For some, Christmas soup is customary. For others, it's a cozy way to enjoy the holiday. Whether you need an appetizer, a second course, or a next-level main dish, we've curated our favorite soups to accent the holiday meal. Ladle up a bowl of Christmas tradition with Tuscan White Bean Soup, or opt for the luxurious comfort of Chicken Pot Pie Soup with Puff Pastry Croutons. Prefer plant-based? Try this robust Miso-Roasted Vegetable Soup. Whether you're planning a classic menu or ready to begin a new Christmas soup tradition, our guide has you covered.
Caramelized Onion and Bread Soup with Brûléed Blue Cheese
In this reimagined French onion soup, blue cheese and oloroso sherry bring new layers of flavor and depth. Notes of toasted nuts and fruit compote in the sherry pair well with caramelized onions; its briny acidity cuts through the richness of the cheese.
Oyster Bisque
Loaded with chunks of potatoes and plump, juicy whole oysters, this light and creamy bisque begs to be served with crusty bread to mop up all of the delicious broth.
Garlic Soup
Rich and garlicky without being overwhelming, the key to this creamy soup from New Orleans chef Susan Spicer is to cook the garlic and onions slowly over low heat to bring out their flavors.
Butternut Squash and Pork Soup with Fish Sauce and Tender Herbs
Our riff on the classic Vietnamese soup called canh bi do thit heo swaps in mild butternut squash for the traditional kabocha, which holds its shape well and absorbs the rich flavors of the broth and pork while cooking quickly.
Chicken Pot Pie Soup with Puff Pastry Croutons
This creamy, soul-warming soup from legendary Food Network star Ina Garten's cookbook Modern Comfort Food captures everything there is to love about chicken pot pie, complete with flaky, buttery puff pastry croutons.
Tuscan White Bean Soup
Thickened with cannellini beans and cream, this hearty and vegetable-packed soup is made irresistible by garlic confit and crispy pancetta.
Roasted Carrot Soup with Fresh Cheese and Black Bread
Roast two pounds of carrots with cumin and caraway seeds, simmer with vegetable broth, and blend with sour cream until silky smooth. Serve the soup with crisped Baltic black bread and crumbled farmer's cheese.
Cream of Mushroom Soup
Recipe developer Anna Theoktisto caramelizes a mix of meaty cremini mushrooms and earthy shiitake mushrooms for this silky soup that's balanced by dry sherry.
Smoked Ham Hock and Lentil Soup
2017 F&W Best New Chef Nina Compton's smoky lentil soup is a cold-weather staple. "The ham-hock aroma hangs around the kitchen beautifully; the smell alone makes you warmer. Adding a little ginger and lemongrass brightens the soup and reminds me of being back home in St. Lucia. Using local okra reminds me of my Louisiana home and adds a different texture."
Miso-Roasted Vegetable Soup
This soup employs an arsenal of umami flavor boosters such as miso, soy sauce, canned tomatoes, and a dash of smoked paprika. The roasted red bell peppers, carrots, onions, and kabocha squash transform into a hearty, robust, totally complex soup that goes great with a crusty hunk of bread.
Silky Chestnut Soup
Silky-smooth and decidedly holiday-worthy, this soup from star chef Wolfgang Puck showcases sweet, earthy chestnuts with fruity ruby port and luscious heavy cream.
Pozole Rojo
This long-simmered tomato- and pork-based soup was a favorite of food journalist Priya Krishna's when she lived in Mexico. "Choose from a selection of toppings: finely chopped onions, sliced avocado, lime, radishes, lettuce, queso fresco. Go big, or keep it simple," she says. "That's the true beauty of pozole: No two bowls look or taste exactly alike."
Seafood-and-Seaweed Chowder
For this chowder from Irish chef JP McMahon, a combination of dry hard cider and dried seaweed brings a sweet, mild salinity to the stock, making it ideal for precooking the mussels and clams before using it as the base of the chowder.
Shrimp and Yuca Dumplings Soup
Made with collard greens and tender shrimp-yuca meatballs, this light but satisfying tropical riff on Italian wedding soup is a delicious way to warm up from the inside out this Christmas.
Broccoli-Spinach Soup with Crispy Broccoli Florets and Croutons
The key to Justin Chapple's supremely silky broccoli-spinach soup is the addition of a single potato; in fact, the recipe contains no dairy at all. Crisp broccoli florets and sourdough croutons provide the perfect textural contrast.
Steak and Shrimp Hot Pot
In this recipe from Houston chef Nick Wong, tender rib eye, fresh mushrooms, and sweet shrimp are cooked tableside for an interactive holiday meal — plus, guests can customize each bowl to their liking.
Smoky Butternut Squash Soup
Easy to make and vegetarian-friendly if you sub in vegetable stock, this creamy soup gets a little smoky heat from canned chipotle chiles in adobo sauce. A swirl of crème fraîche is a gorgeous way to temper the spiciness.