Best Winter Soups: Simple, Hearty Recipes for Cold Days

Warm up with the best winter soups made from simple, pantry ingredients. Find hearty, comforting recipes that are easy to cook and perfect for cold days.

A cozy overhead view of multiple hands reaching for bowls of various soups, including bean stew, creamy mushroom soup, green broccoli soup, and squash soup, arranged on a table with bread and cloth napkins.

When winter settles in, I pretty much switch straight into soup mode. There’s just something about a warm bowl after chores that makes the whole day feel easier. Honestly, I pretty much live on these recipes from December through mud season. A few of these are old standbys, and the rest came from cooks whose recipes never let me down.

Today I’m sharing the winter soups I reach for over and over again when the cold really settles in. They’re the kind of soups you can make without running to town again (which is always a win). You’ll find everything from brothy, veggie-packed bowls to hearty, stick-to-your-ribs stews.

If you’re after fast or mostly hands-off, there’s a soup in this list that’ll fit.

Hearty & Filling Soups for Cold Days

These are the soups I reach for when the wind is howling and the to-do list didn’t get any shorter just because it’s January. They’re the kind of hearty soups that hit the spot after dealing with frozen waterers or another round with the snow shovel.

Presidential-Style Chili

This version of chili gets its inspiration from Pennsylvania Avenue, and it’s been a fun change of pace around here. It’s hearty, slightly spicy, and you can swap in whatever beans or veggies you happen to have. See the full recipe for Obama’s Chili on HuffPost.

A close-up of hearty chili with red kidney beans, ground meat, and a thick tomato-based sauce, served in a white bowl.

Ingredients: Ground turkey or chicken (or lentils for a meatless option), beans, tomatoes, and warm spices.
Why It Works in Winter: It’s filling, flavorful, and easy to bulk up when you need to.
Try This: Add corn or diced peppers for more texture.

Bean and Bacon Soup

If you’re after a soup that sticks to your ribs and tastes like home, bean and bacon soup is hard to beat. Packed with hearty beans, tender veggies, and just the right amount of smoky bacon, it’s the kind of meal that keeps you going on even the coldest days. Bean and bacon soup courtesy of The Pioneer Woman.

Ingredients: White beans (canned or soaked dry), carrots, celery, bacon, garlic, and herbs.
Why It Works in Winter: It’s simple, easy on the budget, and it disappears pretty quickly around here.
Shortcut: Use canned beans instead of soaking dry ones to save time.

Slow Cooker Beef Stew

This is one of those dump-it-in-the-slow-cooker meals that makes the whole house smell amazing. Damn Delicious has a version that nails that classic winter stew balance of tender meat and soft vegetables. Find the hearty beef stew recipe on Damn Delicious.

Ingredients: Beef chuck, potatoes, carrots, onions, celery, broth, and herbs.
Why It Works in Winter: Minimal prep and mostly hands-off cooking are about all I can manage some days.
Serving Idea: It’s excellent with a slice of homemade potato bread using the method I share in my tutorial on how to make delicious homemade potato bread from scratch.

2-for-1 Slow Cooker Beef Roast + Bonus Bean Soup

This is one of my laziest winter secrets. You make a roast on day one, and the leftovers turn into a bonus soup the next day with almost no effort. It’s a simple two-day setup that takes some pressure off cooking in the cold months. Learn how I make a 2-for-1 beef roast meal that turns into a hearty bean soup using simple pantry staples.

A pepper-seasoned beef roast cooking in a slow cooker with tender green beans and broth for a hearty winter meal.

Ingredients: Beef roast, beans, broth, onions, herbs.
Why It Works in Winter: Saves time and stretches ingredients.

Creamy & Comforting Soups

Cold nights call for soups that feel deeply comforting. Any of these will help you warm up after a cold day.

Creamy Salmon Chowder

Don’t let the salmon scare you off. It’s simple, hearty, and pretty much perfect when it’s bitter cold out. The creamy base, tender potatoes, and savory veggies all come together beautifully. See this creamy salmon chowder at DIY Home Health.

Ingredients: Fresh or canned salmon, potatoes, cheddar, carrots, onions, celery.
Why It Works in Winter: It feels a little special but isn’t hard to pull together.
Try This: Use a Dutch oven to get that slow-simmered flavor.

Loaded Baked Potato Soup

If you love a fully loaded baked potato, this soup brings all those flavors right into a spoon. Sugar Spun Run has a smooth, cheesy version that’s perfect when you want something a little extra. Check out this baked potato soup from Sugar Spun Run.

Ingredients: Potatoes, chicken broth, cream, cheddar, bacon, scallions.
Why It Works in Winter: It gives you that “weekend soup” vibe on a weeknight.
Shortcut: Use leftover baked potatoes to speed things up.

Easy Slow Cooker French Onion Soup

This one has been a quiet favorite here for years. It’s deeply savory without much hands-on time, and it makes the house smell incredible. Warm up with my easy slow cooker French onion soup, which uses slow cooking to build all that rich flavor with almost no babysitting.

Close-up of French onion soup in a white bowl, showing the caramelized onions, melted cheese, and toasted bread with fresh thyme leaves on top.

Ingredients: Onions, butter, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, herbs, and crusty bread with melted cheese on top.
Why It Works in Winter: Big flavor, simple ingredients (that’s about all I’m after most nights).
Try This: It’s incredible with a slice of homemade white bread, which I share in my guide on how to make the ultimate white bread. It’s perfect for soaking up all that rich broth.

Easy 5-Ingredient Potato Soup

When I say “easy,” I mean it. This is my weeknight potato soup that comes together fast, freezes well, and hits the spot every single time. Here’s how to make my easy 5-ingredient potato soup for those nights when you want something warm.

A bowl of potato soup garnished with parsley and chopped bacon.

Ingredients: Potatoes, broth, cream, butter, and cheese.
Why It Works in Winter: Minimal effort, maximum comfort.
Try This: If you want to bump up the flavor a little, toss in garlic powder or smoked paprika.

Vegetable-Forward Winter Soups

On days when I want something warm but a bit lighter, these are my go-tos. These vegetable-based soups rely on pantry staples and winter produce.

Vegetable Barley Soup

It’s simple, filling, and exactly what I want when I’m chilled through. The barley gives it a satisfying chew, and the veggies keep it fresh and bright. See this nourishing vegetable barley soup at Xtrema.

Ingredients: Turnips, carrots, celery, barley, broth.
Why It Works in Winter: Big batch-friendly and adaptable.
Vegan Tip: Use vegetable broth for a fully plant-based version.

Butternut Squash & Carrot Soup

This soup is naturally sweet and silky smooth, and the spices make it feel like winter without being heavy. Mess in the Kitchen has a take on it that I really like. Check out this butternut squash and carrot soup from Mess in the Kitchen.

A creamy bowl of butternut squash and carrot soup topped with roasted pumpkin seeds and a swirl of cream, served in a white bowl.

Ingredients: Butternut squash, carrots, onions, vegetable broth, coconut milk, spices.
Why It Works in Winter: Light but still satisfying.
Try This: Toasted pumpkin seeds or a little dollop of sour cream on top.

Classic Minestrone

A solid minestrone recipe is something I rely on all winter long. This one uses beans, veggies, and pasta to make a hearty bowl that’s still pretty wholesome. You can find the minestrone soup recipe here.

Two bowls of hearty minestrone soup filled with vegetables, pasta, and beans, served alongside crusty bread on a rustic wooden table.

Ingredients: Tomatoes, zucchini, spinach, beans, pasta, herbs.
Why It Works in Winter: It uses whatever veggies you’ve got left in the drawer.
Try This: Swap pasta for quinoa for a gluten-free twist.

Bold & Flavorful Winter Soups

When you’re tired of plain soup, these ones have enough flavor to wake things up a bit.

Spicy Sausage and Kale Soup

This soup has just the right amount of heat, plus kale that softens just enough without disappearing. Sip & Feast’s version has a nice balance of spice and creaminess. Explore this spicy sausage and kale soup from Sip & Feast.

Ingredients: Italian sausage, kale, potatoes, onions, garlic, cream.
Why It Works in Winter: Warm, rich, and protein-packed.
Adjust This: Choose mild sausage if you prefer gentler heat.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

It’s bright and zippy with a little kick of spice. This is the soup I make when I’m craving color and flavor in the middle of winter. Natasha’s Kitchen has a wonderfully balanced version. Find this chicken tortilla soup at Natasha’s Kitchen.

Ingredients: Chicken, tomatoes, black beans, corn, tortillas, spices.
Why It Works in Winter: It’s lighter than the creamy soups but still hits the spot.
Try This: Avocado slices and lime juice really make it pop.

My Best Tip for Winter Soup Success

Make double. Every time. Winter has a way of rewriting the day, and having frozen portions on hand is a life-saver. I freeze soups in silicone muffin trays or lay freezer bags flat so I can pop out a single portion whenever I need it.

Winter Soup Questions You Might Have

Here are a few things people often wonder when they start making more winter soups at home.

Chili, beef stew, and potato-based soups tend to be the most filling. Anything with beans, barley, or root vegetables will carry you through a long afternoon.

Barley, lentils, quinoa, white beans, and potatoes all bulk up a soup beautifully. They freeze well, which makes them perfect for stocking up.

Yes, most soups freeze really well. Brothy soups are the easiest. Creamy ones might separate, but they usually pull together once they warm back up. I’ve shared my favorite freezer-friendly soups here.

Add more broth, a can of beans, or a handful of rice or pasta. It works especially well for soups like minestrone or anything tomato-based.

Potato soup or minestrone. They require very little technique and use inexpensive ingredients you probably have on hand.

Pin this to keep these favorite winter soups handy the next time you’re craving something warm.

Hands holding bowls of various winter soups, including creamy broccoli, mushroom, and tomato soup, surrounded by cozy sweaters and rustic tableware.

Winter soups are one of those small comforts that make the cold months feel a little easier. When the days get short and the to-do list stays long, having something warm and homemade on the stove feels like a tiny win you can count on. I hope you found a few new ideas to try, and maybe a couple to tuck into the freezer for the next busy week.

If you have a favorite winter soup, or if you tried one of these and loved it, I’d love to hear about it. What’s simmering in your kitchen this season?

The Best Winter Soups to Keep You Warm All Season