By: Denise Bustard16 Comments
Posted: 2/11/22Updated: 2/11/22
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18 healthy crockpot soup recipes that are easy to prep and will warm you right up! Includes soups, stews, chili, vegetarian options, and more.
Crockpot soups and crockpot freezer meals are the real hero of weeknight dinners; especially those that can be dumped into the slow cooker without any sauté steps. they are often made with pantry staples, and many can be frozen before or after cooking!
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The ultimate one-pot meal, these crockpot soup recipes are packed with nutrients, veggies, and protein. Using your own homemade bone broth will up the nutrition factor even more, and many of these recipes use pantry staples that you likely already have on hand.
These veggie-packed slow cooker soup recipes are going to warm you up to the tips of your toes but also fill you with nutritious ingredients.
Reasons You'll Love These Recipes
- they are cozy and nourishing comfort food!
- you can assemble ahead as a freezer crockpot meal OR make a large batch for meal prep
- many of them are 'dump and go' slow cooker meals (no sautéing!)
Slow Cooker Tips For Flavorful Soup
Cooking low and slow can strip some of the flavors from these crockpot soup recipes. Here are some tips to get the BEST flavor & texture from your crockpot soup recipe!
- use the right herbs- a general rule is to add hardy herbs like rosemary and thyme at the start of cooking. Reserve soft herbs like cilantro and parsley to add just before serving
- add acid at the end - most soups can benefit from a boost of acid (lemon juice, lime juice, balsamic vinegar etc) at the end of cooking. It really brings out extra flavor!
- taste for salt- always taste test before serving and stir in more salt if needed
- use the right cut of chicken- chicken breast cannot handle over 5 hours (on low!) in the slow cooker. If you need to cook for longer than that, consider boneless skinless chicken thighs. Bonus: brown the thighs first and they will hold together even better!
- coconut milk- in our experience, light coconut milk curdles in the crockpot, whereas full-fat coconut milk can withstand cooking up to 8 hours on low.
FAQ
Can I make these crockpot soup recipes in the Instant Pot?
Many of these slow cooker soup, stew, and chili recipes can be made in the Instant Pot - see individual recipes for details (we've included instructions if possible.
Can I cook soup on high heat in the crockpot?
When using the slow cooker, it's best to use the low setting whenever possible. The reason for this is that some slow cookers cook quite hot, and on high, they can vigorously boil and overcook the ingredients.
Is soup better in a crockpot / slow cooker?
With our tips (see above) for making flavorful soup in the crockpot, yes! It's just as good as soup on the stovetop, but maybe even better because you don't have to babysit a pot on the stove. Not to mention, you can start it early in the day and dinner will be ready and waiting for you when 5:00 rolls around!
Best Soup Storage Containers
Soup Meal Prep Tips
- freezer crockpot meals - some soups can be assembled ahead and frozen as freezer crockpot meals.
- look for soups with no sautéing
- avoid cruciferous veggies like broccoli and cauliflower which must be blanched before freezing
- avoid potatoes or use baby potatoes and leave them whole
- cook first, then freeze- the majority of soups are freezer friendly! The only soups I've found to not freeze/thaw well are ones with delicate pasta shapes (like orzo).
- we like freezing our soups in mason jars (1 pint jars for single serving; 1 quart jars for multiple servings)
- reusable plastic freezer jars are also great for freezing soup
Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup
Crockpot chicken noodle soup is the ultimate comfort food made easier: no sauteeing, loaded with noodles, and totally satisfying.
Check out this recipe
Crockpot Taco Soup Recipe
Crockpot taco soup recipe is a hearty but healthy soup loaded with your favorite taco ingredients and flavors! No sauteeing and crockpot ready in 15 min.
Check out this recipe
Crockpot Broccoli Turmeric Soup (keto, vegan)
This super healthy broccoli, ginger and turmeric soup is a powerhouse of anti-inflammatory ingredients and will warm you right up on a cold day.
Check out this recipe
Slow Cooker Thai Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
This Thai Slow Cooker Chicken and Wild Rice Soup is a twist on a classic comfort recipe. Tropical, yet cozy, it's made with butternut squash, Thai red curry paste, and coconut milk!
Check out this recipe
Slow Cooker Creamy Potato Corn Soup (Vegan)
This vegan slow cooker potato corn soupis aneasy and deceptively healthy. Easy to prep ahead and re-heat for easy lunches.
Check out this recipe
Slow Cooker Lemon Sesame Chicken Noodle Soup
This slow cooker lemon sesame chicken noodle soup can be assembled ahead and stored in the fridge or freezer until you’re ready to cook it up! Perfect for cold and flu season: healthy, comforting and delicious.
Check out this recipe
Slow Cooker Chickpea Tortilla Soup (Freezer to Crock Pot)
Slow cooker chickpea tortilla soup which can be assembled ahead of time and stored in the fridge or freezer! A great way to stay out of the kitchen this summer.
Check out this recipe
Crockpot Stews
Another great option for the slow cooker are stews; hearty, thick, and soul-warming! Here are some tasty and filling crockpot stew recipes.
Stew Meal Prep Tips
Stews are another great meal prep option and can be prepped ahead in two different ways:
- freezer crockpot meals- some stews can be assembled ahead and frozen as freezer crockpot meals.
- look for stews with no sauteeing step (or just skip it)
- avoid cruciferous veggies like broccoli and cauliflower which must be blanched before freezing
- avoid potatoes or use baby potatoes and leave them whole
- do not freeze quinoa; add to the crockpot just before cooking
- cook first, then freeze- the majority of stews are freezer friendly!
- we like freezing our stews in mason jars (1 pint jars for single serving; 1 quart jars for multiple servings)
- reusable plastic freezer jars are also great for freezing stew
Favorite Freezer Containers
Our top picks for the best freezer containers to help your food stay fresh and free from freezer burn!From bags to soup storage to meal prep containers and more.
The Best Freezer Containers
Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Quinoa Stew
Hearty, healthy, and filled with delicious southwestern flavor, this slow cooker black bean, quinoa and sweet potato stew is so easy to prep! Works great as a weeknight dinner, and can be meal prepped in multiple ways.
Check out this recipe
Slow Cooker Spanish Chicken Stew
With roasted red peppers, smoked paprika and a pinch of saffron, this slow cooker Spanish chicken stew is a cozy yet exotic! Works great for a weeknight dinner, or for meal prep.
Check out this recipe
Vegan Slow Cooker Peanut Stew (Maafe-Inspired)
Slow cooker peanut stew is vegan comfort food at it's finest! With chickpeas, sweet potatoes, and peanut butter, it's inspired by the West African peanut stew, maafe. You can assemble this ahead and freeze as a crockpot freezer meal.
Check out this recipe
Tuscan Slow Cooker Chicken Stew
Tuscan slow cooker chicken stew is healthy, hearty, and so easy to prepare in the crockpot! Rosemary, fennel seeds and balsamic vinegar give this stew a ton of flavor.
Check out this recipe
Slow Cooker Ethiopian Chicken & Lentil Stew
A hearty and flavorful slow cooker Ethiopian chicken stew made with Ethiopian spices, lentils and sweet potatoes. Bring some exotic flavors to your dinner table!
Check out this recipe
Slow Cooker Chicken Korma with Sweet Potato
Slow cooker chicken korma with sweet potatoes is made with warm spices like garam masala, almonds and a creamy coconut milk. Kid-friendly and works great for meal prep.
Check out this recipe
Crockpot Mexican Chicken Stew (+ Instant Pot)
This healthy crockpot Mexican chicken stew is inspired by tortilla soup. Packed full of delicious Mexican flavors and super simple to prepare, you'll love how easy it is to make this stew recipe in your slow cooker or Instant Pot!
Check out this recipe
Crockpot Chili Recipes
Does chili qualify as a soup or a stew? I'm leaning towards stew, but either way, chili is a staple in our crockpot routine! Easy to prep, easy to cook, and always delicious! There are a ton of different varieties of chili out there, which means there's always a fun new flavor to try out.
Chili Meal Prep Tips
Chili is another great meal prep option and can be prepped ahead in two different ways:
- freezer crockpot meals - some chilis can be assembled ahead and frozen as freezer crockpot meals.
- look for chilis with no sauteeing step, or just brown the meat and cool before adding to the freezer bag. I'm not a huge fan of the texture of ground meat in chili when it hasn't been browned first.
- do not freeze quinoa; add to the crockpot just before cooking
- cook first, then freeze - pretty much all chili recipes are freezer friendly!
- we like freezing our chili in mason jars (1 pint jars for single serving; 1 quart jars for multiple servings)
- reusable plastic freezer jars are also great for freezing chili
Smoky Slow Cooker Turkey Chili
This smoky slow cooker turkey chili is rich and bold in flavor- with chipotle chilis, ground turkey, kidney beans and plenty of spices. The slow cooker makes this easy and hands off to prep, and it works great for meal prep!
Check out this recipe
Slow Cooker Roasted Red Pepper Chili
Hearty and flavorful, this slow cooker roasted red pepper chili has ground beef, roasted roasted red peppers, smoked paprika, and a splash of balsamic vinegar. A delicious alternative to classic chili!
Check out this recipe
Crockpot White Chicken Chili
Crockpot white chicken chili is creamy, rich, hearty and full of flavor but lightened up a touch! With chicken, white beans, corn and green chiles, this recipe does not require sauteeing, and works great for meal prep.
Check out this recipe
Vegan Crockpot Chili
This vegan crockpot chili can be assembled ahead and frozen for an easy slow cooker freezer meal! Made with sweet potatoes, corn, black beans, and spices; it's vegan, gluten-free, and seriously tasty!
Check out this recipe
That's it, friends! We hope this post gave you some delicious crockpot soup recipe ideas. Let us know in the comments if you try any of them!
Meet Denise Bustard
Denise Bustard is the creator of Sweet Peas and Saffron, a meal prep-focussed food blog. With a PhD in biochemistry, Denise takes a scientific approach to perfecting her recipes. You can find Denise's work featured on Huffington Post, MSN, Self and more.
Read more...
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Reader Interactions
Leave a Comment
Denise says
LOL! I am getting better at 'rocking the crock pot'. How was the lentil soup?
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Karen @ The Food Charlatan says
Denise, thanks for including me on this round up! I love soup, esp when it's made in the crock 🙂 I've got to try that Sweet potato korma you made! It looks awesome!
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Denise says
I really want to try your stew, Karen! I need to get my slow cooker out ASAP, it's so cold here this week-end :/
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Denise says
Thanks, Lynsey!
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Andrea @ Cooking with Mamma C says
I just saw this now after posting a slow cooker recipe today, so I'm with you! I love this roundup and the nice variety of delicious meals we can make happen, even when we're gone all day.
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Denise says
Thanks, Andrea! I have been re-motivated to get my crockpot out and working again 😉
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Denise says
Ha ha, thanks, Mary Frances! I am totally craving comfort food at this time of year...but healthy comfort food!
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Michelle { A Latte Food} says
Rock the crockpot--love it! I can't wait to try out these amazing looking recipes! 🙂
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Denise says
Ha ha, thanks, Michelle! I got motivated enough to get going on the slow cooker recipes again 🙂
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Danielle says
I need to be using my crock pot more this year too, it makes dinner so easy! This is such a great collection of recipes, thanks for including mine too!
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Denise says
Thanks for the great recipe, Danielle 😉 I am so pumped to get my crockpot going again. We have SO much winter left here in Canada...
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Kelly - Life Made Sweeter says
These all look amazing, Denise! The slow cooker is my life saver and soups and stews are my favorite so I can't wait to try a few of these!
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Denise says
Thanks, Kelly! I am still learning how to use my crockpot...some things seem more forgiving than others, and soups and stews seem like a big YES to me 🙂
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Sarah@Whole and Heavenly Oven says
I can't wait to "rock my crockpot" with all of these recipes! Seriously stunning round-up, Denise! I am starving all of a sudden. 😉 Thanks for including my beef stew, girl! Pinning.
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Denise says
Thanks so much, Sarah, and thanks for the delicious looking beef stew! I haven't made a beef stew in my crockpot yet...WHY!?
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