This Season’s Best Soup Recipes

Between the flavorful aromas and the warming effects these dishes have on your body, there’s nothing quite like a hot bowl of soup on a chilly day. And, if you’re like us, and a steamy bowl of soup feeds your soul, you’re already well aware that soup season is upon us. So get out the biggest soup pot you have, check out these worthy recipes, and settle in for a great bowl of soup!

Creamy Tomato Basil Soup

Ingredients:

• 1 Tbsp. olive oil
• 2-3 lb. diced tomatoes
• 1 onion, diced
• ½ cup flour
• ½ cup butter
• 2 cups of chicken broth
• 4 leaves of fresh basil
• ½ cup of half & half

Sure, you can always whip out a can of Campbell’s tomato soup, pair it with a grilled cheese, and presto! Dinner is served. However, there’s nothing quite like the taste of creamy tomato basil soup when it’s made from scratch.

There are variations to the recipe out there, but the core ingredients are always the same: diced tomatoes, onions, flour, butter, chicken broth, basil, and half and half. You can always add additional spices that speak to you (such as oregano) and add additional veggies that you love (such as carrots or celery).

For most recipes, you’ll start by sautéing your vegetables in the soup pot with a little olive oil, and then you’ll incorporate the rest of the ingredients (not the flour, butter, or half and half) and cook until tender. You’ll then blend all ingredients together until they reach a smooth, creamy consistency.

In a separate pot, you’ll create a roux (a combination of flour and butter) and add to the soup pot with the blended ingredients. *Note, some recipes do not require a roux, especially if you’re making a health-conscious soup; the roux will simply thicken your soup and give it a creamier consistency.

You’ll then add the half and half last (as well as cheese, if desired), only cooking for a minute or so more, simply to heat the ingredients through.

Serve with salad, a sandwich, or bread for dipping, or simply enjoy your masterpiece on its own!

Loaded Baked Potato Soup

Ingredients:

• 4 large potatoes
• 4-6 slices bacon, diced
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• ½ yellow onion
• ½ cup flour
• 4 Tbsp. butter
• 1 cup of half & half
• 2 cups of chicken stock
• sour cream (for garnish)

Baked potato soup is a fan favorite, but loaded baked potato soup takes it up a notch.

Again, there are numerous recipes for baked potato soup, but for most recipes, you’ll need: potatoes, bacon, cheese, green onion, flour, butter, half and half, and sour cream. You’ll also need either chicken stock or vegetable stock, depending on your preference (you can remove the bacon to make this a vegetarian dish). Some individuals also like to add meat (such as ham), chives, and garlic.

First, you’ll want to cook your potatoes, peel them, and chop them up. If you’re adding bacon or other meats to the soup, you’ll also want to cook this in advance. As with most soups, you will first add the vegetables and sauté. You’ll then add flour, milk and half and half to the pot and whisk together, simmering until the mixture thickens.

You will then add all other ingredients to the soup and you’re done! This soup is best served with additional ingredients (such as chives, cheese, and bacon) to garnish the dish.

Chicken Gnocchi Soup

Ingredients:

• 1 16 oz. package of gnocchi
• 1 lb. chicken (optional)
• 1 large onion, diced
• 2 cups of chopped spinach
• 29 oz. chicken broth
• 1/3 cup of half & half
• 5 Tbsp. butter
• 6 Tbsp. flour

Another popular soup, chicken gnocchi soup is filling, creamy, and overall the perfect Italian dish for a fall day.

To make this soup, you’ll need: gnocchi, chicken (you can leave this out to make the dish vegetarian-friendly), onion & additional vegetables if desired (i.e. celery and carrots), spinach, milk, half and half, butter, and flour. Additionally, you can choose either chicken or vegetable stock, depending on your preference. You can also opt for many seasonings here, including basil, rosemary and thyme.

The soup is relatively simple, as you simply sauté the vegetables and then add in the seasonings, stock, and chicken, cooking until the chicken is heated through. While that is cooking, you will also make a roux for your soup with flour, butter, and milk.

The chicken will then need to be shredded, at which point you can add the gnocchi. Finally, you’ll add the roux to your soup and heat for a few more minutes. Last, you will add the spinach, as you’ll only need to cook until the spinach wilts.

Serve with Parmesan cheese and pepper, and you’ll impress all of your guests with this dish!

Whether you’re a soup novice or dedicated soup chef, ‘tis the season to use your ladle for everything it’s intended for! These recipes are the perfect way to warm up to soup season, though there are many more recipes out there to suit your soup needs! Simply choose one that speaks to you, stir away and enjoy a cozy night in, regardless of the chill outside.