Nothing beats diving face-first into a big bowl of soup on a chilly winter night. But most of the time, we don’t have hours to spend slowly simmering a pot on the stove—especially on a weeknight. That’s where these lightning-fast recipes come in. Behold: the 53 best winter soups that you can make in 45 minutes or less. (Most of our picks are actually ready in 30 minutes flat.) Blanket and slippers not required, but strongly recommended.
The 53 Best Winter Soups You Can Make in 45 Minutes or Less
From peanut-noodle to black bean
•
Published Dec 29, 2023
Half Baked Harvest
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser, one pot
Who needs noodles when you can have tender, comforting gnocchi? Using the store-bought kind makes this totally weeknight-friendly (and it'll be even more so if you pick up a rotisserie chicken to use as well, instead of cooking your own).
2. 20-Minute Broccoli Cheese Soup
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
The more cheddar, the better. Panera Bread has nothing on this kid-friendly classic. Add cooked elbow macaroni to the decadent soup for a mac and cheese-inspired twist.
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, Instant Pot recipe, beginner-friendly
We have the Instant Pot—and Coterie member Maria Lichty—to thank for all this fall flavor. The vegan masterpiece only takes 25 minutes from start to finish. (We won't tell if you finish your bowl with a splash of cream or a swirl of yogurt.)
4. Instant Pot Creamy Chicken Wild Rice Soup
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why We Love It: Instant Pot recipe, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
A little bit of cream cheese goes a long way in this decadent recipe from Coterie member Heidi Larsen. Substitute Greek yogurt or sour cream if you're in a pinch or if you like a touch of tang.
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: vegetarian, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, one pot
So much flavor, so little time. Chalk up this one's deliciousness to meaty shiitake mushrooms and a simple ginger broth. As for finishing touches, go wild with cilantro, basil, lime juice, hoisin sauce and sriracha.
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, one pot
Hearty, healthy and, dare we say it, better than Olive Garden's. The recipe calls for canned tomatoes, beans and green beans, along with lots of dried herbs. In other words, it's your pantry's time to shine.
7. 20-Minute Cheesy Chicken Enchilada Soup
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, high protein
Taco Tuesday in liquid form? Don't mind if we do. Canned ingredients and store-bought cooked chicken make it a breeze to prepare. Finish it with sliced avocado, pickled onions and lots of crushed tortilla chips.
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why We Love It: one pot, Paleo-friendly, <30 minutes, gluten free
This super easy soup will take you from zero to dinner in 15 minutes flat. And thanks to arrowroot flour, it's gluten free to boot. Be sure to slowly drizzle in the eggs when the soup is just barely beginning to simmer.
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, high protein, one pot
Store-bought tortellini FTW. Go with classic cheese-filled, or choose one stuffed with more flavorful ingredients, like sausage. Either way, your picky kids won't be able to resist this soul-soother.
10. Quick and Easy Black Bean Soup
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why We Love It: vegan, beginner-friendly, dairy free, one pot
Coterie member Monique Volz recommends serving this plant protein-filled gem with a few crunchy tortilla chips crumbled on top. Who are we to argue?
11. Instant Pot Healthy Lemon Chicken Soup
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, kid-friendly
Gearing up for cold and flu season? Coterie member Liz Falcigno has you covered. Sub zoodles or rice for orzo to make the pressure cooker masterpiece gluten free.
12. Creamy Chicken and Mushroom Soup
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser, one pot
Fifteen minutes on the stove? We can handle that, even on a Monday night. Soak up every last drop with a hunk of toasty bread.
13. Vegan Carrot and Ginger Soup
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why We Love It: vegan, gluten free, Instant Pot recipe, <10 ingredients, <30 minutes
It freezes like a charm, meaning it's great to reheat for not-so-sad desk lunches all winter long. Color your coworkers jealous.
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, beginner-friendly
Rice, crumbled sausage, red and green bell peppers—the gang's all here, but in soup form. Feel free to use ground beef instead if you'd prefer, but we like that sausage comes with lots of built-in seasoning.
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, beginner-friendly
We like ours with a sprinkle of shredded cheddar cheese and a dollop of sour cream, but scallions, cilantro and crumbled tortilla chips work too.
16. Quinoa, Kale and Carrot Noodle Soup with Parmesan
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, gluten free, vegan
Quick, easy and packed with protein. (We’d expect nothing less from Coterie member Ali Maffucci.) Spiralized carrots keep the soup gluten free, but you could easily substitute sweet potatoes or zucchini.
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, one pot, special occasion-worthy
This traditional Mexican soup is usually simmered for hours on the stove. Believe it or not, this shortcut tastes just as good in a fraction of the time.
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser
We’d never hate on the iconic PSL, but sometimes, only real pumpkin will satisfy your craving. Roast the pumpkin ahead (or use canned puree) to save time.
19. Tuscan White Bean, Sausage and Kale Soup
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, gluten free, <10 ingredients
Bring on those cold gusts of wind—we’re armed with one of the heartiest, warmest winter soup known to man. Pass the Parm, please.
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, beginner-friendly
This festive soup is just the ticket for feeding a crowd. We promise they’ll never guess it only took you half an hour to prepare.
21. Hearty Vegetable Soup with Pesto
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: vegan, gluten free, beginner-friendly
We’d eat just about anything with a big spoonful of pesto on top, store-bought or homemade. A mix of five fresh herbs (rosemary! thyme! oregano! tarragon! marjoram!) take this soup over the top.
22. Green Chickpea Curry with Couscous
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: vegan, dairy free, make ahead
We always have store-bought curry paste on hand so we can throw together bold, veggie-filled soups like this at the drop of a hat. Chickpeas bulk up the dish, but you could also top it with pan-fried tofu, bean sprouts or shredded Brussel sprouts.
23. Restorative Miso Noodle Soup
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: vegetarian, beginner-friendly, dairy free
Soba noodles, umami-rich mushrooms and spinach can spruce up this classic in no time. Use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth to make it vegan.
24. Quick and Easy Chicken Taco Soup
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: high protein, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly
This easy soup is also super flexible, so feel free to load it up with all your favorite toppings. (Cheese, tortilla strips, cilantro...need we go on?)
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, make ahead
Because sometimes you just need some old-school comfort food. The key is using condensed tomato soup for a ketchup-y flavor profile. Consider your picky eater impressed.
26. One-Pot Cheater’s Bouillabaisse
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: one pot, special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser
How did we shave 90 minutes of cooking time off of this delicious Provençal stew? Easy: Cook it in one pot with a smaller selection of seafood. Ta-da.
27. 20-Minute Peanut Noodle Soup with Lime and Mango
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly
Slippery rice noodles, a creamy peanut butter base and plenty of tart lime juice. Consider us sold. Finish it with paper-thin strips of cucumber, lime wedges and sliced mango.
28. Easy 30-Minute Turkey Noodle Soup
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why We Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, high protein
It’s chicken noodle’s tasty cousin, and probably the most ingenious way to use up your leftover Thanksgiving turkey. Thank us later.
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why We Love It: Instant Pot recipe, high protein, special occasion-worthy
Another uncanny Olive Garden copycat for your supping pleasure. Just toast up some breadsticks for enthusiastic dunking and you’re all set.
30. Italian Vegetable Beef Soup
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, one pot
Just like Grandma used to make—only way less time-consuming. Cook this winter soup ahead, store it in your fridge until dinnertime and save the leftovers in your freezer for future busy evenings.
31. Quick and Easy Spicy Coconut Black Bean Soup
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, gluten free, dairy free
This fiber-rich meal is creamy, despite being totally dairy free. (Good looking out, coconut milk.) Blending the beans makes the soup's consistency even more decadent.
33. Keto Instant Pot Sausage-Kale Soup
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why We Love It: keto-friendly, Instant Pot recipe, beginner-friendly, <30 minutes
Plopping everything in the pressure cooker > stirring at the stove all night long. Swap kale out for spinach or Swiss chard if you'd prefer.
34. Instant Pot Spicy Thai Butternut Squash Soup
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: vegan, Instant Pot recipe, special occasion-worthy, dairy free
Its vibrant color screams Thanksgiving appetizer, but it'll be just as breathtaking on any old weeknight. (Shoutout to the stunning coconut yogurt swirl and roasted peanuts.)
35. 30-Minute Chinese Egg Drop Chicken and Rice Soup
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, high protein, one pot
Two classics, one bowl—and drenched in garlicky peanut-chile oil for good measure. Substitute your favorite noodles for rice if you'd prefer to get your slurp on.
36. Easy Instant Pot French Onion Soup
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why We Love It: one pot, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser
Beef broth, red wine, caramelized onions and allllll the melty Gruyère. You can never go wrong with this iconically cozy winter soup. Serve it with a hunk of crusty baguette.
37. 5-Ingredient Black Bean Soup
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, vegan
How is this five-ingredient soup even possible, you ask? This recipe thrives on shortcuts, like canned beans and jarred salsa. Your secret is safe with us.
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <30 minutes, gluten free
Julienned radishes, lime wedges and cotija cheese make for such pretty finishing touches on this Mexican-inspired dish. (P.S.: Posole is rumored to be a solid hangover cure.)
39. Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: Instant Pot recipe, vegan, gluten free
Spiked with Granny Smith apples, fresh sage and coconut milk, this fall classic couldn't get more autumnal if it tried. A flourish of thyme and a drizzle of coconut milk on top and it's ready for its IG debut.
40. Market Corn Chowder with Summer Savory
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, one pot, beginner-friendly
Canned corn makes this summer gem possible any time of year. If you can't find the peppery, aromatic summer savory in the off-season, substitute fresh thyme or rosemary.
41. Instant Pot Minestrone Soup
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why We Love It: Instant Pot recipe, vegan, gluten free
If you want it to taste like Olive Garden's, use Italian-style diced tomatoes. Opt for fire-roasted instead for a touch of smokiness. Either way, this gem is basically foolproof.
42. Easy Taco Soup
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, high protein, kid-friendly
It doesn't get easier than canned ingredients and a pound of ground beef, right? Freeze individual portions in plastic bags for up to two months for easy reheating.
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, dairy free
This Thai coconut-curry noodle soup is positively soul-warming. Finish each bowl with chopped cilantro and lime wedges for spritzing.
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, one pot, vegetarian
Cauliflower florets and sweet potatoes can hold their own against the heat, making them a solid plant-based alternative to beef. Don't worry though: There's still plenty of cheese and sour cream.
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: high protein, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
Italian sausage, fresh kale and a glug of heavy cream make this soup decidedly satisfying and elegant. Wash it down with a glass of crisp white wine.
46. Instant Pot White Bean Chicken Chili
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why We Love It: Instant Pot recipe, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
Let's be honest: This bowl of magic is all about the toppings. We're talking jalapeño, avocado, cotija cheese, cilantro, tortilla strips and sour cream.
47. 30-Minute Asian-Inspired Chicken Soup
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: one pot, beginner-friendly, high protein
It's loaded with bok choy, mushrooms and green onions, plus finishing touches like soy sauce, toasted sesame oil, rice vinegar and furikake. BRB, drooling.
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, high protein, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly
Store-bought chicken will save you a *ton* of time and effort, as will preparing the jammy eggs ahead of time. The rest is all low-lift cooking and assembling.
49. Coconut Sweet Potato Lentil Soup with Rice
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegan, beginner-friendly
Starring fresh ginger, yellow curry powder and all the naan your heart desires. Make it in the Instant Pot to cut the cook time in half.
50. Easy Chicken Tortellini Soup
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, high protein
Yes, the cheese tortellini provides tons of built-in flavor to the soup. But the real secret is salty, umami-packed miso paste.
51. Easy 30-Minute Homemade Chicken Tortilla Soup
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: high protein, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
Store-bought rotisserie chicken saves the day, along with canned ingredients and pantry staples. The winter soup is easily brightened up with fresh lime juice and cilantro.
52. Instant Pot Vegetable Soup
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why We Love It: Instant Pot recipe, <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, vegan
The addition of russet potatoes not only makes the soup a bit more filling, but they also make the broth starchier and thicker. Win-win.
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, gluten free, one pot
Substitute chicken broth and heavy cream for vegetable broth and coconut cream to make it vegan. (Either way, you'll want to serve it with plenty of bread for dunking.)
