15 Soups and Stews That Are Better Than Your Go-To Recipes

When I get tired of rotating the same handful of soups every week, I know it’s time to switch things up. These soup and stew recipes are packed with comfort, don’t take much effort, and actually make me excited to cook again. They’re exactly the kind of easy wins I need when I want dinner to feel fresh without starting from scratch.

A vibrant ciambotta vegetable stetw in a pot garnished with chopped herbs, served on a white surface with a spoon on the side. — Ciambotta Italian Stew. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes

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Chicken Gnocchi Soup

A bowl of chicken and spinach soup with a spoon. — Chicken Gnocchi Soup. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

This creamy soup brings together soft gnocchi, tender chicken, and vegetables in a way that's both filling and easy to prep. It’s a smart choice for a weeknight when you want comfort without the fuss. The flavors are familiar but with a fresh twist that makes it worth swapping in for your usual recipe. It comes together quickly and works well for lunch the next day.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Gnocchi Soup

Crock Pot Cabbage Soup

A bowl of hearty tomato-based soup with cabbage. — Crock Pot Cabbage Soup. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

This cabbage soup is made in the slow cooker, which means less hands-on time and more flexibility. It’s hearty enough to stand on its own and lighter than most traditional stews. The long cook time brings out depth that’s often missing in faster versions. It’s a solid option when you're ready for a change from your go-to pot of soup.
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Cabbage Soup

Easy Potato Soup

A bowl of creamy potato soup garnished with rosemary and thyme, served on a wooden table. — Easy Potato Soup. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

This is one of those soups that feels familiar but turns out a little better than expected. The potato base is creamy and smooth, with simple ingredients that come together fast. It’s easy to make and even easier to reheat for leftovers. If your usual soup rotation is getting a little tired, this is a good one to break things up.
Get the Recipe: Easy Potato Soup

Ciambotta Italian Vegetable Stew

A pot of Italian vegetable stew with a spoon, garnished with chopped green herbs, on a white tablecloth with a small bowl of parsley on the side. — Ciambotta Italian Vegetable Stew. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

Packed with seasonal vegetables, this Italian stew is a great way to keep dinner simple and still feel like you made something different. It’s lighter than most stews, but still warming enough for colder evenings. There's flexibility with what goes in, which is helpful if you're trying to clean out the fridge. A good change from heavier, meat-based options.
Get the Recipe: Ciambotta Italian Vegetable Stew

Fish Stew with Chorizo

A bowl of soup with sausage and fish. — Fish Stew with Chorizo. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

This stew is full of bold flavors without needing a long list of ingredients. The chorizo adds a smoky kick that gives it more personality than most seafood soups. It’s fast enough for a weeknight and different enough to break up a routine. If you're used to making the same beef or chicken stew, this one makes a solid upgrade.
Get the Recipe: Fish Stew with Chorizo

Shrimp and Corn Bisque

A close-up image of a spoonful of creamy shrimp bisque garnished with herbs, hovering above the rest of the soup in a bowl. — Shrimp and Corn Bisque. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

With shrimp and corn as the main ingredients, this bisque lands somewhere between light and rich, making it versatile for lunch or dinner. It’s a step away from heavier cream-based soups but still feels comforting. It’s quick to pull together and reheats well without getting watery. This is a smart pick when you want something just a little different.
Get the Recipe: Shrimp and Corn Bisque

Greek Lemon Chicken Soup

Lemon chicken soup in a white bowl with lemon slices. — Greek Lemon Chicken Soup. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

This soup has a bright, citrusy flavor that gives it a different spin from most chicken soups. It's light, fast to make, and works well when you want something refreshing. The ingredients are familiar, but the combination brings something new to the table. It’s a nice break from heavier, cream-based soups in your usual lineup.
Get the Recipe: Greek Lemon Chicken Soup

Chicken Corn Chowder

This chowder is thick, filling, and built for cooler nights when you don’t want to spend all evening in the kitchen. The mix of chicken and corn is classic, but the texture gives it more body than most standard soups. It works great for dinner and holds up well for leftovers. It's a dependable option that still brings something different to your usual meal plan.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Corn Chowder

Easy Beef Stew

Beef stew in yellow bowls. — Easy Beef Stew. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

This version of beef stew skips complicated steps but still turns out with great texture and flavor. It’s rich enough to feel like comfort food but simple enough to pull together midweek. The short ingredient list is a bonus when time is tight. If your usual stew recipe feels too heavy or drawn out, this is a solid replacement.
Get the Recipe: Easy Beef Stew

Minestrone Soup with Sausage

This minestrone adds sausage to the mix, making it more filling than traditional versions. It comes together quickly and uses ingredients you probably already have. The mix of beans, veggies, and sausage gives it more dimension than most veggie-based soups. It’s one of those options that works well on repeat without getting old.
Get the Recipe: Minestrone Soup with Sausage

Slow Cooker Vegetable Soup

A ladle serving vegetable soup with tomatoes, potatoes, and green peas into a white bowl, with a blurred bowl in the background. — Slow Cooker Vegetable Soup. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

This slow cooker soup is hands-off and flexible, which is perfect when you're juggling dinner with everything else going on. It’s packed with vegetables and has a slow-simmered flavor without the extra work. It works well as a main or a side depending on the night. If your usual vegetable soup feels flat, this one’s worth a swap.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Vegetable Soup

Crock Pot Tomato Soup

Top view of a bowl of creamy tomato soup garnished with basil, served with a spoon and sunglasses on the side. — Crock Pot Tomato Soup. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

Rich and smooth, this tomato soup is made easy thanks to the crock pot. It pairs well with a grilled cheese or stands on its own when you want something light. The slow cook time gives it more depth than most quick tomato recipes. It’s a great pick when you're looking for something better than store-bought or canned.
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Tomato Soup

Broccoli Cheese Soup

This broccoli cheese soup is warm, hearty, and comes together fast with ingredients you already know. It’s thick enough to feel like a full meal without needing anything on the side. It’s a great go-to when you need comfort food without a long prep list. A smart replacement for any plain or watery soup that’s been in your regular rotation.
Get the Recipe: Broccoli Cheese Soup

Crock Pot Chili for Two

Crock Pot Chili served in two white bowls with spoon. — Crock Pot Chili for Two. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

This smaller batch of chili makes it easier to avoid leftovers and still get a hearty meal. It has the rich flavor of a slow-cooked chili but without a full pot sitting in the fridge all week. It’s perfect for a quiet night in or a casual dinner for two. If your usual chili makes too much or takes too long, this version is worth keeping around.
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Chili for Two

Navy Bean and Ham Soup

A bowl of bean soup with chunks of ham and diced vegetables, served in a rustic terracotta bowl with a spoon on the side. — Navy Bean and Ham Soup. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

This bean and ham soup is filling, simple, and a great way to use up leftover ham. The beans get creamy as they cook, giving the soup a thick texture without needing cream. It’s ideal for cooler nights when you want something warm but not too heavy. It’s a nice change from your standard chicken or veggie soup lineup.
Get the Recipe: Navy Bean and Ham Soup