It’s 5:30, everyone is hungry, and nobody wants to stand over a stove. That’s exactly when a crockpot soup earns its counter space. You spend ten minutes in the morning, walk away, and come home to a house that smells like dinner is already handled.
These 25 crockpot soup recipes are family favorites from Fork To Spoon: creamy chicken soups, hearty meatball and beef bowls, a stack of set-it-and-forget-it chilis, and cozy potato and veggie soups. Most freeze well, so one cooking session can cover a few nights.
A few of these are restaurant copycats written for the Instant Pot or stovetop that also work in a slow cooker. Those are marked, and the tips section below shows how to convert them.
Cozy crockpot chicken soups
1. Slow Cooker Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
Chicken, wild rice, carrots, celery, onion, garlic and broth all go into the crock at once. After 6 to 8 hours on LOW, you shred the chicken right back in for a creamy, nutty soup. It freezes well, so make a double batch.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
2. Easy Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings
Chicken simmers all day with carrots, celery, onion and broth. Near the end, biscuit-dough dumplings steam on top until light and fluffy. It’s the hug-in-a-bowl dinner kids ask for by name.
Get the recipe: Easy Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings
3. Easy Slow Cooker Matzo Ball Soup
The long, slow simmer builds a rich golden chicken broth with almost no effort. The matzo balls go in for the final 30 minutes, while the broth is actively simmering, so they cook up light. This is the one to make when someone in the house is under the weather.
Get the recipe: Easy Slow Cooker Matzo Ball Soup
4. Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Soup
All the flavor of chicken enchiladas without rolling a single tortilla. Tender shredded chicken, smoky red chile sauce and melty cheese come together after about 10 minutes of prep. Set out tortilla chips, sour cream and avocado and let everyone top their own bowl.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Soup
5. Copycat Cracker Barrel Chicken Noodle Soup
Tender chicken, hearty egg noodles and a rich, savory broth that tastes like the Cracker Barrel table. It’s warm, familiar and completely unfussy. Bookmark it, because your family will start requesting it.
Get the recipe: Copycat Cracker Barrel Chicken Noodle Soup
6. Bob Evans Chicken Noodle Soup
A homestyle copycat with tender chicken, egg noodles and a golden broth. It tastes like Sunday dinner any night of the week. Cook the noodles until just tender so they hold up in leftovers.
Get the recipe: Bob Evans Chicken Noodle Soup
7. Copycat Panera Chicken Noodle Soup
This cafe-style favorite is written for the Instant Pot, and the post includes full slow cooker directions too. Sauté the vegetables, let the crock do the rest, and add the egg noodles at the end.
Get the recipe: Copycat Panera Chicken Noodle Soup
8. Demos Chicken and Rice Soup
Fans of the Nashville-area restaurant will recognize this lemony chicken and rice soup. It’s loaded with tender chicken, vegetables and rice in a savory broth. Pure comfort on a chilly day.
Get the recipe: Demos Chicken and Rice Soup
Hearty meatball and beef crockpot soups
9. Slow Cooker Italian Wedding Soup (Ina Garten-Inspired)
This version uses chicken meatballs and a generous hand of fresh dill, the way Ina makes hers. Brown the meatballs, load the crock, and about six hours later dinner is ready. It feels like a restaurant meal and a warm hug at the same time.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Italian Wedding Soup
10. Easy Slow Cooker Meatball Vegetable Soup
Frozen meatballs go straight into the crock with potatoes, carrots, green beans and a savory tomato broth. It’s about as close to zero effort as dinner gets. For a thicker soup, mash a few potatoes right in the pot before serving.
Get the recipe: Easy Slow Cooker Meatball Vegetable Soup
11. Copycat Culver’s Stuffed Pepper Soup
All the flavor of stuffed peppers with none of the stuffing. Ground beef and bell peppers cook in a rich tomato broth. The rice goes in near the end so it stays tender instead of mushy.
Get the recipe: Copycat Culver’s Stuffed Pepper Soup
12. Dinty Moore Beef Stew (Copycat)
If you grew up on the canned classic, this homemade version will stop you in your tracks. Tender beef, soft potatoes and carrots cook in a thick, savory gravy. The slow simmer does the heavy lifting, so the beef melts in your mouth.
Get the recipe: Dinty Moore Beef Stew
Set-it-and-forget-it crockpot chilis
13. Slow Cooker Turkey White Bean Chili
The lightest bowl on this list. Lean ground turkey and creamy white beans simmer with green chiles and salsa verde. It’s packed with protein and freezes beautifully for meal prep.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Turkey White Bean Chili
14. Easy Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Chili
Fall-apart pulled pork, beans and bold spices make this a game-day favorite. It practically cooks itself while you relax. Set up a toppings bar so everyone can build their own bowl.
Get the recipe: Easy Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Chili
15. Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken Chili
All the flavor of buffalo wings in a cozy bowl. Ground chicken, white beans, fire-roasted tomatoes, buffalo sauce, ranch seasoning and cream cheese come together with about 10 minutes of prep. Serve with celery sticks and extra ranch.
Get the recipe: Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken Chili
16. Crockpot Jason’s Deli Southwest Chicken Chili (Copycat)
Chicken, black beans, corn, green chiles and cream cheese cook together, then the chicken shreds right in the pot. It’s mildly spiced, so kids usually love it too. A great one for feeding a crowd.
Get the recipe: Crockpot Southwest Chicken Chili
17. Panera Turkey Chili (Copycat)
Lean turkey, hearty beans and a balanced spice blend make this a wholesome, warming bowl. It tastes just like the cafe version, if not better. A good pick when you want something healthy that still feels like a treat.
Get the recipe: Panera Turkey Chili
18. Culver’s George’s Chili (Copycat)
Ground beef, dark red kidney beans, tomato paste and mild spices give you Culver’s thick, savory chili at home. Eat it by the bowl or spoon it over burgers, hot dogs and fries.
Get the recipe: Culver’s George’s Chili
19. Texas Roadhouse Chili (Copycat)
Rich, hearty and full of bold steakhouse flavor. Pile it high with cheddar and red onion, just like the restaurant. Brown the beef first, then let the crock take it from there (see the tips below).
Get the recipe: Texas Roadhouse Chili
Creamy potato, veggie and copycat crockpot soups
20. Easy Ina Garten Butternut Squash Soup
Butternut squash, carrots, apple and herbs slow-cook into a silky fall soup at about 148 calories per serving. It’s simple enough for a weeknight lunch and pretty enough for company. Top with a swirl of cream or toasted pepitas.
Get the recipe: Easy Ina Garten Butternut Squash Soup
21. 4 Ingredient Potato Soup
Potatoes, milk, garlic salt and green onions. That’s the whole list. It’s creamy, naturally gluten-free and a lifesaver when the fridge is nearly bare. Stir the milk in at the end when making it in the crock.
Get the recipe: 4 Ingredient Potato Soup
22. Copycat La Madeleine Country Potato Soup
Rustic French-bakery flavor straight to your dinner table. This one is a true family favorite, with husbands and kids going back for seconds. Serve it with crusty bread for dunking.
Get the recipe: Copycat La Madeleine Country Potato Soup
23. Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Thick enough to coat a spoon and loaded with sharp cheddar, just like Panera’s most-ordered soup. It’s written for the Instant Pot. For the crockpot, cook the broccoli and broth low and slow, then stir in the cheese and cream in the last 15 minutes.
Get the recipe: Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup
24. Copycat Jason’s Deli Tomato Soup
Rich, velvety tomato soup made with a handful of simple ingredients. It’s begging for a gooey grilled cheese on the side. Freeze it before adding any cream, then stir the cream in when you reheat.
Get the recipe: Copycat Jason’s Deli Tomato Soup
25. Trader Joe’s Famous Wonton Soup
Got a bag of frozen wontons? A savory broth with fresh garlic, ginger and a splash of soy sauce turns them into something that feels homemade. Let the broth simmer in the crock, then add the wontons near the end so they don’t fall apart.
Get the recipe: Trader Joe’s Famous Wonton Soup
Tips for better crockpot soups
- Converting an Instant Pot or stovetop soup: sauté the aromatics and brown any meat first, add everything except dairy and pasta, then cook on LOW 6 to 7 hours or HIGH 3 to 4 hours. Stir in cream, cheese and cooked pasta at the end.
- Layer smart: dense vegetables like potatoes and carrots go on the bottom, where the heat is strongest.
- Go easy on liquid: the lid traps moisture, so slow cooker soups need less broth than stovetop versions.
- Thaw meat first: start with thawed meat so it moves through the 40°F to 140°F danger zone quickly. Fully cooked frozen meatballs are the exception.
- Fill it halfway to two-thirds: too empty and food overcooks; too full and it cooks unevenly.
- Keep the lid on: every peek can add 15 to 20 minutes of cook time.
- Add dairy and pasta last: cream and cheese can curdle under long heat, and noodles turn mushy. Add them in the final 15 to 30 minutes.
- Brighten before serving: a squeeze of lemon or a splash of vinegar wakes up a soup that tastes flat after a long simmer.
Rule of thumb: 1 hour on HIGH equals about 2 hours on LOW.
Crockpot soup FAQs
Can I put frozen chicken in the crockpot? It’s not recommended. Frozen meat can sit too long in the bacterial danger zone before it heats up. Thaw it in the fridge overnight first.
Do I need to brown meat before slow cooking? No, but it adds flavor. Browning onions, garlic and meat for about 5 minutes gives a depth that dumping everything raw won’t.
Which crockpot soups freeze best? Broth-based soups, chilis and bean soups freeze best. Cream-based soups can separate, so freeze them before adding dairy and stir it in when you reheat.
How long does homemade soup last in the fridge? Three to four days in an airtight container. Frozen, most broth-based soups keep about three months.
Can I leave my crockpot on while I’m at work? Yes. Slow cookers are designed to run unattended. Pick recipes with an 8-hour LOW time, or use a model that switches to warm automatically.
Pick a soup and let the crockpot do the work
With these 25 crockpot soup recipes, you have nearly a month of cozy dinners that take minutes to start. Pick three or four for this week, shop once, and let the slow cooker handle the rest.
Which one is your family trying first? Tell us in the comments, and pin this post so it’s ready the next time dinner sneaks up on you.
All 25 recipes in this roundup are from Fork To Spoon.
