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10 Veggie-Packed Soups That Are Perfect for Summer

By Ariel Knutson
|
July 13, 2021
Photo Credit: Pickles & Honey

Chances are that when you think about “summer” food, you think of barbecue, salads, and frozen treats. But soup? I bet you don’t immediately think of soup. Here’s the thing, though: If you’re relegating soup to colder months, you’re seriously missing out. Hot or cold, it’s the perfect base for all sorts of produce: corn, zucchini, herbs, greens, tomatoes, I could go on… Here, we’ve rounded up 10 of our must-make summer soups. 

1. Chilled Cucumber Avocado Soup from Pickles & Honey 

The base of this chilled vegan soup is cucumbers, avocado, and a little lime. It’s incredibly simple to make — you basically just blend everything together — and then you can get creative with the toppings, like tomatoes, corn, cilantro, and hemp seeds. 

corn chowder

Photo Credit: Little Broken

2. Zucchini Corn Chowder from Little Broken 

This riff on traditional corn chowder doubles down on vegetables: In addition to corn, the soup is filled with zucchini, carrots, potatoes, onion, and celery. It also swaps heavy cream for half-and-half; if you want to make it dairy-free, you could substitute canned coconut milk. 

gazpacho

Photo Credit: Isabel Eats

3. Easy Gazpacho from Isabel Eats 

Traditional gazpacho is the ultimate summer soup. Made with just a few simple ingredients — like sun-ripened tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, and onions — this chilled soup is light and refreshing. Pro tip: It’s best to let gazpacho sit in the fridge for at least a few hours before eating, preferably overnight, so that the flavors meld together. 

summer soup

Photo Credit: Pinch of Yum

4. Clean Eating Instant Pot Summer Soup from Pinch of Yum

Don’t want to heat your kitchen up by making soup? Grab your Instant Pot! This recipe from Pinch of Yum has a tomato base, and is filled with chicken, zucchini, corn, and an optional grain like quinoa or rice. 

summer soup

Photo Credit: Inspiralized

5. Chicken and Corn Tortilla Soup with Zoodles from Inspiralized

Tortilla soup is one of my all-time favorite soups. The broth is so flavorful, it packs some heat, and there’s a lot of great textures. This recipe from Inspiralized is a seasonal twist on the classic Mexican dish. Instead of tortilla chips, she uses zoodles for added crunch. This flavorful soup is also a great make-ahead option because it gets even better after a couple of days in the fridge. 

summer minestrone

Photo Credit: Local Haven

6. Green Summer Minestrone with Pesto from Local Haven 

If you, like me, crave all the green things during the summer, this is the soup for you. This fresh take on minestrone is filled with peas, zucchini, and green beans, and the whole thing is drizzled with homemade basil pesto. There’s a lot of room to play around with this recipe, too. You can switch out the beans, the veggies, and even the kind of pesto based on what’s available.  

watermelon gazpacho

Photo Credit: Elise Bauer / Simply Recipes

7. Watermelon Gazpacho from Simply Recipes

I’m always trying to figure out how to incorporate more watermelon into my diet during the summer. Eating it out of hand or in salads is always nice, but what else am I missing out on? The answer, it turns out, is gazpacho! Instead of the traditional tomato, watermelon takes a leading role (but there’s still plenty of tomatoes and cucumbers to be found in this soup). Trust me: you’re going to want to make a big batch of this. 

summer chicken noodle soup

Photo Credit: Damn Delicious

8. Summer Chicken Noodle Soup from Damn Delicious 

Just because it’s hot out doesn’t mean you don’t deserve something comforting! This soup is everything you know and love about the classic dish with plenty of zucchini, yellow squash, and corn in the mix.

white bean soup

Photo Credit: Simple Veganista

9. White Bean and Tomatillo Soup from The Simple Veganista 

This vegan soup is chock-full of white beans, fresh tomatillos, and a couple of jalapeños for heat. Not only is this soup a heartier option for summer, it’s also a great source of protein and fiber. Top it with cooling avocados, lime, and cilantro, and serve with flour or corn tortillas. 

chilled cream of basil soup

Photo Credit: With Food and Love

10. Chilled Cream of Basil Soup from With Food and Love 

The base of this chilled soup is raw, soaked cashews blended with basil and spinach. The result is a creamier soup compared to the others on this list, and one that’s loaded with good fats and protein. The soup is topped with a simple corn and cucumber salad, and a healthy drizzle of olive oil. 

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