13 Soup Recipes For A Comforting Fall Meal

The leaves are turning, the days are getting shorter, and the temperatures are dropping. This calls for some serious comfort food, and what could be more soothing than a hot bowl of soup? Soup is one of those foods that can warm you up from the inside out and satiate your mind and body. It's also a dish that can be made affordably, taking advantage of ingredients that might otherwise go to waste. That is a win for the environment, our pocketbooks, and hungry bellies.

This fall, try whipping up one of these soul-soothing culinary delights. You might even consider making a double batch. Most of these delicious recipes can easily be doubled, giving you enough to refrigerate or freeze for another meal, saving you time and energy after a busy day working or shopping for gifts. Regardless of your mood, these diverse soup recipes from the Daily Meal archives can accommodate every taste and preference.

Whether you feel under the weather or crave a one-pot meal that reminds you of grandma's home cooking, chicken noodle soup is always a good idea. This recipe is effortless and comes together rapidly without sacrificing that cooked all-day flavor.

To save even more time, try purchasing pre-cut veggies. And don't forget, if you plan to make a big batch of soup to nosh on for the week, don't add the noodles to the soup, or they will sop up all that luscious broth. If you like a little spice, stir a little harissa or sambal oelek into your bowl to heat things up.

Recipe: Classic Chicken Noodle Soup

Tomato soup is one of those foods that instantly transports us to childhood. This super easy and quick recipe uses canned tomatoes to deliver a luscious result that will perk up your taste buds. Adding some sugar to this soup can help to tame the acidity for those with sensitive stomachs.

We recommend pairing this soup with a classic grilled cheese sandwich for the ultimate nostalgic combination. Try some cheddar and fontina on sourdough for a melty, dunkable treat.

Recipe: 1-Pot Tomato Soup

Lentils are a fabulous ingredient for those wanting to incorporate more plant-based protein into their diets. This lentil soup uses generous amounts of curry powder and cumin for an exotic flair and a splash of lemon juice at the end to brighten things up.

While there is spinach in this recipe, you might still want to round out your meal with a nice green salad topped with plenty of chopped raw vegetables, avocado, and a light vinaigrette. Adding unsalted shelled pistachios or slivered almonds for crunch will help satiate all your senses.

Recipe: Easy Lentil Soup

This recipe has all the creamy goodness of mashed potatoes in soup delivery format. The key is puréeing the soup before serving. Instead of a blender, try an immersion blender, which requires less cleanup and allows you to blend all the soup straight in the pot.

For best results, opt for a starchy potato like a russet (rather than a more waxy potato like a Yukon gold), or you may end up with a gummy texture. Try garnishing this soup like you would a baked potato. We recommend chopped green onions, crispy bacon bits, and shredded cheddar cheese.

Recipe: Silky-Smooth Potato Soup

Wild rice sets this chicken soup apart from its noodle-based cousin. It has a delightfully al dente texture when properly cooked. Just be sure to cook your rice in advance of making this soup. You can even cook it a day ahead to save time.

While the béchamel sauce is a thickener, giving this soup a luscious texture, it does contain gluten. For a gluten-free alternative, try using cornstarch instead. Start with one tablespoon of cornstarch whisked with two tablespoons of water, adding more if needed. Finish the soup with heavy cream to taste.

Recipe: Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

This soup is quick and cost-effective because it uses canned and frozen vegetables, but don't let this speed and affordability fool you. It's a nutritional powerhouse, with plant-based protein courtesy of the kidney beans, and five servings of vegetables per portion size.

To reduce sodium, opt for low-sodium chicken broth and canned vegetables. You can also change things up by swapping different vegetables and beans. We recommend chickpeas instead of kidney beans and 10 ounces of thawed frozen spinach instead of peas for a more Mediterranean flair.

Recipe: All The Veggies Vegetable Soup

We like to cook with wine and sometimes add it to the food. Using white wine in this delectable chicken noodle soup recipe not only helps tenderize the chicken breasts but also confers a sophisticated flavor. Additionally, fresh rosemary and sage give this soup a festive Thanksgiving dinner feel.

While egg noodles are a classic choice, you can substitute any pasta, including gluten-free varieties. Just be sure to adjust the cooking time accordingly. As chicken soup is a popular comfort food to enjoy when sick, try serving this cold-curing elixir with crunchy, buttery, immunity-boosting homemade garlic bread.

Recipe: Homestyle Chicken Noodle Soup

If you are hunting for a weeknight soup recipe full of protein and bold flavors, look no further than this dynamite chicken tortilla soup. The key to this soup is using your Instant Pot. It reduces cooking time dramatically, allowing you to get this dish from the refrigerator to the dining room table in under an hour.

Whatever you do, don't skimp on the lime juice. The bright acidity helps to make the complex flavors pop. Serve topped with a scoop of homemade guacamole and queso fresco for extra flavor and a hint of creaminess.

Recipe: Quick and Easy Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup

Few soups seem as sophisticated as a classic French onion. The key is slowly caramelizing your onions. If you don't have the entire day to slowly stir your onions, let the slow cooker take care of that laborious part. To minimize the crying factor of slicing your onions, use a sharp knife and work in a well-ventilated area, like under the stove hood.

For an even more complex flavor, try using different kinds of onions. We recommend a combination of red, Vidalia, and white. To round out this meal, we suggest serving it with the sharp flavors of a simple arugula, fennel, and orange salad.

Recipe: Slow-Cooker French Onion Soup

Some like it hot. We know we do. Look no further than this recipe for a spicy, rich, flavorful soup with a Mexican flair. This soup is exactly what it sounds like, incorporating all the ingredients you'd expect to see in a taco bar.

We recommend selecting ground beef with a lean-to-fat ratio of no lower than 90/10. Any fat beyond that can cause your soup to become greasy. Garnish this soup with fresh pico de gallo, chopped avocado, shredded Monterey Jack or pepper jack cheese, and some tortilla strips for texture.

Recipe: Hearty Taco Soup

This velvety cream of broccoli soup is fancy while being low-calorie. It also provides all the nutritional benefits of cruciferous vegetables, which is a win for those wanting to boost their vitamin and mineral intake. Lastly, its verdant hue is tremendously appealing to look at.

Try garnishing this soup with a hint of Greek yogurt and chopped chili roasted pistachios for a hint of spice and crunch. To round out the meal, serve it alongside an umami-rich mushroom and Swiss panini.

Recipe: Cream of Broccoli Soup

Caldo De Res is more than just a hearty beef soup. It's a journey into the culinary heritage of Mexico. This soup is made with beef shank, an inexpensive, flavorful cut. It comes from the leg of the cow and can be tough and chewy if not cooked properly.

The bone, cartilage, and connective tissue soften when slow-cooked, filling the broth with unctuous flavor and abundant nutrients. You'll want to serve this with a hunk of crusty bread to dunk into the rich broth and sop up all that beefy goodness.

Recipe: Comforting Caldo De Res

Another soup that promises an exotic culinary excursion in a bowl is this delectable West African recipe. Yams, kale, and peanut butter make this dish a nutritional powerhouse, while the diverse, rich spices liven up your taste buds.

While you can enjoy this stew-like soup with a hearty baguette, you might consider whipping up a batch of fufu. This doughy food is traditionally made from pounded starch, like yam, sweet potato, cassava, taro, maize, or plantain. Usually shaped into balls the size of bread rolls, it's the quintessential accompaniment to soups in West Africa.

Recipe: Kale and Yam Peanut Soup