Our Top Slow-Cooker Soup Recipes to Make in 2018

By Mary Shannon Wells
January 04, 2018
Credit: Jennifer Davick
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. 
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The Secrets to Making the Best Slow-Cooker Soups

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Sausage-and-Collard Greens Stew

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

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.

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Vegetable Tortellini Soup

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Vegetable Tortellini Soup

Curb pasta cravings and fill up on colorful veggies with this soup recipe.

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Slow-Cooker Sweet Potato-Black Bean Chili

Credit: Skyler Burt

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.

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Chicken-and-Rice Soup with Mushrooms

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Chicken-and-Rice Soup with Mushrooms

Use rotisserie chicken from the grocery store or leftover cooked chicken for this comfy soup.

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Slow Cooker Turkey Soup

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Slow Cooker Turkey Soup

Swap heavy chowders for this healthy and light recipe.

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Classic Slow Cooker Beef Stew

Credit: Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Cindy Barr

Recipe: Classic Slow Cooker Beef Stew

Stick with the classics this winter with a timeless beef stew every member of the family will savor.

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Slow-Cooker Green Chile Posole

Credit: Alison Miksch

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.

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Ham-and-Bean Soup

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Ham-and-Bean Soup

Southerners know the key to comfort is adding a ham bone to a slow-cooked meal.

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Lemon Chicken Vegetable Soup

Credit: Jennifer Davick

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.

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Classic Minestrone

Credit: MyRecipes

Recipe: Classic Minestrone

Video: Classic Minestrone

This classic soup is packed with good-for-you veggies, and the kids will still love it.

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Creamy Turnip Soup

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Creamy Turnip Soup

Top this creamy soup with chopped bacon, sautéed turnip greens, and croutons for added flavor and a little crunch.

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Soulful Chicken Soup

Credit: Iain Bagwell

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.

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Slow Cooker Beef-and-Barley Stew

Credit: Jennifer Causey

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Beef-and-Barley Stew

Healthy whole-grain barley and tender slow-cooked beef are a comforting pair for a winter dinner.

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Smoked Chicken-Banana Pepper Soup

Credit: Southern Living

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.

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Slow-Cooker Turkey Chili

Credit: Photo: Oxmoor House

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.

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Slow-Cooker Chicken Taco Soup

Credit: Jennifer Causey

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.

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Chicken Sausage and White Bean Stew

Credit: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Chicken Sausage and White Bean Stew

This colorful stew is hearty but healthy for a chilly night at home.

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Slow-Cooker Corn Chowder

Credit: Photo: Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

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.

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By Mary Shannon Wells