20 Cheap and Easy Soup Recipes (2024)

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As winter clings on, now is the perfect time to make a pot of soup. Warming and nourishing, soup is the ultimate meal in a bowl, and even freezes well. The following 20 recipes are affordable and easy to make, and can be adjusted to feed a crowd or a dinner for two. Try one this week — your wallet and your stomach are sure to thank you.

1. Butternut Squash and Sweet Potato Soup

This creamy squash and potato soup is a beautiful color, and the main ingredients are affordable and have a long shelf life. The recipe comes together easily, especially if you can find pre-cut butternut squash on sale.

2. Sausage, Potato, and Spinach Soup

A hearty one-pot dish of sausage, potatoes, and spinach that requires mere minutes of active cooking. Potatoes are always cheap, and you can use whatever sausage is on special that week.

3. Lentil Soup

To make this lentil soup, just throw some lentils and veggies in a pot; and that's it! It's flavorful, simple, and inexpensive. Serve with a loaf of crusty bread.

4. Lighter Spinach and Egg Drop Soup

A very easy and light but comforting egg drop soup that's also quick. It makes a great first course, and it doesn't get much cheaper than greens, broth, and eggs.

5. Winter Vegetable Minestrone

A tasty minestrone that is chock-full of healthy and budget-friendly veggies. In a pinch, use whatever vegetables and pasta you have available.

6. Healthy Asian Soba Noodle Soup

A light but flavorful Asian soup that utilizes healthful buckwheat noodles. It comes together fast, and cabbage can be substituted for bok choy if you can't find it at your local grocery.

7. Easy Vegetarian Chili

This simply delicious veggie chili doesn't take many ingredients or much effort. It's very affordable and good for you, making it a great option to feed a crowd or freeze for later.

8. White Bean and Roasted Mushroom Soup

A cost-effective and healthy mushroom soup that uses blended white beans to create a creamy base. Add in crumbled, cooked sausage or wilted greens to mix it up.

9. Easy Chicken Orzo Soup

A simple chicken soup that's sure to cure what ails you. Chicken thighs make it especially affordable, and it couldn't be easier to put together.

10. Broccoli Cheese Soup

This one-pot broccoli cheese soup is exceedingly easy, with no pureeing required. The addition of dairy makes this a rich and creamy soup, and the ham is optional.

11. Italian Wedding Soup

A flavorful Italian soup with just a few ingredients and a few simple steps. The classic dish has little pork meatballs that cook in the soup along with chickpeas, spinach, and orzo.

12. Cauliflower Soup

A surprisingly hearty cauliflower soup that is a twist on the classic chowder recipe. Cauliflower replaces potatoes for a low-carb option, while still making a creamy and rich soup.

13. Black Bean Soup With Avocado, Orange, and Cucumber

A very fast and very easy bean soup that's full of fiber and protein. Plus, beans are cheap! Don't skimp on the creative toppings, and blending this soup is optional.

14. Whole Roasted Pumpkin Soup

Did you know you can make a pumpkin soup by roasting a whole pumpkin with the ingredients inside? Impress the whole dinner table with very little effort!

15. Corn Chowder

A fresh and delicious corn chowder that is a cinch to make. This inexpensive recipe can be made with frozen corn if fresh isn't available.

16. Avocado Spinach Soup

A pretty green soup that is smooth and creamy while still being healthy and light. The recipe only requires a couple of avocados, and the other ingredients are low cost. It can be served chilled or warm.

17. Tortellini Soup

A super quick soup with prepared tortellini (from the fridge section), tomato, and spinach that's sure to please even picky eaters. It makes for a nice presentation with almost no effort.

18. Goulash

A thick and flavorful beef stew that tastes great over noodles. Homemade goulash calls for affordable ground chuck and a few other ingredients, and comes together in a single pot. Be sure to scale this recipe down if you're not feeding a big group.

19. Potato Leek Soup

A classic potato leek soup that also happens to be very inexpensive. Don't forget to add fun toppings like cheese, green onions, and bacon.

20. Carrot Ginger Soup

This healthy carrot ginger soup has a light sweetness with a kick from the ginger. Just simmer the ingredients together, blend, and you have a beautiful dish that goes great with a salad or bread.

What are your favorite cheap and easy soup recipes? Share a bowl in comments!

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20 Cheap and Easy Soup Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Is making soup cheaper than buying it? ›

Soupa-Soups

Soup can be an easy, affordable way to get more veg into children. You can always add more veg (without anyone noticing), it makes them more digestible (especially greens), and is healthier and cheaper than buying ready-made soups.

What is the #1 soup in the world? ›

According to the Taste Atlas Awards, the international food database, the Filipino favorite, Sinigang, is hailed as the best soup in the world.

What is the best soup to eat everyday? ›

6 delicious and healthy soups
  • Chicken Vietnamese Pho.
  • Green spring minestrone.
  • Herb and yoghurt-based soup.
  • Lamb shank and barley soup.
  • Pumpkin soup with star croutons.
  • Lentil and vegetable soup with crusty bread.
Apr 26, 2020

Does making soup save money? ›

Making your own soup takes time, but it gives you complete control over the ingredients and how you prepare them. Homemade soup can also save you money compared to canned soup. Cook a large batch of soup, then freeze small portions for meals that you can heat quickly.

Is soup enough to live on? ›

What Experts Say. "The concept of eating soup to lose weight has spanned decades, but experts say an all-soup diet lacks nutrients and is not sustainable. They do agree it can be smart to eat vegetable-packed soups for some meals, though, as these are filling, nutrient-dense, and low in calories."

Is it better to make soup with broth or stock? ›

As a result, stock is usually a healthier product, delivering a richer mouth feel and deeper flavor than broth. Stock is a versatile culinary tool that can deliver taste to any number of dishes. Darker in color and more concentrated in flavor than broth, it's ideal for use in soups, rice, sauces and more.

What are the 4 main soups? ›

There are four main categories of soup: Thin, Thick, Cold and National. These types of soup are widely recognised in today's modern kitchen.

What soup has been cooking for 45 years? ›

Notable examples include beef and goat noodle soup served by Wattana Panich in Bangkok, Thailand, which has been cooking for over 49 years as of 2024, and oden broth from Otaf*cku in Asakusa, Japan, which has served the same broth daily since 1945.

What is America's favorite soup? ›

According to a survey conducted by StrawPoll, the most popular soup in America is tomato soup. It's a classic favorite that has been enjoyed for generations, often paired with a grilled cheese sandwich for a comforting and satisfying meal.

What is the healthiest soup you can eat? ›

88 healthy soups
  • Green pesto minestrone. A star rating of 4.6 out of 5. ...
  • Fish soup. A star rating of 5 out of 5. ...
  • Healthy pumpkin soup. ...
  • Leek & butter bean soup with crispy kale & bacon. ...
  • Cauliflower & broccoli soup with seedy crumble. ...
  • Spiced lentil & butternut squash soup. ...
  • Leek, pea & watercress soup. ...
  • Thai curry noodle soup.

What is the healthiest soup you can eat in the world? ›

Broth-Based Soups With Veggies and Protein

When it comes to the healthiest soups you can eat, these are the gold standard, says registered dietitian Jessica Cording. Think chicken and vegetable, turkey and black bean chili, or lentil.

Is progresso soup healthy? ›

At 700 milligrams of sodium per serving, this soup accounts for around 30% of the maximum recommended daily value of 2,300 milligrams. Keep in mind there are two servings per can and that the number doubles if a whole can is consumed as a full meal in one sitting. It lacks many essential vitamins and minerals.

Can you live off homemade soup? ›

As the soup diet usually only lasts for 7-14 days, it's not recommended in the long term. The NHS also highlights how very low-calorie diets like this often lead to short term weight loss, but it's likely that you'll put some or all of the weight back on once you go back to eating normally.

Should you spoon soup away from you? ›

Soup tends to drip off the soupspoon on the way from the bowl to your mouth. You can take two steps to reduce the chances of drips. 1. Dip your spoon into the soup with the spoon facing away from you and then scoop the soup away from you rather than towards you.

Can you eat homemade soup everyday? ›

Yes, soup can be a good source of a variety of nutrition needs. There is no reason you can't have it daily or even twice daily. (I do, often, in the winter). As with any food lifestyle, be sure you're getting a wide variety of nutrition, to meet all your macro- and micro- needs.

Is it cheaper to make your own food or buy it? ›

Cost. Store bought food is usually cheaper than homemade food. For those on a tight budget, this can be an important factor when deciding between the two options. However, it's important to note that the cost of store bought food can add up quickly, so it's still wise to shop around for the best deal.

Is making your own food cheaper than buying it? ›

For those who want a quick and easy answer: It's generally cheaper to cook food at home than eat out. The reason so many people can get stuck on the question is the human psychology variable. People don't always spend wisely, and it isn't as if prices are always the same at a supermarket or a fast food restaurant.

How much should I charge for homemade soup? ›

And for most dishes, the formula goes, the food costs should be about 33 percent. So if the ingredients of the soup cost $1, charge the diner $3.

Is it cheaper to make soup in a soup maker or on the hob? ›

It takes a soup maker 20 to 30 minutes to make soup from scratch, which is significantly faster than using the hob and then the blender. This means 'it will not only save on energy, you'll also save time and energy on the washing-up,' says Seymour.

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