It's hard to believe that some people have never experienced the joy of homemade soup, spiced to perfection, with select ingredients to please the palate. Soup from a can or box, no matter what brand, never quite measures up to that caldron of aromatic goodness prepared from scratch.
Using a slow cooker to create soup at home makes the preparation even more appealing. Even after hours of cooking, each ingredient maintains its integrity and you can taste the assorted ingredients and seasonings in every spoonful. An added plus is that many soups actually improve in flavor over time, so you can stash a few portions in the freezer to give you a culinary hug that is so comforting after a long day.
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Sausage, white bean and spinach soup
Bite-size pieces of bulk sausage add heartiness to this traditional Italian soup. The spinach brightens the taste, adds vitamins and minerals, and increases visual appeal. Add a handful or two of small pasta such as orzo for the pasta lovers in the family. A sprinkling of fresh Parmesan on each serving enhances the aroma and provides a final burst of saltiness to make the dish a star. Get the recipe here.
Bite-size pieces of bulk sausage add heartiness to this traditional Italian soup. The spinach brightens the taste, adds vitamins and minerals, and increases visual appeal. Add a handful or two of small pasta such as orzo for the pasta lovers in the family. A sprinkling of fresh Parmesan on each serving enhances the aroma and provides a final burst of saltiness to make the dish a star. Get the recipe here.
Chicken taco soup
Taco cravings are hard to deny but you can skip all the sautéing and chopping (except for the red onion) by making taco soup in a slow cooker. Red onion has more bite than yellow or white onions, so its flavor remains more robust during slow cooking. Add other popular taco toppings to the pot, such as sliced black olives, and pass around hot sauce when serving to let everyone elevate the heat to their tastes. Get the recipe here.
Taco cravings are hard to deny but you can skip all the sautéing and chopping (except for the red onion) by making taco soup in a slow cooker. Red onion has more bite than yellow or white onions, so its flavor remains more robust during slow cooking. Add other popular taco toppings to the pot, such as sliced black olives, and pass around hot sauce when serving to let everyone elevate the heat to their tastes. Get the recipe here.
An Italian favorite
Minestrone is the beloved poster child of traditional Italian soup. It makes taste buds sing Italian arias, and every ingredient is healthy and visually stunning. Serve with crusty Italian bread and a big bowl of freshly grated Parmesan, and you've got a meal guaranteed to elicit requests for seconds. Leftovers freeze beautifully for up to three months for quick lunches and midnight snacks. Get the tutorial here.
Minestrone is the beloved poster child of traditional Italian soup. It makes taste buds sing Italian arias, and every ingredient is healthy and visually stunning. Serve with crusty Italian bread and a big bowl of freshly grated Parmesan, and you've got a meal guaranteed to elicit requests for seconds. Leftovers freeze beautifully for up to three months for quick lunches and midnight snacks. Get the tutorial here.
Zuppa Toscana v2
Potatoes give this Italian favorite more body than minestrone. Fewer spices make Zuppa Toscana a favorite of kids and adults who prefer more subtle flavors. Adding the cream and greens during the last half hour of cooking prevents the cream from curdling and the greens from becoming mushy. Get the recipe here.
Potatoes give this Italian favorite more body than minestrone. Fewer spices make Zuppa Toscana a favorite of kids and adults who prefer more subtle flavors. Adding the cream and greens during the last half hour of cooking prevents the cream from curdling and the greens from becoming mushy. Get the recipe here.
Wild rice vegetable soup
With 10 vegetables and a healthy addition of wonderfully satisfying wild rice, this sumptuous meatless soup is a hit with both vegetarians and carnivores. Add more vegetables or even a bit of meat or chicken to suit your taste. Wait until the very end of cooking to add the corn, spinach and navy beans to keep them crisp. Get the recipe here.
With 10 vegetables and a healthy addition of wonderfully satisfying wild rice, this sumptuous meatless soup is a hit with both vegetarians and carnivores. Add more vegetables or even a bit of meat or chicken to suit your taste. Wait until the very end of cooking to add the corn, spinach and navy beans to keep them crisp. Get the recipe here.
Low-carb taco soup
Taco soup never lets you down. Grab a bowl for lunch, transform it into dinner with a salad or have a cup while you binge your latest streaming indulgence. This version is low-carb, so you can treat yourself without regret. Fresh toppings add texture and taste, so don't skimp on the freshly
shredded cheese, sliced scallions, avocado dice, chopped cilantro and shredded lettuce. Of course, adding sliced black olives, pickled jalapeño peppers, hot sauce and sour cream are mouth-watering options. Get the recipe here.
Taco soup never lets you down. Grab a bowl for lunch, transform it into dinner with a salad or have a cup while you binge your latest streaming indulgence. This version is low-carb, so you can treat yourself without regret. Fresh toppings add texture and taste, so don't skimp on the freshly
shredded cheese, sliced scallions, avocado dice, chopped cilantro and shredded lettuce. Of course, adding sliced black olives, pickled jalapeño peppers, hot sauce and sour cream are mouth-watering options. Get the recipe here.
Chicken noodle soup
Rumor has it that chicken soup cures what ails you, whether it's a dreary cold or cough, a broken heart or a scuffed knee. Adding noodles to the mix guarantees an even speedier recovery. To ensure the noodles maintain that perfect al dente bite, add them to the slow cooker during the last 30 minutes of cooking. Get the tutorial here.
Rumor has it that chicken soup cures what ails you, whether it's a dreary cold or cough, a broken heart or a scuffed knee. Adding noodles to the mix guarantees an even speedier recovery. To ensure the noodles maintain that perfect al dente bite, add them to the slow cooker during the last 30 minutes of cooking. Get the tutorial here.
An insanely easy version of an Italian Classic
Nothing satisfies like lasagna when you want cheesy, tomato goodness mixed with noodles that add body to the gastronomic experience. Because lasagna is time-consuming and time always seems short, make this lasagna soup instead. Pair it with hot garlic bread for dipping and savor the satisfaction of simplicity. Get the tutorial here.
Nothing satisfies like lasagna when you want cheesy, tomato goodness mixed with noodles that add body to the gastronomic experience. Because lasagna is time-consuming and time always seems short, make this lasagna soup instead. Pair it with hot garlic bread for dipping and savor the satisfaction of simplicity. Get the tutorial here.
Slow cooker cioppino
If serving soup seems out of the question for an extravagant dinner party, you haven't experienced cioppino. Historical legend claims that Italian fishermen in San Francisco "invented" the dish by tossing all the leftover parts of their catch into a pot at the end of the day and creating cioppino. Because their catch typically included shrimp, crab, clams and mussels as well as assorted types of fish, you'll need all those ingredients to prepare this authentic, show-stopping cioppino at home. Get the recipe here.
If serving soup seems out of the question for an extravagant dinner party, you haven't experienced cioppino. Historical legend claims that Italian fishermen in San Francisco "invented" the dish by tossing all the leftover parts of their catch into a pot at the end of the day and creating cioppino. Because their catch typically included shrimp, crab, clams and mussels as well as assorted types of fish, you'll need all those ingredients to prepare this authentic, show-stopping cioppino at home. Get the recipe here.
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