36 Creamy Soup Recipes We’re Making All Year Long

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes 
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, vegetarian, beginner-friendly, high protein 

Is it a soup or a savory smoothie? We don’t know and we don’t care—mostly because it’s refreshing, delicious and served with warm, cheesy baguette. Plus, you don’t have to spend an hour (or any amount of time, for that matter) sweating over a stove to pull it off, so it’s basically the perfect transitional soup.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour 
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, <500 calories, kid-friendly 

Here, a spud and cauliflower combo with all the flavor (and the favorite toppings) of a loaded baked potato, but packed into a light and creamy soup that won’t weigh you down. 

• Time Commitment: 7 hours, 35 minutes 
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, high protein, slow-cooker recipe 

If you love chicken pot pie but don’t want to futz with the puff pastry, we feel you. Toss some store-bought biscuits in the oven and make this slow-cooker soup for a foolproof copycat meal that’s every bit as comforting as the original.  

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes 
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, instant pot, crowd-pleaser 

Ramp up the ginger and garlic as you see fit, opt for veggie stock if you want to make it vegan, but whatever you do, don’t skimp on the coconut milk. That’s where the creamy consistency comes from (and we think it’s not really optional). 

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes 
• Why I Love It: <500 calories, instant pot, vegan 

Red chili paste, fresh ginger, cilantro and the tangy umami flavor of tamari mingle in this quick and easy, Southeast Asian-inspired Instant Pot recipe. Adjust the garnish to your liking but don’t leave it out entirely; it adds a lovely texture to the silky finished soup.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes 
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <30 minutes, dairy free

Craving soup and salad? This recipe is sort of both, since you can throw in absolutely any veggies you have on hand in the fridge. 

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes 
• Why I Love It: <500 calories, vegan, special occasion-worthy 

Deeply caramelized carrot and fennel get an additional boost from the umami profile of miso in this harissa-spiked puree. The end result is a veritable flavor bomb. 

• Time Commitment: 1 hour 
• Why I Love It: sheet pan recipe, <500 calories, kid-friendly 

We’re suckers for sheet pan recipes and this curry flavored soup is no exception. Fire up the oven, roast your (generously spiced) seasonal squash to perfection along with a whole head of garlic and let your immersion blender take care of the rest. 

• Time Commitment: 1 hour 
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <500 calories, high protein, kid-friendly 

Presenting an Italian-American classic in soup form, complete with large format lasagna noodles, a hearty serving of ground meat and oh-so cheesy tomato broth. (There’s some spinach, too, but your kids won’t even notice.) 

• Time Commitment: 7 hours, 5 minutes 
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <500 calories, high protein, slow-cooker recipe 

Mirepoix and budget-friendly chicken breast make magic in this slow-simmering recipe for creamy chicken soup. As for the wild rice, it’s a toothsome and nutritious, gluten-free upgrade on soggy noodles. Trust. 

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes 
• Why I Love It: Instant Pot recipe, <500 calories, one pot 

Wild rice is always a solid choice, but it’s the mushrooms that really shine in this silky-smooth Instant Pot soup. Go for a generous mix of your favorite fungi varieties and you’ll be rewarded with rich umami flavor. 

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes 
• Why I Love It: low carb, <500 calories, <30 minutes 

Creamy, cheesy, rich—this classic broccoli and cheddar soup is a divine comfort food dinner that takes so little time to make you’ll never be tempted by takeout again. 

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes 
• Why I Love It: high fiber, beginner-friendly, one pot, <500 calories 

Ginger and paprika lend bold flavor to this dreamy carrot soup—just be sure to use fresh ginger for best results. 

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes 
• Why I Love It: <500 calories, crowd-pleaser, low sugar 

Humble canned black beans get a gourmet upgrade in this hearty soup, which features creamy coconut milk to offset the heat of fresh jalapeno.  

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes 
• Why I Love It:  <30 minutes, special occasion-worthy, vegetarian 

This modified version of Laksa, the traditional Malaysian soup, uses peanut butter as a substitute for meat protein. The end result is a similarly fresh-tasting and oh-so creamy coconut noodle broth that’s totally vegetarian-friendly. 

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes 
• Why I Love It: one pot, high protein, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly 

This rich and creamy tomato sauce broth is begging to be paired with some crusty bread for dipping. (No, you can’t have too many carbs.) 

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes 
• Why I Love It: one pot, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly 

A roux and a dash of heavy cream give this twist on the feel-good classic a delightfully smooth and creamy texture. Make this one when you need a hug in a bowl.  

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes 
• Why I Love It: one pot, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly 

There’s no immersion blender involved here, which means the resulting chowder is light and velvety—a potato-studded vision. Add in a variety of wild mushrooms (think: trumpet, maitake and oyster) and a generous amount of fresh thyme and you have a soup that will most certainly satisfy your desire for a savory indulgence. 

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes 
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <500 calories, kid-friendly 

Make this craveworthy corn chowder with thyme instead of summer savory if you must, but if you can find the latter—it’s in season towards the end of summer—the peppery, aromatic flavor will yield a slightly more nuanced finished dish. 

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes 
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, low carb, <500 calories 

Put down the PSL. This thick and creamy pumpkin soup—spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg and spiked with chili oil—is your new fall obsession. 

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes 
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, one pot 

Like a chicken fricassee in soup form. Serve it with garlic bread and pat yourself on the back for a breezy 30 minutes very well-spent.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour 45 minutes 
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, low carb, <500 calories 

There’s actually no heavy cream in this tomato soup—just the rich and concentrated flavor of slow-roasted tomatoes, blended into a naturally creamy puree, plus a sprinkling of goat cheese to deliver your dairy fix. 

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes 
• Why I Love It: gluten-free, low carb, vegan, crowd-pleaser 

Cauliflower—our favorite cruciferous chameleon—is anything but bland in this boldly flavored soup recipe, which features a heady blend of warm curry spices and everyone’s favorite bitter green for good measure. 

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes 
• Why I Love It: vegan, low carb, special occasion-worthy 

Here, a more understated cauliflower soup that features subtly sweet and aromatic roasted fennel, the umami flavor of nutritional yeast and an herb-and-spice garnish that pulls the whole thing together. Make this one for fancy French vibes with vegan appeal. 

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes 
• Why I Love It: vegan, gluten-free, <500 calories, special occasion-worthy 

This combination of melted leeks, silky coconut milk and sweet summer corn will make your palate sing. The homemade croutons and leek oil are optional, but recommended as a blessedly easy way to impress a crowd. 

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes 
• Why I Love It: vegan, gluten-free, <500 calories, low carb 

Is cream of broccoli a little too dated and snoozy to excite your taste buds? No problem. Just whip up this Thai-inspired soup—featuring a coconut milk broth with an invigorating mix of ginger, serrano pepper and lemongrass—for a creamy broccoli soup with personality to spare. 

• Time Commitment: 7 hours, 8 minutes 
• Why I Love It: slow cooker recipe, gluten-free, vegetarian 

Yukon Gold potatoes are the secret to an extra creamy potato soup. Oh, and copious amounts of cheese. Invest 15 minutes of prep time before you set it and forget it. Then, dip into a Crock-Pot full of comfort. 

• Time Commitment: 28 minutes 
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, kid-friendly, <30 minutes, <500 calories 

This Mexican twist on a classic potato soup boasts a combination of corn and queso fresco, plus cilantro and poblano peppers for a fresher, lighter finish. 

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes 
• Why I Love It: one pot, beginner-friendly, high protein, crowd-pleaser 

Spicy, creamy and loaded with both tender shrimp and bacon bits, this shrimp chowder is surprisingly light, namely because roux takes the place of copious amounts of heavy cream.

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes 
• Why I Love It: vegan, beginner-friendly, <500 calories 

Who needs dairy when you can mimic all that creamy goodness with a can of cannellini instead? Here, meaty white beans get a zesty, palate-pleasing lift from a homemade gremolata of fresh herbs, lemon and (preferably top-notch) olive oil. The end result tastes like a Tuscan dream. 

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes 
• Why I Love It: one bowl, high protein, <500 calories, crowd-pleaser 

Part Tuscan, part Olive Garden, this zuppa toscana boasts bacon, Italian sausage, potato and a broth that’s lighter than the aforementioned restaurant chain’s so you don’t have to feel bad about any of it.

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes 
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, one pot 

There are few things more warming and comforting than a classic New England clam chowder. Go for the bread bowl if you have guests to impress; otherwise, just cut some sourdough up for dipping and call it a day. 

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes 
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly 

The mild, nutty taste of cauliflower harmonizes beautifully with the creamy tang of Greek yogurt in this healthy and tasty soup recipe that can be served as a side, appetizer or main. 

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes 
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, one pot 

Chili is the king of the hearty soup category and this recipe is a shining example. This protein-packed flavor bomb also features chicken, cheese and some very enticing garnishes (cilantro, scallion, bacon and avocado, to name a few) that we suggest you dole out generously. 

• Time Commitment: 55 minutes 
• Why I Love It: <500 calories, special occasion-worthy, one pot 

Make this deliciously creamy soup in the spring, when asparagus is in season, for an extra flavorful bowl of comfort that’s light and fresh as can be. 

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes 
• Why I Love It: vegetarian, gluten-free, <500 calories, kid-friendly 

Naturally gluten-free and easy to make vegan with a few plant-based subs. This simple broccoli soup is naturally gluten-free and easy to make vegan with a few plant-based subs. It gets a major flavor boost from store-bought pesto and is a foolproof way to please a crowd without breaking a sweat.