My Favorite Vegetable Soup Recipe | Gimme Some Oven (2024)

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My favorite vegetable soup recipe that’s easy to make and full offresh veggies. Perfect for when you need to hit the reset button after the holidays, vacation, or anytime you’re craving some light and healthy comfort food.

My Favorite Vegetable Soup Recipe | Gimme Some Oven (1)

Meet my favorite, modern, feel-good vegetable soup recipe.♡♡♡

For years and years, it has been the soup I’ve turned to anytime I’m craving a healthy reset. Because really, it’s just one huge pot of nutritious veggies!

I tend to use a base mix of sweet potatoes, red pepper, carrots, celery and baby spinach in my veggie soup. But this is a fantastic recipe for cleaning out the crisper drawer, so feel free to add in whatever fresh (or frozen!) soup-friendly veggies that you happen to have on hand. Thisveggie soup recipe also features a simple tomato-herb broth that is made with everyday pantry essentials, so it’s easy to whip up on the fly. I also prefer to make this soup without the usual pasta, beans, or meat add-ins, which keeps it nice and light yet still plenty hearty and filling. But mostly, I just love this soup because it’sso cozy and delicious.

It’s the perfect recipe to help you get back on track after a vacation, the holidays, or anytime you need some extra veggies in your life. So round up whatever veggies happen to be hanging out in your kitchen right now, and let’s make some vegetable soup!

My Favorite Vegetable Soup Recipe | Gimme Some Oven (2)

Vegetable Soup Ingredients:

To make this vegetable soup recipe, you will need the following ingredients:

  • Olive oil:To sauté the veggies.
  • Veggies:I used a mix of onion, carrots, celery, sweet potato and garlic. But feel free to add in whatever fresh or frozen chopped veggies that you have on hand.
  • Veggie stock:Or you could also use chicken or beef stock, if you prefer.
  • Diced tomatoes:I used two cans of fire-roasted diced tomatoes (with their juices).
  • Pepperoncini peppers:I added in some roughly-chopped pepperoncini peppers to give this soup some extra tang and a mild spicy kick. But feel free to add in a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes instead, if you prefer, or omit the peppers entirely.
  • Italian seasoning:I opted for dried Italian seasoning, because it’s easy and I always have it on hand. But feel free to add in chopped fresh Italian herbs (such as basil, rosemary, thyme, oregano, etc.) instead if you’d like.
  • Greens:I added in some baby spinach as my greens, but kale or chard would also be delicious.
  • Salt and pepper:Don’t forget to season your soup!
  • Optional garnishes:Most of the time, we just eat this soup plain. But feel free to sprinkle some fresh herbs or Parmesan on top, if you’d like.

Full ingredient amounts/instructions listed in the recipe below.

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Stovetop Vegetable Soup:

To make this homemade vegetable soup recipe on the stovetop, simply…

  1. Heat oil in a large stockpot over medium-high heat. Add onion and sauté for 4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add garlic, carrots and celery and sauté for 5 more minutes, stirring occasionally.
  2. Add veggie stock, tomatoes, sweet potato, bell pepper, pepperoncini peppers and Italian seasoning. Stir to combine.
  3. Continue cooking until the soup reaches a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and continue to simmer for 10-15 minutes, or until the sweet potatoes are tender.
  4. Stir in the spinach. Season the soup with salt and pepper, to taste.
  5. Serve warm, topped with any garnishes that sound good.

Crockpot Vegetable Soup:

To make crockpot vegetable soup, simply…

  1. Combine all ingredients (minus the spinach and garnishes) in the bowl of a large slow cooker. Stir to combine. Cover and cook on high for 3 hours or on low for 5-6 hours, until the potatoes are tender.
  2. Remove the lid and stir in the spinach. Season the soup with salt and pepper, to taste.
  3. Serve warm, topped with any garnishes that sound good.

Instant PotVegetable Soup:

To make Instant Pot vegetable soup, simply…

  1. Combine all ingredients (minus the spinach and garnishes) in the bowl of an electric pressure cooker. Stir to combine. Cover with the lid, set the valve to “sealing”, and cook on high pressure for 15 minutes, followed by a quick release.
  2. Remove the lid and stir in the spinach. Season the soup with salt and pepper*, to taste.
  3. Serve warm, topped with any garnishes that sound good.

My Favorite Vegetable Soup Recipe | Gimme Some Oven (4)

Possible Variations:

Want to customize your own homemade vegetable soup recipe? Feel free to:

  • Use different veggies:As mentioned above, feel free to add in whatever other soup-friendly fresh or frozen veggies that you have on hand. Some of my other favorites include zucchini, squash, cauliflower, green beans, asparagus, broccoli and/or Yukon gold potatoes.
  • Use fresh herbs. If you would like to use fresh instead of dried Italian herbs, I would recommend a large sprig of fresh rosemary plus a few small sprigs of fresh thyme. Then you can always garnish with some chopped fresh basil and/or parsley.
  • Add meat. If you would like to add meat to this soup, shredded chicken, ground beef or Italian sausage would also be delicious.
  • Add beans. Feel free to also add in a can of (rinsed and drained) beans if you would like some extra protein. Lentils would also be delicious in this soup.
  • Add pasta. If you would like to add pasta to this soup, feel free to add in your favorite shape of pasta noodles. (You will need to add in extra broth/seasonings accordingly.)
  • Make it spicier. Add extra pepperoncini peppers and/or some extra crushed red chile flakes.

My Favorite Vegetable Soup Recipe | Gimme Some Oven (5)

More Healthy Soup Recipes:

Looking for more healthy soup inspiration? Here are a few more of my favorite healthy soup recipes…

  • Cozy Autumn Wild Rice Soup
  • Butternut Squash Soup
  • Mexican Chicken Lentil Soup
  • Lemony Orzo Chickpea Soup
  • Thai Chicken Wild Rice Soup
  • Can’t-Believe-It’s-Vegetarian Chili
Print

My Favorite Vegetable Soup Recipe | Gimme Some Oven (6)

Vegetable Soup Recipe

★★★★★5 from 6 reviews

  • Prep Time: 20 mins
  • Cook Time: 25 mins
  • Total Time: 45 mins
  • Yield: 6-8 servings 1x
Print Recipe

Ingredients

Scale

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 white or yellow onion, peeled and diced
  • 3 large cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 carrots, diced
  • 2 celery stalks, diced
  • 4 cups vegetable stock
  • 2 (15-ounce) cans diced fire-roasted tomatoes(with their juices)
  • 1 large sweet potato, peeled and diced into 1-cm cubes
  • 1 bell pepper, cored and diced
  • 1/4 cup chopped pepperoncini peppers*
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • 2 large handfuls baby spinach
  • fine sea salt and freshly-cracked black pepper
  • optional garnishes: chopped fresh parsley or basil, freshly-grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

  1. Heat oil in a large stockpot over medium-high heat. Add onion and sauté for 4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add garlic, carrots and celery and sauté for 5 more minutes, stirring occasionally.
  2. Add veggie stock, tomatoes, sweet potato, bell pepper, pepperoncini peppers and Italian seasoning. Stir to combine.
  3. Continue cooking until the soup reaches a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and continue to simmer for 10-15 minutes, or until the sweet potatoes are tender.
  4. Stir in the spinach. Season the soup with salt and pepper*, to taste.
  5. Serve warm, topped with any garnishes that sound good.

Notes

*Pepperoncini Peppers:Feel free to sub in a pinch of crushed red chili flakes in places of the pepperoncini peppers if you would like. Or, you can just leave the peppers out entirely.

*Salt and Pepper:As a ballpark, I used about 1 teaspooneach of fine sea salt and coarse-cracked black pepper for my soup. But as always, add your desired amount of S&P to taste.

*Storage Instructions:This soup can be refrigerated in a sealed container for up to 3 days, or frozen for up to 3 months.

posted on October 7, 2019 by Ali

Dairy-free, Freezer-Friendly, Gluten-free, Italian-Inspired, Main Dishes, Make-Ahead, Mediterranean-Inspired, Soups / Stews, Vegan, Vegetarian

14 Comments »

My Favorite Vegetable Soup Recipe | Gimme Some Oven (2024)

FAQs

What can I add to my vegetable soup to give it more flavor? ›

A squeeze of citrus, a dollop of yogurt or a drizzle of cream, a dusting of cheese or a good chile powder, a sprinkling of some herbs or croutons — all can take a perfectly fine soup into the realm of the delectable. Even a spiral of good olive oil to finish and some coarse sea salt can do wonders.

What gives vegetable soup that depth of flavor? ›

Tips for Flavorful Vegetable Soup

Flavor the base: We add Italian seasoning and tomato paste to the aromatics and warm them up to bring the seasonings back to life. You could use fresh herbs like thyme or rosemary, or even add a Parmesan rind for more flavor.

What is the secret ingredient in soup? ›

It may sound a bit strange and unusual for some, but vinegar is a common ingredient in some soup recipes, and there is a good reason for it. If you think about it, vinegar is really a flavor-enhancer (umami). That's why it is so often used in cooking, sauces, and salad dressings. The same is true with soups.

Why does my vegetable soup have no flavor? ›

Similar to searing meat, try roasting your vegetables before adding them to the soup. This gives them a little bit of char and concentrates their flavor, giving the soup a more complex taste. Try making an easy roasted root vegetable soup with squash, potatoes, carrots, and any other vegetables you like.

How to deepen the flavor of soup? ›

"Ground paprika, turmeric, nutmeg, ground ginger, and other powdered spices add a touch of color and spiciness to broths," she says. As a general rule, use fresh herbs at or near the end of cooking and dried herbs and spices early on. This helps you get the flavors you're looking for in the right balance.

What thickens vegetable soup? ›

Add flour or cornflour

Put a tablespoon of either into a small bowl and stir in 2-3 tbsp of the soup until you have a smooth mixture. Stir this back into the soup and bring it to a simmer. Cook for a few minutes to allow the starch granules to burst to thicken, and to cook out any flour flavour.

Why do chefs put vinegar in soup? ›

Think of vinegar as the conductor of an orchestra. It can take a cacophony of flavors and sync them into perfect harmony. It both balances and awakens them. Plus, if you accidentally add too much salt to your soup, a little vinegar will tame the saltiness.

Why add vinegar to vegetable soup? ›

Apple cider vinegar or lemon juice: I love adding a bit of vinegar or fresh lemon juice before serving this soup. It brightens all the flavors and makes them pop.

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 not to put in soup? ›

The Worst Things to Put in Your Soup
  1. By Sara Butler. If there's one good thing about fall and winter, it's soup. ...
  2. Heavy Cream. Heavy cream creates an inviting texture for soups but that's where its positive contributions end. ...
  3. Juice. ...
  4. Turkey Bacon. ...
  5. Cheese. ...
  6. Croutons.

How to liven up vegetable soup? ›

Smooth vegetable soups always welcome some extra veg at the end, Mendes says – he suggests finely dicing some more of the veg you used as the base for the soup, then mix it with fresh herbs and lemon zest and spoon on top. “Or blitz raw cauliflower or broccoli into 'couscous', season and add herbs,” he adds.

What gives soup rich flavor? ›

You can extract a clean, strong broth from a combination of water and several pantry ingredients. It's all about layering powerful flavor-enhancers that you probably already have on hand—bacon, tomato paste, herbs, peppercorns, a Parmesan rind, and, of course, kosher salt.

How to spice up a can of vegetable soup? ›

The Best Spices for Vegetable Soup
  1. Black Pepper – Probably the second most commonly used spice in your cabinet. ...
  2. White Pepper – Slightly milder than black pepper. ...
  3. Red Pepper Flakes – Use these alone or in conjunction with other peppers for a burst of flavor and heat.
  4. Cayenne – For a deeper spice and heat.
Jul 11, 2023

How can I enhance the flavor of my vegetables? ›

Grilling and roasting are excellent ways to heighten the natural flavor of vegetables. Ingredients like carrots, Brussels sprouts, parsnips, and beets become sweeter and caramelized after roasting, while throwing slices of eggplant, zucchini, and bell pepper on the grill will bring out a smokier taste.

How do you enhance vegetable broth? ›

Add bright, fresh flavor to vegetable broth

Just warm up the broth, toss in some parsley, cilantro, tarragon, sage, thyme, or a combination, and let the broth steep like tea for several minutes before fishing the herbs out. Don't boil fresh herbs in broth, though, or they could make the stock bitter.

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