These cozy vegetarian soups are practically made for sweater weather.

By

Rabi Abonour

Rabi Abonour is a planner specializing in transportation, but has also been a photojournalist, writer, and editor for several online and print publications.

Published December 25, 2025

Serious Eats / Qi Ai

Winter is a time for warm, nourishing meals. While some people might be open to the idea of eating a salad or a sandwich, the only meals I crave during chilly months are soups, stews, and braises. Not only are they hearty and satisfying, but they can also be easily prepared ahead of time, making them a great option for busy weeknights. While many cold weather recipes rely on meat for flavor and heft, there are plenty of excellent meatless options that are just as delicious and filling. Below, you’ll find 13 hearty and satisfying vegetarian soups—including a loaded baked potato soup, cheesy broccoli soup, and creamy cauliflower soup—that will warm you up from head to toe.

Serious Eats / Morgan Hunt Glaze. Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer

This creamy tomato soup gets its luxurious thickness from carrot purée. As the soup simmers, the carrots mellow out, giving the tomato soup a rich sweetness. Give it a splash of cream to bring it all together, then pair it with your favorite grilled cheese.

J. Kenji López-Alt

Cheesy broccoli soup is just an excuse to eat nacho cheese with a spoon, which is totally okay! This soup is as comforting as the ultra-cheesy kind you typically find, but gets an intense broccoli flavor from charred florets and stems that are simmered until softened.

Serious Eats / Jen Causey

Harira is often prepared with red meat, but some versions are made with chicken, eggs, or can be vegan. This version features both lentils and chickpeas, and is finished with a drizzle of beaten egg to form little wispy egg bits in the thickened soup.

Serious Eats / Qi Ai

This Lebanese lentil and lemon soup balances earthy lentils with tangy citrus and tender greens for a vibrant, comforting meal.

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Serious Eats / Julia Estrada

The key to the most flavorful butternut squash soup is to roast the gourd, which brings out its natural sugars. A handful of aromatics and spices like cinnamon and nutmeg highlight the squash’s warm, earthy flavors, while frizzled sage leaves provide crunch and a herbaceous note.

Serious Eats / Amanda Suarez

Roasted with high heat, then simmered, puréed until silky-smooth, and topped with a curry cream, this soup is perfect for the cold months and your holiday table.

Serious Eats / Diana Chistruga

Have mushrooms that are past their prime? Brown them in a pan with butter, then turn them into this velvety soup that gets its creaminess from a touch of flour and some milk.

Serious Eats / Amanda Suarez

Zuppa di scarola e fagioli is a humble Neapolitan soup of escarole and beans. Here’s how to make a rich, thick version that’s greater than the sum of its parts.

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Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik

This simple soup is made with roasted sweet potatoes, a splash of orange juice, and topped with crushed pistachios, olive oil, mint, scallions, and orange zest.

J. Kenji Lopez-Alt

Lentil soup is delicious on its own, but it’s even more delicious when topped with gremolata, a fragrant mixture of parsley, garlic, lemon zest, and olive oil.

Debbie Wee

In this spin on classic carrot soup, an assemblage of roasted carrots, simmered carrots, and carrot juice bring forth fresh, earthy, sweet, and vegetal notes, while additional layers of flavor come from onion, leek, and garlic.

This loaded baked potato soup may be vegan, but it’s still rich and packed with cheesy flavor. The soup’s creaminess comes from roasted cauliflower and cashews, while chipotle chiles and paprika give it a hint of sharpness and color.

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Serious Eats / Amanda Suarez

The hearty tomato zuppa Toscana Tuscans actually cook and eat. Packed with vegetables, tomatoes, and poached eggs, it’s a flavorful one-pot vegetarian meal that’s filling enough to quiet an empty stomach.

January 2017