maintaining a healthy diet is to eat meals rich in color, like this vibrant orange soup. One pound of carrots, a medium-sized sweet potato, fresh ginger, and shallots are cooked together, then puréed. Serve each bowl with a dollop of yogurt for a welcome tang.

12 of 21

Vegetable-Bean Soup

turkey-bean-spoup-med107742.jpg
Romulo Yanes

This fuss-free comfort food meal comes together in under an hour and uses easy-to-find vegetables including carrots, celery, and onion. Canned diced tomatoes and vegetable broth are used as a base while cannellini beans add a boost of protein.

13 of 21

Potato, Broccoli, and Cheddar Soup

Potato Broccoli and Cheddar Soup
Alpha Smoot

Few foods have a reputation for being as comforting as potatoes. For this soup, they are boiled with broccoli and shallots and then blended with cheese until a smooth, creamy soup is formed. Be sure to serve with crunchy cheese toasts that are also part of this recipe.

14 of 21

Broken Wonton Soup

broken wonton soup in red bowl
Justin Walker

A delicious take on a classic. The wrappers go into the garlic-ginger broth separately from the filling (mini pork meatballs flavored with soy sauce and cilantro). Add bok choy for a hearty pop of green.

15 of 21

Split-Pea Soup With Spinach and Barley

spinach split-pea soup with barley topped with yogurt
Kate Mathis

Split peas and spinach are puréed into a vibrant green soup that's as nutrient-dense as it is colorful. A swirl of plain yogurt adds a pop of brightness and creamy texture, while a sprinkle of barley fills your diet with beta-glucan, a soluble fiber that can lower bad cholesterol.

16 of 21

Basic Chicken Soup

basic chicken soup
Diana Chistruga

Everyone needs a go-to chicken soup recipe and this streamlined, five-ingredient version is one of our favorites. It uses the time-honored technique of boiling the chicken to start the soup.

17 of 21

French Onion Soup

french onion soup served with cheesy bread
Jenny Huang

You'll need 3 pounds of sweet onions for this take on the classic French soup. They're cooked slowly until caramelized before being added to beef stock. The soup is poured into oven-safe bowls and each is topped with a slice of French bread and grated Gruyère cheese, then broiled to crispy perfection.

18 of 21

Butternut Squash Soup

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David Malosh

Simmering winter squash and onions in the same pot you cooked crispy bacon in is the secret to this soup. It comes together in exactly one hour and is cream-free, meaning you can freeze it in batches to reheat and enjoy later.

19 of 21

Curried Carrot Soup

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This sweet and spicy curried soup has a wonderfully rich flavor even though it's made without a drop of cream. Serve it hot or chilled.

20 of 21

Slow-Cooker Ribollita

slow cooker ribollita
Stephen Kent Johnson

Italian for "reboiled," ribollita is thought to have been created in Tuscany by cooks who needed to use up leftovers. Our version of this hearty vegetarian soup lives up to its name. It's just as delicious on the day it's made as it is reheated.

21 of 21

Fish-Soup Avgolemono

fish-soup avgolemono served with fresh herbs
Christopher Testani

Avgolemono is a velvety egg, lemon, and rice soup with a storied history throughout Greece, Italy, Turkey, and the Balkans. Although traditionally it's made with whole fish, our simplified version uses fish broth and chunks of fillets.

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