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22 Crockpot Soups and Stew Recipes — Full of Color, Flavor and Nutrition
October 17, 2016
Soups and stews are one of my favorite parts of colder weather. There’s something about a pot of simmering goodness that makes the cold weather feel extra cozy and comforting.
But the problem with most soup recipes is that they require quite a bit of time cooking to allow the flavors to meld together. And when you’ve had a busy day or don’t have time to be monitoring the stove, soups become more of a hassle than a realistic meal option.
That’s where these crockpot soups and stews come in. Just like with the best crockpot chicken recipes I selected recently, you can add in all the ingredients, step away and come back to a great meal. Here, that’s a bowl of healthy soup or stew that’s basically cooked itself, ready to be enjoyed. So next time you think there’s no time for a home-cooked dinner, turn to these 22 crockpot soup recipes for a meal your entire family will love.
22 Crockpot Soup and Stew Recipes
1. Blissful Butternut Squash Soup
Not only are root vegetables like butternut squash rich in vitamins and nutrients, but they also make a mean soup. Despite being vegan, this soup is ultra creamy since it’s made with coconut milk. With just six ingredients and little prep work, this is one of the crockpot soups that is a winner.
Photo: Skinnytaste
This chowder is pretty darn easy to make, but tastes amazing. The combination of meaty chicken paired with sweet corn is irresistible, and the potatoes make this quite hearty, though I’d probably swap in sweet potatoes here. Sprinkle with cooked bacon (go for turkey or beef!) and you have yourself a restaurant-worthy meal.
Photo: Damn Delicious
Enchiladas are good. But enchilada soup might be even better. This one uses a homemade sauce that simmers along with chicken breast, black beans, tomatoes and green chiles. You can add all you favorite toppings, like avocado slices, sour cream and cheddar cheese, when serving and the soup freezes well. How good is that?
This vegan soup is nothing like those cans of mystery soup you’ll find at the grocery store. Instead, this version blends potatoes, onions, corn and, of course, nutrition-rich broccoli with dried herbs for a taste that can’t be beat. I love that it uses frozen broccoli, which is often on sale and is a great way to sneak in some extra greens.
Everyone needs a go-to tomato soup recipe and when you want to use your crockpot, this one should be yours. Not only is it super easy to make, but you can add in whatever veggies you have for extra nutrients. Try this with whole-wheat or gluten-free flour.
Photo: The Recipe Rebel
When you’ve had a week of questionable meals (we’ve all been there!), this detox soup can help set you straight. With benefit-loaded kale, green beans, onions, tomatoes, carrots, celery and bell peppers added in, you’ll be impressed with how well all these veggies play together — and how good for you it is.
This soup combines raw garlic with cooked for a super immunity boost. With 100 cloves of garlic involved, this isn’t the recipe to make if you’re going on a date or have a job interview coming up. But if you feel a cold coming on or are trying to speed up recovery, it’s a terrific option.
Photo: Yuri Elkaim
8. Indian-Spiced Slow Cooker Red Lentil Soup with Spinach and Coconut Milk
This vegetarian soup combines protein-rich lentils and spinach with spices commonly used in Indian cooking, like garam masala, coriander and cinnamon. The coconut milk makes it nice and creamy while keeping it totally vegan.
9. Potato, Corn and Jalapeno Soup
With a touch of sweetness from the corn and just the right amount of heat from the jalapeños, this chunky soup has just what you need to warm you up. It uses almond milk to achieve that velvety smooth texture, so it’s vegan-friendly.
Photo: Sweet Peas and Saffron
10. Rustic Chicken Slow Cooker Stew
You’ll be surprised by how just a few common ingredients like chicken, carrots, onions and potatoes can create such a tasty, hearty stew. Best of all, this is a “dump” recipe, so you can freeze most of the ingredients for easy thawing and cooking later.
This inside-out crockpot soup recipe pairs the best of stuffed peppers — the beef, onion and naturally, the peppers — in a slurpable form. While the recipe doesn’t specify what type of rice to use, I’d opt for whole grain or quinoa for extra protein.
This filling stew is comfort food at its healthiest. Making it with sweet potatoes gives this crockpot stew recipe a potassium boost and a lovely, sweet taste. Stew meat is the cut of choice, which is usually less expensive but winds up nice and tender thanks to the long cooking time. This one tastes just as good the next day, too — maybe even better!
Photo: Chelsea’s Messy Apron
13. Sweet Potato and Chickpea Stew
This crockpot stew is packed with chickpeas for a whole lot of meat-free protein. There are healthy fats from the coconut milk and tons of taste from the curry and chili powders. You’ll even get your greens in; this stew has two cups of spinach in it as well.
14. Thai Chicken and Butternut Soup
I’m not sure how authentic quinoa in Thai food is, but it certainly works in this recipe. Every bite is bursting with flavor — hello, ginger, sweet chili sauce and coconut milk! While it tastes exotic, this is one of the crockpot soups that is super simple to make.
As if you needed another reason to love pumpkin recipes. Unlike super thick pumpkin soups, this one is thinned out with chicken broth. While you’ll sauté a few of the ingredients in a pan before adding to the slow cooker, it’s so worth it.
Photo: Bake. Eat. Repeat.
16. Thick and Chunky Beef Stew
Beef stew has been a staple in different countries for a reason: it’s delicious! This crockpot version incorporates all the classic ingredients like carrots, potatoes and celery. Cooking them all slowly over low heat means that each bite of stew melts in your mouth.
Bean dishes can sometimes be boring, but not this one. This crockpot soup is Mexican restaurant-worthy. Along with fiber-rich black beans, this recipe uses onions, bell peppers, jalapeños and your choice of salsa or tomatoes for a Mexican feast. I love adding some diced avocado and cilantro on top to finish it off.
Photo: Emilie Eats
18. Vegan Carrot Soup with Caramelized Onions
You might not expect that a carrot soup would be so tasty, but veggies always surprise us! When cooked, carrots are naturally sweet and go super well with the rich taste the caramelized onions add. This crockpot soup is super easy to make, but will satisfy vegans and non-vegans alike.
19. Vegetarian Pea Soup with Grilled Cheese Croutons
Pea soup sounds like a dish you’d threaten kids with — until you try this version. Unlike traditional split pea soup, this one eliminates the ham bone and instead, uses the long cooking time to achieve similar flavors and texture. But by far, the best part is the grilled cheese croutons. Who can resist?! This is a fun, kid-friendly soup that grown-ups will adore as well.
Photo: The Kitchn
21. Venison Stew
Venison doesn’t get a ton of attention, but I’m a fan of this lean meat. And it works incredibly well in this hearty stew. Best of all, this crockpot stew recipe uses a cup of beer, though you could swap in more beef broth if necessary. But if possible, give it a try. It adds incredible depth of flavor and you can serve the beer alongside!
This stew puts a new spin on an old recipe. With ingredients like kaffir lime leaves, star anise and lemongrass, it adds some Asian style that’s a welcome change. Substitute arrowroot flour for the flour in the recipe and coconut sugar for sugar.
Photo: Supergolden Bakes
