28 Irish-Style Soups
Updated: Jul. 19, 2023
It's soup that you'll find on the menu in Irish country pubs—rich, hearty, delicious soups, paired with a thick slab of bread topped with sweet cream butter. Here's a selection of soups that fit the bill—and a few breads that go perfectly alongside.
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Stopping for lunch in an Irish country pub, you won’t find corned beef heading the menu. Instead, the perfect Irish pub lunch is delicious, hearty soup served up with a thick slab of bread generously lashed with fresh creamy butter. Here are soups rich with vegetables, root vegetables, grains and fish—just the thing to ward off the chill coming in off the sea!
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Potato and Leek Soup
Full of veggies and bacon with just a little tanginess from sour cream, bowls of this comforting soup taste just as terrific with a sandwich as they do with crackers. —Melanie Wooden, Reno, Nevada
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Fennel Carrot Soup
This soup is perfect as a first course for a special-occasion dinner. It gets its delicious flavor from toasted fennel seeds—a pleasant complement to the carrots, apple and sweet potato. —Marlene Bursey, Waverly, Nova Scotia
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Chicken Curry Soup
This chicken curry soup packs warm spices and hearty vegetables. It swoops in conveniently for those days when you want to cozy up and dig into a comforting dish.
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Irish Soda Bread
Our Irish soda bread recipe yields a traditional loaf that would make any Grammy or Granda proud. Don’t forget to let the fairies out!
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Deb's Mushroom & Barley Soup
Nothing is more comforting than coming home to this rich soup! I prepare the ingredients the night before and start the slow cooker on my way out the door in the morning. —Debra Kamerman, New York, New York
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Creamy Root Veggie Soup
On chilly nights, we fill the pot with parsnips and celery root for a smooth, creamy soup. Garlic, bacon and fresh thyme make it even better. —Sally Sibthorpe, Shelby Township, Michigan
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Chunky Beef and Vegetable Soup
Nothing cures the winter blahs like good comfort food, including this beef vegetable soup. Serve with crusty bread or rolls. —Billy Hensley, Mount Carmel, Tennessee
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Flaxseed Bread
This hearty, whole grain bread is among my all-time favorites. The flaxseed adds a nutty texture. Every slice is so satisfying. —Jennifer Niemi, Kingston, Nova Scotia
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Hearty Vegetable Lentil Soup
My mother has diabetes, so I often prepare this dish for her. I wanted a hearty soup that hits the spot on cool nights, so I paired the lentils with turkey bacon and a handful of spices. —Nicole Hopping, Pinole, California
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Autumn Bisque
I like cozy comfort 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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Roasted Pepper Potato Soup
I really enjoy potato soup, and this rich creamy version is different than most I’ve tried. I like its lemon and cilantro flavors, but you can adjust the ingredients to best suit your family’s taste buds. —Hollie Powell of St. Louis, Missouri
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Cream of Potato & Cheddar Soup
The Yukon Gold potatoes my daughter shares from her garden make this soup incredible. Add some cheddar cheese and crisp croutons, and it’s just heavenly. It's total comfort with the simplicity of good ingredients! —Cindi Bauer, Marshfield, Wisconsin
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Halibut & Potato Chowder
Several times a year I invite both my retired and current teaching friends to a dinner party with their spouses. I’ve served this halibut chowder at those parties, and it’s always a big hit. —Teresa Lueck, Onamia, Minnesota
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Ham & Potato-Rutabaga Chowder
The ingredients in this dish are a nod to my mother's tasty potato and rutabaga side dish, which was always paired with baked country ham; dishes she served during the cold months when I was a child. Whenever I make this chowder it brings me back to a time when life was just a little bit simpler. —Cheryl Perry, Hertford, North Carolina
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Cream of Walnut Soup
Smooth and creamy, this mildly flavored soup makes a wonderful start to a meal. With its unique taste, it is not your run-of-the-mill soup. — Denise Albers, Freeburg, Illinois
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Beef Cabbage Soup
This beef cabbage soup tastes a bit like stuffed cabbage, but with far less effort. The soup features ground beef, cabbage and tomatoes for a delicious meal that comes together quite easily, no special skills required.
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Spiced Split Pea Soup
A hint of curry adds the perfect amount of kick to this family-pleasing soup. Just assemble the ingredients in the slow cooker and go about your day while it cooks. —Sue Mohre, Mount Gilead, Ohio
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Beef Barley Soup with Roasted Vegetables
The beauty of this soup is that you can roast the vegetables separately in the oven while it's simmering away. Then simply add them in during the last minutes on the stovetop. I love that the roasted vegetables keep their own bright flavors that add to this earthy bowl of warmth. —Gayla Scott, West Jefferson, North Carolina
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Leek Soup with Brie Toasts
If you're looking for something special to fix on a holiday, look no further. This velvety soup is accented with tarragon, and the toasted bread topped with melted Brie cheese is the crowning touch. —Marie Hattrup, Sparks, Nevada
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Chicken Veggie Soup
This satisfying veggie soup hits the spot at lunch or dinner. Add a side salad and some whole grain bread for a delicious, nutritious meal. —Amy Cheatham, Sandusky, Ohio
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Turnip Soup
Healthy, hearty and tasty too, this creamy turnip soup is a welcome warmer on a winter night. But of course it can be enjoyed at any time, in any season.
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Savory Root Vegetable Soup
Instead of the usual side dishes, consider serving a vegetable-laden soup at Thanksgiving or other holidays. Each spoonful will warm the body and soul. —Zan Brock, Jasper, Alabama
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Potato Soup
This easy homemade potato soup recipe is a staple side for steak dinners at home or an amazing comfort meal on a chilly day.
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Beef Lentil Soup
You can prepare this soup as the main course in a hearty lunch or dinner. But on chilly evenings here in New England, when the winter just doesn’t seem to want to end, I’ve often poured a steaming mugful and enjoyed sipping it in front of our fireplace. —Guy Turnbull, Arlington, Massachusetts
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Crab Soup with Sherry
This rich, comforting soup is brimming with crab and has a smooth texture. It’s a tradition in the south and along the coasts. —Regina Huggins, Summerville, South Carolina
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Chicken Barley Soup
Chicken barley soup is such an easy comfort food, you'll want it on rotation for all of soup season.
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