My 5 Favorite Winter Soups (With Recipes)

Winter can be amazing, with beautiful snow-covered vistas and plenty of warm moments as a family. It also brings some challenges, such as cold weather and flu bugs. At these times, you need a hearty bowl of soup. Check out these delicious winter soup recipes to skip the bad and celebrate the good.

Supercharge Your Immune System With Garlic & Ginger Chicken Soup

This recipe combines many superstar ingredients for immune health, including garlic, ginger, turmeric, carrots and spinach.

Ingredients

  • 4 pounds of chicken (thighs or breasts)
  • 2 heads worth of garlic (the whole bulb), peeled and chopped
  • 1 large piece of ginger, peeled and sliced
  • 1–2 tablespoons ground turmeric
  • 2 medium onions
  • 4 medium carrots
  • 1–2 green onions, sliced thin
  • 8 cups of water
  • 2 cups baby spinach (optional)

Instructions

  1. Put the water, chicken, garlic, ginger, turmeric and onions in a large pot. Add a pinch of salt.
  2. Simmer for about 35 minutes. Remove the chicken and chop or shred it. Let the soup cook for another 15–20 minutes.
  3. Add carrots and cook for five minutes or until tender.
  4. Return the chopped chicken meat to the stock. Add green onions and baby spinach and cook for one minute. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Celebrate the Power of Pumpkin With Spicy Winter Squash Soup

It’s impossible not to think of pumpkins whenever cold weather rolls around. This aromatic recipe is comforting, perfect for curling up with your favorite movie during snowstorms.

Ingredients

  • 1 whole pumpkin, minus the seeds
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 2 teaspoons ground coriander
  • 1 tablespoon garam masala
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1 onion
  • Medium ginger piece, chopped up
  • 4 cups vegetable stock
  • 1/2 cup of double cream or evaporated skim milk

Instructions

  1. Chop the pumpkin into large sections and remove the seeds. Toasted pumpkin seeds are nutritious and delicious, so feel free to toast and enjoy. Cover pumpkin with olive oil, garam masala and half of the coriander and cumin.
  2. Roast pumpkin in the oven for 45 minutes or until very soft.
  3. In a large pot, stir fry ginger, garlic, onion and other ingredients with olive oil. Add vegetable stock and let it simmer.
  4. Add soft pumpkin filling and remove soup from heat. Blend.
  5. Add evaporated skim milk and simmer for a minute. Serve warm.

Try Other Fantastic Winter Soups

Here are a few runners-up for family-favorite winter soups with tons of flavor:

  • Pasta e Fagioli: A filling Italian soup with tomatoes, white beans, pasta, veggies and rosemary
  • Smoky potato soup: A colorful twist on potato soup with roasted red bell peppers, turkey bacon, red pepper flakes, chives and red onions
  • Sweet potato and chocolate soup: A spicy, rich soup inspired by Mexican mole, with chicken, sweet potatoes, bittersweet chocolate, cinnamon, cilantro and avocado

If you’re in a hurry, don’t worry. You can cut the prep time on many of these recipes by starting with low-sodium veggie broth. In just 30–60 minutes, your family can be happily sniffing the enticing aromas of wintertime soup.