The best meal-in-a-bowl vegetable soup recipes for Autumn

Ready for soup season?! Check out this list of the best vegetable soup recipes to warm you from the inside this Autumn.

Autumn may be the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness, but to me it will always be the season of soup!

As the days shorten, the temperatures fall, and the weather takes a turn for the wetter. And what’s required is a bowl of piping hot vegetable soup! It’s a delicious and comforting way to ease the transition from Summer into Autumn.

From the glorious fragrance that fills your home as it cooks, to the moment you settle down with a steaming bowl of cosy deliciousness. Making and eating soup is a perfect Autumn activity!

No accompaniment required

My favourite vegetable soups are those that need little or no accompaniment to make a whole meal. These vegetable soup recipes contain grains, beans, pulses, or pasta (or all of the above) as well as chunky vegetables. Some may even veer dangerously close to ‘stew’ territory! But if you can eat it from a bowl with a spoon, then it’s a soup in my book.

Less waste, more taste

Chunky soups can be a great way to use up odds and ends of veg, finish off half-used bags of pulses and grains, and even clear out bits and pieces from the freezer that aren’t quite enough to make a whole meal. Some of my best vegetable soups over the years have been ‘clear out’ soups – never the same twice! As well as helping to avoid waste, they also make thrifty family meals. So you can feel extra smug as you enjoy a hot and delicious bowlful.

Vegetable soup recipes

All of the vegetable soup recipes here are rib-sticking, ‘meal-in-a-bowl’ types that will warm you up from inside on the coldest and wettest of Autumn days. Close the curtains, light the fire, and snuggle up with a comforting bowl or mug of one of these delightful soups.

The best vegetable soup recipes for Autumn (and beyond!)

Sweet and sour cabbage and tomato soup with rice

Sweet and sour cabbage and tomato soup with rice is a chunky, filling and delicious bowlful, with all the flavour of classic stuffed cabbage rolls (holishkes). Serve it chunky or blend till smooth – it’s great either way!

Sweet and sour cabbage and tomato soup with rice

This delicious vegan cabbage & tomato soup with rice is substantial enough to be a meal in itself. A wonderfully comforting recipe.

Check out this recipe

Chunky mushroom soup with freekeh

This filling vegan mushroom soup is rich and delicious. The freekeh gives it a lovely smoky flavour and a wonderful texture.

Mushroom soup with freekeh

Rich, thick mushroom soup with smoky freekah. Chunky and filling, this vegan soup is a real family favourite.

Check out this recipe

Roasted butternut squash and red lentil soup

Thick, rich and creamy, this gorgeous mildly spiced soup has a vibrant colour and a wonderful naturally sweet flavour. Serve with some buttered toast for a lovely Autumn supper.

Roasted butternut squash and red lentil soup

A lightly spiced, deliciously hearty soup, perfect for the colder months.

Check out this recipe

Roasted cauliflower and vegetable chowder

Creamy and delicious, this filling vegetable chowder is made with savoury roasted cauliflower, buttery fried onions, and hearty carrots and potatoes.

Roasted cauliflower and vegetable chowder

This creamy, filling vegetable-packed chowder is a savoury and satisfying meal in a bowl.

Check out this recipe

Authentic Scotch Broth

This gorgeous vegetarian soup recipe from Scottish food blog Farmersgirl Kitchen uses plenty of chunky veg plus a mixture of barley, lentils, and dried peas, to create a wonderfully flavoursome thick and filling soup.

How to make Scotch Broth like a Scot

A warming bowl of delicious Scotch Broth, a traditional recipe from Scotland.

Check out this recipe

Mexican bean soup

Somewhere between a soup and a stew, this chunky, spicy bowlful from Tin and Thyme is a satisfying meal.

Mexican Bean Soup

A hearty warming Mexican bean soup come stew flavoured with smoky spices. Serve with a quick soda bread for a filling and delicious meal.

Check out this recipe

Ribollita – a vegan Tuscan soup

Another gorgeous vegetarian soup recipe from Tin and Thyme, this traditional Ribollita uses plenty of beans, vegetables, herbs and spices, and is thickened with rustic bread.

Ribollita

Ribollita is a hearty vegan Tuscan soup made from cannellini beans, stale bread and kale.

Check out this recipe

Winter Minestrone soup

With beans, pasta and butternut squash, this gorgeous minestrone soup from Tinned Tomatoes will definitely fill you up. I love the topping of pesto and grated cheese.

Winter Minestrone Soup Recipe

An easy winter minestrone soup inspired by Ina Garten (the Barefoot Contessa). The perfect filling starter or dinner. Suitable for vegetarian, dairy-free and vegan diets.

Check out this recipe

Sweet potato and lentil soup

This velvety soup from Thinly Spread is flavoured with smoky paprika, ginger, chilli and cumin, for real depth of flavour and gentle heat. Crispy roasted chickpeas add texture and a beautiful garnish.

Sweet Potato and Red Lentil Soup

An easy recipe for sweet potato and red lentil soup. Nutritious, warming, vegan & gluten free this lightly spiced soup is perfect for chilly, wintery days.

Check out this recipe

Vegan lentil soup with turmeric and ginger

With root vegetables, greens, fresh ginger and a squeeze of lemon, this zingy lentil soup from The Veg Space is a terrific pick-me-up on a grey Autumn day.

Vegan Lentil Soup with ginger & turmeric

This hearty and protein-packed vegan lentil soup is totally delicious and very easy to make. Smooth or chunky, its your choice. Perfect vegan comfort food!

Check out this recipe

Bean and pasta soup with harissa

This gorgeous chunky vegetable soup from Ronnie Fein has a kick of heat from the harissa. Just the thing to warm you up on a cold day.

Bean and Pasta Soup with Harissa

A hot, thick, comforting soup with vegetables, beans and pasta.

Check out this recipe

Vegetarian mushroom and barley soup

With tons of root vegetables and a bunch of fresh dill, this fabulous vegetable soup recipe from Kosher by Gloria really packs in the flavour.

Vegetarian Mushroom and Barley Soup

Loads of diced vegetables mixed with barley, broth and dill come together to form a delicious and comforting soup.

Check out this recipe

Creamy courgette and potato soup

Flavoured with garlic, ginger, chilli and a drizzle of sesame oil, this creamy vegan soup is wonderfully fragrant and has a fabulous depth of flavour. Serve with buttered toast for a feel-good treat.

Creamy courgette (zucchini) & potato soup

This wonderfully warming courgette & potato soup is perfect for a cold day. Enjoy with hot buttered toast for a lovely lunch or supper.

Check out this recipe

Grandma’s stick-to-your-ribs soup

Just like Grandma used to make! This hearty soup is packed with pulses and grains for a really warming bowl.

Grandma’s stick-to-your-ribs soup

Grandma's thick and tasty soup combines fresh vegetables with dried peas, beans, barley and lentils – it's a meal in a bowl.

Check out this recipe

Simple red lentil soup

A gorgeous, warming, lightly spiced soup, based on my Mum’s classic recipe.

Simple red lentil soup

A delicious red lentil soup, that can be adapted as desired (or enjoyed as is!)

Check out this recipe

It’s soup to you!

What’s your favourite soup for Autumn? Which of these tickle your fancy? I hope you’ll find some soup season inspiration in this list of delicious vegetable soup recipes.