23 Quick Soup Recipes to Make in 45 Minutes or Less

Smoky black bean soup with sausage recipe — Credit: Nico Schinco

When cold weather arrives, nothing satisfies like a quick soup recipe—you can make it fast, then savor it as you warm up from the inside out. Our recipes are developed with weeknight dinners and grab-and-go lunches in mind—because being short on time doesn't mean you need to give up the benefits of a hearty soup. You may notice the soup recipes in this collection often include potent, powerhouse foods like Parmesan rinds, sausage, curry paste, and miso. Coaxing the most flavor out of just a handful of ingredients is what makes these soups stand out for being fast and delicious. They are easy to make and will fill you up, all while leaving a little in the pot for a leftover lunch.

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Turmeric Ginger Chicken Soup

ginger spice chicken soup — Pernille Loof

So fast and so delicious, this shortcut soup starts with rotisserie chicken or leftover roast. Garlic, fresh turmeric, and ginger amp up storebought broth, and angel hair pasta cooks super fast. Your comforting bowl of soup is on the table in just 20 minutes.

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15-Minute Bean Soup

A filling vegetarian soup that comes together in 15 minutes. It's totally doable when you use canned beans and store-bought vegetable broth. The creamy cannellini beans make this soup filling, and garlic, scallions, and lemon juice are powerhouse ingredients that give the broth a vibrant flavor. A sprinkling of parmesan is the finishing touch.

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Shortcut Italian Wedding Soup

This must-make soup challenges the notion that a soup needs to simmer for an hour-plus in order to be outstanding. The recipe takes just 40 minutes from start to finish and uses both umami-rich Parmesan rind and hot Italian sausage.

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Potato, Broccoli, and Cheddar Soup

Some things in life are just better together, and the pairing of broccoli and cheddar cheese is the perfect example. In this nutritious soup, the starch from simmering potatoes brings creaminess to the texture without needing to add any milk or cream.

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Smoky Sweet-Potato Soup

Make a batch of this piquant sweet potato soup on Sunday evening and enjoy a hot lunch all week long. Canned chipotle chiles in adobo sauce lend the soup its signature smokiness, while apples and leeks provide a hint of sweetness and buttery smooth texture when puréed.

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Stracciatella With Kale and Lemon

Stracciatella translates to "little shred" in Italian, and it refers to the shreds of egg that appear in the soup after whisking a mixture of beaten eggs and Parmesan cheese into hot broth towards the end of cooking. This extra-satisfying version has a bright punch of lemony flavor and takes just 35 minutes to make.

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Smoky Black-Bean Soup With Sausage

A smart, filling option for a weeknight meal, this cozy soup stars Andouille sausage and fire-roasted tomatoes. They add a complex, smoky flavor to canned black beans in just 40 minutes.

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Lemony Quinoa-and-Spinach Soup

lemony quinoa spinach soup — Armando Rafael

Often thought of as a grain, quinoa is technically a seed—it is rich in protein and a naturally gluten-free option for soups, salads, and even cereal. This bright and warming soup featuring the super seed is so good for you that you'll be able to taste the vitamins!

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Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

A classic recipe redesigned with the busy home cook in mind. This 35-minute soup calls for shortcuts such as store-bought broth and quick-cooking boneless, skinless chicken thighs.

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Creamy Broccoli-and-Spinach Soup

Leeks and Dijon mustard add a subtle creaminess to this puréed soup without having to resort to butter or heavy cream, making it a perfectly light and healthy option for a weeknight dinner. The added texture of pretzels for garnish keeps this soup feeling fun and easy (and tasting delicious, too).

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Spring Pea Soup With Asparagus and Potatoes

This is a quick soup recipe you'll want to turn to during the shoulder season between spring and summer when fresh greens and tender produce are starting to crop up, but it's still chilly enough outside that you want a hot bowl of soup.

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Coconut-Miso Mushroom Soup

Coconut milk adds richness and body to this creamy (yet cream-less) vegan soup, while mushrooms and miso paste add earthiness and depth.

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Creamy Asparagus Soup

Asparagus with Blender Hollandaise — Ngoc Minh Ngo

This simple blender soup is the perfect recipe to make in mid-spring when the blooms are back, and the asparagus is snappy and fresh.

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Summer Smoked-Salmon Chowder

Relying on already-cooked proteins is a great way to get a healthy dinner on the table in the shortest amount of time. Here, hot-smoked salmon adds its flavor to a rich and creamy chowder.

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Creamy Cauliflower Soup With Greens

Mild cauliflower shows off its chameleon-like skills in this puréed soup that is silky smooth but doesn't contain any heavy cream.

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Hot and Sour Soup With Tofu

Twenty minutes is all it takes to make this vegetarian soup. Tofu and egg provide satiating protein, while rice vinegar, shiitake mushrooms, and soy sauce add a umami flair.

Hot and Sour Soup with Tofu

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Classic Chicken Vegetable Soup

This 25-minute recipe features the perfect medley of carrots, celery, and potatoes — though you're welcome to customize it with your favorite vegetables. Plus, a single batch yields six servings, making it ideal for feeding a crowd.

Classic Chicken Vegetable Soup

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Pureed Butternut Squash Soup

Savor the best of fall with this silky butternut squash soup. Enjoy it alone as a side dish or light lunch — or mix in cooked protein for extra staying power.

Pureed Butternut Squash Soup

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15-Minute Lentil Soup

Make dinner for one in 15 minutes with this simple yet hearty recipe. The dish makes good use of canned lentils, though you can use leftover lentils as well.

15-Minute Lentil Soup

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Super-Grain Soup With Watercress and Mushrooms

During the winter months, this hearty super-grain soup will keep you warm and cozy. If you want to make it vegan, use vegetable broth and skip the cheese.

Super-Grain Soup with Watercress and Mushrooms

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Test Kitchen's Favorite Tomato Soup

tomato soup with basil — Sidney Bensimon

Complete your grilled cheese meal with a cream-free tomato soup. Its silky texture comes from butter and flour, which are used to make a smooth roux.

Our Test Kitchen's Favorite Tomato Soup

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Stracciatella Soup

With just six ingredients, you can make a simple yet satisfying Italian egg soup. It makes for a delicious breakfast soup, though you can enjoy it any time of the day.

Stracciatella Soup

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Turkey-Pesto Meatball Soup

Between the pesto-laced meatballs and Parmesan cheese, this comforting soup is packed with flavor. The dish calls for escarole, but you can use any leafy green you'd like.

Turkey-Pesto Meatball Soup

Updated by

Victoria Spencer