11 Classic Soups You Forget About Every Year…Until Winter Hits

There’s a stack of soup recipes in your kitchen that only sees daylight three months a year. The rest of the time, they’re buried under summer salads and grill recipes. Then the first real cold snap hits, and suddenly you’re tearing through drawers looking for that broccoli soup your grandmother used to make.

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Broccoli Cheddar Soup. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Italian Tortellini Soup

A bowl of tortellini soup with vegetables, including tomatoes, carrots, and greens.
Italian Tortellini Soup. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

This meatless soup is one of those recipes that gets pushed aside until the temperature drops and you need something comforting fast. Ready in under 30 minutes, it’s perfect for busy weeknights when you want a hot bowl of soup without spending hours in the kitchen.
Get the Recipe: Italian Tortellini Soup

Olive Garden Gnocchi Soup

Bowl of copycat Olive Garden chicken gnocchi soup in a bowl with breadsticks in the background.
Olive Garden Gnocchi Soup. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

You probably haven’t thought about this creamy chicken and gnocchi combination since last winter, but once the cold sets in, it’s all you’ll crave. The slow cooker does most of the work, giving you a restaurant-quality soup with minimal effort.
Get the Recipe: Olive Garden Gnocchi Soup

Broccoli Cheddar Soup

A bowl of broccoli cheddar soup with broccoli and carrots.
Broccoli Cheddar Soup. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

This rich, cheesy soup disappears from your mind until that first chilly day when nothing else will do. The velvety texture and sharp cheddar flavor make it one of those classic cold-weather soups you wonder why you don’t make more often.
Get the Recipe: Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Slow Cooker Pasta E Fagioli

A bowl of Pasta E Fagioli filled with pasta, beans, vegetables, and garnished with fresh herbs.
Slow Cooker Pasta E Fagioli. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Here’s another restaurant favorite that only comes to mind when winter rolls around and you’re digging through old recipe files. Toss everything in the slow cooker and come back to tender pasta, beans, and beef in a thick tomato broth.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Pasta E Fagioli

Instant Pot Zuppa Toscana

A bowl of creamy yellow soup with chunks of sausage, potato and leafy greens.
Instant Pot Zuppa Toscana. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Everyone forgets about this Italian sausage and potato soup until they taste it again and remember why they loved it. The Instant Pot gets it on the table in 30 minutes, which is exactly what you need on a cold evening.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Zuppa Toscana

Crock Pot Ramen

Top view of slow cooker chicken ramen in the Crock Pot.
Crock Pot Ramen. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Homemade ramen probably isn’t on your radar until you’re tired of the instant packets and craving something more substantial. The slow cooker method means you just dump everything in and come back to a steaming bowl of real ramen.
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Ramen

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Mexican chicken tortilla soup in a white bowl.
Chicken Tortilla Soup. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

This copycat version of a restaurant favorite gets filed away and forgotten until soup season returns with a vengeance. It captures that familiar flavor you crave and quickly becomes a go-to recipe once you rediscover it.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Tortilla Soup

Lasagna Soup

A brown bowl of lasagna soup topped with shredded cheese, with a spoon lifting a portion of soup.
Lasagna Soup. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Who thinks about turning lasagna into soup until winter reminds you it exists? This slow cooker version gives you all the cheesy, hearty flavor without layering noodles or heating up the oven.
Get the Recipe: Lasagna Soup

Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup

A bowl of creamy chicken noodle casserole with vegetables, garnished with parsley.
Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

There’s a reason this is the ultimate comfort food, yet somehow it only crosses your mind when you’re sick or the weather turns cold. The slow cooker makes it even easier, with tender chicken and vegetables in a rich broth.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup

Instant Pot Potato Soup

Bowl of potato soup with bacon and chives.
Instant Pot Potato Soup. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Loaded potato soup is one of those recipes you make once, love it, then completely forget about until next year. The pressure cooker speeds things up so you can top it with bacon, cheese, and sour cream in no time.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Potato Soup

Avgolemono Soup

A bowl of soup with chunks of chicken, rice, and vegetables, garnished with lemon slices and fresh herbs.
Avgolemono Soup. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

This creamy Greek lemon soup with chicken is probably one you’ve never even tried, but it’s a classic that deserves a place in your winter lineup. The tangy, velvety broth turns leftover chicken into something special on busy weeknights.
Get the Recipe: Avgolemono Soup