Opening the same can of chicken noodle every time soup sounds good gets old fast. These 19 recipes cover clear broths, creamy vegetables, bean and beef soups, ramen, chili, and one homemade stock, so there is more than one way to build a full bowl. Use the quick options for weeknights, or let the longer recipes simmer when a slow weekend gives you time.
Miso Soup
A quick broth gives Miso Soup a 25-minute cook time and four servings. Dashi, nori, red miso paste, green chard, green onions, and firm tofu create a light bowl with deep seasoning. It is a useful weeknight change when chicken noodle feels repetitive, and it can stand on its own for lunch or accompany rice and another small dish.
Get the Recipe: Miso Soup
Wonton Soup
Steaming wontons make Wonton Soup a 30-minute meal with four servings. Sesame oil, ginger, garlic, shiitake mushrooms, broccolini, low-sodium chicken broth, frozen wontons, soy sauce, and green onion create a fuller bowl than a can of noodles. Serve it for a quick dinner when you want a broth-based change with a little texture.
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Beet Soup
Ruby color sets Beet Soup apart, with a 95-minute cook time and four servings. Fresh beets, onion, garlic, low-sodium vegetable broth, olive oil, rosemary, yogurt, and parsley create an earthy bowl with a smooth finish. Serve it for lunch with bread or use it as a starter when the usual chicken noodle routine needs a completely different direction.
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Tortellini Soup
Cheese-filled pasta makes Tortellini Soup a 55-minute meal that serves four. Olive oil, butter, onion, leek, celery, garlic, crushed tomatoes, vegetable stock, cheese tortellini, heavy cream, spinach, and basil make a rich pot with plenty of texture. It suits a weeknight dinner when you want the ease of soup with enough substance to stand in for pasta night.
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Dashi
Clear and aromatic, Dashi takes 30 minutes and makes four cups of homemade broth. Water, kombu, and bonito flakes form a simple base for miso soup, noodle bowls, or other Japanese dishes. Keep it in the refrigerator for a quick change from canned soup, or use it as the starting point for a light bowl when dinner needs a clean, savory foundation.
Get the Recipe: Dashi
Roasted Butternut Squash Soup
Roasted vegetables give Roasted Butternut Squash Soup a one-hour cook time and six servings. Butternut squash, olive oil, onion, garlic, curry powder, vegetable broth, coconut milk, and red pepper flakes create a smooth bowl with gentle heat. Make it for a cool evening, then serve it with bread or a sandwich when a can of chicken noodle no longer sounds appealing.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Butternut Squash Soup
Ham and Bean Soup
Slow-simmered beans turn Ham and Bean Soup into a one-hour pot with a smoky, hearty character. Dried navy beans, onion, carrots, celery, garlic, ham, chicken broth, bay leaf, and parsley create a substantial bowl without relying on canned noodles. Serve it for a family dinner or save portions for lunches when one batch needs to stretch across more than one meal.
Get the Recipe: Ham and Bean Soup
Coconut Ramen
A creamy noodle bowl puts Coconut Ramen on the table in 30 minutes. Sesame oil, mushrooms, garlic, ginger, broth, turmeric, soy sauce, fish sauce, red curry paste, coconut milk, and noodles create a spicy broth with plenty of depth. It is a quick option for nights when you want something warmer and more interesting than the same chicken noodle can.
Get the Recipe: Coconut Ramen
Pumpkin Soup
Silky texture makes Pumpkin Soup a one-hour recipe that serves eight. Pumpkin, carrots, vegetable stock, saffron, orange zest, crème fraîche, and pumpkin seeds create a smooth bowl with a bright finish. Serve it as a starter at a fall dinner or portion it for lunches when a large pot needs to offer more variety than the pantry standby.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Soup
Kimchi Stew
A spicy-sour broth gives Kimchi Stew a 30-minute cook time and four servings. Sesame oil, onion, garlic, kimchi, dashi or fish stock, soy sauce, red chili flakes, canned tuna, tofu, and green onion make a bold bowl with contrasting textures. Pair it with rice for dinner when a familiar can of soup needs to give way to something with more punch.
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French Onion Soup
Caramelized onions build the base for French Onion Soup, which takes 1 hour 45 minutes and serves four. Butter, olive oil, yellow onions, garlic, red wine vinegar, beef broth, thyme, bay leaf, bread, and Gruyere or Gouda create a deep bowl with a cheesy finish. It belongs on a slow weekend menu when you have time for a longer, hands-on pot.
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White Bean Soup
Tender beans make White Bean Soup a 45-minute meal that serves six. Onion, carrots, celery, garlic, cannellini beans, vegetable broth, parsley, thyme, spinach, lemon juice, and Parmesan create a bright, hearty bowl. Serve it with toast for dinner or pack it for lunch when you want a simple pantry soup with more variety than a can of noodles.
Get the Recipe: White Bean Soup
Lentil Soup
Coconut milk rounds out Lentil Soup, a 50-minute recipe that makes five servings. Olive oil, onion, curry powder, chili flakes, garlic, ginger, lentils, tomatoes, vegetable broth, coconut milk, cilantro, and lime bring layered seasoning to the pot. It works for a meatless dinner or meal prep when a batch of soup needs to reheat well through the week.
Get the Recipe: Lentil Soup
Spicy Lasagna Soup
Lasagna noodles turn Spicy Lasagna Soup into a 35-minute meal for six. Onion, red bell peppers, garlic, spicy Italian sausage, oregano, Italian seasoning, tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, milk, mozzarella, and Parmesan make a saucy bowl with pasta-shop appeal. Serve it with bread on a busy night when you want the shape of lasagna without assembling a casserole.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Lasagna Soup
White Chicken Chili
A thick white chili makes White Chicken Chili a one-hour dinner that serves six. Olive oil, onion, garlic, poblano peppers, jalapeno, cumin, smoked paprika, chicken breasts, broth, cream cheese, white beans, salsa verde, cheddar, and cilantro create a creamy bowl with gentle heat. Set out toppings for a family meal when chicken noodle feels too predictable.
Get the Recipe: White Chicken Chili
Vegetable Beef Soup
Chunky spoonfuls make Vegetable Beef Soup a one-hour dinner built for a hungry table. Stewing beef, onion, garlic, celery, carrots, olive oil, flour, and beef stock create a hearty base with tender pieces throughout. Serve it with crusty bread on a chilly evening when a can of chicken noodle will not carry the meal far enough.
Get the Recipe: Vegetable Beef Soup
Sweet Potato Soup
Soft sweetness gives Sweet Potato Soup a 45-minute cook time and four servings. Butter, sweet onion, garlic, sage, nutmeg, carrots, sweet potatoes, vegetable stock, half-and-half cream, spinach, and pumpkin seeds make a smooth bowl with a little texture on top. Serve it for lunch or as a starter when you want a vegetable soup with a different profile.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Soup
Birria Ramen
Longer cooking gives Birria Ramen a four-hour preparation with a deep chile broth and no listed serving count. Chuck roast and rib meat, dried Mexican chiles, garlic, oregano, thyme, beef broth, bay leaves, cinnamon sticks, ramen noodles, onion, cilantro, and lime turn the dish into a substantial bowl. Make it on a slow weekend when a can of soup will not do.
Get the Recipe: Birria Ramen
Egg Drop Soup
Whisked eggs make Egg Drop Soup a 20-minute recipe that serves four. Eggs, cornstarch, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, chicken broth, green onions, cilantro, pepper, Sichuan pepper, and chili oil create a light bowl with delicate ribbons and a little heat. Serve it as a quick lunch or alongside rice when you need a fast break from chicken noodle.
Get the Recipe: Egg Drop Soup