The Best Quick Soups for Winter

When you get home exhausted and hungry from the gym or after-work bevs or running errands, sometimes it just seems too cold and overwhelming to cook something. But you are an adult, and you’re not trying to throw money away on delivery or ruin your healthy eating streak by getting in bed with an entire pizza.

Every single one of these recipes can be on your table before you’ve decided what to watch on Netflix. Most of these dishes are also fairly hands-off, giving you time to jump in the shower while Netflix buffers. See? No excuses now. Plus vegetables! And lunch for tomorrow! Look at you: saving money, saving time, eating real food, AND multitasking. You got this.
Quinoa Chowder with Spinach, Feta, and Scallions photo and recipe from CHOW

1. Miso Soup with Napa Cabbage and Udon

Miso makes the perfect quick soup base, with plenty of depth and flavor, and it never goes bad in your fridge. This recipe is for those nights when you’re considering some tortilla chips and a heaping spoon or two of peanut butter by the light of the fridge as dinner. Also, come onnnnn, you’re better than that! Your body will thank you.
Photo and recipe from CHOW

2. Quick Chicken Chili

Spicy and filling, this chicken chili is bright with cilantro and lime, and with a cost per serving of under $5, it's better and faster than ordering delivery.
Photo and recipe from My Recipes

3. Clean-Out-the-Fridge Vegetable Soup

You got cocky at the farmers' market again. We know, it happens. Saturday seemed full of promise! But now it’s Thursday and you just got home and it’s 8:30 and you have wilting veggies and a case of the hangrys. This soup comes together so fast you’ll be watching Scandal in real time with a big bowl of delicious.
Photo and recipe from CHOW

4. Turkish Yogurt Soup

The best part about this recipe is that it uses ingredients you already have in your fridge: some plain yogurt, an egg, and dried spices. Total heat-and-serve easy.
Photo and recipe from Almost Turkish Recipes

5. Mexican Turkey Meatball Soup

Sub precooked frozen meatballs in this recipe and you’ve got dinner in 20 minutes or less. The hardest part is choosing a hot sauce!
Photo and recipe from CHOW

6. Fastest Chicken Noodle Soup

Pick up a rotisserie chicken on your way home, and this recipe comes together almost in the time it takes water to boil! Ramen noodles (or orzo) ensure the shortest cook time possible, while veggies and stock guarantee real vitamins, like a grown-up.
Photo and recipe from CHOW

7. Avgolemono Soup

Rich with chicken, lemon, and eggs, this fantastic Greek soup is packed with protein and flavor. It’s nice and thick too, for when you want your soup to feel like a hearty dinner. Plus it’s done before you’ve sorted your laundry.
Photo and recipe from The Lemon Bowl

8. Kale and White Bean Soup with Chorizo

A can of white beans, some chopped-up chorizo (or chouriço if you’re feeling Portuguese), and hearty greens make this soup nearly instant. And it hits all your major food groups. This one is especially perfect for a cold winter’s night, and then again for lunch the next day.
Photo and recipe from Bon Appétit

Vanessa W. Simmons is a former cook living in San Francisco, helping to run a food business. She's probably hungry, but if not she could eat.