AUTHOR: Rebecca Holcomb
Sometimes life isn't all it's cracked up to be, and the warm, inviting comfort of a meal can offer hope and healing. Other times, we want some downhome cooking on a cold winter night. No matter your reasons, a thick, brothy soup almost always hits the spot. If you need some inspiration or a quick, hearty meal, these soups will carry you through.
Table of Contents
1. Hearty Potato
I learned my first potato soup recipe from my mother-in-law when I was newly married. Heavy cream, butter, and plenty of potatoes make for Mother Nature's comfort food. To pack in the calories, try adding bacon or ham cubes, celery, carrots, broccoli florets, or any vegetable you prefer.
2. Creamy Chicken Noodle
Chicken noodle soup is as American as apple pie and the Fourth of July. Adding heavy whipping cream to the mix can help add additional weight to a simple, gorgeous meal. Cook and shred your chicken, add back into your stock of seasoned water, mix in your favorite veggies, pour in the cream, and thicken with a roux or flour/water mixture to your heart's content. Serve this one in a bread bowl, and you're in Heaven!
3. Broccoli and Cheese
I hated broccoli as a child. Thankfully, times change. Broccoli and cheddar cheese soup is an easy, filling, calorie-dense soup that will warm your soul while filling your belly. It helps that it's also a pretty soup and goes so well in your favorite mug if you prefer getting a handle on things. Get the recipe
4. Chicken Chili
I'll admit that I am not a big fan of chicken chili; however, if you're consuming this one fresh from the pot, it sounds divine. Boneless/skinless chicken breasts, jalapenos, and instant mashed potatoes (believe it or not) are the stars of this rodeo. So, grab a spoon. Add chicken, beans, diced tomatoes, chicken stock, bell peppers, an onion, half a jar of hot peppers, and chicken chili seasoning to a crock pot.
Cook on high for three hours or until your chicken can easily pull apart. Shred up your chicken breasts and add to the pot with eight or sixteen ounces of sour cream. Then sprinkle in instant potatoes to your liking, with the understanding they will thicken as they cool.
5. Roasted Cauliflower
Nothing says fall like a warm, harvest-friendly bowl of roasted cauliflower soup with a hint of nutmeg and lemon juice. Give your head of cauliflower a good roast in a hot oven until the edges start caramelizing. In a stock pot, sautee your onions until tender, and add your garlic and vegetable broth. Then add in your roasted cauliflower, simmering for about 20 minutes.
Add the mix to a sound stand mixer and add in your butter. Blend until entirely smooth and sprinkle with just a touch of nutmeg and lemon juice. Garnish with chives, parsley, green onion, or all three. Get the recipe
6. Tom Kha Gai
Thai for coconut chicken soup, this hearty, light meal will satisfy your palette and is perfect for winter weather. Creamy and salty with a touch of tart and sweet, the ingredients shine and only add to the best part of any soup: the broth. Lemongrass, coconut milk, fish sauce, and red Thai curry paste are the flavor figures that make this soup one of the best-tasting comfort foods known to mankind; seriously, give it a try!
7. Zuppa Toscana
Spicy sausage, bacon, potatoes, and cheese make this soup perfect for a rainy afternoon or chilly winter night. It's also a popular pick at Olive Garden, so you might already be familiar with it. Thankfully, you can make it at home with a little effort and much love. Substitutes are also available for keto, vegan, and Whole 30 diets, as well as for those who don't like a lot of spice. Serve it up with yummy cheese and a crostini; this soup is on my list of must-try dinner delights.
8. Chicken and Dumplings
I never had chicken and dumplings until I married my husband, and I'm thankful I learned this recipe from my mother-in-law. Boil your chicken in salted water until tender, strip, and set aside, reserving the stock water. Using biscuit dough, which can be homemade, pat out a section and cut thin, half-inch strips, pinch off a small section, and roll into a ball, keeping flour handy so the dough doesn't stick.
Once you get started on your small dough balls, bring your water to a nice boil and add the chicken back in. Pour your dough balls into the boiling water. They will puff up and then cook down. Keep adding them until you have used up your dough. Keep an eye on your water; you want it to continue boiling and not run low. After all your dough balls cook down, you'll have a rich broth full of tender chicken and bite-sized dumplings. Sprinkle in some pepper and enjoy!
9. Tomato
I love, love, love tomato soup, especially with a hefty grilled cheese sandwich on the side. Campbell's is excellent in a pinch, but making it at home is worthwhile. A little tomato puree or paste if you want a burst of flavor, some ripe tomatoes (your favorite kind is perfect), an onion, some butter, and a lot of love will make this an ideal accompaniment to any meal or a great option all by itself as well.
10. New England Clam Chowder
If you're craving seafood but want something hearty and filling, New England clam chowder will hit the spot. Clams, celery, heavy cream, and chunky potatoes merge in this thick, hefty soup that will run as long as you do. And if you're looking for a little something on the side, because what soup doesn't like a companion? A fresh baguette will work wonders!
11. Tortellini Soup
If you are impatient or don't want to tackle homemade tortellini, you can get the three-cheese sort from the frozen section of your local grocery store. This soup makes for a quick, easy weeknight meal that's filling, flavorful, perfect for pairing with a hunk of your favorite cheese or crusty bread, and awesome enough to eat all by itself.
Source: Reddit, Natasha's Kitchen, 40 Aprons, Boulder Locavore, Dang Delicious.
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