Hearty Vegetable Soup

Total Time

Prep: 25 min. Cook: 1 hour 20 min.

Makes

16 servings (4 quarts)

Updated: Jan. 04, 2024
A friend gave me the idea to use V8 juice in vegetable soup because it provides more flavor. My best vegetable soup recipe is perfect to prepare on a crisp autumn afternoon. —Janice Steinmetz, Somers, Connecticut

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 8 medium carrots, sliced
  • 2 large onions, chopped
  • 4 celery ribs, chopped
  • 1 large green pepper, seeded and chopped
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 2 cups chopped cabbage
  • 2 cups frozen cut green beans (about 8 ounces)
  • 2 cups frozen peas (about 8 ounces)
  • 1 cup frozen corn (about 5 ounces)
  • 1 can (15 ounces) garbanzo beans or chickpeas, rinsed and drained
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 2 teaspoons chicken bouillon granules
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons dried parsley flakes
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon dried marjoram
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 4 cups water
  • 1 can (28 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 2 cups V8 juice

Directions

  1. In a stockpot, heat oil over medium-high heat; saute carrots, onions, celery and green pepper until crisp-tender. Add garlic; cook and stir 1 minute. Stir in remaining ingredients; bring to a boil.
  2. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, until vegetables are tender, 1 to 1-1/2 hours. Remove bay leaf.

Best Vegetable Soup Tips

How do you make vegetable soup from scratch?

It's simple to make vegetable soup from scratch! All you need is to combine and simmer the veggies, chickpeas, V8 juice, seasonings and sauces in a stockpot for about an hour and a half, and voila! You've got a warm and tasty homemade vegetable soup waiting for you on the stove.

How do you thicken vegetable soup?

To thicken vegetable soup, try using a thickening agent. We recommend using tomato paste or flour to thicken this recipe. Or you could add in more veggies or chickpeas to "beef" up your soup.

How long does homemade vegetable soup last?

Homemade vegetable soups lasts for about three days when stored in an airtight container in the fridge. If you'd like to enjoy it for even longer, learn how to freeze it!

How can I make my vegetable soup more flavorful?

This vegetable soup is already chock-full of flavor, but adding a few toppings will boost your flavor even more. Try grating fresh Parmesan cheese or sprinkling oyster crackers on top. (Psst! Make sure to check out our soup guide for more tips.)

Research contributed by Christina Herbst, Taste of Home Assistant Digital Editor

Nutrition Facts

1 cup: 105 calories, 2g fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 488mg sodium, 20g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 5g fiber), 4g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1 starch.