16 Cozy Fall Soups to Simmer & Slurp This Season

If you were to ask me to picture my perfect fall weeknight, it would be this: wrapped up in the unreasonably soft blanket I picked up at T.J. Maxx, watching the latest episode of the reality show du jour (right now, Below Deck on Bravo), sipping spoonfuls of piping-hot soup.

Why soup, specifically? There's something especially soothing about a warm, spice and herb–flavored broth that's been simmered over the stovetop (or even easier, in an Instant Pot) during autumn's crisp-weathered months. It also tends to be the season when colds spread like wildfire—and everyone knows that soup is a go-to remedy.

So with that in mind, here are 16 of our best soup recipes to make with the changing leaves—from the simplest chicken noodle soup ever to a hearty lentil and sausage number you'll want to slurp and slurp (until it's all gone).

1. French Onion Soup, the Scorched Way

This French onion soup has been described as "magic," and given the fact that it calls for white wine and lots of bubbly-browned Gruyere cheese, we'd have to agree.

2. Greek Lemon Soup (Avgolemono)

Make a big batch of this life-affirming Greek lemon soup when you need something comforting—it's a bowlful of velvety, citrus-spiked, orzo-filled goodness.

3. Coriander and Sweet Potato Soup with Spicy Chickpea Croutons

Freshly ground coriander seeds bring a warm nuttiness to this sweet potato soup's base, while oven-roasted chickpeas tossed in a fiery blend of chili powder, cumin, cayenne, and cinnamon makes just the right crunchy topping.

4. 10-Minute Egg Drop Soup

This 10-minute (seriously!) egg drop soup calls for hearty pantry ingredients like cream of chicken and canned corn (including the juice) for a creamy, extra-flavorful result.

5. Lentil and Sausage Soup for a Cold Winter's Night

This brothy, vegetable-packed lentil and sausage soup may technically be for a cold winter's night, but we love it just as much on a brisk fall evening.

6. Simplest Chicken Noodle Soup

This "simplest" chicken noodle soup delivers on its promise by focusing on what really makes this comfort food such a classic: juicy roast chicken, shredded into bite-size bits, and extra-wide egg noodles added just at the end (so they don't get mushy).

7. Miso Charred Carrot Soup

Oven-charred carrots, celery, and yellow onions get just the right funky sweetness from lots and lots of mellow white miso in this vegetarian-friendly soup.

8. Green Lentil Soup with Curried Brown Butter

If you weren't sure whether or not you should add this green lentil soup (made extra warm and toasty with curried brown butter) to your list, just read this reviewers comment: "I made this tonight during a terrible rain storm and it was absolute perfection."

9. Thai Coconut Chicken Soup (Tom Kha Gai)

"Tom Kha Gai is a creamy, aromatic, and zesty soup that is distinctly Thai," writes recipe author and longtime community member thaifoodie. We love this soup all year round, but its red chile and galangal–fueled flavor makes it especially delicious during the chillier months.

10. Smoky Minestrone with Tortellini and Parsley or Basil Pesto

This chunky minestrone soup with bright pesto drizzle brings those sitting-next-to-the-fireplace vibes front and center by adding some smoky all-natural bacon into the fold.

11. Vegan Cream of Mushroom and Wild Rice Soup

Just because you're vegan, doesn't mean you can't enjoy a silky-smooth cream of mushroom soup studded with wild rice and vegetables—this one gets its dreamy texture from coconut milk.

12. Celery Root and Apple Soup with Tarragon

"This recipe asks you to trust in the power of some very humble ingredients," our test kitchen director Josh Cohen writes. Putting that faith in a few seasonal vegetables, spices, and herbs pays off big time with a soup that is complex and guaranteed delicious.

13. Joan Nathan's Chosen Matzo Ball Soup

There's something especially restorative about a hot bowl of this matzo ball soup with shreds of roast chicken, veggies, and dill in a super salty broth. It's exactly what you want to make yourself (or better yet, have someone make you) when you're feeling a little down.

14. Zurek (Polish Hangover Soup)

You don't need to have a hangover to revel in the glories of this fortifying Polish soup from Queer Eye star Antoni Porowski, though it'll certainly help revive you if you stayed out a little too late the night before.

15. Instant Pot Vegetable Beef Soup

Remember the hamburger soup they used to serve at the elementary school cafeteria when you were a kid? This is like that, only with an Instant Pot—so you'll only need to spend 30 minutes or so whipping it up.

16. Jamie Oliver's Italian Bread and Cabbage Soup

Lots of stale country-style bread make an ultra-comforting base in this Jamie Oliver soup, which also calls on big handfuls of kale, roughly chopped cabbage, bacon, cheese, and even anchovies for substantial flavor.

What's your favorite fall soup? Tell us in the comments below!

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