24 Best Summer Soup Recipes - Easy Ideas For Summer Soups

2022-05-28 11:27:07 By : Mr. Xiaokang Xia

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It's not just for winter!

Whether you’ve had a bad day, are feeling under the weather, or just need something extra comforting for your weeknight dinner, when it’s cold out, there’s nothing better than a hearty bowl of hot, steaming soup. What do you do come summertime though? We’re no strangers to a pesky warm weather cold or a blasting too-cold AC you can’t turn down at work—a bowl of soup is just the trick to ward off any summer bummers. Check out our list of 24 summer soups–trust us, they’re not just for winter anymore.

One of the best ways to make sure your soups are extra seasonal is to rely on some of summer’s best fruits and veggies. Gazpacho, a cold soup originating in Spain, is the perfect example: For one, made from just perfectly ripe tomatoes, a little vinegar, and salt, and for two, it’s served chilled, making it extra refreshing when it’s hot out. You’ll also find varieties made from other summer veggies like summer squash or cucumber—we’ve even got a recipe for watermelon gazpacho.

If cold soup sounds too strange for you, don’t fret. We’re highlighting summer produce like summer squash, sweet corn, and bell peppers in warm soups too. Check out our zucchini soup, our stuffed peppers soup (use a rainbow of bell peppers!), or our bacon jalapeño corn chowder. Try dusting off your favorite winter soup recipes, and replacing ingredients with summer-y veggies too—keep the proportions the same, and you might just create a new favorite.

Another reason we love soup in the summer? Eating hot (both in temperature and level of spice) foods can actually make you feel cooler when it’s hot out. The science behind it is that it makes you sweat more and raises your body temperature a bit, which lowers the temperature difference between you and the weather outside. Check out the spicy soups on this list, like our seafood gumbo, our Thai chicken coconut soup, or our kimchi tofu stew to see if it works for you!

You know what goes great with soup? Salad! Check out our top healthy dinner salad ideas and summer salad recipes too.

We already know that corn chowder is delicious (see our cheesy, easy corn chowder). What if we told you it could get even better with the addition of bacon + jalapeño? The salty, porky flavors of the bacon and the spiciness from the jalapeño pair beautifully with sweet corn, and the resulting soup will change your view of corn chowder forever!

Get the Bacon Jalapeño Corn Chowder recipe.

This soup has everything you like about a classic stuffed pepper—ground beef, rice, tomatoes, and CHEESE. It's perfect on its own or served with homemade cornbread or a summer salad.

Get the Stuffed Pepper Soup recipe.

Traditionally zucchini soup has been made one of two ways: either cooked to death or pureed raw. This recipe combines the best of both approaches, starting with sautéed and garlic, then adding in raw zucchini, which blends into a velvety soup. There's a generous handful of fresh basil in the soup itself, lending a peppery bite and its deep green hue, while a topper of garlicky chive yogurt adds tang and a hint of onion-flavor.

Get the Zucchini Soup recipe.

Though we'll always love a classic, tomato-based gazpacho, the addition of watermelon gives the soup a delicious subtle sweetness we can't get enough of. Full of juicy, bright fruits and veggies, this no-cook soup is equal parts satisfying and refreshing.

Get the Watermelon Gazpacho recipe.

Cheeseburger Soup is one of those recipes we saw on Pinterest and though, "why?!" But then we have a taste of it and totally understood. It's kinda like a summer-themed beef stew, with a LOT more burger flavor. Grab a spoon.

Get the Cheeseburger Soup recipe.

We’re piling on the flavor here, because "vegan" doesn't mean missing out on any of the fun! There's three kinds of chili peppers, three kinds of canned tomatoes, hominy for chew, creamy black beans for protein, a medley of spices, all topped with a wondrous assortment of toppings: fried tortillas for crunch, raw onions and radish slices for freshness, rich avocado, and a squidge of lime juice to brighten it all up a notch.

Get the Vegan Tortilla Soup recipe.

Gumbo is a true melting pot dish. Originating in Louisiana, it combines the cuisines and ingredients of several cultures including West African, French, German, and Choctaw. It is a top notch comfort stew centered around a flavorful roux, the Holy Trinity of onions, celery and bell peppers, and shrimp and andouille sausage.

Get the Seafood Gumbo recipe.

While most Green Goddess salad dressings rely on mayonnaise and one to two herbs for their creaminess and pale green color, we achieve the same flavor profile by using kale, cauliflower, 4 different herbs, and just a touch of Greek yogurt. The result? A vibrant green soup that’s pretty much a garden in a bowl.

Get the Green Goddess Soup recipe.

Inspired by Korean sundubu-jjigae, this soup is a fast, easy meal that's still BIG on flavor. Both spicy and savory—thanks to a hefty dollop of gochujang (a fermented chili paste) and a mixture of fresh ginger, garlic, and scallions, Korean tofu stew is an amazingly satisfying vegetarian meal.

Get the Kimchi Tofu Stew recipe.

This Northeastern classic chowder is one of our go-to comfort food dinners, and it's extra special in the summer with fresh sweet corn. If you'd like to make it vegetarian, fry up some sliced mushrooms in oil or butter instead of bacon, and swap in vegetable broth for the chicken broth.

Get the Corn Chowder recipe.

Both shrimp stew and seafood gumbo are staple dishes in Louisiana. Both normally include a roux (a thickener made with flour) or a traditional ingredient like filé powder, but this weeknight rendition skips those for a lighter, more summer-y broth.

Get the Shrimp Stew recipe.

When late summer rolls around and the tomatoes turn juicy and sweet, we can't get enough of them. When we're not busy scarfing them down in caprese salad form, we love them in this classic summer soup. Our version not only has tomato, but also uses red bell pepper and cucumbers to really up that summer cornucopia flavor.

Get the Easy Gazpacho recipe.

Working against that stereotype of vegan food somehow always being lesser-than, this black bean soup is loaded with spices and smoky numbers. There's chipotle in adobo, serrano, poblano, and cayenne for a quadruple hot kick; then there's onion, tomatoes, and a bit of sugar to balance that spiciness with underlying sweetness. We bet you won't miss the meat or dairy!

Get the Vegan Black Bean Soup recipe.

Known as Tom Kha Ghai, this coconut soup is one we are ALWAYS craving, even in the summertime. The creamy coconut paired with ginger, lime, and lemongrass gives this soup it's unique and delicious flavor. While this Thai soup is traditionally topped with chili oil to heat it up, the creamy coconut milk mellows it out a bit—if you're spice averse, just add less!

Get the Thai Chicken Coconut Soup recipe.

Simply prepare the sauce as you usually would for baked feta pasta (with a bit less feta), add some chicken broth and blend. Voila, creamy tomato soup without cream. Top it with some fresh herbs, more feta, and a few freshly made croutons for the perfect presentation.

Get the Baked Feta Soup recipe.

Jambalaya is a wildly popular dish that originated in New Orleans and was inspired by flavors from around the world—Spanish, West African, and French to name a few. It's spicy, hearty, and incredibly flavorful. You can add all different types ingredients to a jambalaya like crawfish, chicken, okra or carrots but what absolutely most be present is perfectly cooked long grain rice and sausage, traditionally andouille.

Get the Cajun Jambalaya recipe.

Have an excess of spinach that's starting to go bad? Make this easy soup! It's simple and extra creamy thanks to a potato and a little heavy cream.

Get the Creamy Spinach Soup recipe.

Meet our new favorite summer soup. It's rich with coconut milk and packed with chicken, bell peppers, and zoodles. It's a more festive take on the classic chicken noodle soup, and we might just love it more when it's hot out.

Get the Coconut Zoodle Soup recipe.

Earthy soba noodles ground this delicate soup made with a light and flavorful awase dashi (AKA Japanese seafood stock) and flaky cod. It’s sophisticated enough for a dinner party, easy enough for a weeknight dinner, and gentle enough to soothe a stomach ache or persistent summer cold.

Get the Soba Cod & Mushroom Soup recipe.

While Birria is traditionally a Mexican stew made with chiles and warm spices like cinnamon, during the summer we love transforming it into our birria quesatacos. It takes a bit of time to braise the pork, so once we've got it, we're not letting any go to waste—so when we want a hearty and comforting meal that still got tons of Mexican flavor, we add it to ramen. Serve with a margarita for best results. 😉

Get the Birria Ramen recipe.

Chili dogs, anyone? This beef chili is a CLASSIC, but if you want alternatives, try topping your hot dogs or burgers with sloppy joes, vegetarian chili, crockpot white chicken chili this summer... get creative!

Get the Beef Chili recipe.

Originating in San Francisco, this tomato-based seafood stew is traditionally filled with whatever seafood is fresh at the market. Since plenty of seafood is available year-round, we went with four of our favorites: shrimp, clams, mussels, and halibut. Feel free to swap in or out your seasonal favorites.

Plum tomatoes, cucumbers, and red onion come together with white vinegar, garlic, and olive oil to make this super easy and delicious summer soup. Garnish with green onions, a swirl of olive oil, and plenty of freshly ground black pepper for a restaurant-level presentation.

Don't let the time commitment on this fantastically flavorful pozole recipe scare you. It's as easy as bringing water to a boil and letting it simmer away while you multitask on other things going on in your life. The longer you let the soup simmer, the better it will be. With time, the meat will turn tender, soft, and buttery, the aromas will deepen, and the color will become as rich as the soup tastes.

Get the Best-Ever Pozole recipe.