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    Home » Recipes » Recipes

    Published: Sep 22, 2024 · Modified: Nov 1, 2024 by Anina Belle Giannini

    The 15 best French Soup Recipes

    The best 15 French Soup recipes shared on Le Chef's Wife blog. From French Onion Soup Gratinée to Potage aux Légumes. Perfect for Soup Season and a great source of inspiration if you are looking to eat more vegetables and less processed food.

    The French take soup very seriously. Are you feeling a little under the weather? A bowl of soup is the answer. Looking to shed a few kilos? Allez! Soup for dinner. Feeling a chill from the Minstral*? You can already smell a big pot of soup bubbling on the stove.

    a bowl of leek soup with sauteed leeks as a garnish

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    Nutritious and comforting, soups are incredible versatile. I love that they are an important part of children's diets in France but can also be a perfectly appropriate way to start a fancy dinner party (with the right garnish, bien sûr).

    In our family, from the first day of Fall to late into Spring you can find me, on any given weekend, cooking a large cocotte of soup. There is something incredibly homey about a big pot of soup - it is an essential part of any French home cook's repertoire.

    This blog post includes some of my favorite soup recipes that I have been making over the years - recipes that are family favorites and that have become a key part of our #soupsundaychallenge community.

    Soup Sunday Challenge

    Le chef's wife holding a bowl of Magical Leek soup in her kitchen

    #SOUPSUNDAYCHALLENGE

    In January of 2021 I began making a pot of soup, live on instagram, every Sunday. A way to create a sense of warmth and community at a time when we were all so distant from each other.

    That simple action turned into entire movement and I am so honored that I get to continue sharing recipes that bring comfort and joy.

    I like to make several big batches of soup at once – filling up my freezer with healthy, homemade goodness enjoy on busy evenings.

    I would love to see what soups you are making so please share photos with the #soupsundaychallenge or on the facebook group, French Riviera Cuisine . I find it so inspiring to see your favorite recipes!

    The live challenge will return in January 2025. Stay tuned!

    If you are not already signed up for my newsletter, I highly recommend you do! You will be the first to know of any new recipes published and I also share a PDF of my Le Chef's Wife Soup Recipe book

    Sign Up for Le Chef's Wife Newsletter

    Equipment for making Soups:

    A big stockpot - great for making big batches of soup. I use my Le Creuset Marseille Blue 16QT the most. It is the perfect size for making freezer soups as well.

    My 8QT Le Creuset Caribbean Blue Stockpot is ideal for making Potage aux Légumes or boiling pasta.

    Making French Onion Soup? The heavy bottom of a cast iron cocotte is better for the caramelizing onions without burning them!

    The easiest way to purée soups is with an immersion blender - so much neater than pouring soup into a stand blender! This is the Kitchen Aid Immersion Blender set I have used for almost 10 years now.

    A large cutting board that doesn't slide on your counter - making "la mise en place" much easier. I put rubber rings underneath it to secure it from slipping.

    The Best French Soup Recipes

    Here are some of the best French Soup Recipes I have shared on the blog. Click on the link below each photo for the full recipe:

    french onion Soup gratinée in a white bowl with wine

    Le Chef's 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. A perfect meal to serve for for chilly evenings that will bring you right to a bistro in France.

    Read more
    La Soupe de Mamie vegetable soup with an olive oil heart drizzled on top and a fresh baked baguette

    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.

    Read more
    poule au pot - chicken and vegetables in a chicken stock with fresh dill

    La Poule au Pot - the easiest way to cook a whole chicken

    La Poule au Pot is a fancy French chicken soup! Juicy, tender chicken meat that falls off the bone in a delicious, savory broth with big chunks of root vegetables. Delicious and healthy.

    This recipe features Le Chef Sébastien's secret ingredients for making an amazing chicken broth. One of the healthiest recipes you will ever make and a French grandmother's cure all for all ailments!

    Read more
    Ratatouille soup with eggplant, tomatoes, zucchini, summer squash and tomatoes

    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.

    Read more
    a bowl of leek soup with sauteed leeks as a garnish

    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.

    Read more
    vegetarian minestrone with homemade pesto in 2 bowls and a baguette 2

    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!

    Read more
    two bowls butternut squash soup with cream and sage on a table with a fresh baked baguette

    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.

    Read more
    Soupe au Pistou

    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.

    Read more
    Potage aux légumes

    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.

    Read more

    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.

    Read more
    French Lentil Soup

    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.

    Read more
    broccoli and blue cheese soup on a table with blue cheese and bread

    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.

    Read more

    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.

    Read more
    fancy cream of cauliflower soup with roasted cauliflower

    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.

    Read more
    homemade chicken macaroni noodle soup with parmesan and parsley in a bowl

    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.

    Read more
    healthy broccoli and cauliflower soup

    Healthy Broccoli and Cauliflower Soup

    This Broccoli and cauliflower soup is a comforting and filling soup, full of fresh vegetables. This recipe is healthy and light, without dairy, but the texture is creamy and satisfying. A super easy soup to make!

    Read more

    French Onion Soup:

    two bowls of french onion Soup on a table with wine
    Le Chef's French Onion Soup Gratinée

    Le Chef perfected his French onion Soup Gratinée recipe while working at a 3 Michelin star restaurant in the French ski station of Courchevel. We worked together to make it simple for home cooks with no professional culinary training (like myself!) to follow. What makes this recipe unique is that it is chicken stock based for a lighter, more fragrant flavor - the slow steaming of the onions also really brings out their taste. Perfect for cooler temperatures! You can watch our TODAY SHOW  segment featuring the French Onion Soup Gratinée recipe.

    Potage aux Légumes:

    Potage aux légumes
    Super Easy Potage aux Légumes - made with leftover vegetables

    Potage aux Légumes is by far, my most popular recipe on Pinterest. This recipe is super easy to make and even easier to customize using whatever vegetables you have leftover at the end of the week. My number one trick for reducing food waste in our kitchen - turning lackluster vegetables into a delicious, nutritious soup.

    Creamy Butternut Squash Soup with Crispy Sage

    two bowls butternut squash soup with cream and sage on a table with a fresh baked baguette
    Creamy Butternut squash Soup with Crispy Sage

    Creamy Butternut squash Soup with Crispy Sage is wonderful to eat through the week when you are craving a comforting meal but can also be served as the appetizer course at a fancy dinner party. The trick for making the crispy sage garnish is one that you will want to save!

    Magical Leek Soup

    Magical Leek Soup in a bowl with chopped leeks on top.

    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.

    French Lentil Soup

    French Lentil Soup close up
    French Lentil Soup Recipe

    Soupe aux Lentilles , or French Lentil Soup, is made with those dark green Lentilles de Puy. Incredibly healthy for you and also so satisfying. A little bowl is all I need for a full meal. So yummy and freezes great too!

    Pumpkin & Honeynut Squash Soup

    Pumpkin and honeynut squash soup with freshly made baguette
    Pumpkin and Honeynut Squash Soup

    This Pumpkin & Honeynut Squash Soup recipe feels like Fall. All of the fall flavors you love with a surprising hint of rosemary that elevates this recipe to Chef level. Another great recipe to serve when company is coming.

    Provençal Tomato & Basil Soup

    tomato soup with goat cheese tartine
    Simple Provençal Tomato Soup with Goat Cheese Tartines

    A Provençal twist on a classic tomato soup. This Tomato & Basil Soup with Goat Cheese Tartine recipe is exactly what you want to cook on a rainy day. Rich and soothing yet with the delicious addition of fresh basil that makes it absolutely unforgettable.

    La Soupe au Pistou

    Soupe au Pistou
    Soupe au Pistou

    Soupe au Pistou is a Provençal classic! Best enjoyed in the summer when the vegetables are fresh from the garden, but I like to eat this soup all year long. It is a deliciously healthy meal-in-a-bowl that reminds me of the South of France with every garlicky, basil-y bite!

    Broccoli and Blue Cheese Soup

    broccoli and blue cheese soup on a table with blue cheese and bread

    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 at a delicious lunch or dinner party.

    Fancy Cream of Cauliflower:

    fancy cream of cauliflower soup with roasted cauliflower
    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.

    Ratatouille Soup

    You have heard of Ratatouille, right? The classic Provençale dish of baked eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, zucchini & onions made famous by the Disney movie of the same name? Well, before Disney shined a spotlight on Ratatouille, it has been a favorite dish of South of France Grandmothers. In honor of my French Grandmother-in-law, Pierrette, I was inspired to make a soup version of Ratatouille topped with a spoonful of her homemade pesto. What a discovery!

    Ratatouille Soup

    Ratatouille Soup in a bowl made of eggplant, zucchini, tomatoes, parmesan, peppers and onions with homemade pesto
    Ratatouille Soup - my interpretation of the iconic Provençale baked vegetable dish that is full of delicious vegetables and incredibly satisfying.

    La Poule au Pot

    poule au pot - chicken and vegetables in a chicken stock with fresh dill

    La Poule au Pot is a fancy French chicken soup using a whole chicken. Juicy, tender chicken meat that falls off the bone in a delicious, savory broth with big chunks of root vegetables. Delicious and healthy!

    homemade chicken macaroni noodle soup with parmesan and parsley in a bowl

    This cozy homemade chicken macaroni soup is like a warm hug in a bowl. This easy and delicious recipe uses a whole chicken and we make the chicken stock from scratch, so there is no need to add a bouillon cube or store bought chicken stock. The leeks give it a French Grandmother's touch.

    homemade French baguettes piled up on a striped cotton towl
    Baking Baguettes for beginners

    Last but not least, if you haven't tried my Baking Baguettes for Beginners Recipe , it is wonderfully easy and will elevate your homemade soup to the complete French Bistro experience.

    Are there any other soup recipes you would like me to share with you? What is your favorite soup?

    Le Chef's Wife

    Le-Chefs-Wife-logo-final

    ABOUT LE CHEF'S WIFE

    Le Chef's Wife in her kitchen in front of a row of pots and pans with a bowl of Soup

    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 (6 and 4) and I run a marketing company in addition to this blog. I strongly believe that even busy people deserve to eat well at home.

    Look inside our Kitchen with this recent Washington Post Article. We were recently featured on the TODAY SHOW for our recipes of French Onion Soup Gratinée and Moelleux au Chocolat. You can watch our full segment here:

    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!

    Sign Up for Le Chef's Wife Newsletter

    *The Minstral is an icy wind that blows through the South of France in the winter. Surprisingly chilly!

    (This post contains affiliate links - if you purchase from the links I have shared I receive a small commission - at no cost to you! Thank you for supporting my business. )

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kathryn Hutchins says

      April 04, 2023 at 4:05 pm

      There is no link for the Magical Leek soup.

      Reply
      • lechefswife says

        April 05, 2023 at 11:42 am

        Bonjour Kathryn, Thank you so much for the heads up. I have fixed the link. Thank you!

        Reply
    2. Raisa says

      November 27, 2022 at 7:38 pm

      I don’t see the link for the fennel soup? I love making all your soup recipes. Thank you. 💕

      Reply
      • lechefswife says

        November 28, 2022 at 3:53 pm

        Hello Raisa, Thank you so much for your kind comment! I am not sure which recipe you are referring to? I don't have a fennel soup recipe on my blog. Perhaps you are looking for the potage aux legumes : https://lechefswife.com/la-soupe-de-mamie-grandmothers-vegetable-soup/ or else the Leek soup? https://lechefswife.com/magical-leek-soup/ Have a wonderful day!

        Reply

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