21 Soups & Chilis You'll Want to Make Forever

By

Danielle DeAngelis

Updated on January 10, 2024

a recipe photo of the Beer-Cheese Soup in a bowl with spoons beside it — Photo: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer

Whether you're looking for a cozy night in or a comforting dish for a gathering, these soup and chili recipes will surely please anyone who tries them. With four- and five-star ratings, you'll want to make these yummy bowls again and again. Recipes like our Beer-Cheese Soup and Slow-Cooker Turkey Chili with Butternut Squash are healthy and delicious options that will become staples in your household.

01 of 21

Mom's Chili

Mom's Chili

This healthy basic beef chili recipe is well worth doubling so you can throw a batch in the freezer. Serve topped with diced red onion, sliced scallions, shredded cheese and your favorite hot sauce.

02 of 21

Creamy White Bean Soup

Creamy White Bean Soup — Caitlin Bensel

This light, creamy white bean soup is richly flavored thanks to plenty of beans, veggies and Parmesan cheese. Blending half of the soup at the end adds its signature creaminess without adding cream.

03 of 21

Slow-Cooker Turkey Chili with Butternut Squash

This slow-cooker turkey and butternut squash chili is the perfect balance of sweet and spicy. The sweetness of the butternut squash tames the kick from cayenne, making this easy crock-pot chili just right for kids and adults alike. For those who prefer a spicier chili, just pass hot sauce at the table.

This slow-cooker turkey and butternut squash chili is the perfect balance of sweet and spicy. The sweetness of the butternut squash tames the kick from cayenne, making this easy crock-pot chili just right for kids and adults alike. For those who prefer a spicier chili, just pass the hot sauce at the table.

04 of 21

Beer-Cheese Soup

a recipe photo of the Beer-Cheese Soup in a bowl with spoons beside it — Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer

Cayenne provides a bit of heat in this creamy beer-cheese soup. Using a mild beer adds the perfect amount of flavor without overpowering the dish. The sharp Cheddar cheese adds a rich, savory flavor. Serve with your preferred toppings and a piece of crusty bread to sop up the leftovers.

05 of 21

Sweet Potato & Black Bean Chili

Sweet Potato & Black Bean Chili — Photographer/Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist/Kay Clarke, Food Stylist/Emily Nabors Hall

Make a double batch of this quick vegetarian chili, full of black beans and sweet potatoes, and eat it for lunch the next day or freeze the extras for another night. We love the smoky heat from the ground chipotle, but omit it if you prefer a mild chili. Serve with tortilla chips or cornbread and coleslaw.

06 of 21

Creamy White Chili with Cream Cheese

creamy white chili in a bowl

This rich, yet healthy, white chicken chili recipe comes together in a flash thanks to quick-cooking chicken thighs and canned white beans. Mashing some of the beans acts as a fast thickener when your soups don't have a long time to simmer. Cream cheese adds the final bit of richness and a hint of sweet tang.

07 of 21

Hearty Minestrone

Hearty Minestrone soup

This version of the Italian classic soup Minestrone is packed with leeks, potatoes, beans, zucchini, spinach and orzo, making it perfect for a hearty lunch or supper on a cold winter's night. To make a vegetarian version use vegetable rather than chicken broth. Top each bowl with freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano for a zesty burst of flavor.

08 of 21

Quinoa Chili with Sweet Potatoes

Quinoa Chili with Sweet Potatoes — EatingWell / Jennifer Causey

This hearty vegetarian quinoa chili with sweet potatoes has mild spice from poblanos and green chiles. Chili powder, cumin and garlic provide classic chili flavor.

09 of 21

Chicken Enchilada Soup

Corn tortillas thicken this chicken enchilada soup, but Cheddar and cream cheese give it the richness you'd expect from an enchilada. Serve it with something fresh and crunchy like a jicama slaw dressed with a little olive oil and lime juice for a healthy dinner that will appeal to the whole family.

10 of 21

White Turkey Chili

This healthy white turkey chili recipe is gorgeous, with flecks of green from zucchini, oregano and green chiles. To keep the saturated fat low, we use one pound of ground turkey and add whole-grain bulgur to boost the volume and fiber in this chili recipe. After all the ingredients are added to the pot, we like to slowly simmer our chili for close to an hour to develop the best flavor, but if you're in a hurry, reduce the liquid by half and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes.

11 of 21

Stuffed Cabbage Soup

Like stuffed cabbage? You'll love this easy stuffed cabbage soup. It's got all of the classic flavors of stuffed cabbage without all the fuss of stuffing.

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Ground Chicken Chili

Ground Chicken Chili — EatingWell / Victor Protasio

This ground chicken chili fills you up without weighing you down, thanks to lean chicken, fiber-rich beans and plenty of veggies. You can make it on your stovetop, or use the slow-cooker variation if you need some extra time between assembly and mealtime.

13 of 21

Slow-Cooker Potato Soup Four Ways

Be sure to use waxy potatoes, such as red or Yukon Gold, in this crock pot potato soup recipe. The result will be creamier than if you use starchy varieties like russets. Just load your bowl up with toppings like you would for a classic baked potato to mix up the flavor.

14 of 21

Three-Bean Chili

Three-Bean Chili

This rib-sticking bean chili is richly flavored with cumin, chili, paprika, oregano and an assortment of peppers. Use whatever beans you have in your pantry.

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Spaghetti Squash Soup with Sausage

Spaghetti Squash Soup — Caitlin Bensel

This easy soup is a great way to showcase the versatility of spaghetti squash. Sweet Italian sausage pairs well with the subtle sweetness of the squash. The broth that coats the thin strands of spaghetti squash is flavorful and light.

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Turkey & Sweet Potato Chili

This healthy turkey chili has a nice balance of flavors thanks to sweet potatoes and smoky chipotle chiles. We like to garnish it with creamy avocado, but melted cheese, chopped scallion and a dollop of sour cream will work well too.

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Stuffed Pepper Soup

Stuffed Pepper Soup — Jacob Fox

Inspired by stuffed peppers, this soup is ready faster and with fewer dishes too! Have fun with the toppings—we top it with onion, Cheddar cheese and tortilla chips here, but salsa, sour cream and corn would also make stellar additions.

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Creamy Queso Chili

Creamy Queso Chili — Jacob Fox

This mashup of the classic cheesy dip chile con queso with the beans and vegetables of a chili is the best of both worlds.

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Chicken & Dumplings Soup

a recipe photo of Chicken & Dumplings Soup in a bowl — Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer

This hearty and warming chicken-and-dumplings soup features whole-wheat biscuits that offer a boost of fiber while maintaining a light texture. Thyme and parsley add freshness to the traditional flavors of this crowd-pleasing soup.

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Classic Beef Chili

Classic Beef Chili — Photography / Jennifer Causey, Styling / Chelsea Zimmer / Kay Clarke

This classic chili recipe features beef, beans and shredded sweet potatoes for a nutritional boost. The sweet potato blends into the chili so well that even picky eaters will gobble it up.

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Loaded Black Bean Nacho Soup

Loaded Black Bean Nacho Soup

Jazz up a can of black bean soup with your favorite nacho toppings, such as cheese, avocado and fresh tomatoes. A bit of smoked paprika adds a bold flavor kick, but you can swap in any warm spices you prefer, such as cumin or chili powder. Look for a soup that contains no more than 450 milligrams of sodium per serving.

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