13 family soups and stews built from everyday ingredients

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Getting dinner on the table is simpler when the plan starts with familiar ingredients. This collection brings together soups and stews built around staples such as canned tomatoes, beans, potatoes, broth, chicken, beef, and vegetables, with a few richer seafood options in the mix. Choose a lighter bowl for a quick supper or a filling chili or stew when you need a more substantial family meal.

A pot of Chef Jenn’s Sauerkraut Soup with Kielbasa sits on a striped towel next to wooden spoons, bowls, fresh herbs, and salt and pepper shakers.
Chef Jenn’s Sauerkraut Soup with Kielbasa. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Creamy Pumpkin Soup with Canned Pumpkin

A bowl of creamy pumpkin soup with canned pumpkin garnished with a swirl of cream and sprinkled with pumpkin seeds, placed on a white plate beside a spoon.
Creamy Pumpkin Soup with Canned Pumpkin. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

A little fall atmosphere comes from this bowl of Creamy Pumpkin Soup with Canned Pumpkin, which takes 30 minutes and makes four servings. Pumpkin puree, broth, cream, onion, garlic, nutmeg, and cinnamon give it a smooth, savory-sweet profile. Using canned pumpkin keeps the prep straightforward, while the blended texture pairs easily with toast or a simple salad. It works for a family supper when you want a lighter option made mostly from standard pantry and refrigerator staples.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Pumpkin Soup with Canned Pumpkin

Cauliflower & Sweet Potato Soup

A closeup of a bowl of Cauliflower & Sweet Potato Soup.
Cauliflower & Sweet Potato Soup. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

On gray afternoons, Cauliflower & Sweet Potato Soup brings a creamy, thick bowl to the menu in 40 minutes and serves six. Cauliflower, sweet potato, leek, broth, roasted garlic, and cream give it enough body to anchor dinner, while bacon adds savory depth. The vegetables are familiar grocery staples, and the recipe’s generous yield suits a family meal or a few planned leftovers when the evening schedule is crowded.
Get the Recipe: Cauliflower & Sweet Potato Soup

Over the Top Chili

Over the Top Chili in a black cast iron bowl.
Over the Top Chili. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

For a big pot that can stretch, Over the Top Chili makes eight servings and simmers for two hours. Ground beef, green pepper, onion, beans, crushed tomatoes, jalapeño, and chili spices build a robust bowl with a smoky edge. The longer cook gives this hearty option time to develop flavor, making it a good fit for a weekend supper or an easy dinner to portion for busy nights ahead.
Get the Recipe: Over the Top Chili

Steak & Potato Soup

Steak & Potato Soup in a black bowl.
Steak & Potato Soup. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Hearty portions make Steak & Potato Soup a full meal in 40 minutes, and the recipe serves eight. Cubed steak, potatoes, carrots, celery, green beans, beef stock, and Worcestershire sauce fill the pot with a familiar mix of beef and vegetables. It fits a family dinner when a sandwich or side salad is all you want to add, with the Instant Pot method keeping the meal practical on a busy evening.
Get the Recipe: Steak & Potato Soup

Tortellini Soup with Sausage

Tortellini Soup with Sausage in a white bowl.
Tortellini Soup with Sausage. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

When pasta night needs a spoonable twist, Tortellini Soup with Sausage provides six servings with Italian sausage, cheese tortellini, tomatoes, zucchini, beef broth, and cream. A bowl combines pasta, meat, and vegetables, making it a practical family supper when you want one dish to cover the main course. Keep crusty bread nearby for dipping, or add a simple green salad to round out the meal without much extra work.
Get the Recipe: Tortellini Soup with Sausage

Lobster Chowder

A bowl of lobster chowder with bread on the side.
Lobster Chowder. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Dinner can take on a special-occasion note with Lobster Chowder, which makes eight servings from a creamy mix of lobster meat, potatoes, corn, carrots, celery, bacon, and cream. Familiar produce rounds out the seafood in a thick bowl, so a smaller portion can work as a first course or a full serving can anchor dinner with bread. The recipe still relies on basics like onion, butter, and potatoes.
Get the Recipe: Lobster Chowder

Chicken Gnocchi Soup

Two Chicken Gnocchi Soup copycat soup recipes on a table.
Chicken Gnocchi Soup. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Silky broth and soft pasta make Chicken Gnocchi Soup a filling choice that takes 30 minutes and serves six. Cooked chicken, gnocchi, spinach, carrots, broth, and cream bring protein and vegetables into the same pot. Serve it with bread or a small salad for a complete family dinner, especially when you want a hearty soup that comes together on a tighter weeknight schedule.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Gnocchi Soup

Cullen Skink

Cullen Skink in two bowls with crusty bread in the background.
Cullen Skink. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Thick and creamy, Cullen Skink serves six in about 30 minutes. Smoked cod or haddock, potatoes, leeks, milk, and cream give the soup substantial portions without a long simmer. Pair it with bread or a green salad for dinner, or serve smaller bowls as a starter. Its short ingredient list relies on familiar staples plus smoked fish, offering a different family supper from the usual beef or chicken pot.
Get the Recipe: Cullen Skink

Oven Roasted Tomato Soup

A bowl of oven-roasted tomato soup with two spoons.
Oven Roasted Tomato Soup. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

The oven concentrates tomato flavor in Oven Roasted Tomato Soup, a 35-minute recipe that serves five. Roma tomatoes, shallots, garlic, broth, and a little cream form a simple base, with roasting bringing depth before the soup is blended. It fits the everyday-ingredient theme and can stand on its own with grilled cheese, toast, or a salad. Make it for a smaller family meal or keep leftovers for lunch the next day.
Get the Recipe: Oven Roasted Tomato Soup

Mexican Street Corn Soup

Mexican street style corn soup in a white bowl on a white plate.
Mexican Street Corn Soup. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Mild chile heat sets Mexican Street Corn Soup apart, and the recipe serves six in 25 minutes. Corn, jalapeño, shallot, garlic, chicken broth, milk, cream, smoked paprika, and cumin make each bowl creamy with a gentle kick. Frozen corn keeps it within reach beyond summer, while the quick simmer suits a weeknight dinner. Add bread or a simple green salad if the family wants something alongside.
Get the Recipe: Mexican Street Corn Soup

Texas Roadhouse Chili Copycat Recipe

A bowl of Texas roadhouse chili with jalapenos and beans.
Texas Roadhouse Chili Copycat Recipe. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

In this peppery, tomato-rich pot, Texas Roadhouse Chili Copycat Recipe serves six and takes about an hour. Ground beef, jalapeños, tomatoes, chili powder, cumin, and paprika create a bold, familiar flavor. A touch of brown sugar and vinegar balances the tomato and spice, keeping the recipe straightforward while adding depth. Serve it on its own for dinner or alongside cornbread when you need a filling meal with common pantry seasonings.
Get the Recipe: Texas Roadhouse Chili Copycat Recipe

Authentic Hungarian Goulash

Hungarian Goulash in two white bowls.
Authentic Hungarian Goulash. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Long simmering turns beef, onions, garlic, paprika, broth, and tomato paste into the deep base of Authentic Hungarian Goulash, which yields six servings. This hands-off stew suits days when dinner can cook well ahead, and it uses seasonings and staples found in many kitchens. Spoon it into bowls with crusty bread or serve it over noodles for a substantial family supper that requires little extra on the side.
Get the Recipe: Authentic Hungarian Goulash

Chef Jenn’s Sauerkraut Soup with Kielbasa

A pot of Chef Jenn’s Sauerkraut Soup with Kielbasa sits on a striped towel next to wooden spoons, bowls, fresh herbs, and salt and pepper shakers.
Chef Jenn’s Sauerkraut Soup with Kielbasa. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Bright tang and smoky notes give Chef Jenn’s Sauerkraut Soup with Kielbasa its character; the recipe serves six in 55 minutes. Kielbasa, sauerkraut, potatoes, carrots, onion, garlic, and chicken broth make a full pot, while caraway and bay leaf round out the flavor. It is a practical family supper when you want meat and vegetables together, and the portions work for a colder evening or next-day lunch.
Get the Recipe: Chef Jenn’s Sauerkraut Soup with Kielbasa

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