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.
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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
#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
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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:
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
French Onion Soup:
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 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
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 - 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
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
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
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 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
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:
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!
La Poule au Pot
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!
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.
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
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 (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!
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*The Minstral is an icy wind that blows through the South of France in the winter. Surprisingly chilly!
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Kathryn Hutchins says
There is no link for the Magical Leek soup.
lechefswife says
Bonjour Kathryn, Thank you so much for the heads up. I have fixed the link. Thank you!
Raisa says
I don’t see the link for the fennel soup? I love making all your soup recipes. Thank you. 💕
lechefswife says
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!