I’ve put together our best easy soup recipes with something for everyone, from chicken soups to vegan soups and beyond. The best part? Each one of these 30 recipes take under an hour to make, and the vast majority use just one pot!
Soup, in my opinion, doesn’t have to be complicated. I love to put together a slow-simmered Sunday stew from time to time, but I’ve found that I can make a warm-your-belly dinner that’s healthy, satisfying, and just as comforting in half the time.
These easy soup recipes are perfect for using up whatever veggies and herbs are lingering in your fridge. They’re also one of the best ways to meal prep for the Mediterranean diet, as most taste even better the next day. Scroll on for my favorite quick recipes you’ll want to make on repeat, from busy weeknights to Sunday suppers!
5 Quick and Easy Favorites
Stracciatella Soup
A pantry soup that comes together in 20 minutes! You only need 4 ingredients (spinach, egg, chicken stock, and parmesan), but I like to dress mine up with just a touch of nutmeg and lemon zest.
Pappa al Pomodoro (Italian Bread and Tomato Soup)
This Italian classic is a great way to use up stale bread! And it’s ready in 30 minutes. Serve with something crisp and fresh, like this big easy Italian salad.
Pastina Soup
The whole family will love this little noodle soup–it’s comforting and healing in the best way! This easy weeknight recipe takes one pot and is on your table in just 30 minutes.
Seafood Stew with Shrimp and Lobster
If you’re looking for an easy soup recipe that feels a bit luxurious, this shrimp and lobster stew is your ticket! Buy the pre-peeled shrimp from your grocery store (frozen is okay) and this restaurant-level soup is on your table in 40 minutes.
Simple Mushroom Barley Soup
Hearty mushrooms, chopped vegetables, and tender pearl barley make up this simple and satisfying vegan mushroom barley soup. As comforting as your favorite deli’s barley soup, but with even more flavor and a subtle smoky finish. And, because there’s no cream, it freezes very well.
Easy Chicken Soups
There’s nothing quite like “mom’s chicken soup,” and we have so many versions in the Mediterranean. All of these easy chicken soups are all of the comfort without the fuss.
Avgolemono (Greek Lemon Chicken Soup)
A lemon-egg sauce called avgolemono makes this soup rich and silky with no dairy needed. This is a very weeknight-friendly recipe–you can even use store-bought rotisserie chicken to save time.
Chicken Gnocchi Soup
A welcome twist on a classic chicken noodle soup, with tender, pillowy gnocchi and a few handfuls of spinach for extra nutrition. This recipe is very versatile: Frozen, homemade, fresh, gluten-free, and shelf stable gnocchi all work well.
Soupe Jo (Persian Chicken Barley Soup)
Called “Persian penicillin,” Soupe Jo is a rich chicken soup packed with veggies and nutrient-rich barley (you can stock up at our shop). I like to make mine a bit creamy with a touch of half and half or Greek yogurt, but you can leave it out if you’re avoiding dairy. It’s hearty enough to go without sides, but barbari (Persian flatbread) makes for good dipping.
One-Pot Chicken and Kale Soup with Creamy White Beans
A hearty soup stacked with protein thanks to beans and chicken–very satisfying. I use a couple cans of white beans here to save time, but you can use dry beans. Just soak them overnight and then cook them in water for about 1 to 2 hours (this guide for how to cook chickpeas will work in this case).
Freekeh Soup with Chicken and Fire Roasted Tomatoes
Nutritious and comforting, this bold chicken soup layers smoky freekeh, fire-roasted tomatoes, and warm spices for a deeply savory bowl you’ll want again and again.
White Chicken Chili with Chermoula
This white chicken chili gets a Mediterranean twist with a spoonful of Chermoula, a zesty North African sauce you can whip up in 5 minutes with just a blender. It’s hearty yet wholesome, with lean protein and a naturally creamy texture, no dairy required.
Easy Creamy Soups (with No Heavy Cream!)
I have many tricks for creamy soups without the heavy cream, from blending them, to using day-old bread, to a touch of tahini. All of these soups give you that luxurious silky texture without dulling the flavor.
Healthy Potato Soup
A healthy twist on classic cream of potato soup! Fresh herbs and warming spices bring a welcome depth of flavor and whole milk adds a velvety quality without weighing things down. Serve with a bright and crunchy salad like our radicchio salad.
Easy Sausage Tortellini Soup
Using store bought tortellini means this hearty, comforting soup is ready in 20 minutes! Serve with plenty of freshly grated parmesan cheese on top, and a rustic loaf of bread for dipping.
Creamy Roasted Butternut Squash Soup with Tahini and Hazelnut
Vegan and gluten-free, this creamy butternut squash soup is subtly sweet with warming spices and a generous stir of nutty tahini! Surprising on many levels, this one is sure to delight. I love roasted hazelnuts on top, but you can swap them with any nuts you prefer. Or, substitute with croutons, crispy chickpeas, or crispy quinoa for a nice crunch.
Garlic Soup with Aleppo Pepper Oil and Fried Garlic
Made with two full heads of garlic and just a touch of milk, this soup is boldly flavored and luxuriously creamy without feeling heavy. A drizzle of Aleppo pepper oil topped with crispy fried garlic brings a sweet-spicy crunch to every spoonful.
Tomato Basil Soup
I like using roasted fresh carrots and tomatoes, which give this soup a subtle sweetness, heft, and velvety texture without the cream. Serve with mozzarella and feta pita grilled cheese for a Mediterranean twist on the classic pairing.
Easy Bean and Lentil Soups
Legumes and lentils are your best friend when it comes to easy soups: they’re affordable, packed with protein and fiber, and last for years in your pantry.
Turkish Red Lentil Soup (Kırmızı Mercimek Çorbası)
This easy, economical pantry soup is one to make on repeat! Aromatic vegetables and spices and a hit of fresh lemon juice load the lentils with tons of flavor. It’s blended for a nice creamy quality, though it’s completely vegan. Serve with simit (Turkish Sesame Bread Rings).
Lablabi (Tunisian Chickpea Stew)
This hearty North African stew with chickpeas, rustic bread, warming spices, and smoky harissa is traditionally served for a healthy breakfast, but I love it any time of day. Serve on its own for an easy vegan meal or with a fried egg on top.
Hearty One-Pot Lentil Stew
A medley of vegetables and warming spices make this vegan stew so cozy and nourishing. Potatoes and lentils are very filling, so a sprinkling of fresh parsley and lemon juice just before serving is all you need. But if you’d like to round out the meal, crisp salad like Maroulosalata goes well alongside.
Harira (Moroccan Lentil and Chickpea Soup)
Tomato-based vegan Moroccan soup, made with lentils and chickpeas, fresh herbs, and plenty of flavor from turmeric, cumin, and cinnamon. If you’d like to make it a bit heartier, try serving over a bed of broken vermicelli pasta or rice. And, for a spicy twist, stir in a spoonful or two of harissa paste (homemade or from our shop).
Ribollita (Tuscan White Bean Soup)
This is yet another great way to use day-old bread! Ribollita is a hearty and especially flavorful vegetarian soup thanks to the use of one secret ingredient: Parmesan rind. Make sure to freeze your rinds rather than throwing them away! I like to use kale in this soup, but you can do spinach or another leafy green.
Mediterranean White Bean Stew
This creamy stew is my take on the Egyptian white bean stew I grew up with—a comforting winter classic straight from my mom’s kitchen. You’re going to love it!
Easy Veggie-Packed Favorites
When I want to get a whole week’s worth of veggies into one pot, I make soup. And many of these veggies have easy swaps with whatever is in season, or what you have on hand.
Easy Minestrone Soup
This Italian-style vegetarian minestrone soup is brimming with vegetables, beans, and a little pasta. The draw here is in the flavorful tomato broth with lots of fresh herbs. Minestrone is meant to be adapted, so feel free to make this recipe your own by using what vegetables you have on hand, and use gluten free pasta or leave it out to fit your dietary needs.
Spinach Soup with Feta and Dill
Silky and flavorful, this spinach soup combines roasted cauliflower, fresh spinach, herbs, onions, garlic, and feta into a vibrant bright green bowl of goodness. Serve as a starter or light main with pita bread for dipping.
Sweet Potato Soup with Greek Yogurt
Easy to prepare in under an hour, the creamy soup is nourishing, naturally gluten-free, and easily made vegan. Comforting yet light, it pairs beautifully with a drizzle of olive oil and warm, crusty French bread.
“Detox” Cabbage Soup with Turmeric and Ginger
I could rave endlessly about the humble cabbage’s hidden potential, from my sexy crispy cabbage to my veggie twist on cacio e pepe. This soup is my ode to cabbage: a whole head simmered with aromatic fspices, garlic, fresh ginger, and a mix of vegetables. It’s filling, low-calorie, nutrient-packed, and oh-so satisfying.
More Recipe Round Ups
Breakfast
55 Healthy Breakfast Ideas
Soups and Stews
25 Healthy Vegetarian Soup Recipes
Mediterranean Diet Recipes
50+ Top Mediterranean Diet Recipes
Mediterranean Diet Recipes
40 Easy Chickpea Recipes
Browse all Mediterranean recipes.
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I have been a subscriber to your website since 2018 and simply LOVE your dishes! I have made a couple of your soup recipes as well and my hubby says it’s delicious. I there any way to download or purchase your ”Best Soup Recipes”? Thank you in advance, all the way from South Africa.
Wish you would separate vegetarian recipes. I don’t eat animals!
Hi Suzy – I have made this soup in the past and love, love, love it. I’m making it again in a few days. I love to finish soups with a squeeze of lemon or vinegar. I have some extra large lemons. How many oz of lemon juice would you recommend – I don’t want to overwhelm the dish – Although I typically do squeeze one lemon, taste and then add more if I feel it is necessary. Love your cookbook. (I’m also going out on a limb and my next recipe after this soup is the Salmon soup – — I am a fail at Salmon most of the time — hoping it will be as delicious as it looks.)
Hi, Cherie. I think you should stick with your method of starting with the juice of one lemon, and adding more to suit your taste. That is the perfect way to do it! Hope you do give the salmon soup a try! I feel like it’s pretty fool-proof! Enjoy!
have made this a few times and love love love
I find your recipes very interesting, so i look for more but easy goodies,
Loved this! Really enjoyed the freshness of this soup.
I made a extra large batch of this using a whole chicken that I cooked in the instant pot and shredded up, it worked really well.
The herbs, spices and lemon really lift this soup.
So excited I found you and your recipes! I don’t need to lose weight but, my husband does. He is borderline diabetic. I helped him lose 30 lbs then he started cheating and gained 20. Men!!! I am a mega cook and will just keep him on Mediterranean for a few months and see how it. He gets mad when I lose weight! I am eating same as you and I don’t cheat! 5’8” and down to 104. Sure I should gain but I feel and look great! Thank you for all your recipes!
Well done, Terri! Keep working on your husband, lol. He’ll get there!
I am a soupaholic. How can I get all the soup recipes
Lol! You can find them all by clicking here. Enjoy!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this soup! So easy …..I use rotisserie chicken….added zucchini and sweet potato!!
Thanks, Karen!
Turmeric Lemon Chicken Soup is my favorite! I plan on trying to cook the Italian Sausage Minestrone this weekend.
Thanks for sharing these amazing recipes!
Hi Susie, we have a local Greek family restaurant here in Florida, they make a soup that’s mostly a chicken and rice brothy(?) soup that they call “ Chicken cilantro “. I was wondering if you have heard of it and do you know a recipe for it?
Thanks 😊
Hi, Kim. I have come across various chicken/cilantro soups before, but I don’t have a recipe for it. The closest (maybe) I might have would be this Avgolemono Soup recipe.
Sweet potato stew. This is a firm family favourite plus you can always throw in a few more root veggies like parsnips. We often have this just with some crusty bread to help soak up the sauce.
Thanks, John!
I just love most of your recipes. I have told others to come and join over here. They are so simple,nutritious, don’t have too many ingredient I wouldn’t normally have on hand. The only thing I change most of the time is the amount of everything. Being single, living alone most recipes (from anywhere) make more than I can eat. Some feeeze well others not so much. I am not great about eatting out if the freezer either. There are too many recipes I wa t to try to eat left overs…lol.
I can’t wait for spring to grow my own fresh herbs. Parlsey will for sure make it in the ground. You are so right when you say parsley makes all the difference. And,yes, it needs to be fresh. Dried just doesn’t do the same.
Thank you for being such a great host. I am so looking forward to your cookbook.
You are so sweet, Kathy! Thank you!
My family says that in my veins flows soup not blood
I will try first the chicken with egg and lemon soup
Love those Mediterranean dishes!
Haha! I’m the same! Hope you find some great new ones to try on this list!
Great soup! It is SPRIGS of thyme not springs.
This is the best soup list ever!!
Thank you so much, Gina!
Love all of these soup ideas!! They’re perfect for these cooler winter months! I think the Harira Soup will be the first on my list of recipes to try – it looks delicious!
It IS! 🙂 Thanks, Anjali!