20 Cheap and Easy Soup Recipes (2024)

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As winter clings on, now is the perfect time to make a pot of soup. Warming and nourishing, soup is the ultimate meal in a bowl, and even freezes well. The following 20 recipes are affordable and easy to make, and can be adjusted to feed a crowd or a dinner for two. Try one this week — your wallet and your stomach are sure to thank you.

1. Butternut Squash and Sweet Potato Soup

This creamy squash and potato soup is a beautiful color, and the main ingredients are affordable and have a long shelf life. The recipe comes together easily, especially if you can find pre-cut butternut squash on sale.

2. Sausage, Potato, and Spinach Soup

A hearty one-pot dish of sausage, potatoes, and spinach that requires mere minutes of active cooking. Potatoes are always cheap, and you can use whatever sausage is on special that week.

3. Lentil Soup

To make this lentil soup, just throw some lentils and veggies in a pot; and that's it! It's flavorful, simple, and inexpensive. Serve with a loaf of crusty bread.

4. Lighter Spinach and Egg Drop Soup

A very easy and light but comforting egg drop soup that's also quick. It makes a great first course, and it doesn't get much cheaper than greens, broth, and eggs.

5. Winter Vegetable Minestrone

A tasty minestrone that is chock-full of healthy and budget-friendly veggies. In a pinch, use whatever vegetables and pasta you have available.

6. Healthy Asian Soba Noodle Soup

A light but flavorful Asian soup that utilizes healthful buckwheat noodles. It comes together fast, and cabbage can be substituted for bok choy if you can't find it at your local grocery.

7. Easy Vegetarian Chili

This simply delicious veggie chili doesn't take many ingredients or much effort. It's very affordable and good for you, making it a great option to feed a crowd or freeze for later.

8. White Bean and Roasted Mushroom Soup

A cost-effective and healthy mushroom soup that uses blended white beans to create a creamy base. Add in crumbled, cooked sausage or wilted greens to mix it up.

9. Easy Chicken Orzo Soup

A simple chicken soup that's sure to cure what ails you. Chicken thighs make it especially affordable, and it couldn't be easier to put together.

10. Broccoli Cheese Soup

This one-pot broccoli cheese soup is exceedingly easy, with no pureeing required. The addition of dairy makes this a rich and creamy soup, and the ham is optional.

11. Italian Wedding Soup

A flavorful Italian soup with just a few ingredients and a few simple steps. The classic dish has little pork meatballs that cook in the soup along with chickpeas, spinach, and orzo.

12. Cauliflower Soup

A surprisingly hearty cauliflower soup that is a twist on the classic chowder recipe. Cauliflower replaces potatoes for a low-carb option, while still making a creamy and rich soup.

13. Black Bean Soup With Avocado, Orange, and Cucumber

A very fast and very easy bean soup that's full of fiber and protein. Plus, beans are cheap! Don't skimp on the creative toppings, and blending this soup is optional.

14. Whole Roasted Pumpkin Soup

Did you know you can make a pumpkin soup by roasting a whole pumpkin with the ingredients inside? Impress the whole dinner table with very little effort!

15. Corn Chowder

A fresh and delicious corn chowder that is a cinch to make. This inexpensive recipe can be made with frozen corn if fresh isn't available.

16. Avocado Spinach Soup

A pretty green soup that is smooth and creamy while still being healthy and light. The recipe only requires a couple of avocados, and the other ingredients are low cost. It can be served chilled or warm.

17. Tortellini Soup

A super quick soup with prepared tortellini (from the fridge section), tomato, and spinach that's sure to please even picky eaters. It makes for a nice presentation with almost no effort.

18. Goulash

A thick and flavorful beef stew that tastes great over noodles. Homemade goulash calls for affordable ground chuck and a few other ingredients, and comes together in a single pot. Be sure to scale this recipe down if you're not feeding a big group.

19. Potato Leek Soup

A classic potato leek soup that also happens to be very inexpensive. Don't forget to add fun toppings like cheese, green onions, and bacon.

20. Carrot Ginger Soup

This healthy carrot ginger soup has a light sweetness with a kick from the ginger. Just simmer the ingredients together, blend, and you have a beautiful dish that goes great with a salad or bread.

What are your favorite cheap and easy soup recipes? Share a bowl in comments!

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20 Cheap and Easy Soup Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Is it cheaper to make your own soup? ›

And even though canned soup is relatively inexpensive, you can cut your cost in half by making it yourself. Here is a simple vegetable soup recipe that makes up to 6 servings.

What are the three of your 5 a day soups? ›

  • Cajun chicken with mango & quinoa. ...
  • Piri piri veggie traybake. ...
  • King prawn, fennel & butter bean stew. ...
  • Carrot & lentil soup with zaatar, toasted flatbreads and chilli oil. ...
  • Tuscan-style cannellini bean & vegetable soup. ...
  • Roasted tomato & squash soup. ...
  • Pumpkin, chestnut & borlotti bean stew.

Is soup a cheap meal? ›

Soup is the best cozy meal on a warm day, plus, it's usually a cheap way to make a lot of food. Make a big batch for a dinner party, meal-prep lunches or even to stash away in the freezer for an emergency dinner.

What are the 2 basic kinds of soup? ›

Soups are similar to stews, and in some cases there may not be a clear distinction between the two; however, soups generally have more liquid (broth) than stews. In traditional French cuisine, soups are classified into two main groups: clear soups and thick soups.

What not to do when making soup? ›

The 7 Biggest Mistakes You Make Cooking Soup
  1. Boiling instead of simmering. You want a small bubble or two to rise to the surface of the liquid every few seconds. ...
  2. Not using enough salt. ...
  3. Ignoring water. ...
  4. Overcooking the vegetables. ...
  5. Adding tomatoes at the beginning. ...
  6. Neglecting to garnish. ...
  7. Not trying a pressure cooker.
Nov 19, 2014

Is it cheaper to buy soup or make soup? ›

Making your own soup takes time, but it gives you complete control over the ingredients and how you prepare them. Homemade soup can also save you money compared to canned soup. Cook a large batch of soup, then freeze small portions for meals that you can heat quickly.

Can you lose weight with eating a bowl of soup daily? ›

Souping can be an effective way to lose weight if it's done correctly. Eating soup every day as part of a balanced and healthy diet can help you reduce your overall calorie intake and increase your intake of vegetables, fiber, and nutrients, which can lead to weight loss.

How much weight can you lose if you eat soup everyday? ›

Broth-based soup diets generally last for 7 days. However, some can last as long as 10–14 days. Over that time, proponents of a broth-based diet claim you can lose up to 10 or even 20 pounds (4.5 to 9 kg). On a broth-based soup diet, cream-based soups are restricted, as they're higher in calories and fat.

What does eating soup everyday do to your body? ›

Soup is chock full of the micronutrients, including vitamins and minerals, needed to nourish your body and support its various processes. Micronutrients are an important part of every person's diet, and consuming enough of them is essential for combatting diseases such as Alzheimer's, heart disease and cancer.

Is soup enough to live on? ›

What Experts Say. "The concept of eating soup to lose weight has spanned decades, but experts say an all-soup diet lacks nutrients and is not sustainable. They do agree it can be smart to eat vegetable-packed soups for some meals, though, as these are filling, nutrient-dense, and low in calories."

What soup eats like a meal? ›

Campbell's® Chunky® Steak & Potato Soup—Soup That Eats Like a Meal®. When you need food that works as hard as you do, grab Campbell's® Chunky® soups. Our big flavor, big pieces and bold ingredients will help you fight back when NFL-sized hunger hits.

Is it OK to have soup for dinner everyday? ›

Soup is a good evening meal to have every day because it is typically low in calories and high in nutrients, making it a healthy option for weight management. It is also easy to make and can be customized with a variety of ingredients to suit personal taste preferences.

What is a passed soup? ›

• Passed/clear soups: passed or clear soups, as the name totally says these are the thin. soups which are very clear and are transparent. The soups are normally strained by a strainer or a muslin cloth after these are being prepared just to get the clarity in the soup.

What is the national soup of USA? ›

In the U.S., gumbo is the top national soup, a thick spicy soup from Louisiana. Clam chowder is another.

Which country eats the most soup? ›

Russians consume the most soup on average in the world, with approximately 32 kg per person per year. The statistic states that, on average, Russians consume the highest amount of soup compared to any other country in the world. This is quantified by an approximate consumption rate of 32 kilograms per person per year.

Are soups a good way to save money? ›

Often the most budget friendly option is to make your own soup. Soups are simple to make and are a good way to use any bits and pieces you have leftover from other meals. Freeze leftovers in freezer bags or containers marked with the date and the contents.

Is cooking for yourself actually cheaper? ›

If you compare the same meal and don't account for the time you spend cooking it, it will be cheaper to do it yourself every time. If you go to fancy restaurants it's not even close. You just have to compare the price of a soda, ~$3 and up (usually $5), to its price at the supermarket and you'll have your answer.

Is it actually cheaper to cook from scratch? ›

For those who want a quick and easy answer: It's generally cheaper to cook food at home than eat out. The reason so many people can get stuck on the question is the human psychology variable. People don't always spend wisely, and it isn't as if prices are always the same at a supermarket or a fast food restaurant.

How much does it cost to make soup? ›

Save money with our simple soups using cheap ingredients. Costing only £1 or less per serving, these budget-friendly blends are big on flavour but low on cost.

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