Healthy soup recipe season is comin’ in hot! Get it? 😉
It doesn’t get much better than a big bowl of hot soup on a crisp fall day, so I’ve rounded up my 35 best healthy soup recipes plus my favorite homemade broths, from cozy lentil and white bean soups to chicken noodle, tomato and chili.
What Are the Healthiest Soups?
The healthiest soups are made with a flavorful broth and packed with vegetables, beans, lentils or lean protein. They’re made creamy with blended vegetables or beans instead of heavy cream. A few of my favorites:
- Bean and lentil soups, like my Red Lentil Soup with Lemon and White Bean and Kale Soup, for plant protein and fiber.
- Veggie-packed soups, like my Easy Minestrone and Nourishing Vegetable Soup.
- Creamy soups with no cream, like my Vegan Butternut Squash Soup and Creamy Cauliflower Soup.
- Brothy chicken soups, like my Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup and Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup.
Healthy Soup Recipe Tips
Soup can be really healthy… or really unhealthy. Loading the pot with heavy cream and croutons just isn’t doing your health any favors. It’s simple to make delicious, healthy soups that you’ll crave over and over again. You just need the right methods.
- Make a big pot of soup on Sunday and enjoy it for lunch all week long. One of my favorite things about soup is that it makes a great big healthy one-pot meal that you can make ahead of time or just leave on low heat all day.
- Soup generally freezes well for up to 3-4 months. You can easily double a recipe if needed, or simply portion out anything you want to freeze to save for later. Learn how to freeze soup here.
- I like to buy a lot of my soup ingredients (extra virgin olive oil, spices, dried or canned beans and other pantry staples) at Thrive Market because of the big savings and their commitment to healthy and sustainable ingredients. Get 40% off your first order at Thrive Market here.
My 35 Best Healthy Soup Recipes
Roasted Red Pepper & Tomato Soup
Roasted Red Pepper & Tomato Soup is made with simple, fresh ingredients. This cozy, nourishing recipe gets its deep flavor from oven-roasted vegetables and fresh basil. Naturally dairy-free, gluten-free, and perfect for meal prep or a light, wholesome dinner.
Easy Red Lentil Soup with Lemon
This traditional red lentil soup recipe with lemon is the best lentil soup we’ve ever tried! It’s full of nutrients, fiber, protein, and hydration. You’ll want to make it over and over again.
Hearty White Bean and Kale Soup
White Bean and Kale Soup is a cozy, nourishing meal packed with creamy cannellini beans, tender kale, and Yukon gold potatoes. This healthy, Whole Foods Soup Bar-inspired soup recipe is perfect for the cooler months and easy to make for a comforting, satisfying dish.
Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup (Naturally Creamy, No Cream)
This Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup is cozy, light, and naturally creamy without using any cream. Inspired by the classic Greek “avgolemono” technique, eggs create a silky texture while fresh lemon keeps the broth bright and comforting. It’s the kind of nourishing soup you’ll want to make on repeat all season long.
Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup is an all-time favorite. You can make a quick version with pre-cooked chicken and stock in a box, or make it completely from scratch. I recommend the quick version for busy nights, but take time to make the completely homemade version sometime, it’s worth it!
Blue Zones Soup (Longevity Soup Recipe)
This Blue Zones Longevity Soup is packed with anti-inflammatory ingredients like turmeric, ginger, garlic, leafy greens, and lemon. It’s flexible, nourishing, meal-prep friendly, and made with simple ingredients you probably already have on hand.
Healing Butternut Squash & Carrot Curry Soup
Butternut squash, carrots and a little apple blended with warming curry spices into a silky, cozy soup.
Easy Vegan French Onion Soup Recipe
This vegan French onion soup recipe has been a top Google search result for almost 10 years now, for good reason! It’s healthy, simple to make, and absolutely delicious.
Creamy Cauliflower Soup Recipe
This velvety cauliflower soup recipe is loaded with nutrition and easy to digest. Use veggie stock to keep it vegan, or use bone broth to add filling protein to this soup. We love it as a light lunch or as a starter or side with dinner.
White Chicken Chili Recipe (Slow Cooker or Stovetop)
This easy White Chicken Chili is endlessly customizable with your favorite toppings, easy to make two ways (stovetop or slow cooker), and perfect for meal prep. It’s creamy without any cream, naturally gluten-free and dairy-free if you skip the cheese and sour cream, and packed with flavor from green chiles, cumin, and lime.
Easy Tomato Basil Soup (5 Ingredients)
A silky, cozy tomato basil soup made with San Marzano tomatoes, onion, garlic, and fresh basil. This simple recipe delivers rich flavor with minimal ingredients and comes together in about 30 minutes. Perfect for serving with grilled cheese, crusty bread, or a light salad for an easy, comforting meal.
Easy Lentil Soup Recipe
This easy lentil soup recipe is a family favorite! It’s super flexible and always delicious. See the notes below for substitutions if needed.
Easy, Healthy Minestrone Soup Recipe
A healthy minestrone packed with vegetables, beans and greens. It’s filling, budget-friendly and even better the next day.
Kale & Quinoa Veggie Soup Recipe
A hearty minestrone with kale and quinoa that turns the vegetables and pantry staples you already have into a fantastic meal.
Perfect Split Pea Soup Recipe
This split pea soup recipe is the perfect meal on a chilly day; it’s healthy, warm, hearty, and delicious. It’s also inexpensive and super easy to make. I used to think that all the flavor in split pea soup came from the ham, but once I made it vegan, I didn’t even miss the meat.
Fiesta Quinoa Soup Recipe
This is my all-time favorite quinoa soup recipe. It’s loaded with both flavor and nutrition. If you tolerate dairy, go ahead and add some shredded cheese, but I prefer this particular quinoa soup without it.
Potato Soup with Leeks & Dill
This easy, wholesome soup is naturally creamy without any cream! It’s all about the method. Yukon Gold potatoes create a velvety texture, while fresh dill and a touch of vinegar bring bright, balanced flavors.
Healthy Pumpkin Curry Soup
Healthy Pumpkin Curry Soup is velvety smooth, easy to make, and bursting with mouth-watering flavors. Pumpkin Curry Soup is naturally dairy-free and gluten-free. It freezes well, too.
Carrot Ginger Soup
This vibrant carrot-ginger soup is smooth, comforting, and packed with feel-good ingredients. Made with fresh vegetables and warming ginger, it’s a simple, nourishing recipe you’ll come back to all season long.
Easiest Black Bean Soup Recipe [4 Ways]
This easy black bean soup recipe can be made 4 different ways and it’s delicious every time. It’s loaded with protein and fiber. Plus, it’s inexpensive to make!
Italian Wedding Soup Recipe
We love this classic Italian Wedding Soup with flavorful meatballs, tons of veggies, spinach, and tiny pasta in a rich, flavorful broth. It’s a simple, comforting recipe that’s perfect for a family meal or meal prep.
Red Curry Lentil Soup (Slow Cooker or Stovetop)
This Red Curry Lentil Soup is hearty, healthy, cozy, and full of flavor. Made with protein-rich lentils, creamy coconut milk, and fragrant red curry paste, it’s the perfect dump-and-cook soup for busy weeknights. You can make it in the slow cooker, stovetop, or Instant Pot, and it stores beautifully for meal prep.
Easy Ground Turkey Chili Recipe
This easy ground turkey chili recipe can be ready in less than 30 minutes and makes for a flavorful healthy meal any time of the week.
Healthy Game Day Chili Recipe
This cozy, crowd-favorite chili is rich, hearty, and full of flavor, without being heavy. It’s perfect for game day, meal prep, or a casual weeknight dinner. Even better the next day.
30-Minute Taco Soup Recipe
A hearty taco soup with ground beef, beans and warm spices, ready in about 30 minutes. The leftovers are even better.
The Best Beef Stew Recipe (Classic & Hearty)
My classic, hearty beef stew with tender beef, potatoes and carrots. Double it for meal prep or a crowd.
Simple Homemade Chicken Quinoa Soup Recipe
A simple, cozy chicken soup with quinoa in place of noodles. Naturally gluten-free and so comforting.
Vegan Butternut Squash Soup Recipe
Roasted butternut squash and onion blended with veggie stock and a little curry powder. Creamy with no cream at all.
Roasted Carrot Soup
Roasted carrots blended with garlic, onion and a squeeze of lemon into a velvety, bright soup.
Classic Broccoli Cheese Soup
Heavy on the broccoli and light on the cheese, made in one pot. Creamy, cozy and perfect for chilly nights.
Classic French Onion Soup
Deeply caramelized onions in a rich broth, topped with toasted bread and melted cheese. A cozy classic.
Nourishing Vegetable Soup Recipe
A loaded, nourishing vegetable soup you can make with whatever veggies you have on hand.
Rainbow Chard & Orzo Minestrone Soup
A big, hearty Italian-style minestrone with rainbow chard, white beans, orzo and bright lemon.
Vibrant Spinach Soup (20 Minutes)
A bright green spinach soup that’s ready in 20 minutes. The lime and mint really make it.
Fall Favorite: Roasted Poblano Lentil Soup Recipe
Smoky roasted poblano peppers and hearty lentils in a cozy, filling fall soup.
Homemade Broth and Stock
A good homemade broth is the start of so many great soups. These are my favorites, including two turkey stocks for Thanksgiving.
The BEST Chicken Stock Recipe
My mom’s chicken stock, the one I grew up with. Use it as the base for soups, stews and gravies, or sip it from a mug.
Chicken Bone Broth Recipe (Ginger & Turmeric)
A rich chicken bone broth with fresh ginger and turmeric. Sip it or use it in soups and grains.
Homemade Vegetable Broth (From Scraps)
A budget-friendly veggie broth made from the onion, carrot, celery and mushroom scraps you save in the freezer.
Turkey Stock for Make-Ahead Gravy & Stuffing
Make this turkey stock ahead for richer gravy and stuffing on Thanksgiving Day.
After-Thanksgiving Turkey Stock
Turn the leftover Thanksgiving turkey carcass into a flavorful stock for soups or sipping.
Healthy Soup FAQs
What makes a soup healthy?
A healthy soup starts with a flavorful broth and is loaded with vegetables, beans, lentils or lean protein. Broth-based soups and soups made creamy with blended vegetables or beans (instead of heavy cream) are my favorites.
Which soups freeze best?
Broth-based soups, bean and lentil soups and chilis all freeze beautifully for 3 to 4 months. Soups with pasta or potatoes can get a little soft when thawed, so I like to add pasta fresh when reheating.
How long does homemade soup last in the fridge?
Most homemade soups keep for 3 to 4 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Freeze anything you won’t eat in that time.
Is French onion soup healthy?
It can be. French onion soup is a broth-based soup made mostly of slow-cooked onions, so the soup itself is fairly light. The toasted bread and melted Gruyère on top add the richness, so I enjoy a slice of bread and a moderate amount of cheese per bowl. Here’s my Classic French Onion Soup, and my Easy Vegan French Onion Soup if you’re dairy-free.
What is the healthiest soup to eat when you’re sick?
Homemade chicken soup made with real bone broth is hard to beat. Start with my homemade chicken stock or my Blue Zones Longevity Soup with turmeric, ginger and garlic.
Even More Healthy Soup Recipes
Love chili? Here are my healthy chili recipes. You can also search my recipe archive for even more soups and chilis, and be sure to check out this post where I talk about the best way to freeze soup for later.
I love how diverse these soup recipes are! I can’t wait to try the butternut squash and coconut soup — it sounds perfect for chilly evenings. Freezer-friendly meals are a game changer, too! Thank you for sharing these delicious ideas!
These soups look so delicious. And healthy as well. Can you recommend a nice bread or cracker or something to dip in. Can’t wait to try. Thank you for all you do for us.
Oh my gosh, I am going to make all of these! Thank you for sharing!
I enjoy your blog. I’m new to your site and I just want to thank you!❤️
Hi Judy, welcome! Great to have you here in our online community. ~E
Super excited to try these yummy recipes, Elizabeth! Thank you!