Healthy Recipes Cooking Methods Slow Cooker Slow Cooker Soups & Stews Our Top 40 Slow-Cooker Soups By Alex Loh Alex Loh Alex Loh is EatingWell's associate food editor. As part of the food team, she creates healthy, delicious recipes for the EatingWell audience. Alex also writes informative food and cooking articles that range from how to store ground beef to the best picks from Trader Joe's. Alex conducts product and taste tests to find the best options, from salad spinners to salsas. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Updated on January 2, 2024 Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD Jessica Ball, M.S., RD, is nutrition editor for EatingWell. She is a registered dietitian with a master's in food, nutrition and sustainability. In addition to EatingWell, her work has appeared in Food & Wine, Real Simple, Parents, Better Homes and Gardens and MyRecipes. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless It's officially soup season and we've pulled together our best slow-cooker soup recipes. Whether it's a light, broth-based soup or a hearty stew, these recipes are perfect for dinner. Just fill your slow-cooker with the ingredients in the morning and you'll be rewarded with a warming bowl of deliciousness. Recipes like Easy Slow-Cooker Potato-Leek Soup with Boursin Slow-Cooker Vegetable & Chicken Meatball Soup are healthy, filling and pair well with crusty bread to sop up all the goodness. 01 of 40 Slow-Cooker Chicken & White Bean Stew This load-and-go recipe is perfect for a busy weeknight dinner. A one-two punch of beans and chicken pack this stew with 44 grams of satisfying protein. Serve this Tuscan-inspired dish with crusty bread, a glass of Chianti and a salad. View Recipe 02 of 40 Slow-Cooker Potato Soup Four Ways Black beans, earthy mushrooms and tangy tomatillos combine with a variety of spices and smoky chipotles to create a fantastic full-flavored chili. It can simmer in the slow cooker all day, which makes it perfect for a healthy supper when the end of your day is rushed. Source: EatingWell Magazine, Winter 2004 View Recipe 03 of 40 Slow-Cooker Vegetable & Chicken Meatball Soup This meatball soup only requires 25 minutes of hands-on time. If you’re tempted to skip the step of cooking the onions, we suggest you don’t—this step softens and sweetens them for the most delicious meatballs. View Recipe 04 of 40 Slow-Cooker Turkey & Kale Minestrone Soup Adjust the heat level in the dish by choosing either hot or mild Italian sausage. You can add crushed red pepper, too, if you like. Serve with crusty bread to soak up all the flavorful broth. View Recipe 05 of 40 Easy Slow-Cooker Potato-Leek Soup with Boursin Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless This creamy soup showcases leeks’ mild flavor, enhanced by plenty of fresh and dried herbs along with potatoes for texture and body. We like how the garlic-and-herb flavor of soft, spreadable Boursin cheese enhances the overall flavor of the soup, but you can substitute sour cream. View Recipe 06 of 40 Slow-Cooker Mediterranean Diet Stew With a focus on vegetables, fiber-rich legumes and healthy fats, this vegan stew fits the bill for those following the Mediterranean diet. Swap out the chickpeas for white beans for a different twist, or try collards or spinach in place of the kale. View Recipe 07 of 40 Slow-Cooker Chicken & Vegetable Noodle Soup Adding the pasta in during the last 30 minutes of cooking time ensures it doesn’t turn to mush, but you could also cook it on the side to add to each bowl. Pair it with a salad and toasted whole-grain bread for an easy, healthy dinner. View Recipe 08 of 40 Slow-Cooker Lentil, Carrot & Potato Soup Puréeing some of the lentil-vegetable mixture, and then combining it with the remaining vegetables and lentils gives this soup a texture that satisfies both those who love a creamy soup and those who prefer it chunky. Serve with crackers for a nice crunch. View Recipe 09 of 40 Slow-Cooker Loaded Broccoli & Chicken Soup Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall , Prop Stylist: Shell Royster This comforting soup is loaded with broccoli and chicken in a creamy, cheesy base and finished off with the toppings like bacon and scallions. Frozen onions and rice keep their integrity and texture to the soup, but chopped fresh onions and cooked brown rice can be used in their place. View Recipe 10 of 40 Slow-Cooker Beef-Barley Soup with Red Wine & Pesto Hearty, thick, rich—this is just how a winter soup should be. The meat and carrots become tender yet retain their texture, and the kale offers freshness. We like to garnish each serving with a dollop of pesto and a sprinkle of fresh herbs. View Recipe 11 of 40 Slow-Cooker Moroccan-Spiced Chicken Stew Chicken, sweet potato and chickpeas contribute to the nice textured bite of this stew, and lots of warming spices pack the tomato broth with flavor. Serve with toasted baguette to soak up all of the flavorful goodness. View Recipe 12 of 40 Slow-Cooker Vegetarian Chili The crock pot is perfect for making this easy vegetarian chili, packed with beans, fire-roasted tomatoes, bell peppers and sweet potatoes. A squeeze of lime juice and a sprinkle of cilantro just before serving brightens up the flavors. View Recipe 13 of 40 Spinach & Artichoke Dip-Inspired Slow-Cooker Chicken Soup Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster If you love spinach and artichoke dip, this soup is for you. The creamy base is packed with veggies and shredded chicken. Frozen artichoke hearts have less sodium than canned, but either can be used. Just be sure to give canned ones a good rinse before adding them to the slow cooker to eliminate some of the sodium. View Recipe 14 of 40 The Best Slow-Cooker Sweet Potato & Black Bean Chili Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall , Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless This hearty vegetarian chili has a delightful balance of sweet and spicy flavors. Swap out regular chili powder for chipotle and ancho chile powder, or try using reduced-sodium taco or fajita seasoning for a twist. View Recipe 15 of 40 Pork & Green Chile Stew Let your slow cooker work—while you're at work!—and come home to a delicious bowl of his hearty stew for dinner. Full of potatoes, hominy, green chiles, and chunks of pork, this stew is sure to satisfy. View Recipe 16 of 40 Slow-Cooker Pork Zuppa This flavorful Italian soup, made with ground pork, potatoes and kale gets its creamy texture from a can of evaporated milk. Serve with a big green salad and a glass of red wine for a warming winter dinner. View Recipe 17 of 40 Slow-Cooker Split Pea Soup with Garlicky Croutons Fans of split pea soup will go crazy for bowls of this version that requires almost no hands-on time. The garlicky croutons add nice texture but you could serve it with crusty bread on the side if you prefer. View Recipe 18 of 40 Slow-Cooker Beef Stew This Sunday-worthy dinner will have your house smelling downright heavenly! Tender beef, melt-in-your-mouth potatoes and carrots in a rich broth—this could be the best beef stew you've ever made. View Recipe 19 of 40 Slow-Cooker Potato Soup This easy soup has all the good stuff you love on a potato—including bacon, cheese and scallions. Serve this loaded baked potato soup with a salad for an easy dinner\whenever you're in need of some serious comfort food. You can easily make this soup vegetarian--just use vegetable broth and skip the bacon. View Recipe 20 of 40 Lentil & Root Veggie Soup We like how French green lentils and black lentils hold up well to long, slow cooking without becoming mushy. Save the rinds from used-up blocks of Parmesan in a resealable plastic bag or tightly sealed container in the refrigerator to give any soup you make a rich, savory flavor. View Recipe 21 of 40 Slow-Cooker Chicken & Wild Rice Soup with Asparagus & Peas Keep the crockpot out in the spring to make this healthy chicken soup.This brothy slow-cooker soup is packed with spring asparagus and peas. Adding those tender veggies during the last 20 minutes of cooking ensures that they stay bright green and are perfectly done without getting mushy. View Recipe 22 of 40 Slow-Cooker Spanish Chickpea Soup This easy soup recipe is inspired by cocido, the hearty stew of assorted meats, chickpeas and vegetables considered a national dish of Spain. Each region, family and restaurant has its own variation, but this slow-cooker version is packed with plenty of meat and vegetables. View Recipe 23 of 40 Slow-Cooker Creamy Butternut Squash-Apple Soup The sweetness of the Granny Smith apple shines through the creaminess of the blended butternut squash, a combination that is sure to please. Don't be afraid to keep blending the soup for rich and creamy results, or pulse it for more texture. View Recipe 24 of 40 Slow-Cooker Vegetable Stew Potatoes and beans make this tomato-based vegetable stew super-hearty. You could also add briefly sautéed chunks of zucchini or fresh corn kernels just before serving, or add another can of cannellini beans for more substance. A dollop of pesto on top is also super-delicious. Adding homemade garlic croutons is an easy way to elevate this healthy dinner. View Recipe 25 of 40 Berbere-Spiced Chicken & Lentil Stew This chicken stew, generously seasoned with the Ethiopian spice mix berbere, is loaded with tomato and red lentils. Depending on brand, berbere spice blend can be rather spicy. For a less spicy stew, start with 3 tablespoons spice blend rather than 5. View Recipe 26 of 40 Slow-Cooker Creamy Lentil Soup Freezer Pack Prep the ingredients for this soup months in advance for a total hands-off meal that's ready when you are. Pureeing half of the soup and stirring it back into the rest adds creaminess to the broth. View Recipe 27 of 40 Slow-Cooker Turkey Chili with Butternut Squash This turkey and butternut squash chili is the perfect balance of sweet and spicy. The sweetness of the butternut squash tames the kick from cayenne, making this easy chili that kids and adults will love. For those who prefer a spicier chili, pass hot sauce at the table. View Recipe 28 of 40 Slow-Cooker "Corned Beef" & Cabbage This warming stew has all the flavors of corned beef and cabbage but with much less sodium, plus it's ready in half the time of the traditional dish! Rather than curing the beef in a salty brine for at least a day, we just throw the beef and veggies into a crock pot with pickling spice for that delicious briny flavor without the long soaking period. View Recipe 29 of 40 Middle Eastern Lamb Stew This brothy stew is boldly flavored with a blend of Middle Eastern spices and finished with fresh spinach and fiber-rich chickpeas. Economical lamb shoulder tenderizes beautifully when slow cooked.. Serve over bulgur with a salad on the side. View Recipe 30 of 40 Slow-Cooker Cabbage Roll Soup Photography / Jennifer Causey, Styling / Ali Ramee / Audrey Davis This soup has all the essential flavors of a classic cabbage roll and simmers away to create bold, warming flavors. This savory soup has just a hint of sweetness plus heat from hot sauce. The tomatoes and caraway seeds help create depth but don't overshadow the rest of the flavors. View Recipe 31 of 40 Slow-Cooker Bean & Barley Soup This zesty soup can simmer in the crock pot for an entire workday, making it perfect for a busy weekday meal. Bump up the Southwest flavors with a garnish of chopped fresh cilantro and a squeeze of lime. View Recipe 32 of 40 Savory Bean Spinach Soup This protein-packed soup is dump-and-go and uses ingredients you likely have on hand. Serve with grilled cheese on the side for dunking. View Recipe 33 of 40 Slow-Cooker Curried Butternut Squash Soup Dera Burreson This dump-and-go slow cooker soup is just the thing to warm you up on a cold winter night. Buy prepeeled squash at the grocery store to make prep even faster. View Recipe 34 of 40 Fennel & Pork Stew Pork and sliced fennel get meltingly tender when they cook away in the slow cooker all day. A generous pour of white wine gives the stew bright acidity. Serve with your favorite crusty bread to sop up all the broth. View Recipe 35 of 40 Swedish Yellow Split Pea Soup with Ham Fresh ginger gives this split pea soup bright and peppery flavor. Prep the veggies and ham the night before so all you have to do is combine everything in the slow cooker and press start. View Recipe 36 of 40 Spaghetti Lover's Soup This easy soup has all the flavors of spaghetti with meat sauce, made in the slow cooker. View Recipe 37 of 40 Slow-Cooker Stuffed Pepper Soup Packed with sweet peppers and flavorful beef broth, this stuffed pepper soup uses the slow cooker to create a flavorful, easy meal perfect for any night of the week. View Recipe 38 of 40 Sweet Potato & Barley Chili Barley gives this slow-cooker chili a nice texture. Serve with a warm slice of cornbread for a satisfying winter meal. View Recipe 39 of 40 Slow-Cooker Spiced Lentil Soup with Vegetables Spices often used in Moroccan cuisine like turmeric, cumin, cinnamon and black pepper give this soup complexity and deep flavor. Make it a day ahead, if you can, to give the spices time to mingle and develop. View Recipe 40 of 40 Slow-Cooker Vegetable Soup This veggie-packed slow-cooker soup is a good dose of fiber and protein to keep you satisfied. Prep the veggies the night before, so you can combine the ingredients in your slow cooker and press start. View Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit