If you’re anything like me, December hits and suddenly everyone expects you to show up with something festive, comforting, and somehow still fancy. And honestly? Soup saves me every single time. It’s warm, it’s nostalgic, and it lets you look like you spent hours in the kitchen… even if you totally didn’t (your secret’s safe with me).
Christmas soups bring the magic: simmering pots, cozy spices, and the kind of aromas that make people wander into the kitchen asking, “Omg, WHAT is that?” And really, who doesn’t want to be that person at the party?
So grab your ladle, friend—here are 17 festive Christmas soups your guests will absolutely love, complete with easy instructions, tasty tips, and a few personal opinions you didn’t ask for but will appreciate anyway. 🙂
1. Creamy Roasted Butternut Squash Soup
This velvety dream tastes like a hug from a cinnamon-scented holiday elf.
Ingredients
- Butternut squash, cubed
- Olive oil
- Onion, chopped
- Garlic, minced
- Vegetable broth
- Heavy cream
- Ground nutmeg
- Salt & pepper
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Roast the squash with olive oil until caramelized.
- Sauté onion and garlic until soft.
- Add squash and broth; simmer.
- Blend until silky.
- Stir in cream and nutmeg.
- Season and serve warm.
Why You’ll Love It
The roasted squash creates a natural sweetness that feels luxurious without trying too hard. I once tried skipping the roasting step—never again. The flavor dropped faster than my holiday budget.
2. Holiday Tomato Basil Bisque
Think of this as tomato soup’s glamorous, party-ready cousin.
Ingredients
- Butter
- Onion
- Garlic
- Canned crushed tomatoes
- Chicken or veggie broth
- Fresh basil
- Heavy cream
- Salt & pepper
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Sauté onion and garlic in butter.
- Add tomatoes and broth.
- Simmer 15 minutes.
- Blend.
- Add cream and basil.
- Adjust seasoning.
Why You’ll Love It
This soup screams comfort. Pair it with grilled cheese bites and watch your guests hover. IMO, fresh basil turns this into a show-off moment.
3. Chunky Christmas Beef Stew Soup
Not quite stew, not quite soup—just pure holiday coziness.
Ingredients
- Beef stew meat
- Carrots
- Potatoes
- Peas
- Onion
- Beef broth
- Tomato paste
- Thyme
- Bay leaf
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Brown the beef.
- Add veggies, herbs, and broth.
- Stir in tomato paste.
- Simmer 1–2 hours.
- Add peas last.
Why You’ll Love It
This one warms even the crabbiest uncle. The broth gets rich and bold, and the leftovers taste even better the next day—FYI, hide a bowl for yourself.
4. Creamy Chicken Gnocchi Soup
Like a Christmas hug from an Italian grandma you never had.
Ingredients
- Shredded chicken
- Potato gnocchi
- Spinach
- Carrots
- Onion
- Garlic
- Chicken broth
- Cream
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Sauté onion, garlic, and carrots.
- Add chicken and broth; simmer.
- Add gnocchi.
- Add cream and spinach.
- Cook until thick and dreamy.
Why You’ll Love It
The gnocchi turns into fluffy little clouds in your bowl. Every spoonful feels indulgent without being heavy.
5. Christmas Corn & Potato Chowder
Sweet, creamy, and basically impossible to mess up.
Ingredients
- Corn
- Potatoes
- Onion
- Celery
- Butter
- Milk
- Chicken broth
- Flour
- Thyme
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Sauté veggies in butter.
- Add flour and cook into a roux.
- Add broth and potatoes.
- Stir in corn.
- Add milk and thyme.
- Simmer until thick.
Why You’ll Love It
It’s the kind of soup people slurp loudly and unapologetically. Add bacon if you want extra Christmas spirit.
6. Gingerbread Spiced Carrot Soup
Yes, it sounds weird. No, you won’t stop eating it.
Ingredients
- Carrots
- Onion
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- Vegetable broth
- Cream
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Sauté veggies and spices.
- Add broth and carrots.
- Simmer until soft.
- Blend smooth.
- Add cream.
Why You’ll Love It
The warm spices taste like dessert tried to become dinner. Honestly? It succeeded.
7. Creamy Mushroom & Thyme Soup
Earthy, rich, and Christmas-dinner fancy.
Ingredients
- Mushrooms
- Butter
- Onion
- Garlic
- Flour
- Vegetable or chicken broth
- Cream
- Thyme
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Sauté mushrooms, onion, and garlic.
- Create a roux.
- Add broth.
- Simmer and blend half the mixture.
- Add cream and thyme.
Why You’ll Love It
This is the soup I make for people I want to impress. The thyme + mushroom combo feels like straight-up holiday luxury.
8. Sausage, Kale & White Bean Christmas Soup
A rustic bowl of wintry goodness.
Ingredients
- Italian sausage
- Kale
- White beans
- Onion
- Garlic
- Chicken broth
- Red pepper flakes
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Brown the sausage.
- Add onion and garlic.
- Add broth and beans.
- Toss in kale.
- Simmer 20 minutes.
Why You’ll Love It
It’s hearty but not heavy. The sausage adds just enough spice to keep things interesting without scaring off the mild eaters.
9. Creamy Broccoli Cheddar Soup
A cheesy crowd-pleaser—like the holidays, but in a bowl.
Ingredients
- Broccoli
- Onion
- Carrots
- Butter
- Flour
- Chicken broth
- Sharp cheddar cheese
- Milk
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Sauté veggies.
- Create a roux.
- Add broth and broccoli.
- Simmer until soft.
- Add milk.
- Stir in cheddar.
Why You’ll Love It
Use sharp cheddar, trust me. Mild cheddar tastes like nothing (:/). This soup always disappears first at my parties.
10. Christmas Clam Chowder
Creamy, briny, and perfect for hosting coastal relatives.
Ingredients
- Clams
- Potatoes
- Bacon
- Onion
- Celery
- Flour
- Milk or cream
- Chicken broth
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Cook bacon; remove pieces.
- Sauté veggies in the bacon fat.
- Add flour.
- Add broth and potatoes.
- Add clams and cream.
- Serve with bacon on top.
Why You’ll Love It
It’s luxurious but surprisingly easy. Plus, the bacon makes everyone happy.
11. Spiced Apple & Parsnip Soup
The sweet-salty combo gives this soup a holiday glow-up.
Ingredients
- Parsnips
- Apples
- Onion
- Garlic
- Cinnamon
- Vegetable broth
- Cream
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Sauté veggies and apples.
- Add broth and cinnamon.
- Simmer.
- Blend.
- Add cream.
Why You’ll Love It
It tastes like Christmas met a farmer’s market. The apple brings a subtle sweetness that works way better than you’d expect.
12. Chicken Tortilla Christmas Soup
Festive, colorful, and packed with warm holiday spice.
Ingredients
- Shredded chicken
- Black beans
- Corn
- Diced tomatoes
- Onion
- Garlic
- Chicken broth
- Tortilla strips
- Chili powder
- Lime
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Sauté onion and garlic.
- Add tomatoes, broth, chicken, beans, and corn.
- Add chili powder.
- Simmer 20 minutes.
- Top with tortillas and lime.
Why You’ll Love It
It adds a little fiesta to your feast. And the toppings make it feel customizable—your picky cousin will survive.
13. Christmas Pumpkin Curry Soup
Creamy, bold, and shockingly simple.
Ingredients
- Pumpkin purée
- Onion
- Garlic
- Coconut milk
- Curry powder
- Vegetable broth
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Sauté onion and garlic.
- Add pumpkin and broth.
- Stir in curry powder.
- Add coconut milk.
- Simmer 15 minutes.
Why You’ll Love It
This one warms your soul and your sinuses. The coconut milk makes it silky and indulgent without being heavy.
14. Wine-Infused French Onion Soup
Because nothing says “holiday cheer” like cooking with wine (and maybe drinking some too😉).
Ingredients
- Onions, sliced
- Butter
- Beef broth
- Red wine
- Thyme
- Gruyère cheese
- Baguette slices
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Caramelize onions in butter.
- Deglaze with wine.
- Add broth and thyme.
- Simmer.
- Top with baguette and melted cheese.
Why You’ll Love It
It’s dramatic, delicious, and the melted Gruyère makes everyone fall in love a little.
15. Christmas Tortellini & Spinach Soup
Festive colors + cheesy pasta pillows = holiday joy.
Ingredients
- Cheese tortellini
- Spinach
- Diced tomatoes
- Broth
- Onion
- Garlic
- Parmesan
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Sauté onion and garlic.
- Add tomatoes and broth.
- Add tortellini.
- Add spinach.
- Top with Parmesan.
Why You’ll Love It
It looks like Christmas in a bowl—red tomatoes, green spinach, and white tortellini. It also cooks ridiculously fast.
16. Smoky Ham & Bean Christmas Soup
A great “post-Christmas ham leftovers” recipe too.
Ingredients
- Diced ham
- White beans
- Onion
- Celery
- Carrots
- Smoked paprika
- Chicken broth
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Sauté veggies.
- Add ham and beans.
- Add broth and paprika.
- Simmer 30 minutes.
Why You’ll Love It
The smoky flavor tastes like you slaved over it all day. Spoiler: you didn’t.
17. Peppermint Hot Chocolate Soup (Yes, Really)
Dessert soup? Absolutely. Judge me later.
Ingredients
- Milk
- Heavy cream
- Dark chocolate
- Sugar
- Peppermint extract
- Whipped cream
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Heat milk and cream.
- Melt chocolate.
- Add sugar.
- Stir in peppermint.
- Serve with whipped cream.
Why You’ll Love It
This one makes adults giggle like kids. It’s rich, festive, and the perfect ending to a holiday meal.
Final Thoughts
These 17 festive Christmas soups turn any winter gathering into something warm, cozy, and memorable. They’re easy enough for busy hosts and impressive enough for holiday party guests who pretend they’re food critics. Whether you love creamy, spicy, sweet, or savory bowls of goodness, there’s a Christmas soup here that’ll become your new seasonal tradition.
So go ahead—grab your favorite pot and make some magic. Your holiday crew will thank you… probably twice. 🎄🍲
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