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14 Slow-Cooker Soups That Will Make Your Life Easier

By Pillsbury Kitchens
Updated December 19, 2019
Slow-Cooker King Ranch Chicken Soup prepared recipe in a bowl with corn chips on the side
It’s that time of year—it’s chilly outside, there’s snow on the ground, and all we want is a warm bowl of soup. However, some soups require a watchful eye while simmering over the stove. Not these recipes! For those really busy days, turn to these easy slow-cooker soup recipes. The slow cooker does the heavy lifting, freeing up some precious time so you can go about your day and come to the table at dinnertime to a batch of the most comforting bowl of soup you’ve ever had. Low-stress, almost no mess, and totally delicious, there’s no reason not to love these recipes!

When using a slow cooker, there are a few tried-and-true tips to keep in mind.

  1. Remember, as tempting as it may be, avoid lifting the lid of your slow cooker during the cooking process to check on your soup. By taking the lid off your slow cooker, you will release the heat it has built up, which can affect your cook time and overall doneness.
  2. Slow-cooker liners (like these from Reynolds Kitchens) can be used to help cut down on cleaning time. No more scrubbing or scrapping baked-on ingredients.
  3. Don’t rush your herbs. One of the most common slow-cooker mistakes is to add fresh herbs too early in the cooking process. To prevent the delicate flavors from getting lost too early in your cooking, save your herbs for the final half hour before serving.
  4. Layer your ingredients in the proper order. The bottom of the slow cooker should be used for foods that take the longest time to cook, such as root vegetables like carrots or potatoes.
  5. If you want to freeze your soup, fill quart- or gallon-size plastic freezer bags and lay them flat in the freezer. Once they are frozen, your bags of soup can be stacked on top of each other to save space.

We’ve got even more slow-cooker soup recipes to tempt your taste buds! From slow-cooker pumpkin chili to slow-cooker creamy chicken and herbed dumplings, there’s a dinner for every day of the week.