Pickled Plum
18 Easy Healthy Soup Recipes
Soup’s on! These healthy soup recipes are sure to satisfy your comfort food cravings. From easy to make classics like orzo chicken soup to vegan garlicky, gingery Asian noodle soup – to an Indian dal with all the spices (and beyond). If you need some broth in your bowl, this one is most definitely for you!
I’m always jotting down soup ideas. Any scrap of paper will do. I’ve got napkins with vegetarian soup recipes, and post-it notes with healthy soup recipes for when we get sick. Because, as we all know, good soup is good stuff.
Comforting Healthy Soup Recipes That Everyone Will Love
If you’re cooking for a full house, it can be tough to please the whole gang. But if you’re in a tomato soup and grilled cheese mood – and someone else is following a low-calorie, low carb diet – you shouldn’t have to make multiple meals. A big batch of soup covers a lot of bases.
Most of these healthy soups can be served as a hearty main dish that will satisfy even the pickiest eater in your household. And for the lighter, more delicate soups, you’ll get a lot of mileage from grabbing a bigger bowl!
One-Pot Navy Bean Soup
Soup is the OG one pot meal. And there’s something of a vegetable crisper clearinghouse element to a good vegetable soup. Well, aside from the chopped carrots, celery and spinach (kale would work too) – beans take top billing in this easy soup recipe. Navy beans are the perfect substantive addition: just hearty enough not to disintegrate in the hot broth, but pliant and almost creamy when you take a bite. If you love a good tomato based veggie soup, or white bean soup in general, this one is for you! A light dusting of Parmesan cheese and fresh herbs (like chopped basil) are the perfect flavor packed finishers.
Vegetarian Split Pea Soup
While this is definitely a recipe typically associated with the smokiness of ham, you won’t miss it in this easy vegetarian soup. Yellow split peas cook quickly and are so much easier to work with than a lot of dried bean varieties. It’s deceptively simple, and you can make it with a handful of typical pantry ingredients. This is one of those healthy soup recipes that tastes like it has been simmering all day, but is full of comfort food goodness in a super short amount of time. Make this thick, satisfying plant based concoction when you need to warm up from the inside out.
Light Spring Minestrone Soup
Let’s hear it for springtime (and veggies)! And while I strongly feel that this bright, nutrient rich Minestrone soup is the food personification of the springtime thaw, you can make it anytime you need a boost. I used brown rice in this easy soup – and fava beans are packed with fiber, protein and nutrients like folate and manganese. Serve this savory soup with lemon wedges, because a spritz of lemon juice (or even lime juice) sends the freshness factor into the stratosphere.
Korean Seaweed Soup (Tofu Miyeok-Guk)
Seaweed soup is a traditional Korean soup made with rehydrated seaweed and proteins like beef brisket or seafood like mussels, shrimp or abalone. It’s known colloquially as Korean birthday soup – since it is commonly served to Korean mothers after giving birth because it’s thought to have the perfect balance of nutrients to help a new mother recuperate after labor. I subbed out the typical proteins for silken tofu and enoki mushrooms. That combo works so well with the delicate dashi broth. If you’re in to Asian flavors, give this Korean soup a try.
Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup
Moms all over the world might have differing opinions on a lot of things. But they almost universally agree that chicken soup is good for what ails ya. This chicken noodle soup is savory and bright – but the noodles themselves are actually orzo pasta. Veggies like carrots, onions, celery and zucchini keep it light – while chicken stock and lean chicken breast deliver deep, savory home cooked goodness. Now, if you’re not a fan of orzo (or noodles in general), use rice instead. I think a lemony chicken wild rice soup would still deliver the same taste of home – and mom’s love.
Silky Cream of Cauliflower Soup
This creamy soup is delicate, savory and naturally sweet. And topped with a pinch of nutmeg, it looks far more fancy than the actuality of the humble ingredients list and simple recipe steps. The secret is to get the cauliflower, celery and onions properly soft – and then hit the whole thing with an immersion blender until it is velvety smooth. Now, I use fat free evaporated milk instead of heavy cream. I find that it delivers the trademark creaminess of dairy without blowing the calorie count into the stratosphere. If you’re looking for a lightened up version of a brasserie style creamy cauliflower soup, this is definitely one to try.
The Best Miso Soup (みそ汁)
There’s no need to limit your intake of miso soup to outings at your favorite sushi spot. And when you take into account that this is one of those healthy soup recipes that has literally 3 ingredients (and is ready in 15 minutes from start to finish), you might be making it at home all the time! This is my mom’s recipe, so I’m a bit partial to it. But I think the sweet onions and savory dashi work so well with the funky umami of miso paste. And if you’re intimidated by making this iconic Japanese soup at home, don’t be! Check out this video to see how easy it is to whip up with zero fuss.
Cabbage Soup With Kombu Dashi
Are you on the cabbage soup diet, but getting sick of eating the same old cabbage soup all the time? Well, try mixing it up! There’s a hint of the sea from kombu dashi (Japanese seaweed powder) which infuses the napa cabbage and carrots with savory, saline umami. And you can spice things up a bit with a dash of ichimi togarashi (Japanese powdered chili peppers). Make this when you’re trying to be good, but still want a flavor packed cabbage soup!
Wakame and Vermicelli Soup
Sometimes I’m craving a steaming bowl of shoyu ramen – but feel like it might be a good idea to use a lighter noodle. And while I’m not a huge fan of using rice noodles in ramen, rice noodles are absolutely the noodle of choice in this lightened up wakame soup. Chicken stock, cooking sake and soy sauce impart a savory sharpness that is contrasted nicely by creamy soft eggy ribbons (from a simply whisked egg). And corn delivers little pops of texture to this easy Japanese inspired soup.
Vegan Butternut Squash Soup
If you love the sweetness butternut squash brings to the table, but find it almost too sweet for pureed soups – just add miso! Seriously, miso paste lends its earthy funk to this healthy soup and contrasts the sweetness in the most deft of ways. And you can add a little Southeast Asian flair to this vegan soup by pan frying some of the butternut squash in sriracha and adding it to each bowl (with a little cilantro for good measure of course) just before serving.
Baby Bok Choy Soup With Garlic and Ginger
Hot and savory. Packed with garlicky and gingery goodness. That’s pretty much all you need to know about this umami loaded baby bok choy soup. But of course I’ve got a few tips and tricks on selecting and preparing the best bok choy. This recipe is a reader favorite. So grab a package of rice noodles, click the recipe link and find out why for yourself!
Vegan Lentil Soup Recipe
Want to feel warm and cozy? Just make yourself a bowl of hearty and nutty vegan lentil soup for dinner. That’s pretty much all it takes. Packed with nutrients and vitamins, this is one of those healthy soup recipes you’ll call on all winter long. Now as far as ingredients are concerned, the secret to this easy soup is in a small handful of warming spices. A simple mix of cumin and turmeric impart a vaguely South Asian flavor profile. And it’s easy! You’ll have the prep done in 10 minutes – and all that’s left is to simmer on the stovetop or in a slow cooker. Lentil soup freezes well, so feel free to plan ahead and make a big batch.
Naengmyeon (Korean Cold Noodle Soup – 냉면)
This summery Korean dish is full of salty and sour pickle flavors and comes packed with ice cold buckwheat noodles. If you’re wondering what the broth is, here’s a step by step recipe for dongchimi (Korean radish water). I personally think this bright Korean soup works best with buckwheat noodles (feel free to use Japanese soba noodles) – but you can also make a naengmyeon recipe with shirataki noodles if you’re going even lighter in your own kitchen.
Spicy Kabocha and Adzuki Bean Soup
Looking for something a little spicy with Southeast Asian inspired flavors? Try this delicious kabocha and adzuki bean soup. Kabocha squash is nutty and mildly sweet (if you can’t find kabocha, sweet potato would be a decent alternative). And while I love Japanese adzuki beans, I did use dried (and soaked) black beans one time with decent results. Point is: use what you have handy. What’s not really optional is the chili paste. Actually, this one isn’t for the faint of heart at all. With a kombu, chili paste and fish sauce broth there’s a lot going on flavor-wise. But for lovers of assertive Asian flavors, it’ll be love at first sip!
Crock Pot Potato Soup
Sometimes it’s nice to load up the slow cooker or instant pot and just walk away for a while. I’m a huge fan of simple, pureed potato soup. And this one is so easy to make, you might just keep your crockpot out on the counter for any unforeseen soup emergencies that may arise. Now, I’ve got options in the recipe card for both herbivores and omnivores. Easily make this one vegan with unsweetened oatmilk instead of dairy – and veggie broth instead of chicken broth. And if you’re not following a dairy-free diet, and want a cheesy potato soup, add a bit of shredded cheddar cheese. Or, hey… if you’re so inclined, don’t change a thing.
Easy Dal (Indian Lentil Soup)
Crank up your Indian cooking prowess a few notches with this easy soup recipe. Garam masala (a spice blend also widely used in curry), turmeric and tomato paste create a wonderful interplay of deep flavors. Dal is actually one of my all time favorite soups to order when I go out for Indian food. And it’s super simple to make at home. It’s ready in well under an hour. I hope you love this one!
Green Detox Soup (Vegan, Gluten Free)
Looks like broccoli soup. Isn’t broccoli at all. I make this watercress and spinach detox soup a few times a year – mainly when I’m feeling a little run down, or like my body could use a boost. Cumin, turmeric and fresh ginger impart a wonderful warming zing. It’s freshness that my body immediately reacts to. I hope it does the same for you!
Slow Cooker Vegetable Soup
Acorn squash is my favorite part of this easy slow cooker soup recipe. It has an understated nutty sweetness that contrasts the otherwise savory flavors. Everyone at your dinner table will love the rustic, homey essence of fall vegetables and cannellini beans. And the fact that you can essentially load everything into your crockpot, rice cooker or Instant Pot and walk away means that it’s easy peasy, and cleanup will be a breeze. It’s comfort food: level 10.
Have you tried any of these delicious, easy and healthy soup recipes? Are there changes you made that you’d like to share? Sound off! Share your tips and recommendations in the comments section below.
PrintThe Best Miso Soup Recipe
This is a simple miso soup with sliced onions just like the way my Japanese mother makes it!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 Minutes
- Yield: 4
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stove top
- Cuisine: Japanese
- Diet: Low Calorie
