30 Recipes for Southern Soups to Chow Down On (2024)

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30 Recipes for Southern Soups to Chow Down On (1)Amanda TarltonUpdated: Jan. 29, 2024

    These Southern soups are about as belly-filling and heart-warming as they come. From Cajun gumbo to ham chowder, y'all definitely want to stay for supper.

    1/29

    Grandma’s Chicken ‘n’ Dumpling Soup

    I’ve enjoyed making this rich homemade chicken dumpling soup recipe for more than 40 years. Every time I serve it, I remember my southern grandma, who was very special to me and was known as an outstanding cook. —Paulette Balda, Prophetstown, Illinois

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    2/29

    Bacon-Potato Corn Chowder

    I was raised on a farm, so a warm soup with homey ingredients, like this corn chowder with bacon, was always a treat after a chilly day outside. My hearty chowder nourishes the family. —Katie Lillo, Big Lake, Minnesota

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    3/29

    Vegan Jambalaya

    This flavorful entree won’t leave you hungry since it uses convenient canned beans in place of meat. —Crystal Jo Bruns, Iliff, Colorado

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    4/29

    Quick Ham and Bean Soup

    If you like ham and bean soup but don't want to spend hours in the kitchen, this tasty, quick version will leave you with a satisfied smile. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

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    5/29

    Hearty Brunswick Stew

    Like a thick, hearty soup, this stew is packed with tender chicken and an eye-catching combination of vegetables. I could never wait patiently to eat when Mother was cooking this stew. —Milded Sherrer, Fort Worth, Texas

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    6/29

    Home-Style Black-Eyed Pea Soup

    This colorful hearty soup makes a good starter or main course. With a salad on the side, it's a light dinner for two.—Yvonne Peterson, Mountain View, Missouri

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    7/29

    Taste of Home

    Frogmore Stew

    This picnic-style medley of shrimp, smoked kielbasa, corn and spuds is a specialty of South Carolina cuisine. It's commonly dubbed Frogmore stew or Beaufort stew in recognition of the two low country communities that lay claim to its origin. No matter what you call it, this one-pot wonder won't disappoint! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

    8/29

    Taste of Home

    Red Bean Vegetable Soup

    Cajun seasoning boosts the flavor of this brothy soup. The easy recipe makes a big batch that's loaded with beans and fresh veggies. —Ronnie Lappe, Brownwood, Texas

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    9/29

    The South in a Pot Soup

    With black-eyed peas, sweet potatoes, ground beef and comforting spices, this soup has every wonderful memory from my childhood simmered together in one tasty pot. —Stephanie Rabbitt-Schapp, Cincinnati, OH

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    10/29

    This recipe for classic southern comfort food was the first thing I ever cooked for my girlfriend. It was simple to make but tasted gourmet—definitely love at first bite. —Kael Harvey, Brooklyn, NY

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    11/29

    Taste of Home

    Forgotten Jambalaya

    During chilly times of the year, I fix this jambalaya at least once a month. It’s so easy—just chop the vegetables, dump everything in the slow cooker and forget it! Even my sons, who are picky about spicy things, like this dish. —Cindi Coss, Coppell, Texas

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    12/29

    Taste of Home

    Easy Chicken Corn Chowder

    When I haven’t planned for dinner, I often play around with ingredients in my pantry instead of running to the store. This recipe was a happy experiment. Cut some fat by omitting the bacon—it’s still tasty. —Barbara Banski, Fenton, Michigan

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    13/29

    Taste of Home

    Shrimp Chowder

    I simmer my rich and creamy shrimp soup in the slow cooker. Because the chowder is ready in less than four hours, it can be prepared in the afternoon and served to dinner guests that night. —Will Zunio, Gretna, Louisiana

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    14/29

    Taste of Home

    Comforting Chicken Noodle Soup

    A good friend made us this rich, comforting soup after the birth of our son. It was such a help to have dinner taken care of until I was back on my feet. This yummy dish is so simple to fix that now I give a pot of it (along with the recipe) to other new mothers. —Joanna Sargent, Sandy, Utah

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    15/29

    Cheesy Ham Chowder

    My five children all agree that this soothing recipe is wonderful. The soup is full of potatoes, carrots and ham. The best part is that I can get it on the table in only a half hour of hands-on time. —Jennifer Trenhaile, Emerson, Nebraska

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    16/29

    Taste of Home

    Best Ever Potato Soup

    You'll be surprised at the taste of this rich and cheesy easy potato soup. It really is the best potato soup recipe, ever. I came up with it after enjoying baked potato soup at one of our favorite restaurants. I added bacon, and we think that makes it even better. —Coleen Morrissey, Sweet Valley, Pennsylvania

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    17/29

    Taste of Home

    Chili for a Crowd

    This chili for a crowd was handed down to me by my aunt, who said she got it from a "grizzled Montana mountain man." I added some zesty ingredients to come up with the final version. Hot food is something that my husband's family isn't accustomed to, so I adjust the spices for them. In fact, with a few simple alterations to the "heat" index, I can serve this chili to anyone. —Lisa Humphreys, Wasilla, Alaska

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    18/29

    Taste of Home

    Cream of Wild Rice Soup

    Tender cubes of chicken, fresh vegetables and wild rice make this soup hearty enough for a meal. You can't beat the down-home comfort of a warm bowlful. I like to serve it with whole wheat rolls. —J. Beatrice Hintz, Neenah, Wisconsin

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    19/29

    Taste of Home

    Cajun Corn Soup

    I found this recipe years ago and substituted Cajun stewed tomatoes for a bolder taste. Now I prepare this dish for out-of-state guests who want to taste some Cajun food. Everyone who tries it gives it high marks. Plus, it's easy to prepare. —Sue Fontenot, Kinder, Louisiana

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    20/29

    TMB Studio

    Chicken Potpie Soup

    My grandmother hand-wrote a cookbook. She included this amazing pie crust, and I added this delicious chicken potpie soup for it. —Karen LeMay, Seabrook, Texas

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    21/29

    Taste of Home

    Healthy Chicken Dumpling Soup

    My husband was fooled with this low-fat recipe and I'm sure your family will be, too! A savory broth, hearty chicken and rich dumplings all add up to comforting flavor. —Brenda White of Morrison, Illinois

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    22/29

    Taste of Home

    Sausage Bean Soup

    You’re moments away from a flavor-packed soup that keeps you warm on even the chilliest nights. It's just the kind of recipe we Minnesotans love. —Marlene Muckenhirn, Delano, Minnesota

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    23/29

    Taste of Home

    Cream Cheese Chicken Soup

    After tasting a similar soup in a restaurant, I went home and cooked up my own version. It's so soothing on a winter evening served with crusty French bread. For a change of pace, try substituting ham or turkey for the chicken. —Kathleen Rappleye, Mesa, Arizona

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    24/29

    Taste of Home

    Broccoli Cheddar Soup

    My husband and I love this cheesy dish. It is proof that soup doesn't need to be made in big batches to be good. —Cheryl McRae, West Valley, Utah

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    25/29

    Chicken Barley Soup

    No question—this is my favorite barley soup! It's so filling that I serve it as a hearty main dish, and I have given the recipe to many of our friends and relatives. It simply tastes too good to keep to yourself! —Diana Costello, Marion, Kansas

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    26/29

    Louisiana Jambalaya

    My husband helped add a little spice to my life. He grew up on Cajun cooking, such as Louisiana jambalaya, while I ate mostly meat-and-potato meals. —Sandi Pichon, Memphis, Tennessee

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    27/29

    28/29

    The musical "Waitress"

    Shrimp Gumbo

    A crisp green salad and crusty French bread complete this shrimp gumbo meal. I always have hot sauce available when I serve this and have found that the instant microwave rice packages make the process a little easier. —Jo Ann Graham, Ovilla, Texas

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    29/29

    Homemade chicken and dumplings from scratch harken back to my childhood and chilly days when we devoured those cute little balls of dough swimming in hot, rich broth. It's one of those types of soup you'll want to eat again and again. —Erika Monroe-Williams, Scottsdale, Arizona

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    Originally Published: October 01, 2019

    30 Recipes for Southern Soups to Chow Down On (29)

    Amanda Tarlton

    Amanda has more than a decade of media experience, specifically in product testing in the cooking and lifestyle space. As a freelancer for Taste of Home, Amanda writes mostly about foodie finds, home and lifestyle goods and cooking and baking utensils that make life easier (and more fun!). Outside of freelancing, Amanda is the executive editor of commerce at Field & Stream.

    When she's not working, Amanda is on the lookout for the best pizzas in town or testing out secret menu items at restaurants and coffee shops.

    30 Recipes for Southern Soups to Chow Down On (2024)

    FAQs

    What is the difference between country living stew and soup? ›

    Stew tends to be more complex and takes longer to cook than soup. The ingredients in stew are cut into larger pieces and are “stewed” in a small (well, smaller than soup) amount of liquid, until all of the ingredients are cooked and the flavors have melded.

    How do you make soup taste rich? ›

    Add acidic ingredients.

    Foods that have a great deal of acidity, like lemon juice, vinegar, white wine, and tomato puree, can help liven up the flavor of bland-tasting bone and other broths. "The acidity of these ingredients works to complement and enhance the broth's flavors, not mask it.

    What is the secret to soup? ›

    7 Tips for Successful Soup Making
    • Use a Sturdy Pot. It is worth investing in a heavy pot with a thick bottom to use for making soup. ...
    • Sauté the Aromatics. ...
    • Start with Good Broth. ...
    • Cut Vegetables to the Right Size. ...
    • Stagger the Addition of Vegetables. ...
    • Keep Liquid at a Simmer. ...
    • Season Just Before Serving.
    Oct 9, 2022

    What is the No 1 soup in the world? ›

    According to the Taste Atlas Awards, the international food database, the Filipino favorite, Sinigang, is hailed as the best soup in the world.

    What's the number one soup in America? ›

    Chicken Noodle Soup is the most popular soup in America. More than 28% of consumers choose clam chowder as their favorite kind of soup. The global soup market size was valued at USD 16.1 billion in 2018. Vegetable soup is the second most popular soup in the U.S after chicken noodle soup.

    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

    What is the most important ingredient in soup? ›

    For clear, brothy soups, stock is your most important ingredient. If you want to make a good soup, you need to use an excellently flavored stock — otherwise, the entire pot could be tasteless.

    What is the best seasoning for soup? ›

    Start with the bright, snappy flavor of Celery Seed, then add some aromatics, like California Minced Onion and California Granulated Garlic. Salt and black pepper round out the basics; from there, try some Poultry Seasoning, or look at our Green Goddess Seasoning to keep it light, bright, and playful.

    What makes homemade soup taste better? ›

    Use fresh, good quality ingredients like vegetables and herbs. Add a little bit of vinegar or lemon juice to your soup to make it taste better. Use a high-quality broth or stock as a base for your soup. Roast or caramelize your vegetables before adding them to your soup to bring out their natural sweetness.

    Can you let soup simmer all day? ›

    No. As soup simmers it reduces, meaning the amount of soup you've got lessens as time passes. The veggies also get more and more tender, after hours of simmering they'll be mush. You simmer soup until the garnish is tender and the flavors have melded.

    What makes homemade soup taste good? ›

    To make a good soup, you have to build flavours as you go. Vegetables like onion, garlic, celery and carrots — referred to as "aromatics" — are part of most soup recipes for this very reason, sautéed in oil or butter as a first step of flavour-making.

    How do you add depth to soup? ›

    Garlic and roasted onions add depth. Simmering mushrooms down concentrates flavors for mushroom soup. Simmering most vegetables down also adds more concentrated flavors and reduces the water in them. Herbs, salt and pepper also help.

    What can I add to my soup to make it tastier? ›

    Go Bold. A punch of flavor at the end of cooking can make your soup a standout. Mix herbs like parsley, thyme, and oregano, or spices such as cumin, coriander, and cardamom, into some olive oil, and let it infuse for at least an hour or two. Pour it over soup just before serving.

    At what point does a soup become a stew? ›

    Generally speaking, if there is so much liquid that the ingredients are fully submerged, it's a soup. If the chunks dominate the dish, it's a stew.

    Why is a stew called stew and not soup? ›

    Stews are meant to be cooked a long time over low heat, sometimes even in the oven. Soups are boiled at some point in the process. Stews were a way to prepare tough cuts of meat that wouldn't become tender with boiling.

    What makes a stew a stew? ›

    Another way to look at it: Soup is any combination of ingredients cooked in liquid. Stew is any dish that's prepared by stewing—that is, submerging the ingredients with just enough liquid to cook them through at a simmer in a covered pot for a long time.

    Is Gumbo a stew or soup? ›

    Gumbo is a hearty stew made from combinations of seafood, meat (such as andouille, chicken and ham) or vegetables that's served hot over cooked rice. Gumbo can be thickened with okra, file, or a roux, a French and Creole method of cooking equal parts flour and fat.

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