50 Scary-Good Soups for October
Updated: Oct. 01, 2023A hearty autumn soup is just the thing as the weather turns cold. Keep an eye out for the ghoulishly good recipes—including a Halloween soup or two—that lurk here!
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Meatball Soup
This meatball Halloween soup recipe is a hearty meal. It’s great for chilly days. —Sue Miller, Walworth, Wisconsin
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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White Bean Soup with Escarole
This escarole and bean soup has become a favorite because it uses kitchen staples, it's packed with healthy ingredients and is a cinch to prepare. If I can't find escarole, I sub fresh spinach at the very end of cooking. —Gina Samokar, North Haven, Connecticut
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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
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Ham and White Bean Soup
I came up with this recipe when I wanted to make dinner in the slow cooker but didn't have time to go to the grocery store. I went through my freezer and cupboards, throwing in what I thought would go well together. —Stacey Cornell, Saratoga Springs, New York
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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
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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
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Hearty Turkey 'n' Rice Soup
Use the leftover cooked turkey in the fridge to speed up dinner. You'll be ladling up bowlfuls of goodness in only 30 minutes. —Maggie Brewer, Canandaigua, New York
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
Originally Published: September 29, 2021
