17 Simple Yet Satisfying Soup Recipes to Simmer All Day at Home

Now more than ever, home is where many of us are seeking refuge and solace in light of the novel coronavirus. This is a tough time, but we’re here for you—whether it’s a new pantry recipe or a useful tip for your kitchen, here are some ideas to make things run a little more smoothly for you and your loved ones.

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Amidst all the news surrounding COVID-19 and self-isolating at home, I've been relying on certain dishes more than usual. And when I say "certain dishes," I mean foods that not only come together with a lot of help from my pantry (or the freezer), but are also super comforting. Soups, stews, and pasta of all kinds are the name of the game right now.

Soups are especially high up on the list because they're typically pretty easy to pull together (and don't require a ton of hands-on cooking time), call for shelf-stable items (think: stocks, grains, and the like), and make sitting on the couch curled up in sweatpants feel especially cozy.

If you've been whipping up big batches of soup and are looking for some fresh ideas, or want to get in on the soup game this week, here are 17 fuss-free recipes to try. And if you don't have some of the items the ingredients lists calls for on hand, consider the recipe a guideline and less of a rulebook—I know I am lately.

1. Brothy, Garlicky Beans

This simple bean soup takes a few humble ingredients and transforms them into an aromatic, supremely comforting lunch, dinner (or even snack).

2. Broccoli, Lemon & Parmesan Soup

If you don't have fresh broccoli, don't sweat it—frozen florets would work just as nicely in this easy, cheesy soup with a welcome kick of lemon.

3. Heidi Swanson's Chickpea Stew with Saffron, Yogurt & Garlic

This Genius-approved chickpea stew has been a staple since we first published it in 2013. One community member wrote: "I’ve been making this for years. It’s a fantastic soup."

4. Victoria Granof’s Pasta con Ceci

Your pantry does most of the work for you in this pasta con ceci, which our co-founder Amanda Hesser recently cooked up at home while under quarantine.

5. Barbara Lynch's Spicy Tomato Soup

Another pantry-friendly winner, this vegan spicy tomato soup is one you'll want to make an extra-big batch of (so you can eat it throughout the week, with grilled cheese, of course).

6. Turmeric-Miso Soup with Shiitakes, Turnips & Soba Noodles

Few things are cozier than a piping-hot bowl of miso soup, and this recipe is one of our favorites—it also welcomes adaptations and additions, like grated ginger or different veggies.

7. Roasted Carrot Soup

Carrots are the star of this dairy-free (yet very creamy) soup, which gains extra complexity and depth thanks to one step: roasting the carrots till they're browned and softened.

8. Beans & Greens Soup

Consider beans and greens the ultimate dynamic duo: a combo that can be riffed on in countless ways, depending on what you have in stock.

9. Weeknight Chili

A lot of the cooking time for this beef and bean chili is totally hands-off, so even though it'll need to simmer for about an hour, you can get other things done (cleaning! organizing! diving into a new book!) in the meantime. Also important: It tastes even better the next day.

10. Marcella Hazan's White Bean Soup with Garlic & Parsley

In just seven ingredients and 10 minutes (promise!), you can have this astoundingly soulful soup on the table and ready for dipping with crusty bread.

11. 10-Minute Egg Drop Soup

Don't forget to add this silky egg drop soup to your 10-minute list, either. (Psst: The only fresh ingredient you'll need here are scallions for garnish, though sesame oil or chili pepper both make excellent shelf-stable toppings.)

12. Slow-Cooker Greek Lentil Soup From Eleni Vonissakou

Lentils are the star of this slow-cooker soup, which you can happily set, forget, and dig into later.

13. Simplest Chicken Noodle Soup

This really is the simplest chicken noodle soup you ever will meet (just chicken and noodles)—it's also one of the tastiest.

14. Chicken Orzo Soup

"A frozen Tupperware of broth, a few veggies, and some pasta is all it takes to create this simple and warming weeknight meal," writes the author of this recipe.

15. Desperation Minestrone Soup

This "desperation" minestrone soup is really speaking to us right now, not in the least because it calls for "pantry vegetables," which the recipe's author describes as the sturdy ones that seem to last forever in your crisper drawer.

16. Pasta Piselli

While this pasta piselli may not technically qualify as a soup, it's so brothy and delicious I couldn't not share it, right?

17. Instant Pot Vegetable Beef Soup

This nostalgic beef soup (you may remember it as "hamburger soup") is just the kind of comfort food I'm making myself right now—and it just so happens to be super speedy to make.

What's your go-to soup recipe? Tell us in the comments below!