Comforting Soup & Stew Recipes Perfect for Fall

Days are getting shorter, temperatures are dropping, and an end to Daylight Savings means it’ll be dark by dinnertime. But what to make? Summer staples like salad and sandwiches don’t feel quite right when all you want to do is bundle up under a blanket. Instead, opt for foods that match the season, like a hot, steaming bowl of soup (or stew!) The following are some of our favorite soup & stew recipes (plus vegan and gluten-free options) that are sure to hit the spot this time of year!

Creamy Chicken Pot Pie Soup

Photo courtesy Love & Olive Oil

This decadent soup from Love & Olive Oil is essentially a deconstructed chicken pot pie in a bowl! Fresh veggies and herbs, white meat chicken and potatoes come together for the ultimate comfort food flavors. Oh, and it also includes pie crust crackers to mimic a pot pie’s buttery shell.

Chicken Lasagna Stew

Photo courtesy The Kitchen is My Playground

Another deconstructed comfort food staple, this chicken lasagna stew from The Kitchen is My Playground has all the traditional flavors of the Italian classic, without the pesky layering. Pasta, cheese, seasonings and chicken is all it takes to bring it together. You could even substitute beef or sausage, or leave it meat-free for a vegetarian alternative.

Japanese Curry Udon

Photo courtesy Just One Cookbook

This recipe from Just One Cookbook features hearty udon noodles (found in most supermarkets) floating in a mild curry-seasoned broth dotted with sliced pork loin (or your protein of choice) with onions and scallions. It’s a rich, flavorful dish that is perfect on a chilly autumn night, and it’s easy enough to make on a busy weeknight.

Spicy Weekend Gumbo

Photo courtesy Pinch of Yum

Turn up the heat this weekend with this traditional, slow-simmered, spicy gumbo from Pinch of Yum. This dish starts with carrots, onions, celery and garlic, to which is added tomatoes and broth and a creamy roux, with andouille sausage and shrimp to round it out before serving over rice.

Asian Chicken Noodle Soup

Photo courtesy Kitchen Fun With My Three Sons

Few can argue that chicken noodle soup is the ultimate in comfort food. This recipe from Kitchen Fun With My Three Sons has all the ingredients of traditional chicken noodle soup — chicken, carrots and onions — but with an Asian flair. Egg noodles are swapped for rice noodles, and curry, cayenne, lime and cilantro provide a unique flavor.

French Beef Bourguignon

Photo courtesy Spend With Pennies

Beef Bourguignon is no doubt one of the most comforting dishes to hail from France. Flavors are layered and complex, and slow-roasted to bring out their natural sweetness. This one-pot dish from Spend With Pennies is based on Julia Child’s famous recipe, with mushrooms, potatoes, garlic, thyme, rosemary, beef and wine simmered for hours in a Dutch oven.

[Gluten-Free] Moroccan Carrot Soup with Cinnamon Hazelnuts

Photo courtesy Snixy Kitchen

This gluten-free soup from Snixy Kitchen is like autumn in a bowl! The carrot base is balanced with Middle Eastern za’atar spice, and thickened by the addition of blended cannellini beans. Topped with a lemon yogurt cream and cinnamon toasted hazelnuts, and it’s the perfect dish (ok, bowl) for fall.

Mexican Dump Soup

Photo courtesy Meaningful Mama

This hearty, south-of-the-border recipe from Meaningful Mama has all the flavors of tacos, but in hearty stew form. Ground beef, taco seasoning, corn, kidney beans and tomatoes come together to make a warming dish similar to chili. You can always add broth to make it more soup-like.

[Vegan] Tangy Braised Chickpeas

Photo courtesy Smitten Kitchen

Ceci beans, garbanzo beans, chickpeas: no matter what you call them, they are delectable in this recipe from Smitten Kitchen. Stewed with garlic, carrots, mushrooms, tomatoes and seasonings, it’s a stick-to-your-ribs meal that can be made vegan by subbing the Worcestershire with soy sauce.

Wonton Soup

Photo courtesy I Am a Food Blog

Wonton soup is the ultimate Chinese comfort food. Hot, steaming broth filled with hearty dumplings and fresh veggies can keep the cold at bay. This recipe from I Am a Food Blog takes hand-made wontons (they’re actually easy to make!) and adds them to a clear broth made from chicken stock, ginger, soy and sesame. Topped with scallions and leafy greens and you’ve got the perfect fall meal!

[Vegetarian] Southwest Corn Chowder

Photo courtesy Cookie + Kate

This soul-warming chowder from Cookie + Kate is similar to the traditional versions found in New England. But this one uses poblano peppers, chili powder, cilantro and lime to give it a southwest kick. Subbing vegetable broth for chicken broth makes it vegetarian, as does skipping the bacon usually found in corn chowders.