Okay, I know the turkey gets all the glory, but let me tell you, the soup course is where I want to start my holiday. These bowls are cozy, welcoming, and just the thing to get everyone excited for the meal ahead. I’ve rounded up 17 recipes that are perfect for picky eaters, light appetites, or anyone who just loves a really good soup.

1. Roasted Cauliflower Soup

Looking for a lower carb option for the holiday table? This roasted cauliflower soup is a great choice. It’s tasty, garlicky, and has just a hint of bright zest. You need fewer than ten ingredients and only about fifteen minutes of prep work.

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2. Borscht

I do not know if there is a more polarizing soup out there than borscht. People either love it or they really, really do not, which is probably how they feel about beets anyway. If you are a fan of beets and cabbage, you’ll likely enjoy this one; if not, maybe skip it.

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3. Thanksgiving Leftover Soup

This one is really for the day after the big feast, and honestly, it deserves a spot on the list. It gives you one more amazing way to enjoy all that incredible holiday food. You’ll use shredded turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, broth, and frozen mixed veggies for a brand new meal.

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4. Cream of Celery Soup

If the only cream of celery soup you know comes from a red and white can, oh my goodness, you are in for a treat. This homemade version has all that creamy comfort but tastes a million times better. Yes, it takes a little more time, but some things are worth the wait.

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5. Easy Tomato Soup

If you are a little obsessed with tomato soup like I am, this simple recipe is for you. You only need four ingredients plus salt, and you can whip it up anytime the craving hits. Butter, onion, water, and a big can of tomatoes come together in under an hour for two hearty servings.

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6. Spinach Artichoke Soup

This scrumptious soup is creamy, delicious, and basically your favorite party dip in a bowl. It’s not quite as thick as spinach artichoke dip, and it has a bit more of a buttery thing going on. If you love the dip, you are going to be head over heels for this soup.

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7. Acorn Squash Soup

This vegetarian option is guaranteed to wow your Thanksgiving crowd. It’s thick and creamy, and the caramelized acorn squash adds this fantastic, almost sweet flavor. Even your most devoted meat loving friends will be going back for seconds.

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8. Autumn Wild Rice Soup

This one goes out to all of us who love cooking with the seasons. You’ll pack it with fall vegetables, soft mushrooms, and a good hit of Old Bay for warmth. It’s an herby, earthy bowl of goodness that feels even more special next to a thick slice of crusty bread.

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9. Autumn Carrot and Sweet Potato Soup

Dessert might make you pick a side between carrots and sweet potatoes, but this soup says why not enjoy both? Ten simple ingredients come together here, including honey, apples, butter, and curry powder, for a sweet and savory bowl that is unbelievably good.

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10. Chestnut Soup with Bacon and Chives

This nutty, earthy, bacon packed beauty is something you didn’t know your life was missing. Chestnuts, chives, leeks, shallots, and a little nutmeg cram so much flavor into a single bowl. The color is this lovely soft tan with a touch of pink and it’s really pretty.

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11. Homemade Corn Chowder

Corn chowder is the best kind of mashup of sweet and savory, creamy and crunchy, fresh and herby. You have plenty of corn, plus garlic, bacon, onions, potatoes, and more doing the heavy lifting. While a lot of these soups shine as a starter, I actually think this one is wonderful right alongside your main meal.

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12. Raspberry Cranberry Soup

If you like your soup bright and served cold, this one is calling your name. I make it most often in the summer, but my crew loves it in the fall too because of that light cranberry taste with a tangy little kick. It comes together in just 35 minutes, which makes it a total win for my Thanksgiving game plan.

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13. Turnip Soup

Turnips, Granny Smith apples, potatoes, curry powder, and light cream all hang out together in this lovely pot. Throw in a little olive oil, some onions, broth, and salt, and you’ve got a creamy soup ready in about half an hour. The flavor is mild but totally yummy, and you can top it off with crunchy croutons and your favorite fresh herbs.

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14. Cream of Mushroom Soup

Homemade cream of mushroom soup totally knocks the canned stuff right out of the water. You get that rich, creamy broth but also actual chunks of mushrooms, bits of onion, and fresh parsley and thyme. It’s deeply savory and so much better from scratch.

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15. Fall Vegetable Quinoa Soup

This is exactly what it sounds like, a vegetable soup loaded with fall produce and fluffy quinoa. It tastes a lot like a classic veggie soup with that familiar broth and tomato base. Instead of summer things like corn and peppers, you get squash, carrots, celery, sweet potato, and lots of fresh herbs.

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16. Lentil Soup

Lentil soup is a cool weather favorite because it is just so chunky and hearty. It’s loaded with filling lentils, onions, carrots, tomatoes, and a whole bunch of herbs and spices. The flavor is spectacular, like a big warm hug filled with tomatoes and all your best loved vegetables.

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17. Curried Cauliflower Apple Soup

The author of this recipe calls it seductive and says the cauliflower, apple, and curry combo is a magical flavor combination. With a description like that, I obviously had to try it myself. She was not wrong, this soup is spicy, nutty, and tartly sweet, and I’ve never tasted anything quite like it.

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