With hundreds of 5-star ratings, this really is the best homemade Vegetable Soup! Perfect for a healthy, hearty lunch or dinner. Made with good for you, fiber-rich ingredients like kidney beans, carrots and tomatoes. Super comforting, easy to make on the stovetop in under an hour, and so flavorful. Everyone asks for the recipe!
Let's hug over bowls of steamy vegetable soup with huge hunks of seedy sourdough! Cuz everyone needs a legit soup recipe in their back pocket and this is yours (we're clapping).
What makes a perfect vegetable soup, you ask? She's simple to make, bursting at the seams with colorful veggies, and just what the doctor ordered. I know cuz I'm the [self-proclaimed] soup queen!
Whether you've caught a winter bug, you've moved on from creamy soups, or you're simply craving liquid nourishment, this recipe is the answer. So many veggies! All the herbs! A good squeeze of lemon! Oh my.
So what's in it?
I love that a bowl of this magic boasts 8 grams of filling fiber, 7g of plant protein, and oodles of disease-fighting antioxidants from all the veggie. Filling indeed!
- Olive oil: A bit of fat adds richness to the soup.
- Mirepoix: A mix of onion, celery, and carrot builds our flavor base.
- Garlic: Lots of fresh garlic to flavor our soup. There's a time and a place for garlic powder but here ain't it!
- Potatoes: For a hearty texture addition and to give the soup staying power. I like Russet because they hold their texture.
- Kidney beans: A nice pop of color, texture, and plant protein. Chickpeas also work.
- Italian seasoning: An easy way to add a lot of crave-worthy flavor.
- Canned diced tomatoes: To add amazing umami flavor, plus a concentrated source of the antioxidant lycopene!
- Corn: A nice dose of yellow color and subtle sweetness. I use frozen.
- Broth: Broth is great for flavoring soup (I always have a jar of Better than Bouillon in the fridge). I use vegetable broth but you could also use chicken broth.
- Lemon: I love the bright acidity lemon adds to make the soup really pop.
- Parsley: A pop of fresh herbs to bring the soup to life.
Let's make it!
Make the onions sweat.
Add garlic, carrots, celery and potatoes and cook 5 more minutes.
Add Italian seasoning and cook another minute.
Add broth, water, corn, beans, tomatoes, and bay leaves. Yum!
Bring to a boil. Simmer covered over low heat for 35 minutes, or until veggies are tender. Stir in the parsley and lemon and season to taste.
You can use a slew of veg!
I'm so glad you asked, because the world is your oyster!
- Frozen peas or corn: Adds subtle sweetness and color. Canned or frozen work well. No need to defrost.
- Green beans: Always a fun classic vegetable soup addition!
- Parsnip: Sweet and full of texture.
- Zucchini: A great addition in the summer when it's in season.
- Shiitake mushrooms: If you're looking for extra umami.
- Cauliflower or broccoli: For some body and nutrients galore.
- Bell peppers: Lovely flavor and color.
- Spinach: A handful of leafy greens is always a good idea.
- Fresh basil: Another flavorful warm weather addition.
Serve it like a boss
We've got options, people! I garnished my bowls with a drizzle of quality extra virgin olive oil for extra richness. A big squeeze of fresh lemon juice (I keep pronouncing it lee-MONE in my brain) is always encouraged.
And lettuce not forget a sprinkle of fresh parsley. If you're a lucky duck with Parmesan on hand, you better go there.
Lastly, hunks of bread. Did I mention my love for bread?
If you have leftovers...
Leftover soup stored in an air-tight container in the refrigerator will last up to 4 days.
To freeze, place cooled soup in a freezer baggie. Tightly seal bag and remove air. Lay flat in the freezer for easy storage and store for up to 3 months.
Once frozen, you can thaw it overnight in the refrigerator and then reheat it over the stove or in the microwave.
Please let me know how this yummiest vegetable soup recipe turns out for you by leaving a star rating and/or comment! I hope you’re as obsessed as I am.
PrintYummiest Veggie-Loaded Vegetable Soup
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 45 mins
- Total Time: 55 mins
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
With hundreds of 5-star ratings, this really is the best homemade Vegetable Soup! Perfect for a healthy, hearty lunch or dinner. Made with good for you, fiber-rich ingredients like kidney beans, carrots and tomatoes. Super comforting, easy to make on the stovetop in under an hour, and so flavorful. Everyone asks for the recipe!
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 large onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 medium carrots, diced
- 3 stalks celery, diced
- 2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced (I use Russet)
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 4 cups vegetable broth + 1 cup water (I like Better Than Bouillon)
- 2 15oz cans diced tomatoes
- 1 cup corn kernels (I used frozen)
- 1 15oz can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 bay leaf
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice, or to taste
- 1 ½ tsp kosher salt, or to taste + freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large dutch oven over medium-low heat. Once hot, add onion and 1 tsp kosher salt and cook for 5 minutes, stirring often. Add garlic, carrots, celery, and potatoes and cook for 5 more minutes, stirring often. Add Italian seasoning and cook for 1 more minute.
- Add broth, water, tomatoes, corn, beans, bay leaf, and several grinds of black pepper. Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat to low and simmer, covered, until the vegetables are tender, about 35 minutes.
- Remove from heat and stir in parsley and lemon juice. Remove bay leaf and season to taste with salt (don't be shy, I added lots of salt!) and pepper. Serve hot with crusty bread.
Notes
Instant Pot: Place all ingredients except lemon and parsley in the Instant Pot. Cook on high pressure for 7 minutes. Let the pressure release manually for 10 minutes then quick release any remaining pressure. Season to taste with salt then stir in lemon juice and parsley.
Slow cooker: Place all ingredients except the parsley and lemon juice in the slow cooker and cook for 6 hours on low heat or 3 hours on high heat. Stir in parsley and lemon at the end once the veggies are tender.
Kathleen Wynne says
Where does all the sodium come from. Looks like a wonderful soup to make til I saw over 1000 MG of sodium per serving.
Alexis Joseph, MS, RD says
The broth, a little from the beans, and the added 1 1/2 tsp salt. Feel free to use low sodium broth and only salt to taste—-soups (especially ones with potatoes) require a lot of salt for flavor. I love salt but you can totally adjust according to your preferences!
Jim Gramprie says
Yes, Excellent, Excellent!! We’ve made this several times. Guests frequently request the recipe. I add torn up kale leaves.
YUM
Alexis Joseph, MS, RD says
Perfect, thanks Jim!
Michelle Page says
Just what the family needed when we were feeling under the weather. Added some bok choy and a little fresh ginger. This is a delicious recipe!
Alexis Joseph, MS, RD says
Perfection, thanks friend!
Jennifer Meyerovitz says
My 10 year old is a self-professed Vegetarian and as. the cold weather moves in I was looking for a tasty soup for her. I followed this recipe almost to the letter. I started this broth with 3 cups of liquid, not 4 (but Better Than Boullion for 4c.) I did add to it about 2 Tablespoons of dry Quinoa and 4 TBSP of raw soaked Red Lentils to sneak a little more goodness in (I'll add a little more into each batch until my Little notices "too much" of those ingredients she thinks she doesn't like). I added in 3 handfuls of No-Yolks extra wide dumpling noodles. in the last 5 minutes of cooking. I added salt to taste and 1 (28 0z, diced tomato can) can of water as the noodles had soaked up some of the broth. Served with oyster crackers. My Little mentioned "too much celery and carrots" but the bowl was empty when she was done.
This soup is SPECTAULAR! So flavorful & hearty it's hard to believe it's meatless! I cooked it in my cast iron dutch oven (not glazed) so it's been infused naturally with IRON.
I got sugar snap peas to add and will toss some cubes of tofu in future batches, but this is a perfect soup. Little asked for this soup to be sent to school for lunch, so today it's packed and ready with a fresh Quick Bread roll & apple slices.
Thank you!
Alexis Joseph, MS, RD says
Oh wow, this is so great! How fun that your kiddo requested it for lunch, too 🙂 Yay for more iron and making this your own!
Gil Redsky says
This recipe is an ease to execute and the result is truly the yummiest vegetable soup you could ever hope for.. I added zucchini and green beans
and had a wonderful mea!.
Alexis Joseph, MS, RD says
Yay thank you so much, love the veg additions!
Katy says
This was a fantastic base and I went above and beyond and added mushrooms, zucchini, and shredded chicken (already baked). It was so good and I appreciated the recipe 😀
Alexis Joseph, MS, RD says
Oh wow, what amazing additions! Thanks for letting me know how you made it your own, Kathy!
Heidi says
Health & adaptable!
Alexis Joseph, MS, RD says
Love it!
Christie says
SO yummy. A family favourite. Even my toddler gobbles it up!
Alexis Joseph, MS, RD says
Love this for your fam!
Sandy Bachman says
Delicious! Added cannellini beans as I didn’t have dark kidney beans. Added in some zucchini and cabbage that I had, and a pinch of crushed red pepper for a little kick, So healthy and absolutely delicious!
Alexis Joseph, MS, RD says
Ohhh cabbage, yummy! Thanks, Sandy!