When the weather turns chilly, it’s time for back-to-school, for cozy quilts, and to turn our focus from summer’s farmers market bounty to fall’s more filling fare. We’re thankful for these easy soup and stew recipes, which are real fall comfort foods that you can put on the table without too much fuss. Fall soup recipes are fantastic heat and eat meals—simply make a double batch and freeze for another day. Hearty beef and vegetable soup, 30-minute chili, and light, brothy turkey soup laced with lemongrass are some of our favorite fall soups.
Easy stew recipes get our vote for nights when we need something a little heartier to chase away the chill–we love a chunky shrimp and sausage stew that’s simpler than gumbo but just as tasty. And what’s better comfort food than a quick and easy Brunswick stew? If you can think of something, let us know. In the meantime, stock up on crusty bread, dust off your ladles, and get in the kitchen with our favorite easy soup and stew recipes.
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling; Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
Using rotisserie chicken will help you prepare this soup from start to finish in just 30 minutes.
Photography and Prop Styling: Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling: Torie Cox
Fresh or frozen cheese tortellini make for decadent little bites in this tomatoey soup.
Stacy K. Allen; Props: Julia Bayless; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer
This deconstructed take on classic chicken pot pie is easy to throw together and just as delicious. Serving with fresh-baked biscuits is key to replicating the flavor of the crust.
Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster
We have a variety of vegetable-heavy soups, but this classic vegetable soup is the most traditional, filled with potatoes, green beans, peas, and more.
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Just like its casserole cousin, this soup will feed a crowd. Leftovers guaranteed for later.
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Lean on rotisserie chicken and prepared gnocchi for a soup that’s ready in under an hour.
Jessica Furniss
A favorite fall produce stars in this comforting and creamy soup.
Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster
The tortilla strips are a fun little side dish, putting this classic tortilla soup over the top.
Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Have leftover ham from a holiday dinner? It’s the perfect savory addition to this creamy potato soup.
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Kay E. Clarke; Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey
When it’s cold outside, but you’re still craving the taste of a hamburger, this soup is the perfect compromise.
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
While this is a Passover tradition, its comforting properties make it a favorite all year.
Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox
For a truly Southern twist, this classic split pea soup is made with tasso, a type of Cajun-spiced ham.
Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell
Enjoy all the flavors of cabbage rolls in an easier format: a warming, comforting soup.
Greg DuPree
Use this recipe as a guide for the base of your soup, but also feel free to add your family’s favorite beans and veggies to the mix.
Emily Laurae / Southern Living
Keep your pantry stocked with these canned goods, and you’ll be more than half way to this delicious soup.
Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox
On a cool fall or winter night, this simple soup is all that’s needed for a warm and satisfying meal.
Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf; Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
Let a ham bone, beans, and aromatics simmer until saturated with flavor and tender. This is a great soup after a holiday feast with ham.
Stacy Allen
Tortilla soup is an authentic Mexican-style soup, popular around Mexico City. It happens to also be a favorite throughout the South, with its warm spices and filling ingredients.
Jennifer Causey
This veggie and bean soup offers plenty of protein and fiber even though it’s meat-free.
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Just as the name suggests, this soup leans on convenience ingredients for a fast, flavorful, and nearly effortless dinner.
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Audrey Davis
Don’t wait for New Year’s to enjoy black-eyed peas. They’re a great weekday dinner, too.
Photography and Styling: Caitlin Bensel
Don’t want to make your own broth or cook a whole chicken? This soup is the shortcut to goodness with store-bought broth and rotisserie chicken.
Iain Bagwell
This Brunswick stew is the perfect excuse to pick up a pound of brisket from your favorite local BBQ joint.
Southern Living
Add a creamy twist by topping this popular tortilla soup with avocados just before serving.
Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox
This soup is inexpensive, easy to prepare, and requires little attention. It’s also a great way to make use of a leftover ham bone from a holiday meal.
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling; Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
A chipotle chili and red pepper flakes add a spicy touch to classic tomato soup. A low-cooker makes it easier and mostly hands-off.
Courtesy Oxmoor House
Martina McBride believes that you can never go wrong with a big pot of soup and a crusty loaf of bread.
Greg DuPree
In addition to sweet potatoes, Yukon Gold potatoes and carrots add heartiness to this savory soup.
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
Chard has a milder taste than spinach, so you’ll be able to sneak in nutritious veggies without anyone noticing.
Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Victor Protasio, Prop Stylist Claire Spollen
If you’re feeling adventurous, our recipe developer suggests topping with fried scallions, chopped toasted hazelnuts, a dash of hot sauce, or a sprinkle of cinnamon.
Alison Miksch
Any flavor tortelloni will work well in this dish. Serve with some cheesy garlic bread and call it a a meal.
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Make this classic soup even more comforting by serving it in a bread bowl.
Southern Living
Instead of playing the supporting role, black beans are the star ingredient of this soup.
Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Mild Cheddar is the best choice for this recipe because it contains the most moisture, helping it melt easily.
Iain Bagwell
We love old-fashioned, wide egg noodles for this recipe. To make sure they aren’t mushy and overcooked, don’t leave them in the slow cooker any longer than 10 minutes.
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling; Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
To make sure your soup keeps its vibrant color, cool the vegetables down with cold water after blanching them.
This classic gumbo embodies the flavor of New Orleans in one bowl.
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Maggie Ruggiero
Use your favorite packaged gnocchi to help this soup come together in just 30 minutes.
Peter Frank Edwards; Prop Styling: Kendra Surface; Food Styling: Anna Hampton
Peanuts, garlic, ginger, paprika, cayenne pepper, and hominy give this pumpkin stew a spicy, nutty flavor and plenty of texture.
Caitlin Bensel; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners
Your favorite multi-cooker will help you make homemade potato soup in under an hour.
Jennifer Davick
This no-frills soup will always be a weeknight winner and is so simple to pull together.
Using smoked chicken adds an extra layer of flavor to traditional tortilla soup.
Greg DuPree
When preparing the roux, make sure it achieves a rich caramel color to ensure the best flavor.
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
The only prep work this veggie soup requires is microwaving the bacon. After that, crumble and throw it in the pot with the rest of the ingredients and let your slow cooker do the hard work.
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling; Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
Using a potato instead of the usual half-and-half or heavy cream gives this rich soup a velvety texture without adding more fat.
Photography: Victor Protasio, Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck, Food Styling: Erin Merhar
Coming together in just 15 minutes, this soup embodies the flavors of the Lowcountry in a bowl.
Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Rishon Hanners, Prop Stylist Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland
Give burger night a winter spin with this soup that delivers the same flavors.
Ed Anderson
Turnips are rich in vitamins and minerals, making this soup comforting, nutritious, and perfect for anyone feeling a little under the weather.
Photography: Alison Miksch, Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland, Food Styling: Melissa Gray
While this soup is an ideal way to start off any New Year, it’s so good you’ll want to make it several times during the winter months.
Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Cindy Barr; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos
Sweet potatoes, bacon, and fire-roasted tomatoes give lentil soup plenty of layers of flavor.
Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
These pork-and-beef meatballs are great on their own as well. Try them in a spaghetti sauce or in a meatball sandwich.
Southern Living
This simple-to-make chili recipe only has six ingredients, but you’ll marvel at its slow-cooked flavor.
Alison Miksch
Make this stew with pulled or shredded pork from your favorite barbecue joint or deli-roasted chicken from the grocery store.
Photo: Hector Sanchez
Pick up a baguette at the market, so you can sop up every drop of this hearty soup. Whip up a fresh spinach salad to serve alongside.
Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
This soup uses mild Italian sausage, but feel free to up the heat with a hot Italian sausage.
Green chiles give classic stew West Texas-flair.
Southern Living
Freeze leftovers in an airtight container up to three months. Add a bit of canned broth when reheating to reach desired consistency. For a pretty finish, serve in Toasted Bread Bowls.
Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Christina Lane; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Think of this soup as a comforting version of a baked potato and serve with all the fixings.
Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Cindy Barr; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos
The addition of heavy cream adds an extra layer of richness to chicken and rice soup.
Alison Miksch; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller
This soup can be enjoyed now and also freezes well to save for later.
Iain Bagwell
Make a classic chicken and dumplings recipe even more Southern by topping the vegetable-and-chicken-packed stew with cornbread dumplings.
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling; Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
Make sure to reserve the kale and tomatoes for just the final 10 minutes of cooking.
Photo: Hector M. Sanchez
You’ll know this soup is ready when the beans become tender.
Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Cindy Barr; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos
Add a grilled cheese for a simple yet satisfying meal.
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
From start to finish, this hearty soup takes just 40 minutes making it ideal for chilly weeknights.
Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
This soup is rich enough to be a whole meal.
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Melissa Gray; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis
Who needs chicken when you can have turkey? This comforting dish is a great way to use up Thanksgiving leftovers and get into the cozy winter spirit!
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin; Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen
Make this reviewer favorite the star attraction of your next soup night.
Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
This tasty chowder is filled with corn, bell peppers, and celery.
Becky Luigart-Stayner
For our Quick Beef Chili we suggest using petite tender. The quick-cooking foundation for this dish is supermarket steak that is cut from the shoulder.
Photo: Hector Sanchez
Classic posole, a delicious slow-simmered Mexican pork stew often reserved for special occasions, is typically a time-consuming labor of love. But this one gives you all the comfort and flavor of the old-world version made in your slow cooker.
Jennifer Davick
This beef vegetable soup is the ultimate comfort food to help keep you warm on a chilly winter night.
Iain Bagwell
Instead of making yet another dessert, you can turn pecans into a main dish with this velvety soup recipe.
Photographer: Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer
Wondering what to do with a pile of leftover turkey? This soup is the tasty answer.
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Christine Keely
Thinking about adding broccoli? Think again. The Cheddar holds its own in a decadent dinner that’s so easy, you’ll want to make it every week.
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis
A generous splash of heavy whipping cream takes this comforting, classic soup to a whole new level.
Caitlin Bensel; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners
Rich and rustic, it’s a dish reminiscent of a French bistro but a lot less complicated than you’d think. Load up on leeks, peas, carrots, thyme, and tarragon for a burst of freshness.
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis
Looking for a leaner version of corn chowder? This recipe gets a lift from whole-milk Greek yogurt instead.
Jennifer Causey; Food Styling: Melissa Gray; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller
Making this soup will have you feeling anything but blue. Hearty heirloom gourd meets coriander, cumin, and chili powder for a spicy rendition.
Southern Living
Now this soup will clear the sinuses. Garnish with scallions and sesame seeds for a restaurant-worthy presentation.
Johnny Autry; Food and Prop Styling: Charlotte L. Autry
Bright with spring vegetables, our Carrot Soup packs in all the flavors thanks to charred carrots, cloves, cumin, and fresh pesto.
Photography: Victor Protasio
Sure, making your own stock is a little extra effort, but the payoff is big-time, we promise.
Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Torie Cox
No one likes babysitting onions on the stove. A crock pot solves the problem while still delivering an ultra-satisfying result.
Southern Living
Rich, hearty coconut and butternut get a spicy helping hand from dashes of curry powder, chili powder, cinnamon, and cumin.
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis
This silky soup is filled with carrots, parsnips, and sweet potatoes. The vibrant dish gets a swirl of yogurt, maple syrup, and half-and-half and a topping of crunchy pistachios.
Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch
Bacony Croutons? Sign us up. Oh, and the collards are pretty good, too.
Peter Frank Edwards; Prop Styling and Floral Design: Sara York Grimshaw
Clams, fish, mussels, and shrimp swim in a broth of onions, fennel, leeks, shallots, and bay leaves bolstered by shrimp shells, fish bones, and anise liqueur.
Jennifer Causey; Food Styling: Melissa Gray; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller
Chunks of savory beef swim with butternut squash in a glossy, thick broth of dark roux and red wine. It’s the stick-to-your-ribs winter dish we all need.
Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis
Can Georgia claim this as its own? Or does this stew belong to Virginia? Either way you lean, both parties can agree on one thing. It’s delicious.
Photography: Caitlin Bensel, Prop Styling: Audrey Davis, Food Styling: Rishon Hanners
For maximum flavor, brown the meat in a skillet before adding it to the Crockpot.
