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

Author: Maya Krampf from WholesomeYum.com

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

  • Low Carb Keto Tomato Soup

  • Easy Taco Soup Recipe

  • Keto Stuffed Pepper Soup

  • Chef Salad

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 is the secret ingredient 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. The same is true with soups.

What can I put in vegetable soup to give it more flavor? ›

How to Make the Best Vegetable Soup
  1. 1) Start with the veggies. ...
  2. 2) Add fresh minced garlic, curry powder, and dried thyme. ...
  3. 3) Add canned diced tomatoes with their juices. ...
  4. 4) Almost done—add some vegetable broth, water, and more flavorings. ...
  5. 5) Add chopped fresh greens and finally, some fresh lemon juice.

What gives vegetable soup that depth of flavor? ›

Tips for Flavorful Vegetable Soup

Flavor the base: We add Italian seasoning and tomato paste to the aromatics and warm them up to bring the seasonings back to life. You could use fresh herbs like thyme or rosemary, or even add a Parmesan rind for more flavor.

How does Martha Stewart make vegetable soup? ›

Directions
  1. Saute aromatics: In a large pot, heat oil over medium-high. ...
  2. Deepen the base: Stir in oregano or thyme and/or tomato paste or Parmesan rind. ...
  3. Choose your liquid: ...
  4. Add starchy vegetables: ...
  5. Add vegetables: ...
  6. Add rice and greens: ...
  7. Ladle soup into bowls.
Jun 27, 2023

What makes homemade soup taste better? ›

7 Easy Ways to Make Any Soup Better
  1. Brown or Sear the Meat. ...
  2. Roast the the Veggies. ...
  3. Mix up the Texture. ...
  4. Use Homemade Stock Whenever Possible. ...
  5. Put Your Cheese Rinds to Work. ...
  6. Perk up a Bland Soup With Simple Pantry Staples. ...
  7. Add Fresh Herbs or Dairy When Serving.

Why put apple cider vinegar in soup? ›

Add a splash or two of ACV when the soup is done cooking. The vinegar helps lift and highlight flavors.

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.

How can I improve the taste of my vegetable soup? ›

Fresh lemon juice squeezed into the soup at the very end wakens up the broth. The soup won't taste lemony, just brightened and lively. Fresh herbs and fat from a dollop of prepared pesto stirred into each bowl before serving is a real treat.

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.

What is the flavorful liquid that adds more flavor to a vegetable meal? ›

A sauce may be defined as a flavorful liquid, usually thickened, used to season, flavor, and enhance other foods.

What is the key to flavor soups? ›

Aromatics, which include garlic, onion, leeks, carrots and celery, are the basic flavor-building blocks of most soup recipes. Sauteing these vegetables in oil or butter is the first step to boosting your soup's flavor.

Why is vegetable soup so filling? ›

Why soup? Scientists say texture is key. Although liquids empty from the stomach faster than solids, thicker liquids like soup are different. They actually tend to cause the stomach to expand a bit more, and remain in the stomach longer, so you feel more full, for a longer length of time.

Why do you put vinegar in vegetable soup? ›

Think of vinegar as the conductor of an orchestra. It can take a cacophony of flavors and sync them into perfect harmony. It both balances and awakens them. Plus, if you accidentally add too much salt to your soup, a little vinegar will tame the saltiness.

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 healthy is homemade vegetable soup? ›

Vegetable soups offer an excellent source of fiber, vitamins, minerals and flavor. Serve as a side or make them the main course – these nutrient-dense dishes are low in calories and carbs but high in satisfaction.

What is the most significant ingredient of a soup? ›

The Foundation: Broths and Stocks

The homemade soup recipes that are most memorable are ones that require a long simmer, with carefully browned bones, vegetables, and seasoning added in.

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