50 Scary-Good Soups for October

Cheesy Broccoli Soup in a Bread Bowl

This creamy, cheesy Halloween soup tastes just like the one served at Panera Bread! My family requests it all the time. You can even make your own homemade bread bowls with the recipe on my blog, Yammie’s Noshery. —Rachel Preus, Marshall, Michigan

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Anti-Vampire Potion (Butternut Squash & Garlic Soup)

I remember making this velvety Halloween soup with my mom. Butternut squash gives it warm color, and garlic wards off any unfriendly spirits. Try using whipping cream for an extra smooth texture. —Steven Eder, Lebanon, Pennsylvania

Autumn Pumpkin Chili

We have this turkey pumpkin chili often because everyone loves it, even the most finicky grandchildren. It’s a definite keeper in my book! —Kimberly Nagy, Port Hadlock, Washington

Slow-Cooked Corn Chowder

I combine and refrigerate the ingredients for this easy chowder the night before. In the morning, I pour the mixture into the slow cooker and turn it on before I leave for work. When I come home, a hot tasty meal awaits. Mary Hogue, Rochester, Pennsylvania

Tomato Soup with Cheesy Ghost Croutons

Kick off your night of trick-or-treating by making this hauntingly delicious Halloween soup. It’s just like having grilled cheese and tomato soup. We eat it every year on Halloween. —Elisabeth Larsen, Pleasant Grove, Utah

Chipotle Chicken Soup with Cornmeal Dumplings

I combined two of my favorite recipes and came up with this filling soup that has a Tex-Mex flair. The cornmeal dumplings are the perfect finishing touch. —Nancy Granaman, Burlington, Iowa

Creamy Pizza Soup

This Creamy Pizza Soup is like eating supreme pizza with a spoon! You can add your own favorite pizza toppings as long as you include the ooey-gooey melty cheese on top. If you can’t find the tomato and sweet basil bisque soup, try using canned tomato bisque soup and adding Italian seasoning. —Susan Bickta, Kutztown, Pennsylvania

Sausage Potato Soup

I rely on this thick, chunky Halloween soup on cold trick-or-treat nights. The whole family enjoys the wonderful flavor of the smoked sausage. —Jennifer LeFevre, Hesston, Kansas

Mexi-Stroni Soup

If you're a fan of classic minestrone but love bold Mexican flavors, this soup's for you! It's pumped up with spices, veggies and pasta for a filling bowl of fun. —Darlene Island, Lakewood, Washington

Turkey Corn Chowder

This thick and rich turkey corn chowder uses up Thanksgiving leftovers. Every so often, my grandmother would even add chopped hard-boiled eggs to this chowder to give it a nice richness. —Susan Bickta, Kutztown, Pennsylvania

Hearty Beef and Barley Soup

This hearty beef and barley Halloween soup is a favorite menu item in our house throughout the year. Everyone savors the warm flavor. —Elizabeth Kendall, Carolina Beach, North Carolina

Bewitched Chili

One pot and thirty minutes—yes, please. Kids and grown-ups love this warm-you-up chili for Halloween. —Janice Westmoreland, Brooksville, Florida

Creamy Vegetable Chowder

This rich, comforting soup recipe can easily be doubled or tripled. You can lower the fat content by using turkey bacon, vegetable broth and skim milk. It’s delicious either way. —Suzanna VandeBrake, Peyton, Colorado

Bloody Mary Soup

After entertaining, I had leftover Bloody Mary mix. I added chicken broth and veggies to come up with a blockbuster Halloween soup. Make it with your favorite mix. —Joanna Johnson, Flower Mound, Texas

Grandmother’s Chicken ‘n’ Dumplings

While I was growing up, my grandmother could feed our whole big family with a single chicken—and lots of dumplings. —Cathy Carroll, Bossier City, Louisiana

Holy Moly Potato Soup

This is a turned-up version of a cheesy potato soup. We eat this often, especially on cold winter evenings, but it’d be lovely for family get-togethers or potlucks during the holidays! Crushed red pepper flakes really turn up the heat. —Angela Sheridan, Opdyke, Illinois

Carrot Soup with Orange & Tarragon

A pretty orange color, a delicious hint of citrus and a fresh flavor make this Halloween soup a requested dish at my spooky celebrations. Try sprinkling individual bowls with fresh tarragon before serving. —Phyllis Schmalz, Kansas City, Kansas

Pressure-Cooker Lentil Pumpkin Soup

Plenty of herbs and spices brighten up my hearty pumpkin soup. It?s just the thing we need on nippy days and nights. —Laura Magee, Houlton, WI

Bat Wing Soup

This spooky Halloween soup gets extra richness from a splash of cream. It’s laced with garlic (to keep those vampires away!) and garnished with toasty bat wings. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Meatball Soup

This meatball Halloween soup recipe is a hearty meal. It’s great for chilly days. —Sue Miller, Walworth, Wisconsin

Creamy Cauliflower Pakora Soup

My husband and I often crave pakoras, deep-fried fritters from India. I wanted to get the same flavors but use a healthier cooking technique, so I made soup using all the classic spices and our favorite veggie, cauliflower! —Melody Johnson, DePere, Wisconsin

White Bean & Chicken Enchilada Soup

I made this soup to please my daughters’ craving for creaminess, my husband’s for spice and mine for white beans. Garnish with jalapenos, sour cream and green onions. —Darcy Gonzalez, Palmdale, California

Cheeseburger Soup

A local restaurant serves a similar cheeseburger soup but wouldn’t share its recipe with me. I developed my own, modifying a recipe I already had for potato soup. I was really pleased with the way this Halloween soup turned out. —Joanie Shawhan, Madison, Wisconsin

Ramen Corn Chowder

This tastes so good, as if it simmered for hours, but it’s ready in 15 minutes. I thought the original recipe was lacking in flavor, so I jazzed it up with extra corn and bacon bits. —Darlene Brenden, Salem, Oregon

Slow-Cooker Homemade Chicken and Rice Soup

Using the slow cooker takes some of the effort out of making from-scratch meals. The long cook time helps develop great homemade flavor in this Crockpot chicken and rice soup. —Kevin Bruckerhoff, Columbia, Missouri

Easy Butternut Squash Soup

When the weather turns cold, get cozy with a bowl of this Halloween soup. This recipe is super easy. The cream adds richness, but if you’re looking to cut calories, it can be omitted. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Coconut Curry Cauliflower Soup

When I'm in need of comfort food, I stir up a velvety batch of this Asian-spiced soup. Then I finish it with a sprinkle of cilantro over the top. —Elizabeth DeHart, West Jordan, Utah

Beer-Cheese Velvet Soup

This Halloween soup was a hit with a group of exchange teachers who visited our high school. When I don’t use bread bowls, I usually serve it with soft pretzels or crusty bread. And it’s also an even bigger treat with slices of cooked bratwurst or kielbasa stirred into it. —Paula Zsiray, Logan, Utah

Steakhouse Soup

Enjoy a steak dinner in a bowl with this super simple, hearty steak soup. Because of the chili powder and cayenne pepper, it packs a little heat, but the recipe can easily be adjusted if you’re cooking for young ones. —Erica Schmidt, Kansas City, Kansas

Sweet Potato and Crab Soup

This sweet and savory soup is quick and easy to prepare. You can substitute butternut squash or pumpkin for the sweet potatoes, depending on what you have on hand. —Judy Armstrong, Prairieville, Louisiana

Smoky Peanut Butter Chili

I eliminated beans from my standard chili recipe and added peanut butter and peanuts just for fun. Wow, was it amazing! I tried it on my family and everyone loved this Halloween soup. —Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada

Pressure-Cooker English Pub Split Pea Soup

This family favorite is the same recipe my grandmother used. Now with the magic of today’s appliances, I can spend 15 minutes putting it together, walk away for a bit and then it’s “soup’s on!” Finish it with more milk if you like your soup a bit thinner. —Judy Batson, Tampa, Florida

White Bean Soup with Escarole

Pantry staples make this healthy soup oh, so simple to prepare. When I can't find escarole, I use fresh spinach. Just add to the soup pot moments before serving. —Gina Samokar, North Haven, Connecticut

Autumn Bisque

I like cozy comfort Halloween soups that taste creamy—without the cream. This one’s full of good stuff like rutabagas, leeks, fresh herbs and almond milk. —Merry Graham, Newhall, California

Quick Ham and Bean Soup

If you like ham and bean soup but don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen, this tasty, quick version will leave you with a satisfied smile. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Turkey Ginger Noodle Soup

I wanted something comforting yet healthy, and ginger is my favorite spice. This recipe was a must-try for me, and it didn't disappoint. —Adina Monson, Nanaimo, British Columbia

Pumpkin Clam Chowder

When autumn arrives, I’m eager to celebrate with warm and cozy comfort food like this pumpkin Halloween soup. Use fresh clams if they are available. —Renee Murby, Johnston, Rhode Island

Chicken Cordon Bleu Soup

This is a wonderful addition to potlucks, and it comes together so easily! Cauliflower makes a nice, extra creamy backdrop for the classic flavors of chicken cordon bleu you can eat with a spoon. —Heidi Der, Stow, Ohio

Spicy Cowboy Chili

Toasting the peppers for this chili releases their earthy flavors – but do wear gloves when handling dried peppers and seeds. — Rachel Sprinkel, Hilo, Hawaii

Pork Edamame Soup

My husband grew up in a traditional Asian household and gives this soup high marks for authentic taste. I think the Asian hot chili sauce is what makes the Halloween soup, but any type of hot sauce would give it a delicious kick! —Kari Sue, Bend, Oregon

Pumpkin-Lentil Soup

I was really craving a hot delicious soup—something filling and healthy. I looked around my kitchen for a few ingredients, then created this recipe. Pumpkin adds creamy richness and body. —Amy Blom, Marietta, Georgia

Southwest-Style Wedding Soup

I turned leftover ground chicken into meatballs and dreamed up this cozy southwestern soup. Now my Italian family asks for it over traditional wedding soup. —Teena Petrus, Johnstown, Pennsylvania

Roasted Autumn Vegetable Soup

Roasting sweet potatoes, carrots and parsnips brings out their best features. Blend them, and you have a warm, healthy Halloween soup for a cool fall night. —Stephanie Flaming, Woodland, California

Slow-Cooked French Onion Soup

My husband and I love French onion soup, so I wondered if I could turn it into a less labor-intensive dish by altering my recipe to work in a slow cooker. The rich, cheesy result was an instant winner at home. —Ronda Eagle, Goose Creek, South Carolina

Easy Portuguese-Style Bean Soup

One day I was looking at Portuguese recipes and decided to put together a bean soup that embraced the bright and spicy flavors of Portugal. My family liked it so much, it became a classic in our household. To save time and work, the sausage, vegetables and herbs can all be prepped in minutes with a food processor. —Steven Vance, Woodland, Washington

Pumpkin-Coconut Soup

Thai food lovers will go crazy for this Halloween soup. It has a deep flavor from the combination of onion, coconut milk and spices. —Susan Hein, Burlington, Wisconsin

Chicken & Vegetable Wild Rice Soup

This go-to weeknight recipe is one I tweaked over and over till it was just right. It has morphed from a labor-intensive wintry bowl to a steamy, comforting, slow-cooked favorite for our family. —Courtney Riggin, Hatchechubbee, Alabama

Beefy Minestrone

I know lots of minestrone recipes don't contain meat, but my husband thinks a meal is only a meal if it contains some sort of meat. Consequently, this is the perfect meal. It strikes that balance of flavorful, healthful, and soul-satisfying. —Juli Snaer, Enid, Oklahoma