12 Immune System–Boosting Soups to Keep That Cold Away

Fight flu season one bowl at a time.
Vegetable soup
Courtesy of A Couple Cooks

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Catching a cold come fall and winter might seem like an inevitability, but that’s no reason to resign yourself to a sore throat or runny nose. Your food choices can help your body fight against germs—and what could be more cozy than curling up at night with a warm bowl of soup?

Not only are these recipes full of vitamins that will keep your immune system in good shape, they’re also delicious. Just don’t forget that flu shot.

Mean Green Detox Vegetable Soup

Bowl of soup
Photography by Half Baked Harvest

Standout ingredients: Kale, lemon, ginger, broccoli Why you’ll love it: The sheer quantity of veggies in this soup is enough to put a little pep in your step, but the addition of cold-busting ingredients like ginger, apple cider vinegar, garlic, and cayenne pepper take it above and beyond.

Roasted Carrots and Rice With Zingy Turmeric Broth

Bowl of soup
Photography by The First Mess

Standout ingredients: Carrots, turmeric, ginger, garlic Why you’ll love it: Consider this the perfect halfway point between your favorite grain bowl and a runny nose–curbing soup. Turmeric has an anti-inflammatory effect that will help your throat feel good—and it also makes for a rich, soul-warming broth.

Super Green Vegetable Soup

Bowl of soup
Photography by The Crowded Kitchen

Standout ingredients: Spinach, green beans, peas, kale Why you’ll love it: When the recipe is as simple as this one, it’s pretty easy being green. Garbanzo beans give this vegetable-centric soup texture—and don’t forget to top it off with herb-infused oil to make it taste a little more decadent.

Icelandic Vegetable and Oat Soup

Bowl of soup
Photography by Salt and Wind

Standout ingredients: Garlic, carrots, cremini mushrooms, kale Why you’ll love it: Oats aren’t just for oatmeal! This garlicky, Arctic-inspired recipe has a sinus-clearing effect and vitamin D–rich mushrooms help support a healthy immune system while also lending plenty of umami.

Sweet Potato Chowder

Bowl of soup
Photography by How Sweet Eats

Standout ingredients: Sweet potatoes, kale, carrots Why you’ll love it: This soup admittedly errs on the side of decadence (both pancetta and cream give it extra richness), but still, lacinato kale and sweet potatoes are packed with cold-fighting vitamin C. With a few simple alterations, you could make it vegan.

White Bean Chicken Soup

Bowl of soup
Photography by The Modern Proper

Standout ingredients: Chicken, Swiss chard, lemon, cannellini beans Why you’ll love it: This isn’t your ordinary chicken soup—the addition of a jalapeño gives it an extra kick, while lemon brightens it up. Plus, the dark leafy greens will provide your fill of zinc—crucial for keeping sickness at bay.

Carrot and Parsnip Soup

Carrot parsnip soup
Courtesy of Eating Bird Food

Standout ingredients: Carrots, parsnips, quinoa Why you’ll love it: Save the sheet-tray bake for another day; these root vegetables deserve to shine in a fiber-full soup. Turmeric and cumin make it even more savory (and they happen to have an anti-inflammatory effect, too).

Creamy White Bean Soup

White bean soup with kale
Courtesy of The First Mess

Standout ingredients: Navy beans, lacinato kale, carrots Why you’ll love it: Yes, it is possible for a soup to be simultaneously comforting and revitalizing. A splash of vitamin C–packed lemon juice and a hit of warming chili flakes make this vegan(!) meal anything but boring. Consider this your go-to cold buster if chicken noodle’s not calling your name. 

Homemade Vegetable Soup

Standout ingredients: Turmeric, carrots, celery Why you’ll love it: This soup is perfect for vegetarians: There’s no chicken in sight, yet it’s so simple and satisfying. Antioxidant turmeric makes a standard veggie broth extra-rich and extra-healthy, while dried spices like basil, thyme, and oregano improve each sip. 

Hungarian Mushroom Soup

Creamy mushroom soup
Courtesy of The Modern Proper

Standout ingredients: Mushrooms, milk, dill Why you’ll love it: Mushrooms are a great source of selenium, an antioxidant that can help keep your immune system in check, as well as vitamin D. Oh, and of course they’re hearty and perfectly umami, so they work wonders in a creamy soup.

Egg Drop Soup

Egg drop soup with turkey meatballs
Courtesy of Lake Shore Lady

Standout ingredients: Turkey, eggs Why you’ll love it: Consider this an equally cozy but slightly more protein-heavy alternative to your typical chicken noodle—just the thing for when you’re not feeling 100 percent. Serve it hot and the steam can help clear your sinuses, too.

Vegetable Soup

Vegetable soup with farfalle
Courtesy of Chelsea’s Messy Apron

Standout ingredients: Tomatoes, pinto beans, corn, peas Why you’ll love it: At last, a soup that can do it all. This veggie option takes just 30 minutes to get on the table, and it’s full of nutrient-rich ingredients that will have you feeling your best, like tomatoes, carrots, corn, and peas. A can of beans and mini farfalle make it more filling than your typical all-vegetable dish, too. Superfoods are the only superheroes you need this winter.

See more recipes: This Is Hands Down the Easiest Drink to Make for the Holidays These 3 Nonna-Approved Pasta Dishes Are as Comforting as It Gets What Chefs Make When They’re Too Tired to Cook

Rebecca Deczynski

Writer/Editor

Rebecca is most often found digging through troves of vintage treasures, both in-person and online. Ask her to recommend a good book to read or an obscure Instagram account to follow, and you won’t be disappointed.