Holidays offer the perfect time to gather, slow down, and share something warm and special. When the weather turns cold and days get busy, all you need comes from a warm bowl of homemade soup. Cozy, comforting, and full of flavor, it represents the perfect way to warm up and wind down. Bring that same comfort to your holiday table with seasonal soups made from fresh ingredients and bold flavors.
Serve creamy and light vegetable bisques as a starter, or make heartier recipes like Italian wedding soup, spinach tortellini, or broccoli cheddar as the main event for a casual Christmas Eve dinner. For the Feast of the Seven Fishes, try a rich seafood chowder or lobster bisque. Or explore global traditions with pho, pozole, tom kha gai, or avgolemono for a festive, flavorful twist. Ready to find the perfect recipe for your holiday menu? Read on for inspiration and ideas to add that certain warmth to your gatherings!
Classic comfort soups
Popular holiday soups for the 2025 season feature rich, comforting classics and modern twists, including creamy options, hearty chilies, and elegant purees. You will certainly earn a lot of praise for serving timeless favorites, including French onion soup, topped with melted gruyère over a baguette slice. Butternut squash or pumpkin soup continues the harvest festivities with a sweet, earthy profile, which you can enhance with spices like sage, a touch of orange, and Parmigiano-Reggiano. Creamy potato soup too, has seen a “comeback” in 2025. Clam chowder also offers a popular holiday choice for many families, offering a creamy, satisfying blend of potatoes and clams. Cream of mushroom soup can serve as a light and flavorful option that leaves room for the main course.
Hearty & flavorful options
For a more substantial soup course or a light holiday meal, you can make some great choices with reimagined Italian classics like lasagna soup, tortellini, or vegetable-packed minestrone. Plant-based options abound, such as this spinach, artichoke, and white bean soup. The festive green color alone should make a vibrant culinary statement! New takes on chili styles include pumpkin chili and white chicken chili, offering warm spices and a break from the usual holiday fare.
Top global & regional holiday favorites
Globally, holiday soups in 2025 will blend traditional comfort with innovative flavors, offering a unique blend of nostalgia and modernity. Regional classics like Paraguayan Vori Vori, Vietnamese Phở, and Mexican Pozole are trending alongside vegetable-forward and globally-spiced options in Europe and the Middle East. In Georgia, Kharcho, a flavorful soup made with beef, rice, and cherry plums, offers a rich culinary experience. Harira (Morocco) and Chorba Frik (Algeria) offer vibrant, spiced flavors, while red lentil soups cater to health-conscious trends. Consider soups an all-day option—with ramen bars trending and Japanese miso soup for breakfast!
You can prepare many of these holiday soup recipes ahead of your holiday celebration, freeing up some of your limited prep time. Elevate any soup with garnishes like fresh herbs, a drizzle of cream or olive oil, or homemade croutons. Whether soup serves as a staple on your menu or you’re looking to shake things up, these holiday soups form the perfect addition to your festive meal. Symrise celebrates the way soups bring people together, offering comfort and connection across tables and traditions. Wherever the season takes you, a bowl of soup speaks a universal language of warmth, belonging, and shared joy: turning even the coldest night into a moment to remember.
