Soup’s on! We’ve pulled together more than 30 of our favorites for this collection of Healthy Soup Recipes. From first courses to cold remedies and comforting creamy soups to hearty chilis, our best healthy soups have got you covered. No matter the season, there’s always a reason.
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Soup is a whole mood and you know exactly when you’re in it. And while most people wait for the weather to turn cold before they get in that mood, this collection of our best healthy soup recipes is sure to spark your imagination all year long.
There’s summer soups for warmer months, brothy soups chock full of veggies, and some of the creamiest, most flavorful soups without fillers. Some are super quick, some are slow simmered to perfection, but all of them are easy, healthy whole food soups the whole family will love.
Why We Love Soup So Much!
SOUP IS EASY. Aside from soup being the OG “hug in a bowl,” providing copious amounts of comfort to those who slurp it, it’s by far one of the easiest (and tastiest) cooking methods for blending (sometimes literally) ingredients and flavors together into a single unified dish.
SOUP IS NUTRITIOUS. As a stand-alone meal, soup can pack in copious amounts of nutrition with lots of vitamins, minerals, and fiber from a variety of veggies, plus protein from meat or beans. Lots of these healthy soup recipes also focus on using healthy fats.
SOUP IS FLEXIBLE. As you browse the collection, you’ll find just how easily adaptable these soup recipes are for different dietary needs, whether you’re looking for a healthy soup recipe for weight loss plans or need to restrict allergens.
Let’s Define Healthy
And let’s start by acknowledging that everyone has kind of a different definition. Whether you’re counting calories or sticking to a plan, you’ve got a good idea of what you want or don’t want in your body. That’s why we’ve chosen the best healthy soup recipes that tick one, more, or all of the following boxes:
- Whole30
- Paleo
- Gluten free
- Grain free
- Dairy free
- Sugar free
- Vegetarian
- Vegan
- Low calorie
- Low carb
- Keto
Whew. That’s a lot. But wait… there’s more! Most of these easy soup recipes are flexible and customizable because one size doesn’t always fit all.
For our part, these healthy soup ideas rely on real, whole foods – no processed ingredients included – for clean eating. Plus, nothing in this collection has added sugar.
Better Homemade soups
No matter which recipe you choose, there are a few universal truths when it comes to healthy homemade soup:
- TAKE STOCK OF YOUR BASE. Homemade broth and stock always tastes better. You not only get to season and salt it to taste, but you also control the intensity of the flavor. Start simple and try our Instant Pot Bone Broth or click here for a stovetop recipe. Plant based or vegan? Make your own vegetable stock!
- GARNISH, BABY! Garnish can make or break your soup. Whether it’s just a pinch of fresh basil or a gremolata, you know soup relies on the buddy system. Don’t skimp on quantity or quality when garnishing.
- THINK FRESH. Not every healthy soup calls for fresh herbs, but when a recipe does, it’s for a reason. Don’t treat fresh herbs as a throwaway ingredient! Your flavor profile depends on it.
- CONVENIENCE IS KEY. It’s ok to use cans! The beautiful thing about canned vegetables is that it’s about the process and not added preservatives. (Well, to be fair, salt is a preservative, but added sodium is between you and your blood pressure, so check your labels.) For instance, canned beans are frugal and full of protein; and canned tomatoes work for most soup recipes. (For quick-cooking soups, we love reaching for fire-roasted tomatoes for extra flavor.)
Storing Soup
Soup is one of the absolute best pre-prep meal prep meals. (Did you get all that?) Most of these easy, healthy soup recipes are either quick cooking or hands off. Once they’re done, simply portion for your needs.
Most of these homemade healthy soups last for around 3 days in your refrigerator, but all should hold up beautifully for several months when frozen. Check individual recipes for specifications.
Since I make a lot of soup, I’ve invested in a variety of single-serve storage containers. I like these deli containers for storing single-serving portions in the freezer, and these glass pyrex containers for storing in the fridge. Talk about grab and go! You can also use good quality freezer bags – store them flat for more a more organized fridge, then defrost (and even reheat) using the boil-in-bag method.
Plant Forward Summer Soups
If you prefer creamy to chunky vegetable soups, these healthy Summer Soups are just the ticket. Using summer’s freshest favorites, like corn and tomatoes, these healthy creamy soups are all naturally vegetarian or vegan, with easy adaptations.
Creamy Roasted Tomato Soup: Fresh garden tomatoes shine in this Roasted Tomato Soup recipe. Tomatoes and garlic are slow-roasted to enhance their naturally sweet flavors, then blended with a simple seasoned base. And of course lots of fresh basil. It’s a vegetarian family favorite!
Summer Corn Soup: This recipe for sweet corn soup combines so many of the season’s best offerings – tender sweet corn, fresh savory herbs, bright flavor, and that endless summer feeling. It’s sweet but complex, and the herby gremolata perfectly complements the rich, buttery puree. To get the flavor and texture just right here, use the freshest summer corn you can find.
Detox Green Soup: This Green Soup recipe is refreshing and surprisingly hearty. Made with spinach, chard, and chicken bone broth it’s brimming with vitamins and minerals. I love that it’s highly customizable and can accommodate vegan, vegetarian, dairy-free, paleo, and Whole30!
Creamy Broccoli Potato Soup: Tuck into a bowl of this super creamy, super clean Broccoli Potato Soup whenever you need a dose of comfort food that will nourish from the inside out. It’s creamy without cream (or any dairy!), loaded with Vitamin C and other healthy vitamins and minerals.
Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato Soup: Tomato soup goes grownup with a few savory twists. Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato Soup is smoky, sweet, and surprisingly simple. Extra veggies add a nutritious boost, while fragrant herbs ramp up the flavor. Bonus – no roasting required.
Plant Forward Winter Soups
For a heartier meal when the weather turns cold, these winter vegetable soup recipes satisfy from bowl to soul. Creamy vegetable purees get an added warm and fuzzy feeling from spices like ginger and curry. Dairy-free and dairy-full winter soup options included.
Curried Cauliflower Soup: The addition of a diced apple highlights the robust caramelized cauliflower and perfectly balances the spiced notes in this curried cauliflower soup. Loaded with good-for-you vitamins, minerals, and fats, this soup is totally plant based, but feels indulgent and gourmet.
Healthy Roasted Pumpkin Soup with Coconut Milk: Roasted Pumpkin Soup is made with coconut milk and finished with fresh herbs and pepitias for a hearty, healthy, and simply delicious fall soup!
Ginger Carrot Soup: Creamy and cozy Ginger Carrot Soup will warm you up from the inside out. Roasted carrots, fresh ginger, and just a hint of orange create a perfect medley of flavor. Puree for a silky, smooth soup that’s perfect for sipping, slurping, and dunking. Adaptable for vegan diets.
Creamy Roasted Cauliflower Soup: This paleo cauliflower soup takes some time, but most of it’s hands off. Do also take the time to garnish this soup properly. You’ll be rewarded with the creamiest, most flavorful roasted cauliflower soup you can imagine.
Loaded Cauliflower Soup: Keto soup isn’t always easy to come by, but this creamy combo has you covered (and compliant). Healthy Loaded Cauliflower Soup embraces the rich texture and buttery flavor of everyone’s favorite versatile vegetable and ramps it up with bacon, garlic, and onion.
Nourishing Potato Onion Soup: This Potato Onion Soup is creamy without cream, slightly sweet from a base of caramelized onions, and as cozy as your favorite blanket. It’s nutrient dense and bone warming, and naturally Whole30, paleo, gluten free and grain free.
Butternut Squash Soup: Butternut Squash Soup with Pomegranate is a seasonal nutritional powerhouse. Delicate butternut squash and rich bone broth combine to make a velvety soup that is the perfect balance of sweet and savory. Pomegranate seeds add a fun little pop to every bite.
Beans, Baby
These protein packed healthy bean soups make for a mighty meal. Hearty beans and lentils blend beautifully with veggies, herbs, spices, and even bacon, for bowls of goodness that are filling and flavorful.
Instant Pot Lentil Soup: Properly cooked lentils are rich and earthy, and it doesn’t take much to make them shine. Our lentil soup draws on Italian and Mediterranean influences. It’s rich with thyme, sage, plenty of fresh garlic, and crushed tomatoes. Cooking lentil soup in the Instant Pot takes out all the guesswork and results in tender, creamy lentils swimming with chunks of vegetables in a perfectly seasoned broth.
Italian Chickpea Soup: Full bellies, full hearts? Italian Chickpea Soup delivers on both fronts. Chock full of hardy garbanzos and a medley of other veggies, this gluten-free spin on a classic is loaded with plant-based protein, and works year round as a main or a side. Don’t skimp on the garnish!
Winter Minestrone Soup: This gluten free Winter Minestrone Soup is packed with healthy, nutritious vegetables but is still rich and indulgent. Perfect for chilly winter nights!
White Bean and Kale Soup with Bacon: White bean and kale soup is the quick and easy answer to everyone’s favorite question “What’s for dinner?” It’s so, so flavorful, ready in thirty minutes, and loaded with protein and fiber for a filling and hearty meal that’s naturally gluten free, grain free, and dairy free.
Healthy Stew and Chili Recipes
Want chunky? We got your chunks right here. Healthy Stews and Chilis are loaded to the brim with all the good things. Need an easy Vegan Stew? We’ve got you covered. Paleo Chili? Done and done. No matter your requirements, we can guarantee these recipes are healthy and delicious.
Cajun Lentil Stew: Spoons up, bowls out! You may want to consider doubling the recipe for Cajun Lentil Stew immediately – it’s not always easy to find a tasty meal that’s both fiery and family-friendly. Build your base with Cajun mirepoix and seasonings to build flavor. Add lentils, along with the rest of your veggies, and simmer in broth. Cover, cook, and serve warm with additional seasoning to taste.
Hearty Vegetable Stew: Healthy, hale and hearty Vegan Stew is chock full of your favorite veggies, simmered in a savory stock. Ready in just about an hour, this “speedy” stew is naturally thickened to help develop a robust, flavorful gravy. Serve it piping hot with crusty bread.
Slow Cooker Beef and Butternut Squash Stew: Whole30 Beef Stew with Butternut Squash gives new meaning to “comfort food.” Slow cooker beef stew relies on butternut squash to add just a touch of mellow, nutty sweetness to the deep, savory flavor you know and love. Hearty, tender vegetables and fall-apart, melt-in-your-mouth hunks of chuck roast are a match made in slow cooker heaven.
Pumpkin Chicken Chili: Pumpkin brings sweetness and adds a velvety, melt-in-your mouth texture to traditional Chicken Chili. This recipe can be made in as little as an hour, but a longer, slower simmer session will maximize both flavor and tenderness. Save this for the weekends, and savor the mouth-watering aroma for hours.
Instant Pot Chili: Get ready to Netflix and Chili. Whole30 and Keto Instant Pot Chili gives you slow-simmered comfort food taste in a fraction of the time. This recipe guides you step-by-step to build and layer flavor using two kinds of meat, two kinds of peppers, and a foolproof blend of chili seasonings and veggies for a guilt-free hug in a bowl.
No Bean Beef Chili: Take your chili game up a (healthy-ish) notch with this veggie packed, no bean twist! Flexitarian-style Whole30 No Bean Beef Chili is brimming with a rainbow of colorful vegetables with just enough beef to please even the most carnivorous chili-lover in your life. Loaded with nutrient dense real foods, make this chili for game day, meal prep, or any hungry crowd.
Chili Con Carne with Roasted Peppers: This Paleo Chili Con Carne is slowly simmered until the meat is fall-apart tender. It’s whole 30 compliant with adjustable heat to fit a variety of palettes. This paleo chili is a rich and bone-warming addition to your cold weather rotation.
Dutch Oven Beef Stew: A proper beef stew should braised low and slow for hours. Create layers of deep flavor in this Dutch Oven Beef Stew by simmering seared pieces of chuck roast with onions, leeks, and garlic in a seasoned broth. Add the vegetables in the last hour to ensure they’re perfectly bite-tender. This is a recipe made for Sunday supper, and the leftovers are even better the next day.
Healthy Chicken Soup Recipes
Everyone needs a healthy chicken soup recipe in their back pocket. Whether you’re combatting cold season or cold weather, these tasty twists on the classic will warm you right up with real, whole foods, no fillers. Plus, they’re all perfect for using up leftovers for super easy prep!
Chicken Zoodle Soup: This Chicken Zoodle Soup is a low-carb, Whole30-compliant version of the classic. The broth is so complex and satisfying that you won’t miss starchy noodles for a second, and the aroma will transport you back to your mama or grandma’s kitchen in an instant.
Turmeric Chicken Soup: The tang and spice of fresh turmeric root really shines in this easy weeknight Turmeric Chicken Soup. It’s a delicious twist on classic chicken soup that uses leftover chicken, lots of fresh vegetables, chicken bone broth, and a spiced turmeric coconut milk.
Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup: Give chicken soup the perfect spring makeover with bright citrus and fragrant herbs. Loaded with chicken, veggies, and pasta, this quick and easy Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup is brimming with flavor and definitely “eats like a meal.” Use leftover or rotisserie chicken for fast prep.
Spicy Chicken Taco Soup: Spicy Chicken Taco Soup is truly the best of both worlds in one pot. Hearty chicken soup gets an instant boost from my flavorful homemade taco seasoning. Add in beans and tomatoes, and finish with your favorite Taco Tuesday toppers like avocado, cilantro, and sour cream for a bowl of soup that’s M’m! M’m! Great!
Healthy Ground Beef Soup Recipes
Burgers, tacos, and meatballs? There’s a soup for that! These healthy ground beef soup recipes bring the best of both worlds together in one bowl. If you’re looking for something a little different for dinner without scaring the kids off, then these are the soups for you.
Easy Hamburger Vegetable Soup: Classic hamburger soup is made by simmering ground beef with veggies and a starch in a savory tomato-based broth. This Whole30 compliant version incorporates bell pepper, Yukon gold potatoes, and fresh green beans, making it both colorful and nutrient dense. The resulting dish is more stew than soup, and is a hearty stick-to-your-ribs dinner that the entire family loves.
Easy Beef Taco Soup: Convincing kids to “eat the rainbow” has never been easier thanks to this quick and delicious Taco Soup Recipe! It’s packed with vegetables and a double dose of protein for a dinner that will fill them up and keep them full. It’s naturally dairy free and gluten free (just mind the toppings!) so it’s perfect for little ones with allergies or food sensitivities too.
Swedish Meatball Soup: This kid friendly soup combines the classic flavors of Swedish meatballs and their signature creamy gravy into a tidy, one-pot recipe brimming with vegetables (and nutrition too!). Mini Swedish meatballs are browned for flavor, then simmered in a rich and creamy broth with tender vegetables and just the right dose of umami for a mouth-watering meal that packs in flavor.
Healthy Sausage Soup Recipes
Sophisticated soups don’t have to be complicated. These healthy sausage soups are simple and hearty with bright, refined flavor profiles. Both are loaded with nutritious veggies and proteins without being heavy. Use compliant sausage if you want an amazing Whole30 soup.
Caldo Verde: There are “side soups,” and then there are “meal soups,” and Caldo Verde is definitely the latter. Portuguese Green Soup features kale and chorizo in a silken broth, thickened by Russet potatoes. Brown your sausage first to coax out the best flavor. Build your base by adding sautéed onion and garlic, potatoes, and kale into bone broth. Add your sausage after simmering, and serve it steaming with fresh bread.
Italian Sausage Soup: The ingredients might be humble, but don’t be fooled – Italian Sausage Soup packs big, bold flavor, and it’s even better the next day. A few key ingredients really amp things up – fire-roasted diced tomatoes, canned white beans with their canning liquid, and a bundle of fresh thyme. Use spicy Italian sausage and add a pinch of red pepper flakes to heat things up.
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