33 Cheap and Easy Soup Recipes | Orison Orchards (2024)

Are you looking for some cheap and easy soup recipes? Look no further!

You’re going to want to pin these fantastic recipes for later!

Soupis probably my families all-time favorite meal. I love that soup is incredibly easy to make, extremely inexpensive, and that it’s so nourishing and comforting! I also love that I can always make it ahead in my crockpot, for busy days when we’re all running around right up until dinner time. And my family loves all the delicious variety!

There are so many different varieties that we eat soup on a regular basis in our home all through the fall and winter, and we never grow tired of it. I usually serve it with bread or rolls to round out our meal and to really satiate my teenage boys, who seem to be bottomless pits of hunger! Homemade rolls or bread add only a few pennies per serving.

You can save even more time and money by making an extra large pot of soup and sending leftovers in thermos jugs for lunches the next day. Or make a double batch and freeze half of it for a crazy day, so you won’t be tempted to pick up takeout on the way home from work.

Soups are so easy to alter to your taste, budget and make them allergy friendly. I eat gluten-free and sugar-free to keep my autoimmune illness (hashimotos) in check. I don’t have the energy or desire to make separate meals for my family and for myself, but that’s no problem when I’m serving soup. I can always just take out a portion for myself before adding pasta, or I can just substitute a gluten-free thickener. That’s the beauty of homemade soup!

When we were young college students living on less than $10k a year, I made soupseveral times a weekand I made all of that soup meatless because our grocery budget was less than $100 a month for our family of four. Cheap and easy soup recipes really saved our finances during that lean time!

Luckily, our budget is nowhere near that tight now, but I still cook from scratch and we still eat a lot of soup, because I understand the power of budgeting. The less I spend on groceries, the more I can divert to my travel budget!

It really is amazing how much money you can save by eating at home and cooking from scratch. Cheap and easy soup recipes are the very biggest budget and time savers.

Here’s a quick assignment for you. Multiply the number of people in your family times ten, which is about what a cheap restaurant meal costs (if you don’t order a beverage, appetizer or dessert). Mutliply that by 90, which is approximately how many meals you eat each month. That is a low estimate of what it would cost you to to eat all of your meals out for a whole month — it doesn’t include snacks or extras or tips or anything. Crazy, huh?

Now multiply the number of people in your family times 90. That’s how much your grocery budget could be if you stick to meals that are less than $1 per serving. Yes, it’s ten times less than eating out! And that’s a conservative estimate.

Honestly, I regularly feed my family of 10 for less than $500 per month, and you’d be amazed at how well we eat.

Over half of these cheap and easy soup recipes cost less than 50 cents per serving.That should give you an idea of how much (or little) you could be spending on groceries, and a goal to shoot for.

Read: 15 Meals You Can Make for Pennies

To help you reduce your own grocery expenses I’ve assembled this list of 33 cheap and easy soup recipes from other bloggers. They each cost less than $1 per serving. Feed your family one of these nourishing, inexpensive soups once or twice a week, and I promise it will really help reduce your grocery budget.

Minestrone Soup (Orison Orchards) less than 68 cents a serving

33 Cheap and Easy Soup Recipes | Orison Orchards (1)

Chicken Noodle Soup (Orison Orchards) less than 54 cents a serving

33 Cheap and Easy Soup Recipes | Orison Orchards (2)

Chili Con Carne (Orison Orchards) less than 60 cents per serving

33 Cheap and Easy Soup Recipes | Orison Orchards (3)

French Onion Soup(Good Dinner Mom) under 55 cents per serving

33 Cheap and Easy Soup Recipes | Orison Orchards (4)

Black Bean Soup(Real Food Real Deals) only 40 cents per serving

33 Cheap and Easy Soup Recipes | Orison Orchards (5)

Italian Wedding Soup(The Beach House Kitchen) around 60 cents per serving

33 Cheap and Easy Soup Recipes | Orison Orchards (6)

Smoky Red Lentil Stew(Real Food Real Deals) only 62 cents per serving

33 Cheap and Easy Soup Recipes | Orison Orchards (7)

Butternut Squash Soup (My Baking Addiction) under 40 cents per serving

33 Cheap and Easy Soup Recipes | Orison Orchards (8)

Loaded Potato Soup (The Wicked Noodle) about 95 cents per serving

33 Cheap and Easy Soup Recipes | Orison Orchards (9)

Taco Soup (I Heart Naptime) about 45 cents per serving

33 Cheap and Easy Soup Recipes | Orison Orchards (10)

Vegetable Barley Soup(Cookin Canuck) under 45 cents per serving

33 Cheap and Easy Soup Recipes | Orison Orchards (11)

Butternut Squash Chili(Real Food Real Deals) only 58 cents per serving

33 Cheap and Easy Soup Recipes | Orison Orchards (12)

Lasagna Soup(Dam Delicious) under $1 per serving

33 Cheap and Easy Soup Recipes | Orison Orchards (13)

Chicken Wild Rice Soup (Pinch of Yum) less than 65 cents per serving

33 Cheap and Easy Soup Recipes | Orison Orchards (14)

Cauliflower Curry(Real Food Real Deals) only77 cents per serving

33 Cheap and Easy Soup Recipes | Orison Orchards (15)

Southwestern Chicken Soup(Real Food Real Deals) only 90 cents per serving33 Cheap and Easy Soup Recipes | Orison Orchards (16)

Mexican Black Bean & Corn Soup (Forks Over Knives) under 50 cents per serving

33 Cheap and Easy Soup Recipes | Orison Orchards (17)

Broccoli and Pea Soup (Frugal Feeding) under 40 cents per serving
33 Cheap and Easy Soup Recipes | Orison Orchards (18)

Corn Chowder(Real Food Real Deals) only 69 cents per serving
33 Cheap and Easy Soup Recipes | Orison Orchards (19)

White Chicken Chili(Tablespoon) under $1 per serving33 Cheap and Easy Soup Recipes | Orison Orchards (20)

Dumpling Soup(Real Food Real Deals) only 21 cents per serving!33 Cheap and Easy Soup Recipes | Orison Orchards (21)

Carrot Soup(Real Food Real Deals) only 49 cents per serving

33 Cheap and Easy Soup Recipes | Orison Orchards (22)

Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup(Baked by Rachel) under 60 cents per serving

33 Cheap and Easy Soup Recipes | Orison Orchards (23)

Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup (Orison Orchards) under 20 cents per serving

33 Cheap and Easy Soup Recipes | Orison Orchards (24)

Slow Cooker White Bean Soup(Budget Bytes) under 50 cents per serving33 Cheap and Easy Soup Recipes | Orison Orchards (25)

Creamy Chicken Tortilla(Cookie Classy) under 70 cents per serving

33 Cheap and Easy Soup Recipes | Orison Orchards (26)

Greek Lentil Soup(Jeanette’s Healthy Living) just 70 cents per serving33 Cheap and Easy Soup Recipes | Orison Orchards (27)

Chicken Parmesan Soup(Closet Cooking) under $1 per serving

33 Cheap and Easy Soup Recipes | Orison Orchards (28)

Potato Leek Soup (Real Food Real Deals) just 59 cents per serving33 Cheap and Easy Soup Recipes | Orison Orchards (29)

Turkey Chili Taco Soup(SkinnyTaste) under 70 cents per serving

33 Cheap and Easy Soup Recipes | Orison Orchards (30)

Chicken Cordon Blue Soup(Chef in Training) under $1 per serving

33 Cheap and Easy Soup Recipes | Orison Orchards (31)

Cheesy Chicken Enchilada Soup (Jo Cooks) around 85 cents per serving

33 Cheap and Easy Soup Recipes | Orison Orchards (32)

Basic Creamy Potato Soup (Cooking Classy) under 40 cents per serving

33 Cheap and Easy Soup Recipes | Orison Orchards (33)

Don’t forget to pin these recipes for later!

I hope you found several cheap and easy soup recipes you want to add to your meal rotation. I know I did! If you’re looking for ways to further reduce your grocery budget, check out my series of frugal recipes for less than $1 per serving:

15 Meals You Can Make for Pennies

9 Frugal Breakfast Ideas that will Make You Excited to Wake Up

Meals for Under $1 per Serving

7 Secrets for Cutting Your Grocery Budget in Half

What’s your favorite frugal healthy soup recipe? I’d love some more ideas to add to my regulars, so please share your suggestions (and links!) in the comments!

33 Cheap and Easy Soup Recipes | Orison Orchards (2024)

FAQs

Is it cheaper to make or buy soup? ›

Homemade soup can also save you money compared to canned soup. Cook a large batch of soup, then freeze small portions for meals that you can heat quickly. Some healthy soups to cook for yourself include chicken soup (everyone's favorite!), minestrone, cabbage, Tuscan bean, and borscht (which is beet soup).

What is the secret to soup? ›

7 Tips for Successful Soup Making
  • Use a Sturdy Pot. It is worth investing in a heavy pot with a thick bottom to use for making soup. ...
  • Sauté the Aromatics. ...
  • Start with Good Broth. ...
  • Cut Vegetables to the Right Size. ...
  • Stagger the Addition of Vegetables. ...
  • Keep Liquid at a Simmer. ...
  • Season Just Before Serving.
Oct 9, 2022

What makes a bowl of soup more flavorful? ›

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. Go ahead—it's ok. Salt perks up flat flavors and helps balance out bitter-tasting ingredients.

Is it better to make soup with broth or stock? ›

As a result, stock is usually a healthier product, delivering a richer mouth feel and deeper flavor than broth. Stock is a versatile culinary tool that can deliver taste to any number of dishes. Darker in color and more concentrated in flavor than broth, it's ideal for use in soups, rice, sauces and more.

Is soup enough to live on? ›

What Experts Say. "The concept of eating soup to lose weight has spanned decades, but experts say an all-soup diet lacks nutrients and is not sustainable. They do agree it can be smart to eat vegetable-packed soups for some meals, though, as these are filling, nutrient-dense, and low in calories."

What not to do when making soup? ›

The 7 Biggest Mistakes You Make Cooking Soup
  1. Boiling instead of simmering. You want a small bubble or two to rise to the surface of the liquid every few seconds. ...
  2. Not using enough salt. ...
  3. Ignoring water. ...
  4. Overcooking the vegetables. ...
  5. Adding tomatoes at the beginning. ...
  6. Neglecting to garnish. ...
  7. Not trying a pressure cooker.
Nov 19, 2014

What is the most important ingredient in soup? ›

For clear, brothy soups, stock is your most important ingredient. If you want to make a good soup, you need to use an excellently flavored stock — otherwise, the entire pot could be tasteless.

What naturally thickens soup? ›

Mash beans, lentils, rice, or bread.

Rice, lentils, and beans release a lot of starch and naturally thicken soups simply from simmering, but you can also mash half the cooked rice/lentils/beans before adding to the soup for a simple way to thicken your dish.

What can I add to soup for depth of flavor? ›

Foods that have a great deal of acidity, like lemon juice, vinegar, white wine, and tomato puree, can help liven up the flavor of bland-tasting bone and other broths. "The acidity of these ingredients works to complement and enhance the broth's flavors, not mask it.

Why do you tilt soup bowls away? ›

The reason you scoop away from yourself is so the soup does not splash onto you. If there are any drips on the spoon, discreetly wipe your spoon on the far side of the bowl along the inside rim. The soup may be gently tilted away from you to finish.

What is the best spice for soup? ›

Oregano: If you want to give your soups a fresh, fragrant, Mediterranean kick, then oregano is the one for you. Oregano works especially well with tomato-based soups, creating a light and fragrant undertone. Cayenne Pepper: Perfect for a little heat, cayenne pepper introduces a warm, spicy depth to your soup.

What is the 1 week soup-only diet? ›

One of the most popular soup diets, the cabbage soup diet is a 7-day eating plan that involves eating a chicken- or vegetable-broth-based soup that contains cabbage and other low carb vegetables. In addition to cabbage soup, you can also have one or two other low calorie foods, such as skim milk or leafy greens.

What is the 3 day soup diet? ›

It's just three days, enough time to feel a difference. Each day, you'll have a healthy breakfast, then soup for lunch, and a different one for dinner. If you're hungry between meals, choose one of the snacks. To add even more nutrition and interest, add a Souper Topper.

What are the 7 things soup does? ›

There is an Italian saying: “La zuppa fa sette cose.” It means “Soup does seven things.” Soup quenches thirst, satisfies hunger, fills your stomach, aids digestion, makes teeth sparkle, adds color to cheeks and aids sleep. In other words, soup cures most, if not all human ills.

Are soups a good way to save money? ›

It saves on food waste

One side effect of our extremely tight dinner budget is that we are not tempted to buy more food than we can eat in a week. Also, soup is the perfect vehicle to transform leftovers into a delicious second meal.

Are soups cost effective? ›

Soup is the best cozy meal on a warm day, plus, it's usually a cheap way to make a lot of food. Make a big batch for a dinner party, meal-prep lunches or even to stash away in the freezer for an emergency dinner.

Is it cheaper to make your own food or buy it? ›

Cost. Store bought food is usually cheaper than homemade food. For those on a tight budget, this can be an important factor when deciding between the two options. However, it's important to note that the cost of store bought food can add up quickly, so it's still wise to shop around for the best deal.

Is it cheaper to eat out or make your own food? ›

Is It Cheaper to Cook or Eat Out? For those who want a quick and easy answer: It's generally cheaper to cook food at home than eat out.

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