22 Satisfying Soups and Stews You Can Make In the Slow Cooker

January 30, 2017
Iain Bagwell
Soup’s up! Grab your crackers and toasted bread, and ready your spoon! When you crave comfort and convenience, look no further than soup. While we love soup, we can do without the hassle and time it takes to prepare a homemade bowl of goodness. And let’s be honest, the canned, sodium-filled stuff simply won’t do most nights. That’s why we’re breaking out the slow cooker for a hands-free approach to a complete dinner made from scratch. It doesn't get any easier—or any more delicious—than throwing a few fresh ingredients in the slow cooker and letting it do all the work while you work. All you have to do is set it and forget it in the morning, and come home (with an empty stomach) to these warm and satisfying stews and soups that are just waiting to be devoured. 
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The Secrets to Making the Best Slow-Cooker Soups

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Slow-Cooker Sausage Minestrone

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Sausage MinestronePrepare this minestrone in your slow-cooker over the weekend. Freeze the soup for later. All you have to do when your short on time is reheat the soup and cook the pasta.

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Chicken, Sweet Potato, and Corn Slow-Cooker Chowder

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Chicken, Sweet Potato, and Corn Slow-Cooker ChowderThis chowder recipe is perfect for game-days or weeknights when the family is all together.

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Creamy Potato-and-Ham Hock Slow-Cooker Soup

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Creamy Potato-and-Ham Hock Slow-Cooker SoupThis potato soup is creamy and rich from ham hocks and spending time in the slow-cooker.

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Navy Bean and Ham Soup

Credit: Photo: Hector M. Sanchez

Recipe: Navy Bean and Ham Soup

If you like the savory combination of ham and beans but don't have a lot of time to spend in the kitchen, let this savory slow-cooker recipe come to the rescue.

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Lemon Chicken Soup

Credit: Hector M. Sanchez

Recipe: Lemon Chicken Soup

Just what the doctor ordered—our take on the childhood classic has a grownup spin that we know you’ll love.

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White Chicken Chili

Credit: Hector M. Sanchez

Recipe: White Chicken Chili

Take a break from tradition with a bowl full of white chili, complete with tender chicken, white navy beans, and spicy seasonings.

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Thyme-Scented White Bean & Sausage Stew

Credit: Hector M. Sanchez

Recipe: Thyme-Scented White Bean & Sausage Stew

Say hello to a simple one-pot meal for dinner tonight. White beans, carrots, parsnips, garlic, and smoked Italian sausage make up this rich, dense stew.

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Braised Fennel, Cannellini Beans, and Italian Sausage

Credit: Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Braised Fennel, Cannellini Beans, and Italian Sausage

Cooked slowly over the course of an afternoon or evening all of the delicate flavors of these ingredients come together in a mixture of balance and bite.

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Brisket Chili

Credit: Photo: Hector M. Sanchez

Recipe: Brisket Chili

Enjoy the ball game, go shopping, or work in the yard. Return to the kitchen a few hours later to find a warm pot of flavorful brisket chili waiting for you and your family.

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Tortilla Soup

Credit: Photo: Hector M. Sanchez

Recipe: Tortilla Soup

Smoky and spicy, this soup is loaded with our favorite Mexican spices like cumin and peppers – plus our favorite garnishes, like queso and tortilla chips.

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Chicken Soup for the Soul

Credit: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Chicken Soup for the Soul

No dish is quite as soothing as a hearty bowl of chicken noodle soup, and the slow cooker couldn't have made the road to comfort any easier.

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Beef-and-Bean Chili

Credit: Photo: Hector M. Sanchez

Recipe: Beef-and-Bean Chili

Chili is a wintertime staple, and this slow cooker version is excellent served on its own with cornbread or on top of hot dogs.

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Chicken and Cornbread Dumplings

Credit: Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Chicken and Cornbread Dumplings

These soft and fluffy cornmeal dumplings bake up right in the slow cooker on top of an aromatic chicken stew.

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Classic Beef Stew

Credit: Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Classic Beef Stew

This one will make you want to fill up a bowl and curl up on the couch.

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Fresh Corn and Potato Soup with Sautéed Shrimp

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey

Recipe: Fresh Corn and Potato Soup with Sautéed Shrimp

After tasting the delicious results of "milking" a fresh corn cob, you'll never shuck and chuck again. We fully tap the flavor of in-season corn with this kernel-to-cob cooking method, infusing our soup with rich, sweet flavor.

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Green Tomato Chile Verde

Credit: Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Green Tomato Chile Verde

This Green Tomato Chile Verde sounds like it will be hot as blazes, but the poblano peppers bring a mild, mellow heat to this delicious dish. We also love the tang and body that green tomatoes give this comforting stew.

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Peppered Beef Soup

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Peppered Beef Soup

A steaming hot bowl of hearty soup served out of a toasted bread bowl warms our hearts in such a distinct and fulfilling way. This comfort soup requires some prep work, but the soul warming result is worth every minute.

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Pork Chili Verde

Credit: Hector M. Sanchez

Recipe: Pork Chili Verde

This is how a chili should be: spicy, savory, and delicious. Grab a spoon and savor every bite. Pork rib pieces are the savory meat that makes this chili so irresistible.

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Spiced Beef Stew with Sweet Potatoes

Credit: Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Spiced Beef Stew with Sweet Potatoes

Tender cubed sweet potatoes add color and flavor to this richly spiced beef stew.

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Shrimp-and-Sausage Gumbo

Credit: Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Shrimp-and-Sausage Gumbo

Our reviewers rave that this recipe is “wonderful and easy,” and “definitely a keeper.” Enjoy a smoky and spicy classic that takes just a few minutes prepare, and then slow-simmers in a slow cooker so that the classic Louisiana flavors have time to soak into each other.

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Smoky Turkey-and-Sweet Potato Chili

Credit: Photo: Hector M. Sanchez

Recipe: Smoky Turkey-and-Sweet Potato Chili

Lean ground turkey replaces the usual ground beef in this richly spiced, veggie-rich chili.

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Spicy Beef Chili

Credit: Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Recipe: Spicy Beef Chili

Beef brisket makes a great filling for tacos, and slow-cooking it for hours, covered in a spicy sauce, makes it even better.

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