15 Winter Soups for Days When You’d Rather Just Hibernate

When the alarm goes off and it’s still dark outside, the only thing getting you out from under those blankets is knowing there’s soup in your future. These recipes are for those days when your ambition peaks at “put ingredients in pot” and even that feels like a stretch.

Ham and Potato soup in a gray and white bowl with a spoon.
Crock Pot Ham and Potato Soup. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Slow Cooker Chicken Taco Soup

A bowl of chicken chili topped with cheese and green onions, surrounded by tortilla chips.
Slow Cooker Chicken Taco Soup. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

When it’s too cold to think straight but you still need dinner, this slow cooker chicken taco soup has your back. Toss everything in the pot in the morning and come home to tender chicken swimming in a boldly spiced broth with beans that make it actually filling.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Taco Soup

Broccoli Cheddar Soup

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

This broccoli cheddar soup is the kind of thick, cheesy bowl that makes staying inside on a freezing day feel like the right choice. The creamy texture and sharp cheddar hit that comfort food spot without requiring you to change out of sweatpants.
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.

Pasta e fagioli in the slow cooker means you get that rich tomato broth with tender pasta and creamy beans without standing over the stove. It’s hearty enough to keep you going through those short winter days when you’re basically counting down to bedtime.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Pasta E Fagioli

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.

This copycat chicken gnocchi soup cooks itself in the slow cooker while you’re doing literally anything else. The creamy broth with pillowy gnocchi and vegetables is the kind of thing that makes winter slightly more bearable.
Get the Recipe: Olive Garden Gnocchi Soup

Turkey Corn Chowder

Bowl of turkey and corn chowder with bacon from the top.
Turkey Corn Chowder. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Turkey corn chowder is thick enough to feel like a meal and creamy enough to qualify as comfort food for those evenings when you need something substantial. Sweet corn and tender turkey in a potato-based broth make this one worth keeping in your winter rotation.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Corn Chowder

Instant Pot Vegetable Soup

Two bowls of instant pot vegetable soup in front of the pressure cooker.
Instant Pot Vegetable Soup. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

This Instant Pot vegetable soup delivers a hearty meal without the hours of simmering traditional recipes require. It’s nourishing enough to keep you going through winter without weighing you down or taking over your kitchen.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Vegetable Soup

Crock Pot Ham and Potato Soup

Ham and Potato soup in a gray and white bowl with a spoon.
Crock Pot Ham and Potato Soup. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Ham and potatoes simmer away in the crock pot to create a soup that’s even better when you stir cheese into it at the end. This is the kind of simple meal that works for those nights when cooking feels like too much but takeout sounds even worse.
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Ham and 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.

Avgolemono turns leftover chicken into a creamy, lemony soup that’s bright enough to cut through winter doldrums. The Greek classic comes together quickly on busy weeknights when you need something hot and substantial without a lot of work.
Get the Recipe: Avgolemono Soup

Slow Cooker Chicken and Rice Soup

A creamy chicken and rice stew with carrots and herbs is served in a slow cooker with a wooden-handled ladle.
Slow Cooker Chicken and Rice Soup. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Chicken and rice soup in the slow cooker means tender meat and fluffy rice in a flavorful broth with minimal hands-on time. It’s wholesome enough to feel good about eating and cozy enough to match your hibernation mood.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken and Rice Soup

Chicken Tortilla Soup

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

Indulge in the comfort of Chick-fil-A Tortilla Soup recipe! This homemade delight captures the essence of their famous taste in every spoonful.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Tortilla Soup

Italian Tortellini Soup

A bowl of tortellini soup with carrots, spinach, sausage, tomatoes, and fresh parsley, with a spoon in the bowl and ingredients visible on the side.
Italian Tortellini Soup. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Italian tortellini soup is a meatless option that still feels substantial enough for winter nights when you want something hot fast. It comes together quickly for weeknight cooking when you’re craving soup but don’t have hours to spare.
Get the Recipe: Italian Tortellini Soup

Slow Cooker French Onion Soup

A bowl of onion soup garnished with parsley, with a spoon placed inside the bowl.
Slow Cooker French Onion Soup. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

French onion soup in the slow cooker means you get that rich, deeply flavored broth topped with melted cheese without babysitting caramelizing onions. It’s the kind of cozy meal that makes winter feel less like an endurance test.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker French Onion 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.

This slow cooker chicken noodle soup is comfort food at its most reliable, whether you’re fighting off a cold or just cold in general. Tender chicken, vegetables and a creamy broth come together with almost no effort on your part.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup

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.

Zuppa Toscana comes together in just 30 minutes in the Instant Pot, making it perfect for those chilly evenings when you want restaurant-quality soup without leaving the house. The Italian classic is easy to customize based on what you have on hand.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Zuppa Toscana

Colcannon Soup

Colcannon Soup in a green bowl with a spoon.
Colcannon Soup. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Creamy potatoes mixed with cabbage for an Irish inspired meatless soup that is rich and hearty.
Get the Recipe: Colcannon Soup