There’s nothing like a slow-cooker recipe to help you out during busy weeks. Simply add the ingredients, press a button, and dinner cooks itself! Even regions in the South are feeling the effects of frigid winter weather right now, so cravings for piping hot soup are at an all-time high. Lucky for us and our freezing Southern selves, these slow-cooker soup recipes are here to save the day. Whether you’re in the market for a cozy chicken noodle soup, a hearty turkey chili, or a Mexican posole, you can make it in your slow cooker. If you’re craving pasta, make slow-cooker soups like vegetable tortellini soup, classic minestrone, and sausage-and-collard greens stew for more veggie goodness than a pasta dish will provide. Instead of sitting by your stove and stirring a soup as it simmers for hours, put it in the slow cooker and get on with your day. These slow-cooker soups will save you time without sacrificing flavor, and they’re filling enough for a family dinner. Make a batch of slow-cooker soup and eat it for lunch throughout the week, or freeze leftover soup for next time. These are the best slow-cooker soup recipes to get you started this new year.
Sausage-and-Collard Greens Stew
Recipe: Sausage-and-Collard Greens Stew
Video: Sausage-and-Collard Greens Stew
You can use any kind of sausage you prefer whether spicy, smoked, or mild.
Vegetable Tortellini Soup
Recipe: Vegetable Tortellini Soup
Curb pasta cravings and fill up on colorful veggies with this soup recipe.
Slow-Cooker Sweet Potato-Black Bean Chili
Recipe: Slow-Cooker Sweet Potato-Black Bean Chili
Give your chili recipe a Southwestern makeover and try this flavorful recipe. Don’t forget an ice-cold beer with a lime. A tip from the test kitchen: This recipe does not call for an entire pound of dried beans, but the slow cooker can easily hold that much if you want to add more bulk to your soup. If you prefer to soak dried beans overnight, place them in a large saucepan, cover with water to 2 inches above beans. Soak at least 8 hours or overnight. Drain beans, and transfer to the slow cooker.
Chicken-and-Rice Soup with Mushrooms
Recipe: Chicken-and-Rice Soup with Mushrooms
Use rotisserie chicken from the grocery store or leftover cooked chicken for this comfy soup.
Slow Cooker Turkey Soup
Recipe: Slow Cooker Turkey Soup
Swap heavy chowders for this healthy and light recipe.
Classic Slow Cooker Beef Stew
Recipe: Classic Slow Cooker Beef Stew
Stick with the classics this winter with a timeless beef stew every member of the family will savor.
Slow-Cooker Green Chile Posole
Recipe: Slow-Cooker Green Chile Posole
Adding Monterey Jack cheese to the slow cooker and stirring it in the soup just before serving takes this fragrant, flavorful Mexican dish to a new level of yum.
Ham-and-Bean Soup
Recipe: Ham-and-Bean Soup
Southerners know the key to comfort is adding a ham bone to a slow-cooked meal.
Lemon Chicken Vegetable Soup
Recipe: Lemon Chicken Vegetable Soup
Whether to aid a sore throat or comfort on a chilly winter night, this healthy and bright soup is what the doctor ordered.
Classic Minestrone
Recipe: Classic Minestrone
Video: Classic Minestrone
This classic soup is packed with good-for-you veggies, and the kids will still love it.
Creamy Turnip Soup
Recipe: Creamy Turnip Soup
Top this creamy soup with chopped bacon, sautéed turnip greens, and croutons for added flavor and a little crunch.
Soulful Chicken Soup
Recipe: Soulful Chicken Soup
It’s good when you’re sick; it’s good when the temperatures drop; it’s good for the soul, we swear it.
Slow Cooker Beef-and-Barley Stew
Recipe: Slow-Cooker Beef-and-Barley Stew
Healthy whole-grain barley and tender slow-cooked beef are a comforting pair for a winter dinner.
Smoked Chicken-Banana Pepper Soup
Recipe: Smoked Chicken-Banana Pepper Soup
If pickled banana peppers are a sandwich and salad staple in your family, this is the soup you need to try.
Slow-Cooker Turkey Chili
Recipe: Slow-Cooker Turkey Chili
Video: Slow-Cooker Turkey Chili
Lighten up a heavy chili with lean ground turkey and one of our most popular chili recipes.
Slow-Cooker Chicken Taco Soup
Recipe: Slow-Cooker Chicken Taco Soup
Simply add all the ingredients to the slow cooker and let it do its thing. Set up a mini toppings bar with cheese, sour cream, jalapenos, hot sauce, and fresh sliced avocado.
Chicken Sausage and White Bean Stew
Recipe: Chicken Sausage and White Bean Stew
This colorful stew is hearty but healthy for a chilly night at home.
Slow-Cooker Corn Chowder
Recipe: Slow-Cooker Corn Chowder
You can use that slow cooker for soup when it starts to warm up outside, too. Stock up on fresh corn at the farmers’ market for this recipe.
