23 Cozy Fall Soup Recipes to Keep on Repeat All Season
Once cooler weather sets in, dinner at my house is a big pot of soup. It makes plenty of servings, it reheats better than almost anything else, and most of these fall soup recipes let the Instant Pot or slow cooker do the cooking while you get on with your day.
I pulled together 23 fall soup recipes that earn a spot in the regular rotation — hearty chicken soups, beefy one-pot classics, creamy bowls that taste like they simmered all afternoon, and a couple of fun ones for when you want something different. Every recipe here uses simple ingredients you can find at any grocery store, and most of them freeze well, so it’s worth doubling the batch while you’re at it.
Grab a spoon. Soup season is officially here.
Table of contents
Cozy Chicken Soup Recipes
Chicken soup is the backbone of soup season. These six range from the classic pot of comfort to taco and enchilada bowls with a little kick. Most of them come together in the Instant Pot or crockpot.
Hearty Beef Soups and Stews
When you want a bowl that eats like a full meal, start here. Tender beef, plenty of vegetables, and rich broths that taste like they took all day to prepare, even when they didn’t.
Italian-Inspired Soup Recipes
All the flavors of your favorite Italian dinners, ladled into a bowl. Lasagna, wedding soup, zuppa toscana are the ones people ask for again and again.
Creamy, Comforting Bowls
Rich, velvety soups for the nights that call for something extra cozy. For a bonus, one of these is a great way to use up leftover ham.
Pumpkin Soups for Fall
Pumpkin isn’t just for pie. These two savory recipes put a can of pumpkin to work in hearty, dinner-worthy bowls.
Something a Little Different
Tips for Making the Best Fall Soups
- Double the batch. Almost every soup in this list freezes well. Cool it completely, portion it into freezer containers, and you’ve got dinner banked for the busiest nights. Soups with pasta or noodles freeze best if you cook the noodles separately and add them when reheating.
- Build flavor at the start. Browning your meat and softening the onions, carrots, and celery before adding liquid makes a noticeable difference in the finished broth. Don’t rush that first ten minutes.
- Use the pot you have. Most of these recipes are flexible. An Instant Pot recipe can be converted to simmer on the stovetop, and most stovetop soups adapt to the slow cooker. Follow the recipe as written the first time, then adjust to fit your routine.
- Season at the end. Broths reduce as they simmer, which concentrates the salt. Taste right before serving and adjust then, not at the beginning.
- Don’t skip the toppings. Shredded cheese, crumbled bacon, a swirl of pesto, tortilla chips, or a slice of crusty bread turn a simple pot of soup into a meal everyone’s excited about.
Frequently Asked Questions About Soups
Yes, and most of the soups in this list freeze beautifully for up to 3 months. Cool the soup completely, then portion it into airtight freezer containers, leaving an inch of headspace. Broth-based soups like chicken soup, hamburger soup, and beef barley freeze best. Creamy soups can separate a little when thawed, so reheat them gently on the stovetop and whisk to bring them back together. Hold noodles, rice, and tortellini out of any batch you plan to freeze and add them fresh when serving.
Most homemade soups keep 3 to 4 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Seafood soups like the Italian cod fish soup are best eaten within 2 days. Always reheat soup to a full simmer before serving.
Chicken noodle soup is the classic that tops the list every fall, with butternut squash soup, chili, and zuppa toscana close behind. If you want to start with crowd-pleasers, make the Instant Pot chicken noodle soup, creamy roasted butternut squash soup, and pumpkin chili from this list first.
Crusty bread or dinner rolls are the classic choice, and cornbread is perfect next to the chili and taco-style soups. A simple green salad rounds out the creamy soups. Several soups in this list, like the beef stew, lasagna soup, and cabbage roll soup, are hearty enough to stand alone.
In most cases, yes. Instant Pot soups can simmer on the stovetop until the meat and vegetables are tender, and most stovetop soups will work in a slow cooker on low for 6 to 8 hours. Pressure cooker timing is the exception, so follow those recipes as written for safety and texture.
More Cozy Recipes to Try
That’s 23 pots of soup to carry you from the first chilly evening straight through winter. If you’re stocking the freezer, start with the chicken noodle, hamburger soup and lasagna soup, as they’re the ones my readers make on repeat.
- Foolproof Meat Recipes That Always Turn Out Right
- Easy Oven Baked Beef Short Ribs
- Tender Meaty Instant Pot Baby Back Ribs
Tried one of these? Leave a comment below and tell me which these soups you are making. And if you’re planning ahead for the season, pin this list so it’s waiting for you on the next cold night.
