There’s nothing better than a hearty bowl of soup on a cold winter day. When the temperature drops, it’s time to put soups and stews back on the menu.
If you need some winter meal inspiration, I’ve got you covered! From vegetarian-friendly soups to health-boosting broths, there’s something for everyone.
After all, there’s no reason comfort food can’t be nutritious. These five recipes prove that healthy food feels good – and tastes even better!
These delicious soups are designed to nourish your body through the chilly months. Every bowl is packed with anti-inflammatory foods, antioxidants, and plenty of gut-health goodness.
Best of all, they’re quick to prepare, and most are slow-cooker friendly. These soups and stews tick all the boxes if you need winter dinner inspiration.
Read on for all the mouthwatering details!
5 Reasons Soup is Perfect For Winter
There’s plenty to love about winter soups and stews! Here are my top five reasons:
- Seasonal: Winter in Australia means all our favourite soup vegetables are in season! Root vegetables and leafy greens are at their peak during the colder months. Delicious picks include pumpkin, parsnips, sweet potato, beetroot, leeks, silverbeet and spinach.
- Weight Management Friendly: Soups are excellent for weight management due to their high water content and low calorie density. They provide a feeling of fullness, reducing overall calorie intake. Additionally, soups packed with vegetables offer essential nutrients and fibre while being low in fat.
- Budget-friendly: With the rising cost of living, many of us are trying to eat healthy for less. Soup recipes are a great way to make vegetables and proteins go further. Add noodles or serve bread on the side to fill hungry bellies on a budget.
- Freezer-friendly: Soups typically freeze well, giving you an easy shortcut to a hearty dinner on cold nights. You can even freeze single portions for a quick winter lunch.
- Perfect for the Slow Cooker: Winter is when our slow cookers and crockpots come out of hibernation! Most soups and stews can be prepared in a slow cooker, making them hassle-free.
Discover my favourite winter soup ideas below (including vegetarian and vegan options).
5 Best Healthy Soup Recipes for Winter
From hearty vegetable soups to spicy stews, these are the ultimate winter warmers! You’ll find simple, clean, tasty ingredients in each recipe, focusing on seasonal produce.
Here are my top five winter soup recipes:
1. Chunky Roast Tomato Soup
Rustic, wholesome, and full of flavour, this roast tomato soup never disappoints! It’s packed with flavour and health benefits, with the addition of garlic, onion, balsamic vinegar and coriander. You could also use basil or oregano for an Italian spin.
Tomatoes contain potent antioxidants, making this soup great to ward off winter cold. Each bowl will boost your immune system with lycopene, beta-carotene and vitamin C.
I love the chunky texture of this tomato soup, but if you have picky eaters in the family, you can also puree it. It’s easy to make this soup recipe vegetarian or vegan – just swap the chicken stock for vegetable broth.
Get the recipe here: Chunky Roast Tomato Soup
2. Homemade Pumpkin Soup
Pumpkin soup is a family dinner staple, especially during winter. This recipe packs extra health benefits thanks to natural anti-inflammatories like turmeric, ginger and chilli. Of course, the sensational flavour is just a bonus!
This pumpkin soup recipe is vegetarian and vegan, using organic coconut cream instead of dairy. With only five steps to prepare, you can whip this up for a quick winter dinner or toss everything in the slow cooker.
Feel free to dial up the chilli to boost metabolism in winter, or leave it out for younger kids.
Get the recipe here: Homemade Pumpkin Soup
3. Anti-Inflammatory Cauliflower Soup
Cauliflower is one of my favourite anti-inflammatory foods! If you love a creamy winter soup, this recipe will satisfy your cravings (minus the carbs).
This filling soup also stars turmeric, ginger and chilli for maximum anti-inflammatory goodness. As a bonus, these ingredients are also natural libido boosters – making it a winter warmer in more ways than one!
In Australia, cauliflower season starts in autumn, but bumper crops are common throughout the colder months. This makes cauliflower a great-value winter vegetable pick.
Get the recipe here: Anti-Inflammatory Cauliflower Soup
4. Spicy Seafood Stew
This spicy seafood stew has it all! It’s low in fat, high in protein, dairy-free, quick to prepare, and perfect for entertaining. Vibrant flavours of lime, chilli and coriander will banish any winter blues.
Marinara mix is my staple for this recipe, but you can swap in whatever seafood you have available. When choosing fish, I always look for high omega-3 levels to support cardiovascular health.
Be sure to add the marinara mix in the last five minutes. Too long on the stove makes seafood tough or rubbery, so less is more. Marinating with lime juice also helps give it a luscious bite!
Get the recipe here: Seafood Stew
5. Easy Bone Broth
Broth-based soups are fantastic for cold and flu recovery! That’s why this easy bone broth is a winter staple in my house.
Bone broth has potent healing properties and provides essential hydration and nutrients. Gelatin and collagen help with cellular repair, while glutamine heals and restores the gut.
Homemade bone broth can sound intimidating, but once you try it, you’ll never buy store-bought stock again. It’s also perfect as a base for all kinds of soups and stews.
All you need is beef bones, oxtail, or a chicken carcass – plus apple cider vinegar and a pinch of salt. It’s easiest to make in a slow cooker, but a big stockpot works too.
Get the recipe here: Easy Bone Broth
How to Make Soup in a Slow Cooker
Most winter soup recipes can be prepared in a slow cooker or crockpot. However, you’ll want to adapt the recipe to suit the extended cooking time.
Slow cooker soups and stews are a fantastic way to cook cheap cuts of meat, as the long simmer breaks down tougher connective tissue for a mouth-watering tender texture.
Here’s the best method to follow for slow cooker soups:
Before Cooking
- Defrost frozen meat or vegetables
- Saute onion, garlic and spices
- Remove chicken skin
- Brown meat (for best flavour)
During Cooking
- Use less liquid than stovetop recipe
- Add dried herbs at the start
- Avoid stirring if possible
In The Last 30 to 60 Minutes
- Add seafood (ensure it cooks thoroughly)
- Add carbs (like rice, pasta and noodles)
- Add delicate vegetables (like zucchini or tomato)
In The Last 15 Minutes
- Add dairy (like milk or cream)
- Add delicate herbs (like coriander or basil)
- Season with salt
Is It Cheaper to Make Soup in a Slow Cooker?
Yes, slow cookers use less energy than an electric or gas cooktop. This means preparing soup in a slow cooker or crockpot is cheaper than other methods. Even though it takes longer, the low energy consumption means you’ll save time and money. Plus it makes the house smell ah-mazing!
Can You Overcook Soup in a Slow Cooker?
Yes, it’s possible to overcook soup in a slow cooker or crockpot. Excessive cooking time or temperature can impact flavour and texture. This includes mushy vegetables, overcooked proteins, and over-reduction (where too much liquid evaporates).
Winter Soup Recipe Tips & Substitutions
Here are my top tips for fabulous winter soups:
- Substitute your stock: You can use virtually any stock or broth you have on hand for soups! For the waste-conscious, prepare and freeze your own vegetable or chicken stock from scraps.
- Use what you have: Almost any type of meat, protein or vegetable can be transformed into a nourishing soup! Soups and stews are also the perfect solutions to use up odds and ends, reducing food waste.
- Lower-carb swaps: If you limit carbohydrates, swap high-carb vegetables like potato for cauliflower or parsnip. These alternatives are just as creamy and delicious! Look out for hidden sources of carbs, too – like sweetened sauces and broths.
- Bulk out your soups: Add carbohydrates to feed your family for less. One tip is to save broken or leftover pasta (uncooked) for soups and stews. Of course, serving bread on the side is also a classic choice!
- Embrace legumes: If ramping up your protein is important to you, beans, lentils, and chickpeas are an affordable alternative to meat – and they’re perfect for stews! You can start by swapping just half the meat for legumes, reducing the cost of the recipe.
- Freeze individual portions: Most soups can be frozen as long as you follow freezer safety guidelines. Always let cooked food cool before freezing, and never re-freeze defrosted meals. By portioning out and freezing, it reduces the defrost time and prevents food wastage.
Keen to beat the chill this winter? Add these five comforting soups to the menu! Cosy up, grab a bowl and enjoy.
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