Why a Soup Party Is the best way to bring friends together this season.
Looking for a fun and informal way to bring friends and family together? Look no further than a soup party. In this blog post I will share tips on how to host your own soup party - whether it is a soup potluck (highly recommend) or you are putting on the full spread.
I recently was invited to a soup party potluck at a neighbor's house and it was one of the best evenings ever. The evening quickly became about much more than the soup. The food was warm and comforting and a reflection of each person's background. We all got to know eachother better and were left with a feeling of connection that stayed with us.
This is truly the perfect time of year for soup party. Whether you host a relaxed soup swap with friends or a simple soup buffet for visiting guests, it is a great way to bring people together for good conversation and delicious soups. Scroll to the end for my favorite Soup recipes.
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Soup Party Friendsgiving
Soup lovers adore this type of party because it is easy to prepare in advance, perfect for a crowd, and much fun. You can offer different soups, honor dietary restrictions, and still enjoy enough soup leftovers the next day. It is the perfect way to celebrate the season.
If you have read this far and are wondering why I am so excited about soups...welcome. I am so glad you are here. I have been hosting yearly soup challenges every January since 2021 and feature over 30 soup recipes on this blog... including an incredible recipe for French Onion soup Gratinée that I cooked on the Today Show!
Make sure to sign up for Le Chef's Wife Newsletter to gain access to the next Soup Sunday Challenge and receive a free Soup Recipe E-book.
Martha Stewart Says Soup Parties are back!
If Martha says it... you know it is a thing! Martha Stewart first wrote about the virtues of hosting a Soup Party in her very first cookbook "Entertaining", published in 1982 and then recently was featured on the Today Show where she shared with Carson Daly the advantages of creating an elegant soup buffet with matching soup tureens and condiments for visiting guests around the holidays.
I love Martha. Truly I do. But my favorite thing about any gathering is the connections made between guests - the memories that linger and truly make our lives better.
Soup Party Potluck
My friend, Kim, recently hosted a much less formal style Soup Party Potluck for 10 neighbors where each person brought a soup to the party. She printed out pretty menus (very Martha) but the real magic was when each person got up to present their soup. Each soup had a story that was near and dear to them. Because soup always does, doesn't it? We learned of Grandmothers, great Aunts, cultural heritage and roommates in college. We travelled from France to Indonesia and from Ukraine to Colombia and then back again.
So while hosting your own soup party is a beautiful and fun way to host - getting your guests to share in on the fun was a true winner in my book.
Setting the Scene for a Cozy Soup Party
Soup suppers are meant to be warm and welcoming. Think easy elegance over formality.
- Use mismatched thrift store bowls or your favorite small bowls. Or, you can ask your friends to bring small bowls too! The key is that they must be small - there will be a lot of soup!
- Add a punch bowl of warm apple cider or holiday punch as a festive centerpiece.
- Arrange simple place settings with linen napkins and candles or invite your guests to wander, cocktail style, with their small bowls of soup - this is great for creating casual conversations and a great flow of the evening.
- Create a toppings bar area with baguette slices and room for condiments (in the potluck form each brings the condiment that matches their soup)
- Lay out some nibbles that are not soup for variety. A charcuterie board, some olive tapenade and toasts, a cheese board and crackers or simply a crudité platter for varied textures and flavors.
If your guest list includes friends from different circles, consider creating a Facebook event or Whatsapp group. It makes coordinating different types of soup and dietary restrictions simple.
What You Need to Host Your Own Soup Party
You do not need fancy equipment to host a soup party. Most soups can simmer beautifully in:
- A large pot *
- Dutch ovens
- A slow cooker or crock pot (ideal for transporting soups and keeping them hot too!)
- A stock pot
- A large saucepan
Prepare soups on medium heat, medium-high heat, or low heat depending on the recipe. Keep your pots warm throughout the night so guests can sample soup as they mingle.
Crockpots are the true workhorses of a soup party potluck as they allow the soup to stay nice and hot, even when they are off the stove. With more than a couple soups stove space is at an absolute premium.
Make sure to have a ladle or a serving spoon for each soup. For the soup potluck we rinsed our bowls between each soup serving and that worked great as we kept the same bowl through the night.
Tip: Ask the guest who brought each soup to serve it and present it. It truly added an incredible warmth to the evening where we all got to know eachother better through our shared soup stories.
*this post contains affiliate links - by clicking on the link I receive a small commission, at no cost to you, only if you purchase.
Encouraging Guest Participation
A soup party is a perfect way to get guests involved.
For a soup swap:
Invite guests to bring a different recipe of soup in mason jars so everyone can take home a sample soup collection for the week.
Don't forget to ask for more than soup!
Guests that don't want to bring a pot of soup can help with:
- Cheese and crackers
- Charcuterie
- Crudités or veggies and dip
- Cut up fruit
- Dessert
- Wine, beer or a signature mocktail.
How many soups to serve at a Soup Party?
If you are hosting your own soup party and making all the soups I would suggest 3-4 soups in total.
If you are hosting a Soup Party Potluck I would recommend 5-7 soups in total. More than that and everyone gets full too quickly! Remember, guests can bring other things besides soup too.
Which order to serve soups
Like a tasting menu at a restaurant, I recommend progressing from lighter to heavier soups.
Starting with the lighter vegetable soups such as Butternut Squash Soup, Potage aux Légumes or Ratatouille Soup. Then progress to chunkier chicken or pork soups (Chicken Leek and Potato or Italian Sausage and Kale Soup), finishing with hearty beef or cheesy soups such as French Onion Soup Gratinée or a Chili.
Sample Timeline for Your Fall Soup Party Potluck
One to Two Weeks Before
Create your guest list and select your type of party . Share the menu so guests can choose different types of soup that compliment each other.
Two Days Before
Shop for ingredients and make your soup. Most soups take little time to prepare and are better the next day.
Morning Of
Prepare toppings, slice baguettes, chill drinks, and warm soups on low heat. This leaves space to enjoy your own party. Set up the different stations.
Welcome Guests
Offer small bowls so everyone can sample each soup.
End of the Night
Send guests home with mason jars of their favorite soups. This is a great way to let the memory of the evening linger and makes everyone feel cared for.
Creative Party Ideas
There are endless ways to personalize a Fall or Winter soup party.
- Feature different types of soup from France such as chestnuts soup or pumpkin soup.
- Host a monthly soup group where friends bring a new recipe to try.
- Add a small dessert station that does not require extra work, like chocolate truffles or sliced fruit.
Whatever you choose, the goal is warmth and connection.
Why Soup Parties Bring People Together
At the heart of a soup party is love. A steaming bowl of soup feels like comfort, welcome, and generosity all at once. It invites people to slow down and enjoy the moment.
Hosting a fall soup party is the perfect way to honor this time of year. With a few pots on the stove, simple place settings, and warm apple cider, you can create a dinner party that warms the heart and that your guests will talk about it long after the bowls are washed.
If you are hosting your own soup party and making all the soups I would suggest 3-4 soups in total.
If you are hosting a Soup Party Potluck I would recommend 5-6 soups in total. More than that and everyone gets full too quickly! Remember, guests can bring other things besides soup too.
Like a tasting menu at a restaurant, I recommend progressing from lighter to heavier soups.
Starting with the lighter vegetable soups such as Butternut Squash Soup or Ratatouille Soup. Then progress to chunkier chicken or pork soups (Chicken Leek and Potato or Italian Sausage and Kale Soup), finishing with hearty beef or cheesy soups such as French Onion Soup Gratinée or a Chili.
While soup is the obvious choice - you can only have so many soups! Ask the host if they would also like :Cheese and crackers, Crudités or veggies and dip, Cut up fruit, Dessert, Wine, beer or a signature mocktail.
Soup Recipes for Inspiration for a Soup Party
Here are some of my favorite Soup recipes from lechefswife.com to reference for your next soup party.
Potage aux Légumes (French Vegetable Soup)
Potage aux légumes is a French vegetable soup that has been blended until there are no visible chunks left. Nourishing and flavorful, a good potage is a great way to eliminate food waste and also a French woman's secret weapon for keeping slim.
Simple Provençal Tomato Soup with Goat Cheese Tartines
This Simple Provençal Tomato Soup with Goat Cheese Tartines is a family favorite and gives a South of France spin to the American Classic. Adding basil pesto (or fresh basil if it is in season) to the soup at the last minute brings a brightness to the dish that harkens Provence. Paired with a thick slice of garlicky grilled baguette, slathered with creamy, tangy goat cheese and you have the perfect morsel to dunk, over and over again.
Magical Leek Soup
Magical Leek Soup - the French woman's diet secret, as referenced in "Emily in Paris". Le Chef's Wife twist on the recipe is delicious and family friendly. It tastes like comfort food yet is incredibly healthy for you. Vegan and gluten free. Tasty and pretty enough to be served at a dinner party.
Honeynut and Pumpkin Soup with Rosemary
The flavors of pumpkin, honeynut squash and rosemary blend absolutely beautifully together. The soup has an alluring, autumnal deep orange color and a decadent and gourmet "je ne sais quoi" with the addition of rosemary. Serve this dish and I can guarantee you will impress...even if it is just yourself.
Soupe au Pistou
La Soupe au Pistou is a hearty yet summery vegetarian bean soup packed with mixed vegetables, pasta and LOTS of basil. The perfect meal in a bowl , ideal meal prep to get you through the week.
Tomato Soup Gratinée
This version of Tomato Soup Gratinée, takes the American classic Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese combo to a whole new level. Creamy tomato soup topped with grilled baguette and mozzarella - gratinéed in the oven like a French Onion Soup Gratinée. The best of both worlds that you need to try now. The cheese pull
Fancy Cream of Cauliflower Soup
Here is a fancy French twist on a classic cream of cauliflower soup that you can make at home today. The roast cauliflower topping, tossed with almond slivers, espelette pepper and flat parsley elevate an everyday dish to a delicious French restaurant-quality experience. The variance of textures are amazing and this dish is satisfying enough to be a meatless meal for your family.
La Soupe de Mamie - Grandmother's Vegetable Soup
Fresh, seasonal vegetables from the market, blended with just a pinch of salt. The true flavor of the vegetables is elevated and you get a creamy, nourishing soup, perfect for dipping a crust of French Baguette into. Serve with a wheel of cheese if you fancy.
Best Broccoli and Blue Cheese Soup
This Broccoli and Blue Cheese soup is a creamy, comforting soup with a just a bite of blue cheese that adds a certain "je ne sais quoi" to the dish. Simple enough to be made on a week night, but special enough to serve for a dinner party.
Italian Chicken Sausage, White Bean & Kale Soup
Italian chicken sausage, white bean and kale soup is a meal in a bowl that is as comforting as a big bowl of pasta. Healthy, packed full of veggies, easy to make and freezes well. One of my favorite go-to soups that my family loves!
Ratatouille soup with homemade pesto
Ratatouille soup with homemade pesto is very healthy and delicious vegetarian soup that tastes of Provence with peppers, tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini and onions.
Creamy Butternut squash Soup with Crispy Sage
This creamy butternut squash soup with crispy sage garnish is warm & comforting. Simple to cook yet impressive to serve, just as I love! The crispy sage garnish and subtle taste of sage in the soup elevates the dish so that it is fancy enough to serve for a dinner party.
French Onion Soup Gratinée
I Love EVERYTHING about Le Chef's French Onion Soup Gratinée. The rich, comforting broth. The ooey-gooey cheese pull. The dash of whiskey.
French Lentil Soup Recipe
This French Lentil Soup recipe is surprisingly easy and quick to make. 10 minutes of prep time, 45 minutes of simmering time and you have a delicious, hearty meal in a bowl to enjoy throughout the week. Ideal for meal prep, this soup freezes very well and can be repurposed into a variety of dishes.
Homemade Chicken Stock
Turn your Roast Chicken Dinner into French Onion Soup Gratinée or Chicken Soup with leeks and potatoes the next day!
Chicken Macaroni Soup
This cozy homemade chicken macaroni soup is like a warm hug in a bowl. This easy recipe uses a whole chicken to make the broth from scratch.
Chicken, Leek & Potato Soup
Looking for a quick and healthy, yet flavorful, meal in a bowl that is as comforting as a hug from Grandmaman? This Chicken, leek and potato soup is for you!
The aroma from the kitchen will call your family to the table. There is nothing more cozy on a cold day than this hearty soup.
Vegetarian Minestrone soup with homemade Pesto
Minestrone soup with homemade pesto is a meatless meal-in-a-bowl full of yummy veggies, packed with flavor and very satisfying. A vegetarian meal that the whole family will love!
Le Chef's Wife Minestrone
This chunky, meal-in-a-bowl soup is the ultimate, satisfying healthy dish. Le Chef's Wife Minestrone recipe is a staple for freezer meal batch cooking.
Healthy 3 Bean Turkey Chili
The first time I ever made this Healthy 3 Bean Turkey Chili I was surprised at just how easy it was. With just 10 minutes of prep time you can have a big pot of fragrant Chili bubbling away on the stove.
Easy Spring Asparagus Soup Recipe
Easy spring asparagus soup recipe. Flavorful and rich, no cream needed. 4 main ingredients: Asparagus, potatoes, onion and garlic. Bon Appétit!
Au plaisir,
Le Chef's Wife
All About Le Chef's Wife
Bonjour! I am Anina Belle. I translate the fancy cooking of my Michelin-star trained French Chef Husband, Le Chef, into easy to make dishes that busy people with no culinary training (like me!) can make at home. We have two young kids (8 and 5) and I run a marketing company and a non-profit in addition to this blog. I strongly believe that even busy people deserve to eat well at home.
I share our home cooking on Instagram, pinterest and tiktok. Sign up for my newsletter to be the first to receive my new recipes and have advance access to cooking classes. I look forward to cooking with you!
We were featured on the TODAY SHOW for our recipes of French Onion Soup Gratinée and Moelleux au Chocolat. You can watch our full segment here:
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