12 Winter Soup Recipes for Cold Days
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Looking for winter soup recipes? Cold weather is a great excuse for a bowl of soup and a thick slice of bread or two!
The following recipes for winter soups include creamy British favorites, plus Thai coconut chicken soup and a Japanese miso broth. Some are blended smooth; others have enough meat and veggies to make them ideal for dinner.
Jump to a Recipe
- Cream of Cauliflower Soup
- Potato Leek Soup with Bacon
- British Onion Soup with Cider
- Apple and Parsnip Soup
- Carrot and Chestnut Soup
- Spicy Pumpkin Soup with Rice and Ginger
- Traditional Cullen Skink
- Chicken Tortilla Soup with Rotel Tomatoes
- Keto Lasagna Soup Without Noodles
- Brown Windsor Soup
- Tom Kha Gai Thai Chicken Soup
- Japanese Scallop Soup with Snow Peas and Udon
1. Cream of Cauliflower Soup
Cauliflower and leeks make a smooth, mild soup with celery and garlic. A little lemon juice gives it some zip before the half-and-half goes in. There are sliced green onions on top and optional croutons add crunch. Choose this one for a simple lunch with warm bread.
2. Potato Leek Soup with Bacon
Bacon cooks with the potatoes and leeks in this one, and most of the soup is blended, so its smoky flavor is in every slurp as well as the garnish. Milk and a little cream give it a smooth texture. The toasted bread cubes are served at the end and I like to top it with some leek and bacon pieces.
3. British Onion Soup with Cider
Dry hard cider and apples give this onion soup a distinct apple flavor. There are leeks and potatoes in there too, and only half the soup is pureed, which leaves soft vegetable chunks. Grated Gruyère and fresh thyme go on top. It’s a thick British onion soup with a little sweetness from the cooked fruit.
4. Apple and Parsnip Soup
Tart apple balances out the sweetness of parsnips in this smooth winter soup recipe. Sage and whole cloves flavor the broth and I like to stir in some cream near the end. This is a fantastic way to enjoy parsnips without having to roast them.
5. Carrot and Chestnut Soup
Cooked chestnuts give this carrot soup an earthy flavor and a thick texture when you blend it with an immersion blender. The soup is seasoned with fresh thyme and parsley and I like to add a little ground ginger for that warm spice touch. Cream is optional, so the carrot and chestnut flavor can be enjoyed without that extra richness if you prefer not to add it.
6. Spicy Pumpkin Soup with Rice and Ginger
Serrano chili gives this pumpkin soup some heat, and fresh ginger juice adds a sharp, aromatic flavor. Cooked brown rice makes the blended pumpkin soup more filling. It’s savory rather than a sweet pumpkin soup. A swirl of yogurt or sour cream is optional, and you may want to add toasted pepitas for a crunchy topping.
7. Traditional Cullen Skink
Smoked haddock is the main flavor in this famous Scottish potato soup recipe. The fish is poached in milk, then it goes back into the pot in large flakes. Some of the potatoes are mashed into the broth to thicken it, but not all, so there’s texture. There’s no need for heavy cream in this one, since the milk and potatoes give Cullen skink its creamy consistency.
8. Chicken Tortilla Soup with Rotel Tomatoes
Cooked chicken and canned Rotel tomatoes keep this soup pretty straightforward. Refried beans thicken the tomato broth and corn adds sweetness. The crisp tortilla strips are definitely part of the appeal, with avocado or sour cream as your optional extras. It’s one of the quicker soups here and a good option when there’s cooked chicken in the fridge.
9. Keto Lasagna Soup Without Noodles
Italian sausage simmers in a tomato and beef broth with garlic and Italian seasoning. A mixture of ricotta, mozzarella and Parmesan tops this winter soup to give it that familiar lasagna flavor. There are no pasta sheets or noodles in here. The sausage and cheese make it rich enough for dinner, and you could always add a green salad if you want to serve something fresh on the side.
10. Brown Windsor Soup
Beef and lamb simmer slowly with carrot and parsnip in a seasoned beef stock. This is the soup to choose when you have time for a long simmer. A little Madeira is optional at the end, and kidney beans can be added to this soup recipe too. The dark broth and pieces of meat make it a filling British soup for a cold evening.
11. Tom Kha Gai Thai Chicken Soup
Galangal and lemongrass flavor the stock for this Thai coconut chicken soup, and makrut lime leaves add their citrus aroma. Chicken thigh and mushrooms cook in the strained broth and then you add coconut milk and seasonings. Lime juice and fish sauce give it a tangy, savory flavor. The chilies can be adjusted to your taste, so you can make it as hot as you dare or as mild as you like.
12. Japanese Scallop Soup with Snow Peas and Udon
Golden seared scallops are served over udon noodles in a light white miso broth. Mushrooms and snow peas add texture and there are also sliced green onions in there. This soup is less rich than the creamy ones in the collection, but the noodles make it a filling meal. Enjoy it as a seafood dinner at home if you want to make something that’s light but still satisfying.
What to Serve with Winter Soup Recipes
Warm bread is an easy accompaniment to the smooth vegetable soups, especially the cauliflower and apple and parsnip recipes. Potato leek soup already has toasted bread cubes, and the tortilla soup has crisp strips to add at the table.
The scallop soup has udon noodles so it doesn’t need a starchy side. A small green salad is a good pick for the richer lasagna soup. For Brown Windsor soup, a slice or two of crusty bread is handy to soak up the last of the broth. Butter swim biscuits go well with Cullen skink or cauliflower soup.
