13 Easy Fall Soups That Make a Perfect Midday Meal
Fall soups are perfect when you want something warm and filling in the middle of the day. Most of these freeze really well so you can make a big pot on Sunday and eat all week.
They’re way more satisfying than sandwiches and make your house smell amazing while they’re cooking. These recipes are all pretty forgiving – you can swap vegetables or add whatever you got in the fridge.
Butternut Squash Soup
This is probably the most popular fall soup and for good reason. The squash gets sweet and creamy when you roast it first. You can buy pre-cut squash if you don’t want to deal with peeling and chopping the whole thing. Just blend it up with some broth and cream. The orange color looks beautiful and it tastes like fall in a bowl. Perfect with crusty bread for dipping.
Get the recipe here.
Roasted Pumpkin Soup
Real pumpkin soup tastes way better than the stuff from a can but takes a bit more work. You gotta cut up a sugar pumpkin and roast it until soft. The roasting brings out the sweetness and gives it deeper flavor. Add some ginger and nutmeg to make it taste more interesting. This is what to make when you want to impress someone but still keep it simple.
Get the recipe here.
Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
This soup is hearty enough to be a whole meal. The wild rice takes longer to cook than regular rice but has this nutty flavor and chewy texture that’s really good. You can use leftover chicken or rotisserie chicken to save time. Carrots and celery make it feel like comfort food your mom would make. Great for using up thanksgiving turkey too.
Get the recipe here.
Creamy Mushroom Soup
The trick to good mushroom soup is using different kinds of mushrooms and cooking them until they’re really golden. Button mushrooms are fine but adding shiitake or cremini makes it taste more fancy. Don’t skip browning them properly – that’s where the flavor comes from. The cream makes it rich but you can use milk if you want it lighter.
Get the recipe here.
Apple Cider Chicken Stew
This is like regular chicken stew but with apple cider instead of just broth. The cider gives it a sweet fall flavor that’s different from normal stews. Add some diced apples in the last few minutes so they don’t get too mushy. Root vegetables like carrots and potatoes soak up the cider flavor really good. Perfect for using up apple cider before it goes bad.
Get the recipe here.
Sweet Potato and Black Bean Soup
The sweet potatoes make this soup naturally sweet and creamy without needing any dairy. Black beans add protein and make it more filling. Add some cumin and chili powder to give it a southwestern flavor. This is filling enough to be dinner but light enough for lunch. I love this one cause it’s healthy but doesn’t taste like diet food.
Get the recipe here.
Harvest Vegetable Soup
This is basically whatever fall vegetables you got chopped up and cooked together. Butternut squash, carrots, parsnips, and potatoes all work good. You can roast the vegetables first for deeper flavor or just throw everything in the pot. Add some herbs like thyme or sage to make it smell amazing. Great way to clean out your vegetable drawer.
Get the recipe here.
Creamy Cauliflower Soup
Cauliflower gets really smooth and creamy when you blend it up, almost like it has cream in it even when it doesn’t. Roast the cauliflower first to get some brown bits which adds lots of flavor. You can add cheese if you want but it tastes good plain too. This is surprisingly filling for something that’s mostly just vegetables and broth.
Get the recipe here.
Turkey and White Bean Chili
This is lighter than regular chili but still hearty and warming. Ground turkey is leaner than beef but still gives you that protein. White beans are creamier than kidney beans and look prettier too. Add some green chiles for a little kick. Great for meal prep cause it reheats really well and actually tastes better the next day.
Get the recipe here.
Roasted Tomato Basil Soup
Even though tomatoes aren’t really fall vegetables, this soup works great in cooler weather. Roasting the tomatoes first concentrates the flavor and makes them taste sweeter. Fresh basil is best but dried works fine too. Add a little cream at the end to make it rich and smooth. Perfect with grilled cheese sandwiches for dipping.
Get the recipe here.
Chicken and Dumpling Soup
The dumplings in this are basically just drop biscuits cooked right in the soup. They soak up the broth and get all fluffy and comforting. You can use leftover chicken or cook it right in the pot. This takes a bit longer than other soups cause you gotta cook the dumplings but it’s worth it. Feels like getting a hug from the inside.
Get the recipe here.
Spiced Carrot Ginger Soup
This soup is bright orange and has a nice kick from the fresh ginger. Carrots get really sweet when you cook them long enough. The ginger cuts through the sweetness and makes it more interesting. You can add a little coconut milk to make it creamy or leave it brothy. This is lighter than most fall soups but still warming.
Get the recipe here.
Bacon and Potato Corn Chowder
This is thick and creamy and totally satisfying on a cold day. The bacon adds smoky flavor and makes everything taste better like always. Potatoes make it hearty and corn adds sweetness. Some recipes use heavy cream but milk works fine too. This is definitely comfort food – not the healthiest but sometimes you need something rich and warming.
Get the recipe here.
