Warm, Cozy Soups Make Easy Weeknight Dinners

Soups on! Freshen up one of your favorite weeknight go-to dinners with these tips and recipes.

Updated February 15, 2017

Italian Spinach and Pasta Soup

Quick Italian Spinach and Pasta Soup opens in a new tab Recipe opens in a new tab

Soup is a natural go-to when the temperature start to dip, but that’s not the only reason to reach for a big bowl. Soups are some of the easiest one-dish recipes you can make, meaning the mad dash for dinner after a long day is a thing of the past. Plus, soups are chock-full of good-for-you ingredients like hearty whole grains and tender vegetables (sneaky or otherwise).

Pro Tips and Tricks

  • Use leftovers. Don’t throw away little bits of chopped vegetables or that slightly less-than-perfect celery. Every bit of veggie added to the pot will help create a flavorful soup, and you might find a new favorite combination. These tiny bits also make great additions to Homemade Vegetable Broth opens in a new tab.

  • Grab a rind. Rinds from hard cheeses like Parmigiano-Reggiano can add a ton of depth to any soup. Try your hand at this technique with Chicken Noodle Soup with Parmigiano-Reggiano Broth opens in a new tab.

  • Load the pantry. Staples like broth, canned beans and diced tomatoes will make putting dinner together a snap. Try them in our Zesty Black Bean Soup opens in a new tab.

  • Pasta, please! Adding pasta to soup makes it more of a meal. Try different shapes depending on your soup, like fusilli for chicken noodle or orzo for butternut squash soup opens in a new tab!

  • Purée power. Veggie-based soups can take on a new life with the use of an immersion blender. (You can use a regular blender, too, but be sure to prep the soup in batches.) After blending, add shredded cooked chicken, fresh herbs or a swirl of cream.

  • Slow cooker for the win. It's the ultimate time-saver. Toss your ingredients in the slow cooker in the morning, and come home to a pot full of delicious soup.

More Easy Soup Recipes

Zesty Black Bean Soup
Miso Soup with Shrimp and Broccoli
Hearty Greens Soup with Bowtie Pasta and Tomatoes
Chicken and Brown Rice Soup
Tomato Soup and Avocado Toasts

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