Vegetable Soup Recipe (30 Minutes!) - Wholesome Yum (2024)

Vegetable Soup Recipe (30 Minutes!) - Wholesome Yum (1)

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Table Of Contents hide

  • Why You’ll Love This Easy Vegetable Soup Recipe
  • What Goes In Vegetable Soup?
  • How To Make Vegetable Soup
  • Tips For The Best Vegetable Soup
  • Alternate Cooking Method: Crock Pot
  • Storage Instructions
  • More Homemade Vegetable Soup Recipes
  • Recommended Tools
  • Vegetable Soup Recipe (30 Minutes!)

Skip the bland canned stuff… this homemade vegetable soup recipe is packed with savory flavor from fresh produce! I’ll show you how to make vegetable soup with your favorite in-season ingredients to warm you up from the inside out (all in just over half an hour).

Although I love to make hearty, meaty soups like cabbage hamburger soup, a vegetable beef soup, and Mexican chicken soup, this is the best vegetable soup recipe to lean on when you need something light that balances flavor and simplicity. Plus, it’s so easy to customize!

Why You’ll Love This Easy Vegetable Soup Recipe

  • Flavorful veggies with savory tomato broth
  • Common grocery store ingredients
  • Takes just 30 minutes
  • Stovetop and Crock Pot options
  • Naturally gluten-free, low carb, keto, paleo, and has a vegan option
  • Easy to customize and make ahead
Vegetable Soup Recipe (30 Minutes!) - Wholesome Yum (2)

What Goes In Vegetable Soup?

This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for homemade vegetable soup, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.

Vegetable soup recipes are a blank canvas, so you can add almost anything. Here are the basic components that you can customize based on your preferences and what’s in your fridge:

  • Broth – I use reduced-sodium store-bought or homemade chicken broth, but you can use vegetable broth to make this avegan, vegetarian vegetable soup recipe. If that’s not important, you can also make your own homemade bone broth.
  • Vegetables – My vegetable soup recipe includes onions, bell peppers, minced garlic (fresh or jarred), cauliflower, green beans, and diced tomatoes. You can also use other veggies: Try kale (or throw in some leftover sauteed kale), spinach, zucchini, cabbage, broccoli, corn (or try corn chowder) or sliced celery ribs… fresh or frozen! If you’re including greens, add them toward the end of cooking the soup.
  • Starches – I didn’t include any to keep this soup light, but to make it more hearty, you can add potatoes, corn kernels, butternut squash, carrots, beans (like chickpeas or white beans), or green peas. Cut larger veggies into bite-sized pieces.
  • Seasonings – Aside from the obvious salt and pepper, I add Italian seasoning, because it tastes great and saves time getting out multiple seasoning containers. Throw in some dried bay leaves for flavor as well.
Vegetable Soup Recipe (30 Minutes!) - Wholesome Yum (3)

Vegetable Soup Recipe (30 Minutes!) - Wholesome Yum (4)

VARIATIONS: Try other additions for flavor.

Try these add-ins in any combination you like:

  • Herbs: Basil, rosemary, thyme, parsley, sage, oregano, lavender, marjoram, tarragon (all fresh or dried). If you use fresh herbs in place of dried, triple the amount, as their flavor is less concentrated.
  • Ground spices: Paprika (regular or smoked!) or turmeric would work well.
  • Aromatics: Try lemon zest, ginger root, or star anise.
  • Pepper: Swap the black pepper with white pepper, cayenne pepper, or even red pepper flakes.

Pick one flavor profile to stick to, either with a tried-and-true seasoning mix or by choosing a couple herbs and spices to focus on.

How To Make Vegetable Soup

This section shows how to make this 30-minute vegetable soup recipe, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.

  1. Saute aromatics. Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Saute onions and bell peppers until softened. Add minced garlic and cook until fragrant.
  2. Add vegetables. Add cauliflower, green beans, diced tomatoes, broth, seasonings, and bay leaves, if using. Stir to combine.
Vegetable Soup Recipe (30 Minutes!) - Wholesome Yum (5)
Vegetable Soup Recipe (30 Minutes!) - Wholesome Yum (6)
  1. Simmer. Bring the vegetable soup to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to low, cover and cook until veggies are tender. Remove bay leaves before serving. I like to serve with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese or fresh parsley.
Vegetable Soup Recipe (30 Minutes!) - Wholesome Yum (7)

Vegetable Soup Recipe (30 Minutes!) - Wholesome Yum (8)

Tips For The Best Vegetable Soup

This homemade vegetable soup recipe is easy and versatile, but here is how to adjust it if needed:

  • Soup too sweet? Mix in a splash of vinegar, salt, or tabasco.
  • Too bland?Add more salt or extra dash of herbs and spices.
  • Vegetable soup too spicy? A little heavy cream (or coconut cream) tames spicy foods. Or dilute with extra broth or some vinegar.
  • Soup too salty? Extra tomatoes or some lemon juice can help.
  • Vegetable soup too acidic? Dilute with cream or coconut cream.
  • PH Balance is sometimes all a soup needs. Lemon juice or vinegar add more acidity, while heavy cream or coconut cream will make it more alkaline.

Alternate Cooking Method: Crock Pot

If you prefer to make vegetable soup in a slow cooker, simply saute the onions, peppers, and garlic in Step 1 above on the stovetop first. Then, place them into the Crock Pot with the rest of the ingredients. Cover and cook for 2 hours on High or 4 hours on Low. For the pressure cooker, try my Instant Pot vegetable soup.

Vegetable Soup Recipe (30 Minutes!) - Wholesome Yum (9)

Storage Instructions

  • Store: Keep veggie soup covered in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
  • Meal prep: Cut vegetables and store in the refrigerator until ready to use.
  • Reheat: Warm on the stovetop, or in the microwave, until warm.

Can You Freeze Vegetable Soup?

Yes, you can freeze vegetable soup. Cool to room temperature, then pour into airtight zip top bags. Lay flat in the freezer until solid, and after that you can move them upright to save space if needed. Thaw in the fridge overnight (in a container or pot to be safe, in case it leaks!).

More Homemade Vegetable Soup Recipes

Need more hearty, healthy soup recipes? Try these homemade chill chasers or find more healthy soup recipes here:

Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Cabbage Soup

Squash Soup

Detox Soup Recipe

  • Dutch Oven – A stove top version that’s oven friendly.
  • Ladle– This one has a generous size and the handle is super comfortable to hold.
  • Slow Cooker – If you want to make your low carb vegetable soup recipe in a Crock Pot instead of the stove.

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Recipe Card

Vegetable Soup Recipe (30 Minutes!) - Wholesome Yum (15)

4.92 from 85 votes☝️ Click stars to rate or click here to leave a review!

Vegetable Soup Recipe (30 Minutes!)

The best vegetable soup recipe – cozy, flavorful, fast, easy, and healthy! Learn how to make homemade vegetable soup in just 30 minutes.

Prep: 10 minutes

Cook: 20 minutes

Total: 30 minutes

Servings: 12 (adjust to scale recipe)

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Ingredients

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Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.

  1. Heat olive oil in a pot or dutch oven over medium heat.

  2. Add the onions and bell peppers. Saute for 7 to 10 minutes, until onions are translucent and browned.

  3. Add the minced garlic. Saute for about 1 minute, until fragrant.

  4. Add the cauliflower, green beans, diced tomatoes, broth, and Italian seasoning. Adjust sea salt and black pepper to taste. Add the bay leaves, if using.

  5. Bring the soup to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to medium low, and cook for about 10 to 20 minutes, until veggies are soft.

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Related Easy Recipes

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Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1 cup

Nutrition Facts

Amount per serving. Serving size in recipe notes above.

Calories74

Fat3g

Protein3.3g

Total Carbs10.6g

Net Carbs7.4g

Fiber3.2g

Sugar5.5g

Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.

Course:Soup

Cuisine:American

Keywords:best vegetable soup recipe, detox vegetable soup, homemade vegetable soup, how to make vegetable soup, vegetable soup recipe

Calories: 74 kcal

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead. 🙂

Homemade Vegetable Soup

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Vegetable Soup Recipe (30 Minutes!) - Wholesome Yum (23)
Vegetable Soup Recipe (30 Minutes!) - Wholesome Yum (2024)

FAQs

What gives vegetable soup that depth of flavor? ›

A squeeze of citrus, a dollop of yogurt or a drizzle of cream, a dusting of cheese or a good chile powder, a sprinkling of some herbs or croutons — all can take a perfectly fine soup into the realm of the delectable. Even a spiral of good olive oil to finish and some coarse sea salt can do wonders.

How do I give my vegetable soup more flavor? ›

How to Add Lots of Flavor to Vegetable Soup
  1. Salt: enhances flavor.
  2. Fat: amplifies flavor.
  3. Acid: brightens and balances.
  4. Heat: determines the texture of the food.

What are the healthiest vegetables to put in soup? ›

Root vegetables such as squash and potatoes add a good element of heartiness and fiber. Carrots and zucchini hold up well in broth and kale or Swiss chard add nice flavor, a splash of color and a serious dose of nutrition. Tomatoes and tomato paste give your recipe an Italian twist.

What not to put in soup? ›

The Worst Things to Put in Your Soup
  1. By Sara Butler. If there's one good thing about fall and winter, it's soup. ...
  2. Heavy Cream. Heavy cream creates an inviting texture for soups but that's where its positive contributions end. ...
  3. Juice. ...
  4. Turkey Bacon. ...
  5. Cheese. ...
  6. Croutons.

What thickens vegetable soup? ›

Add Flour Or Cornstarch

You can thicken soup by adding flour, cornstarch, or another starchy substitute. For the best results, never add flour or cornstarch directly to your soup. If you do, it will clump up on top. Instead, ladle a small amount of broth into a separate bowl and let it cool.

How to jazz up vegetable soup? ›

Acid, lemon or lime juice is my go to. Msg, a bit of Vegeta or similar product goes a very long way in pushing these types of soups over the top. Add some heat if you're into it. Sriracha or fresh cut hot peppers added as a garnish to taste.

How to fix a bland vegetable soup? ›

Perk up a Bland Soup With Simple Pantry Staples

Add a splash of vinegar (any kind!), or a squeeze of citrus. Chances are, you could use a little more salt.

What is the key to flavorful soup? ›

Sauté the Aromatics

The first step in making many soups is to sauté aromatic vegetables such as onions and garlic. Sautéing not only softens their texture so that there is no unwelcome crunch in the soup but also tames any harsh flavors and develops more-complex flavors in the process.

Why do you put vinegar in vegetable soup? ›

Adding Vinegar in Soup

It may sound a bit strange and unusual for some, but vinegar is a common ingredient in some soup recipes, and there is a good reason for it. If you think about it, vinegar is really a flavor-enhancer (umami). That's why it is so often used in cooking, sauces, and salad dressings.

Do you simmer vegetable soup covered or uncovered? ›

Simmering and Boiling

In the event that your goal is to keep moisture in—like when your pot of soup, stew, or sauce is already at the right consistency, but you want to keep cooking the vegetables and melding the flavors—leave the lid on to keep any more liquid from evaporating.

How do you thicken homemade vegetable soup? ›

6 Ways to Thicken Soups or Stews
  1. Puree the vegetables. The most straightforward way to thicken soup is to puree the vegetables. ...
  2. Mash beans, lentils, rice, or bread. ...
  3. Add some dairy. ...
  4. Add an egg. ...
  5. Whisk in a bit of flour or starch. ...
  6. Blend in some silken tofu.
Nov 15, 2021

Is it OK to eat vegetable soup everyday? ›

For those wanting a more intense regime, a vegetable soup can replace two meals a day for five to seven days without any negative side effects. Although much of the weight loss will be fluid, sometimes all we need to feel leaner and healthier is a flatter stomach and a kilo or two less on the scales.

What is the number one soup in the world? ›

According to the Taste Atlas Awards, the international food database, the Filipino favorite, Sinigang, is hailed as the best soup in the world.

What is the healthiest vegetable on earth? ›

According to the CDC, watercress is the most nutrient-rich vegetable on earth. Because high-level amino acid is found in it, it helps in digesting proteins and producing neurotransmitters.

How do you add depth to vegetable broth? ›

Boost the Umami of Vegetable Broth

Soy sauce, tamari, or liquid aminos add great depth, but watch out for using too much—you'll end up making the stock only taste like super-salty soy. Start with about 2 teaspoons per quart and adjust from there. Remember, you can always add more.

How do you deepen soup? ›

Sear before you simmer.

Browning your ingredients on the stovetop or in the oven creates deep, savory flavors that you won't get from simply adding those same ingredients straight to a pot of water. Take our Double-Dark Chicken Noodle Soup recipe, for example.

How do you add depth of flavor to food? ›

Umami: Adding Depth to Every Meal
  1. Olives/Olive Oil. Olives and olive oil add a savory, meaty flavor that helps highlight and deepen the other notes of a dish. ...
  2. Mushrooms. ...
  3. Parmesan and Romano Cheeses. ...
  4. Prosciutto. ...
  5. Soy Sauce.
Oct 13, 2020

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