ive crockpot soups, five weeknights, about 15 minutes of morning prep each. That’s the whole plan.
When the weather cools off and the calendar fills up, crockpot soups are the easiest way to get a hot dinner on the table. You load the slow cooker before work, and by dinnertime the house smells like someone cooked all day.
We pulled five of our favorite Fork To Spoon slow cooker soups and lined them up Monday through Friday. You get creamy chicken, hearty beef, Italian comfort, and a classic finish, so nobody gets bored by Thursday. Shop once on the weekend and you’re set.
5 crockpot soups to try this week
Monday: Slow Cooker Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
Start the week with a creamy, nutty bowl that practically makes itself. Chicken, wild rice, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, and broth all go into the crockpot together. After 6 to 8 hours on LOW, shred the chicken right in the pot and stir.
- Why it works on a Monday: one dump, no browning, no extra pans
- Make-ahead tip: it freezes well, so double the batch and save half
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
Tuesday: Easy Slow Cooker Meatball Vegetable Soup
This is the lowest-effort crockpot soup on the list. Frozen fully cooked meatballs go straight in with potatoes, carrots, green beans, and a savory tomato broth. Kids love it, and it reheats beautifully for lunch.
- Shortcut: no thawing needed for fully cooked frozen meatballs
- Thicker soup: mash a few potatoes against the side of the pot before serving
Get the recipe: Easy Slow Cooker Meatball Vegetable Soup
Wednesday: Easy Slow Cooker Stuffed Pepper Soup (Culver’s Copycat)
Midweek calls for something hearty. Ground beef and bell peppers simmer in a rich tomato broth, giving you every bit of stuffed pepper flavor with none of the stuffing. The rice goes in near the end, so it stays tender instead of mushy.
- Flavor boost: brown the beef with onion before it goes in
- Serve with: shredded cheddar and a slice of crusty bread
Get the recipe: Easy Slow Cooker Stuffed Pepper Soup
Thursday: Slow Cooker Italian Wedding Soup (Ina Garten-Inspired)
This one tastes like a restaurant bowl but asks very little of you. Chicken meatballs, tiny orzo, and baby spinach cook in a rich chicken broth, finished with fresh dill and a squeeze of lemon. Brown the meatballs, load the crockpot, and dinner is ready in about 6 hours.
- Don’t skip: the lemon and dill at the end brighten the whole pot
- Pairs with: a simple green salad and garlic bread
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Italian Wedding Soup
Friday: Easy Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings
End the week with the ultimate comfort food. Chicken simmers all day with carrots, celery, onion, and broth. Near the end, biscuit-dough dumplings steam on top until light and fluffy.
- Family favorite: the bowl kids ask for by name
- Timing tip: add the dumplings in the last stretch so they don’t get soggy
Get the recipe: Easy Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings
Tips for better crockpot soups
- Potatoes and carrots go on the bottom. That’s where the heat is strongest.
- Use less broth than a stovetop recipe. The lid traps moisture, so very little evaporates.
- Add dairy, pasta, and greens last. Cream can curdle and noodles turn mushy over long cooking, so stir them in for the final 15 to 30 minutes.
- Keep the lid closed. Every peek adds cook time.
- Fill the crock halfway to two-thirds. Too empty overcooks; too full cooks unevenly.
- Finish with acid. A squeeze of lemon wakes up a soup that tastes flat after a long simmer.
Crockpot soup FAQs
Can I put frozen chicken in the crockpot? It’s not recommended. Thaw it in the fridge overnight first so it heats through quickly. Fully cooked frozen meatballs are the exception.
Do I need to brown meat first? No, but a few minutes of browning adds deeper flavor, especially for the stuffed pepper and Italian wedding soups.
Which crockpot soups freeze best? Broth-based soups like chicken and wild rice and meatball vegetable freeze well. For creamy soups, freeze before adding dairy and stir it in when reheating.
How long do leftovers keep? Three to four days in the fridge in an airtight container, or about three months in the freezer.
Pick your first soup tonight
Five easy crockpot soups, one shopping trip, and a full week of cozy dinners. Start with Monday’s Slow Cooker Chicken and Wild Rice Soup and work your way to Friday’s dumplings.
Want more ideas? Browse all 25 Crockpot Soup Recipes Your Family Will Love or the 12 Lazy Fall Crockpot Dump Soup Recipes on Fork To Spoon.
Which soup is your family making first? Tell us in the comments, and pin this post for next week.
