Skip to content

Top Navigation

Midwest Living Midwest Living
  • Travel
  • Food
  • Home
  • Garden
  • Holidays & Entertaining
  • Videos
  • Sweeps and Contests

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Email Preferences
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Win Your Dream Getaway!
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Magazine Issues
  • Destinations
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Midwest Living

Midwest Living Midwest Living
  • Explore

    Explore

    • 40 Favorite Comfort Food Recipes

      Macaroni and cheese, Amish apple dumplings and chicken pot pie are among our Midwest comfort food favorites. Read More Next
    • 50 Romantic Midwest Getaways

      Romance, of course, can be wherever the two of you are. But wonderful surroundings help. We found some of the most romantic places anywhere in the Midwest—in the city and country. All you have to do is get away together! Read More Next
    • 50 Decadent Chocolate Dessert Recipes

      Chocolate lovers, these are for you: 50 of our best rich-and-gooey chocolate dessert recipes, including pie, pudding, cake, cookies, fondue and brownies. Read More Next
  • Travel

    Travel

    See all Travel

    50 Midwest Resorts We Love

    Our favorite Midwest resort destinations range from cozy lakeside lodges to indoor water park behemoths. Dive in to check out our top picks for a fabulous Midwest getaway.
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Michigan
    • Minnesota
    • Missouri
    • Nebraska
    • North Dakota
    • Ohio
    • South Dakota
    • Wisconsin
    • Around the Region
    • Free Travel Info
  • Food

    Food

    See all Food

    Midwest Living November/December 2020 Recipes

    • Comfort Foods
    • Desserts & Baking
    • Breakfast
    • Quick & Easy
    • Chicken
    • Soups & Stews
    • Midwest Favorites
    • Fruits & Vegetables
    • Fish
    • Grilling
  • Home

    Home

    See all Home

    50 Quick and Easy Holiday Decorating Ideas

    Give your home holiday style in a flash with these simple yet creative decorating projects.
    • Quick Decorating
    • Featured Homes
    • Organizing & Storage
    • Outdoor Living
    • Seasonal Decorating
    • Room Decorating
  • Garden

    Garden

    See all Garden

    14 Cheerful Winter Container Gardens

    Create bountiful outdoor winter arrangements with a little help from Mother Nature.
    • Container Gardens
    • Flowers
    • Featured Gardens
    • Midwest Gardening Calendar
    • Garden Ideas & Inspiration
  • Holidays & Entertaining

    Holidays & Entertaining

    See all Holidays & Entertaining

    40 Easy Christmas Crafts

    Decorate your home, make a gift or create an ornament with our 40 ideas for fun and easy Christmas crafts.
    • Christmas
    • Valentine's Day
    • Easter
    • July 4th
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
  • Videos

    Videos

    See all Videos
    • How to Make an All-Butter Pie Crust
    • How to Make Pumpkin-Spice Icebox Cake
  • Sweeps and Contests

    Sweeps and Contests

    See all Sweeps and Contests

    Warm-Weather Getaways Sweepstakes

    • Winter Getaways Sweepstakes
    • Warm-Weather Getaways Sweepstakes

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Email Preferences
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Win Your Dream Getaway!
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Magazine Issues
  • Destinations
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow us

  1. Midwest Living
  2. Food
  3. Soups & Stews
  4. Simmering Soups and Stews

Simmering Soups and Stews

By The editors of MidwestLiving.com
Updated September 02, 2020
Skip gallery slides
Pin
Credit: Blaine Moats

Dish out a steaming bowl of comfort food with 50 of our favorite recipes for soups, stews, chowders, chilis and bisques.

Start Slideshow

1 of 46

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Calico Chowder

Credit: Blaine Moats
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

If you have partial bags of dried beans loitering in the pantry, throw them all in the pot to make this anything-goes fall soup. Perfumed with thyme and sage, it's creamy, homey and gratifyingly resourceful.

1 of 46

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 46

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Chicken Pot Pie Soup

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Broth gives this comforting soup plenty of meaty flavor, but you can stir in chopped cooked chicken for a heartier version. The recipe comes from La Soupe, a nonprofit cafe that helps feed hungry families in Cincinnati.

2 of 46

3 of 46

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Sausage-Sweet Potato Soup

Credit: Blaine Moats
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Sweet potatoes contribute their sweet taste to this hearty weeknight soup which is balanced by tart apple cider.

3 of 46

Advertisement

4 of 46

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Avgolemono Soup

Credit: Blaine Moats
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This traditional Greek chicken soup made with egg, lemon and orzo is rich and velvety, but also bright and refreshing thanks to a healthy dose of lemon juice.

4 of 46

5 of 46

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Italian Dinner Soup

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Gail Gladding-Pullara of Oregon, Wisconsin, created this simple, crowd-pleasing soup. "My family loves this recipe," she says. "It's easy and tastes like you've been cooking for hours."

5 of 46

6 of 46

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Spicy Beef, Bean and Vegetable Stew

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Affordable beef chuck roast, apple, parsnip and sweet potato slow-simmer in broth flavored with dark beer, herbs and spices. Warm corn bread muffins and cold winter night optional.

6 of 46

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 46

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Moroccan Chicken Stew

Credit: Blaine Moats
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Golden raisins and almonds are classic Moroccan ingredients that are essential to this comforting weeknight stew. The raisins add sweetness and the almonds add texture.

7 of 46

8 of 46

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Pork and Tomatillo Pozole

Credit: Brie Passano
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Pozole is a traditional Mexican soup thickened with hominy. This version, from Karen Bell, chef and owner of Bavette La Boucherie in Milwaukee, only gets better the next day, so keep extra slaw around for round two.

8 of 46

9 of 46

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

White Surprise Chili

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This high-protein main dish looks like navy bean soup but is actually a mild chicken chili. 

9 of 46

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 46

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Maple-Chile Butternut Soup

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This is a great dairy-free (and cholesterol-free, too) soup in its own right, but a drizzle of Asian-spiced maple syrup adds a wonderfully unexpected kick and dramatic red flourish. The recipe comes from The Birchwood Cafe Cookbook (University of Minnesota Press, $29.95). 

10 of 46

11 of 46

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Hearty Vegetarian Chili

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Many vegetarian chilies eat more like soups, but ours is built to satisfy a meat-lover. Bulgur wheat and mushrooms combine to mimic the texture and flavor of ground beef; chili powder, smoked paprika and chocolate stout lend deep, authentic flavor without a long simmer.

11 of 46

12 of 46

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Chili-Ginger Mung Bean Soup

Credit: Blaine Moats
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Mung beans are petite beans with a toothsome texture and earthy flavor. They're sold dry and simmer right in the broth of this deliciously sinus-clearing soup.

12 of 46

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 46

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Chili Verde with Corn Bread Croutons

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Bulgur wheat lends meaty texture, fiber and protein to soups and stews, where it can cook in the broth. In our sweet and savory chili, we match the grain with salsa verde, peppers and edamame-a weeknight meal that makes it oh-so-easy to be green.

13 of 46

14 of 46

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Bacon-Rutabaga Bisque

Credit: Blaine Moats
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This twist on your classic potato soup uses rutabaga, a humble root veggie that has a deliciously sweet-nutty flavor.

14 of 46

15 of 46

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Smoky Roasted Tomato Bisque

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Even so-so winter tomatoes work beautifully in this easy recipe from La Soupe cafe in Cincinnati: Roasting brings out their sweetness.  

15 of 46

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 46

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Shredded Pork Posole

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Hominy is the signature ingredient in this traditional, chililike Mexican soup.

16 of 46

17 of 46

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Tuscan Bean Soup

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Flecked with a grab bag of hearty vegetables, this healthy soup hums with garlic and crushed red pepper. The recipe comes from La Soupe, a nonprofit cafe in Cincinnati.

17 of 46

18 of 46

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Chicken and Kielbasa Winter Stew

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Shhh! Don't tell anyone, but this hearty supper soup takes just an hour to make. The secret? Deli-roasted chicken and precooked sausage. Pair with breadsticks or a crusty baguette for a perfect winter meal that will fill your house with good smells.

18 of 46

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 46

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Thai Egg Drop Soup

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Curry paste and fish sauce (both available at large supermarkets) give a Thai twist to the Chinese take-out staple. Ready in about 20 minutes, this recipe from La Soupe cafe in Cincinnati is a great pantry recipe for frigid winter weeknights.

19 of 46

20 of 46

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Gingered Chicken Meatball Soup with Brown Rice and Basil

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This healthy, Asian-style soup is ready in only 45 minutes. Ingredients such as rice vinegar, fresh ginger, sesame oil, and soy sauce add tangy and savory accents. 

20 of 46

21 of 46

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Tuscan Lamb and White Bean Stew

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Woodsy rosemary makes this a perfect dish for fall and a lovely change from traditional beef stew. Serve with crusty bread or ladled as a sauce over pappardelle noodles. 

21 of 46

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

22 of 46

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Hearty Minestrone Soup

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Susan Corley of New Albany, Ohio, shared her version of the classic Italian soup in New Albany Cooking with Friends, a cooking club project that took regional honors in the Tabasco Community Cookbook Awards. Susan often slow-cooks a pot of the soup for family meals during the holidays.

22 of 46

23 of 46

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Thai Butternut Squash Soup

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Butternut squash, chicken broth, coconut milk, brown sugar and seasonings combine for a creamy, rich soup. For added flavor, top with Thai Gremolata, a mix of fresh basil or cilantro, chopped peanuts and finely shredded lemon peel.

23 of 46

24 of 46

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Soy-Ginger Soup with Chicken

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Somen are thin Japanese wheat noodles. Find them at Asian groceries or large supermarkets, or substitute vermicilli in this light chicken soup.

24 of 46

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

25 of 46

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Bacon and Baked Potato Soup

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Bacon is versatile and dependable, amping up most dishes. Our cheesy potato soup just seems to call for salty-smoky crumbled bacon. So we stirred some in and sprinkled the rest on top. If you like seasoned bacon, try pepper-rubbed bacon in the soup. 

25 of 46

26 of 46

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Power Green Soup

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

One of the most popular menu items at La Soupe in Cincinnati, this cleansing blend is flavored with garlic, ginger and horseradish, and is loaded with nearly 2 pounds of spinach, collards, kale and mustard greens. Try it with a squeeze of lemon.

26 of 46

27 of 46

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Pumpkin, Chickpea & Red Lentil Stew

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This hearty soup boasts a bounty of veggies and seasonings, including pumpkin or squash, fresh ginger, lime juice, cumin and fresh cilantro.

27 of 46

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

28 of 46

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Apple Harvest Chili

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Fresh apple, dried fruit and cashews add color, sweetness and crunch to a ready-in-45 vegetarian chili. For a twist on the traditional toppers (and to hint what's inside), garnish with apple slivers.

28 of 46

29 of 46

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Chipotle Black-Bean Chili

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Tuck this chili into your slow cooker in the morning so you can come home to a warm winter dinner. Omit the meat if you'd prefer a hearty meatless main dish. If you like, add chopped avocado or shredded cheese as toppers before serving.

29 of 46

30 of 46

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Red Bean, Chicken, and Sweet Potato Stew

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Vitamin-rich sweet potatoes and creamy peanut butter complement spicy Cajun seasoning in this easy chicken slow-cooker stew. 

30 of 46

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

31 of 46

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Cream of Any-Vegetable Soup

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Simmering for hours is so Sunday afternoon! On weeknights, whip up this easy and nutritious soup using whatever veggies you have on hand.

31 of 46

32 of 46

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Matzo Ball Soup

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Minnesota TV personality and author Andrew Zimmern's version of a Jewish deli staple is the perfect antidote to a cold winter night.

32 of 46

33 of 46

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Sweet Potato and Caramelized Onion Soup

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Nutmeg, allspice, ginger, and naturally sugary Vidalia onion and sweet potato mingle to evoke pumpkin pie. The soup (which is served at La Soupe in Cincinnati) is dairy-free, but if you like, swirl in some sour cream or crème fraîche.

33 of 46

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

34 of 46

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Canned soup and chicken broth speed prep time for this main-dish soup. The recipe comes from a Minnesota cafe.

34 of 46

35 of 46

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Chicken Dill Soup

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Cathy Schneider of DeKalb, Illinois, shared her family-favorite recipe for a chicken soup that has just enough twists to keep it interesting: sweet potato, green beans, brown rice and fresh-tasting dill. (If you prefer less dill flavor, just reduce the amount. The soup will still be delicious.)

35 of 46

36 of 46

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Tortilla Soup

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Turn leftover turkey (or chicken) into soup in just 20 minutes by adding pantry-ready ingredients such as salsa, chicken broth, and tortilla chips.

36 of 46

Advertisement