Homemade Soup Recipes • The Good Hearted Woman

A roundup of our favorite Homemade Soup Recipes on GHW. Make one today! Remember to celebrate National Homemade Soup Day every Feb 4th!

Collage of soups: Potato, Butternut, mushroom, peanut, French onion, and smoked salmon.

If I have a particular specialty, cooking-wise, it is homemade soups. I've simmered countless soups over the years. At one point when my kiddos were young, we had soup every Tuesday for dinner, and rarely did a soup recipe repeat in a calendar year. I absolutely love the endless possibilities of a fresh pot of soup.

Whenever I make soup, particularly soup made from leftovers, I think of a story that a dear friend told many years ago:

Let's call my friend Kate. (Note: It is more than possible that I have embellished this story inside my head over the years, but I tried to stay as close to the original telling as possible.)

It seems that when Kate was newly married, her sweet husband came home one night from a long day at work. Sitting down at the table, he asked her what was for dinner. She replied, "We're having soup."

As Kate tells it, the look that fell across her sweetheart's face when she uttered the word "soup" was somewhere between disgust and the acceptance of impending doom. But he said nothing, and just waited for his dinner like a man anticipating the flip of an electric chair switch.

When Kate set his bowl of soup in front of him he barely looked at it; instead spooning in the first bite like an automaton. Kate looked on expectantly, unable to decode the strained expression that barely masked his revulsion.

And then something marvelous happened: as the soup hit his tongue, his taut expression softened immediately, widening into one of genuine surprise and pure satisfaction.

After finishing his bowl and asking for seconds, he explained why:

"When I was a kid, we were very poor, and we kept a little bucket in the refrigerator. After every meal, anything that didn't get eaten got thrown into that bucket. Then, about once a week, Mom would dump the whole thing into a pot and add water, and that was soup. And that was what I was expecting."

(Did anyone else just reflexively make a face? Because when I first heard that story, I sure did! Ewww! Refrigerator Bucket Soup is certainly not ever going to be on my menu!)

For the record, Kate and her sweetheart are still married, and I'm certain that she still makes him delicious soup on the regular.

Here is collection of our favorite homemade soup recipes from over the years on GHW - none of which involve a bucket! Choose one and make some homemade soup tonight!

Remember to celebrate National Homemade Soup Day on February 4th!

Loaded Baked Potato Soup {with a Sweet Surprise!}

Loaded Baked Potato Soup is one of my top five favorite “30-minute Meals.” Fast, economical, and super-easy, this recipe has a sweet surprise that elevates the flavors and results in a perfectly balance bowl of comforting deliciousness.

Hungarian Mushroom Soup

Hungarian Mushroom Soup is serious comfort eats! Rich, earthy flavors combine with fresh herbs in a thick cream base to create this deeply satisfying, umami-intense cold-weather soup!

Old-Fashioned Ham Bone Split Pea Soup {Slow Cooker}

It may not be the prettiest of soups, but Old-fashioned Ham Bone Split Pea Soup is always dependably hearty, comforting, and easy on the budget. Oh, and it’s delicious, too!

Smoked Salmon Chowder {with Leeks & Fresh Tarragon}

Creamy Smoked Salmon Chowder is a rich bowl of comforting decadence; each ingredient carefully chosen to complement the delicate, smoky salmon and allow it to shine.

Curried Butternut Squash Soup

Rich and savory with just a hint of sweetness, this creamy Curried Butternut Squash Soup will satisfy all your fall soup cravings.

Colonial Cream of Peanut Soup {with 21 Topping Ideas}

Cream of Peanut Soup, a mainstay at Colonial Williamsburg’s King’s Arms Tavern, is oddly scrumptious. We’ve updated the historical recipe with 21st Century tastes in mind, while retaining the rich, satisfying essence of original.

French Onion Soup

A simple, delicious soup with a fancy reputation.

Chili's Chicken Enchilada Soup

Our copycat recipe for Chili’s Chicken Enchilada Soup is savory, satisfying, and so easy to make!

Wonton Egg Drop Soup {10-Minute Meal}

Perfect for busy weekday evenings, Wonton Egg Drop Soup is savory and satisfying – and so easy to make that I’m almost embarrassed to call this a “recipe!”

Old-fashioned Navy Bean Soup with Ham {Slow Cooker}

Easy to make and budget-friendly, this Old-fashioned Navy Bean Soup with ham makes a hearty, comforting meal. It’s also an excellent way to use that leftover hambone from your holiday dinner!

Pops Vegetable Soup

There really is only one real step: put everything in a pot and let it simmer. Like most soups, this is much better the day after, so plan for leftovers. Serve with Saltines.

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