Nothing beats a pot of soup on a cold winter night, and these 25 cozy soup recipes let your Instant Pot or crockpot do the work. Creamy potato soups, classic chicken noodle, hearty chili, copycat restaurant favorites from Panera and Olive Garden, and a few lighter options are all here, and every one of them is a family-tested recipe from my kitchen.
The first half of the list is Instant Pot soups for nights when you need dinner in 30 minutes. The second half is crockpot soups you can dump in the morning and forget about until dinner. Most of them freeze well, so make a double batch and stock the freezer for January.
Grab a loaf of Air Fryer Sourdough Bread or a pan of Air Fryer Skillet Cornbread, and dinner is done.
Instant Pot Soup Recipes
These pressure cooker soups taste like they simmered all day but are on the table in about 30 minutes.
Instant Pot Copycat Panera Creamy Tomato Soup – Velvety, rich tomato soup that tastes just like the bakery-cafe. Serve with a grilled cheese for dunking. Get the recipe: Instant Pot Copycat Panera Tomato Soup
Instant Pot Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup – Cheesy, creamy and loaded with broccoli; the most-requested soup in my house. Get the recipe: Instant Pot Copycat Panera Broccoli and Cheddar Soup
Instant Pot Copycat Panera Chicken Noodle Soup – The classic cold-weather cure with tender chicken and thick noodles. Get the recipe: Copycat Instant Pot Panera Chicken Noodle Soup
Instant Pot Panera Baked Potato Soup – Loaded baked potato in a bowl: bacon, cheddar and sour cream. Get the recipe: Instant Pot Panera Baked Potato Soup
Instant Pot Copycat Panera Bistro French Onion Soup – Deep caramelized onion flavor with a cheesy toast on top. Get the recipe: Instant Pot Copycat Bistro Panera French Onion Soup
Instant Pot Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup – Creamy soup with pillowy gnocchi and spinach, better than the restaurant. Get the recipe: Instant Pot Chicken Gnocchi Soup Olive Garden Copycat
Instant Pot Olive Garden Minestrone Soup – A hearty vegetable and bean soup with pasta that happens to be vegetarian. Get the recipe: Instant Pot Olive Garden Minestrone Soup
Instant Pot Olive Garden Cream of Tomato and Basil Soup – Fresh basil and cream turn simple tomatoes into something special. Get the recipe: Instant Pot Olive Garden Cream of Tomato and Basil Soup
Instant Pot Chicken Enchilada Soup – All the flavor of chicken enchiladas in a spoonable, cheesy soup. Get the recipe: Instant Pot Chicken Enchilada Soup
Instant Pot Jason’s Deli Chicken Pot Pie Soup – Chicken pot pie filling as a creamy soup; top with biscuits. Get the recipe: Instant Pot Jason’s Deli Chicken Pot Pie Soup
Instant Pot Italian Wedding Soup with Homemade Meatballs – Tiny meatballs, pasta and greens in a savory broth. Get the recipe: Instant Pot Italian Wedding Soup
Instant Pot Copycat Costco Butternut Squash Soup – Silky, slightly sweet and perfect for a lighter winter lunch. Get the recipe: Copycat Costco Butternut Squash Soup
Instant Pot Chili’s Baked Potato Soup – Thick, cheesy potato soup just like the restaurant. Get the recipe: Instant Pot Chili’s Baked Potato Soup
Instant Pot Easy Chili (No Beans) – A thick, beefy chili that is ready in 30 minutes; great for game day. Get the recipe: Easy Instant Pot Chili No Beans
Instant Pot Copycat Campbell’s Tomato Soup – The nostalgic classic made from scratch in minutes. Get the recipe: Instant Pot Copycat Campbell’s Tomato Soup
Crockpot and Slow Cooker Soup Recipes
Dump these in the morning, and dinner is waiting when you walk in the door.
Slow Cooker Chicken and Wild Rice Soup – Creamy, hearty and loaded with tender chicken and nutty wild rice. Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
Slow Cooker Italian Wedding Soup – An Ina Garten-inspired version with mini meatballs and spinach that simmers all day. Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Italian Wedding Soup
Crockpot Copycat Jason’s Deli Southwest Chicken Chili – Smoky, slightly spicy chicken chili that is perfect for a game-day crowd. Get the recipe: Copycat Crockpot Jason’s Deli Chicken Chili
More Cozy Winter Soups (Stovetop-Friendly, Easy to Adapt)
These favorites cook on the stovetop or pressure cooker in under 30 minutes, and most adapt to the slow cooker: brown any meat first, add everything but dairy, cook on LOW 6 hours, and stir in cream or cheese at the end.
4-Ingredient Potato Soup – Creamy, gluten-free and done with pantry staples. Get the recipe: 4 Ingredient Potato Soup
Copycat Denny’s Chicken Noodle Soup – Diner-style chicken noodle with stovetop or Instant Pot directions. Get the recipe: Denny’s Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe
Copycat Demos Chicken and Rice Soup – Lemony, comforting chicken and rice soup that fans of the Nashville restaurant will recognize. Get the recipe: Demos Chicken and Rice Soup Recipe
Copycat McAlister’s Broccoli and Cheddar Soup – Thick, cheesy and ready for a bread bowl. Get the recipe: McAlister’s Broccoli and Cheddar Soup Recipe
Copycat Jason’s Deli French Onion Soup – Sweet caramelized onions under a blanket of melted cheese. Get the recipe: Jason’s Deli French Onion Soup Recipe
Copycat Longhorn French Onion Soup – The steakhouse version, rich and savory with a crusty cheese top. Get the recipe: Longhorn French Onion Soup Recipe
Instant Pot Madeleine Tomato Basil Soup – A creamy, restaurant-style tomato basil soup that is pure comfort. Get the recipe: Instant Pot Madeleine Tomato Basil Soup
Tips for Better Winter Soups
- Sauté first. Even in a slow cooker, browning onions, garlic and meat for 5 minutes adds a depth of flavor that dumping raw never will.
- Add dairy last. Cream, milk and cheese can curdle under long heat. Stir them in during the last 15 minutes.
- Cook pasta separately for leftovers. Noodles and gnocchi soak up broth overnight. If you plan on leftovers, keep the pasta on the side and add it per bowl.
- Instant Pot natural release for creamy soups. A quick release on a thick, starchy soup can spit through the valve. Let it release naturally 10 minutes.
- Freeze in portions. Broth-based soups freeze beautifully for 3 months. Freeze flat in quart bags so they thaw fast.
- Brighten before serving. A squeeze of lemon or a splash of vinegar wakes up any soup that tastes flat after a long simmer.
What to Serve with Soup
- Air Fryer Sourdough Bread
- Air Fryer Skillet Cornbread
- Air Fryer Jalapeño Cheddar Quick Bread
- Air Fryer Croutons
- Air Fryer Round Tortilla Chips for the chili and enchilada soups
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make an Instant Pot soup recipe in the crockpot? Yes. Sauté the aromatics and brown any meat on the stovetop, add everything except dairy and pasta to the slow cooker, and cook on LOW 6 to 7 hours or HIGH 3 to 4 hours. Stir in dairy and cooked pasta at the end.
Can I make a crockpot soup in the Instant Pot? Usually. Use the Sauté function for browning, then pressure cook on High for 10 to 15 minutes for chicken and vegetable soups, 25 to 35 minutes for beef stew, and finish with dairy after releasing pressure.
Which soups freeze best? Broth-based soups, chili and bean soups freeze best. Cream-based soups can separate; freeze them before adding the dairy and stir it in when reheating.
How long does homemade soup last in the fridge? 3 to 4 days in an airtight container. Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave until steaming.
What is the easiest soup on this list? The 4-Ingredient Potato Soup and the Instant Pot Copycat Campbell’s Tomato Soup both come together with pantry ingredients in under 30 minutes.
All recipes featured in this post are from Fork To Spoon.
