These 6 healthy soup recipes are perfect to warm you up on a cold winter day! They’re cozy and comforting, and with gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan-friendly options, there’s something for everyone. SAVE this post for those days when you just don’t know what to make!
As a born and raised California girl, I’ll admit: winter is NOT my favorite time of year. Since we don’t get snow in the Bay Area, the weather just turns cold, wet, rainy, and dreary. However, that’s not to say that winter doesn’t have its perks. In fact, winter does mark the start of one of my personal favorite seasons… Cozy Soup Season!
That’s right; when the temperatures start to plunge and the rain starts coming down, I immediately turn to soup to help me warm up. There’s something so soothing and comforting about a big bowl of piping hot soup on a cold day, and I simply can’t get enough of it! Which is why, every year, I love sharing brand new soup recipes on the blog with you. Not only are they great for a cold winter day, but they’re tried-and-true recipes anytime of year!
My soup recipes also happen to be some of my family’s favorites, and when it comes to my picky little boys, that’s saying something. When I find a recipe that they love, I have to run with it, because it’s a rarity these days! Any other moms feel me on that one?!
But anyway, these soup recipes are not only perfectly cozy and perfect for winter time, but are also picky-kid approved! It’s a win-win if you ask me, and I’m so excited to be sharing these recipes with you, just in time for Cozy Soup Season!
My Best Tips for Making Cozy Soups
While soups are fairly simple to make, there are a few ways to kick them up a notch and make them extra cozy and delicious. Here are a few of my favorite tips!
Make a Big Batch of Soup!
Seriously – don’t just make enough soup for one meal. If you’re going out of your way to make homemade soup, make sure that you make enough for at LEAST 2-3 meals. Why? Because like wine, soups only get better with age (within reason, of course).
I love storing my extra soup in the freezer, for the days when I just don’t have it in me to cook. And the good news is, when kept in the freezer, all of these soups will last at least a solid month. It’s the perfect quick meal in a pinch, and you’ll be thanking yourself later.
Season Heavily and to Your Liking
This may seem like an obvious one, but make sure that you’re generous with the seasonings! Over time, those seasonings are going to sink in and leave you with a beautiful, full-bodied, rich soup. I like being a little heavy-handed with the salt, pepper, garlic, and herbs, in my soups, to really lock in that rich flavor.
But with that said, also make sure that you season to your liking! If you don’t like super herby soups, don’t add a ton of herbs. Or, if the soup recipe calls for spices and you don’t like spice, go easy on it! Also remember that while the good flavors will sink in and become stronger, so will the flavors that you aren’t a fan of. So, moral of the story here: season to your liking!
AAAG: Always Add a Garnish
If you really want to take your soups to the next level, you have to follow my personal motto: “AAAG: Always Add a Garnish.” Garnishes are the best way to take your soup from ordinary to extraordinary.
I recommend adding a healthy drizzle of olive oil, adding some chopped cilantro or parsley, or even adding some croutons! My Homemade Garlic Sourdough Croutons are the perfect addition to any cozy soup!
6 Cozy Winter Soup Recipes
01. – Healthy Baked Potato Soup
This Healthy Baked Potato soup is exactly as it sounds – a health, delicious, soupy version of a baked potato with all of the fixings. It’s also gluten-free, dairy-free, and paleo-friendly but don’t let that stop you from thinking that it isn’t the same as a traditional baked potato. In my opinion, it’s even BETTER, and as soon as you taste it, your mind will be blown!
02. – Hearty Broccoli Potato Soup
This may not be your classic comfort soup, but it may just become your new favorite! My Hearty Broccoli Potato soup is full of a creamy broth that’s loaded with veggies and cheese and topped with crispy bacon. Oh, and this soup is also gluten-free and vegan-optional and is totally family-friendly, too!
03. – Cozy Lemon Chicken & Rice Soup
My Cozy Lemon Chicken & Rice Soup is a warm and cozy concoction filled with tender chicken, soft rice, and zesty lemon. This hearty soup is inspired by my late grandmother Peris’ traditional egg-lemon soup recipe, and it also tastes a lot like the avgolemono soup from one of my favorite San Francisco restaurants, Souvla. This has quickly become one of my more popular recipes – make it for yourself and see why! 😉
04. – Creamy No-Cream Tomato Soup
You’ve never had a tomato soup quite like this! My Creamy No-Cream Tomato Soup is totally dairy-free, without sacrificing the flavor. It gets its creaminess from coconut cream, and no, it doesn’t have a strong coconut taste. 😉 This is THE ultimate tomato soup recipe, and I love serving it alongside a nice crusty grilled cheese. Yum!
05. – Hearty Tuscan White Bean Soup
If you’ve been on the hunt for the perfect, hearty, plant-based soup recipe, then look no further because this is IT! My Hearty Tuscan White Bean Soup is full of so many flavorful aromatics, it only gets better with time! Plus, white beans are one of my favorite ingredients in the winter time. They’re hearty and packed with both fiber and protein, for an absolutely unbeatable combination.
06. – Butternut Squash Cauliflower Soup
If you love butternut squash soup, then you’re going to love this healthy take on it! It’s dairy-free thanks to the coconut cream (but don’t worry, it doesn’t taste like coconut), and has an extra serving of veggies thanks to its not-so-secret ingredient: cauliflower! This has been one of my go-to winter soup recipes for a few years now, and is also one of my more popular recipes on the blog!
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What others are saying
My daughter was gifted some Zuppa soup it was delicious I want to make some please help.
Hi Connie, are you referring to Zuppa Toscana? if so, you’re in luck! Here is my recipe: https://kalejunkie.com/hearty-zuppa-toscana/