30 Recipes for Southern Soups

I've enjoyed making this rich homemade dumpling recipe for over 40 years. Every time I serve it, I remember my southern grandma, who was very special to me and was known as an outstanding cook. —Paulette Balda, Prophetstown, Illinois

I was raised on a farm, so a warm soup with homey ingredients, like this corn chowder with bacon, was always a treat after a chilly day outside. My hearty chowder nourishes the family. —Katie Lillo, Big Lake, Minnesota

This flavorful entree uses convenient canned beans in place of the meat—and never lets you leave hungry. —Crystal Jo Bruns, Iliff, Colorado

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

Like a thick, hearty soup, this stew is packed with tender chicken and an eye-catching combination of vegetables. I could never wait patiently to eat when Mother was cooking this stew. —Milded Sherrer, Fort Worth, Texas

This colorful hearty soup makes a good starter or main course. With a salad on the side, it's a light dinner for two.—Yvonne Peterson, Mountain View, Missouri

This picnic-style medley of shrimp, smoked kielbasa, corn and spuds is a specialty of South Carolina cuisine. It's commonly dubbed Frogmore stew or Beaufort stew in recognition of both of the low country communities that lay claim to its origin. No matter what you call it, this one-pot wonder won't disappoint! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Cajun seasoning boosts the flavor of this brothy soup. The easy recipe makes a big batch that's loaded with beans and fresh veggies. —Ronnie Lappe, Brownwood, Texas

With black-eyed peas, sweet potatoes, ground beef and comforting spices, this soup has every wonderful memory from my childhood simmered together in one tasty pot. —Stephanie Rabbitt-Schapp, Cincinnati, OH

This recipe for the classic southern comfort food was the first thing I ever cooked for my girlfriend. It was simple to make but tasted gourmet. Lucky for me, it was love at first bite. — Kael Harvey, Brooklyn, NY

During chilly months, I fix this slow cooker jambalaya recipe at least once a month. It’s so easy…just chop the vegetables, dump everything in the slow cooker and forget it! Even my sons, who are picky about spicy things, like this easy jambalaya. —Cindi Coss, Coppell, Texas

I play around with ingredients in my pantry instead of running to the store when I don’t know what’s for dinner. This yummy chicken corn chowder was one of my experiments. Cut some fat by leaving out the bacon. It's still tasty. —Barbara Banski, Fenton, Michigan

I simmer my rich and creamy shrimp soup in the slow cooker. Because the chowder is ready in less than four hours, it can be prepared in the afternoon and served to dinner guests that night. —Will Zunio, Gretna, Louisiana

A good friend made us this rich, comforting, creamy chicken noodle soup after the birth of our son. It was such a help to have dinner taken care of until I was back on my feet. This yummy dish is so simple to fix that now I give a pot of it (along with the recipe) to other new mothers. —Joanna Sargent, Sandy, Utah

This recipe is one of my family's favorites. The ham chowder is chock-full of potatoes, ham and carrots. I like to make this comforting ham potato corn chowder at least once or twice a month during the fall and winter. —Jennifer Trenhaile, Emerson, Nebraska

You'll be surprised at the taste of this rich and cheesy easy potato soup. It really is the best potato soup recipe, ever. I came up with it after enjoying baked potato soup at one of our favorite restaurants. I added bacon, and we think that makes it even better. —Coleen Morrissey, Sweet Valley, Pennsylvania

This chili for a crowd was handed down to me by my aunt, who said she got it from a "grizzled Montana mountain man." I added some zesty ingredients to come up with the final version. Hot food is something that my husband's family isn't accustomed to, so I adjust the spices for them. In fact, with a few simple alterations to the "heat" index, I can serve this chili to anyone. —Lisa Humphreys, Wasilla, Alaska

Tender cubes of chicken, fresh vegetables and wild rice make this soup hearty enough for a meal. You can't beat the down-home comfort of a warm bowlful. I like to serve it with whole wheat rolls. —J. Beatrice Hintz, Neenah, Wisconsin

I found this recipe years ago and substituted Cajun stewed tomatoes for a bolder taste. Now I prepare this dish for out-of-state guests who want to taste some Cajun food. Everyone who tries it gives it high marks. Plus, it's easy to prepare. —Sue Fontenot, Kinder, Louisiana

My grandmother hand-wrote a cookbook; she created this amazing pie crust, and I added the delicious soup for it. —Karen LeMay, Seabrook, Texas

My husband was fooled with this low-fat recipe and I'm sure your family will be, too! A savory broth, hearty chunks of chicken and thick chewy dumplings provide plenty of comforting flavor. —Brenda White of Morrison, Illinois

Even though I'm single, I make multiple servings of everything. Actually, this tendency has helped me to get to know my neighbors. A few of them always volunteer to be my guinea pigs whenever I try out a new recipe or two. —Cheryl Trowbridge, Windsor, Ontario

You’re moments away from a flavor-packed soup that keeps you warm on even the chilliest nights. It's just the kind of recipe we Minnesotans love. —Marlene Muckenhirn, Delano, Minnesota

After tasting a similar soup in a restaurant, I went home and cooked up my own version. It's so soothing on a winter evening served with crusty French bread. For a change of pace, try substituting ham or turkey for the chicken. —Kathleen Rappleye, Mesa, Arizona

My husband Eric and I eat dinner together to spend some quality time together. This cheesy soup is proof that soup doesn't need to be made in big batches to be good.—Cheryl McRae, West Valley, Utah

No question—this is my favorite barley soup! It's so filling that I serve it as a hearty main dish, and I have given the recipe to many of our friends and relatives. It simply tastes too good to keep to yourself! —Diana Costello, Marion, Kansas

My husband helped add a little spice to my life. He grew up on Cajun cooking, while I ate mostly meat-and-potatoes meals.—Sandra Pichon, Slidell, Louisiana

To show some love at a family gathering, I fill a stockpot with this rich turkey soup brimming with veggies, potatoes and dumplings. —Lea Lidel, Leander, Texas

You'll love this well-seasoned authentic gumbo, even if you're not from the bayou. Enjoy it for Mardi Gras or any time of year. —Jo Ann Graham, Ovilla, Texas

Homemade chicken and dumplings harken back to my childhood and chilly days when we devoured those cute little balls of dough swimming in hot, rich broth. —Erika Monroe-Williams, Scottsdale, Arizona