24 European Soups For Fall and Winter - Recipes From Europe

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24 European Soups For Fall and Winter

Recipe by Lisa Wychopen

Last Updated September 14, 2026

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When the weather turns colder, there’s nothing better than a hot bowl of delicious soup to warm your soul and your stomach.

I grew up in Germany and to this day, German lentil soup (Linsensuppe) is part of our regular winter dinner rotation. Eric’s Hungarian grandmother always made the creamy green bean soup and Hungarian goulash, so these soups are also pretty special to us.

Of course there are many more soups from different European countries that you can make at this time of year. Here is a small selection of some popular options you should try:

collage of four winter soups in bowls.

white bowl of green german lentil soup on wooden cutting board

German Lentil Soup (Linsensuppe)

This German Lentil Soup is made with brown lentils, potatoes, carrots, and European-style wieners. It's a hearty soup packed with flavors that will keep you full for a long time.

I grew up with it and still make it regularly during the colder months. It tastes even better the second day, so it's great for making a big batch and eating it over a few days.

green bowl of sauerkraut soup with silver spoon sticking out resting on folded cloth.

Ukrainian Sauerkraut Soup (Kapustnyak)

This Ukrainian sauerkraut soup is an instant classic made with lots of sauerkraut, vegetables, and a few tasty meats.

The sauerkraut gives the soup a delicious tang and you can use different meats depending on what you have on hand. Serve it with some fresh crusty bread for the perfect combination.

white bowl of pancake soup with silver spoon sticking out of the bowl.

German Pancake Soup (Flädlesuppe)

This classic soup from southern Germany includes ribbons of thinly sliced pancakes and a delicious beef broth with chopped vegetables like leek and carrot.

We love it because of how easy it is to make and the broth goes really well with the pancakes. You can even make and slice the pancakes ahead of time and freeze them. And when you're really in a rush, you can skip the vegetables or use frozen ones.

bowl of vegetable minestrone soup in bowl on counter.

Italian Vegetable Soup (Minestrone di Verdure)

This Italian Vegetable Soup is made with lots of vegetables, beans, and Parmigiano cheese. It's a hearty vegetable version of Italian Minestrone Soup and can easily be customized depending on what's in season or what you have on hand. It's a great soup for using up vegetables in the fridge.

spanish lentil stew with chorizo in bowl on counter with vegetables around.

Spanish Lentil Stew with Chorizo and Pork Ribs

This hearty Spanish Lentil Stew is loaded with vegetables and meats like chorizo and pork ribs. Since it includes lentils and meat, it will keep you full for hours. It's the kind of easy-to-make stew that you'll be craving after a winter day spent outdoors.

bowl of red borscht with sour cream on wooden board with spoon and bread slice beside.

Ukrainian Borscht

Beetroot gives borscht, a national Ukrainian dish, its signifcant vibrant color. This recipe is packed with pork and vegetables like cabbage, potatoes, and carrots and served hot with a dollop of sour cream, but there are many different versions for this delicious soup.

bowl of hungarian goulash on wooden plank with spoon beside

Hungarian Goulash (Gulyásleves)

Goulash or gulyás, a national dish of Hungary, is made with hearty but simple ingredients like potatoes, carrots, and beef. The bright color comes from the staple spice used in Hungarian cooking – paprika.

It can be served on its own or with some slices of crusty. Eric grew up eating goulash and we still make it regularly during the colder months.

silver spoon sticking out of bowl of cod and chickpea stew on counter.

Spanish Cod and Chickpea Stew (Potaje de vigilia)

This Spanish stew is made with cod, chickpeas, spinach, and other vegetables, making it a great option if you're looking for a soup that doesn't include red meat. It freezes quite well since it doesn't include potatoes, so you can make a large batch at once.

celeriac soup in bowl with fried bread on top and silver spoon in the bowl.

Celery Root Soup

This celery root soup is a cold-weather classic from my Oma's generation. It's made with celery root (celeriac), potatoes, and a few other common ingredients.

It's a filling soup that is easy to make and goes great with croutons on top! Celery root isn't that popular in North America and we think that's a shame because it's pretty versatile and stores quite well.

bowl of green german split pea soup on wooden cutting board with silver spoon beside

German Split Pea Soup (Erbsensuppe)

This German Split Pea Soup made with vegetables like carrots, leeks, and potatoes, meat, and a whole lot of split peas.

It's a hearty soup will keep you warm and full. It's another soup that's great for making a big batch and enjoying it over a few days.

pickle soup with barley and beef in bowl on counter with golden spoon beside.

Pickle Soup (Rassolnik)

Sour and delicious, Rassolnik is a classic soup made with beef, pickles, vegetables, and barley. This warming dish combines savory and sour flavors, making it a comforting appetizer or main dish for when you're craving a wholesome, flavorful meal.

white bowl filled with thickened chicken soup sitting on counter.

Greek Lemon Chicken Soup (Avgolemono Soup)

This Greek Lemon Chicken Soup is made with vegetables, chicken, orzo and a delicious avgolemono sauce which sets it apart from other chicken soup recipes.

It's perfect for warming you up and making you feel cozy on those cold days!

bowl of russian cabbage soup with spoon sticking out sitting on pink cloth.

Russian Cabbage Soup (Shchi)

Shchi is a classic cabbage soup that is easy to customize. This version is made with chicken, potatoes, cabbage, carrots, and more, and but you can also use sauerkraut or other meat of your choice.

Cabbage is a great cold-weather ingredient, which makes this soup great for the winter.

bowl of hungarian green bean soup with green beans and cloth beside

Hungarian Green Bean Soup (Tejfölös Zöldbableves)

This creamy Hungarian green bean soup is a staple in our home and easy comfort food at its best. The soup has a significant orange color thanks to the Hungarian paprika and is made with crisp green beans and sour cream.

It's lighter than most of the soups on this list and a soup that Eric's grandma always used to make.

white bowl of red greek bean soup with green towel beside on counter.

Greek White Bean Soup (Fasolada)

This Greek White Bean Soup is a simple soup with lots of flavor. It's made with beans and vegetables and serves well with crusty bread!

We love the addition of olive oil, olives, and feta cheese which gives it even more flavor. It's one of our favorites when we want a soup that is made without meat.

red smoked meat soup in bowl with spoon sticking out on counter with bread beside.

Smoked Meat Soup (Solyanka)

Solyanka is a flavorful soup that is made with lots of fresh and smoked meats. It is topped with parsley, olives, lemons and sour cream at the end, so everyone can customize it to suit their taste.

yellow fish soup with vegetables in white bowl with spoon sticking out sitting on counter with parsley around.

Russian Fish Soup (Ukha)

Ukha is a flavorful, hearty fish soup made with salmon, vegetables and a few common spices. If you like salmon as much as we do, then you should give this fish soup a try.

white bowl of garlic soup with the word soup on the outside of the bowl sitting on counter with another soup bowl behind.

Spanish Garlic Soup (Sopa de Ajo)

Sopa de ajo is a classic Spanish garlic soup made with fragrant garlic, bread, eggs, and spices. It's easy to make and perfect for warming you up on a cold day! Just make sure you don't have any speaking engagements scheduled for shortly after eating it.

bowl of yellow creamy potato soup with croutons on top on wooden board

Creamy Potato Soup (German-Style)

This potato soup is made with potato, leek, carrots, and celery blended with a bit of cream. It's a hearty soup that is easy to make and keeps you full!

It's a soup that I often enjoyed at my Oma's house in the winter and still make regularly now. You can serve it with some croutons on top (which is always my favorite part).

blue bowl filled with creamy cauliflower soup with silver spoon sticking out.

Cauliflower Soup

This cauliflower soup is easy to make with just a few simple ingredients. You can serve it as an appetizer or as a warm and filling lunch with a side of crusty bread.

This is an easy soup to whip together when you've got some cauliflower to use up.

white bowl of sauerkraut soup on wooden board with green pot behind

Easy Sauerkraut Soup

This easy Sauerkraut soup keeps it simple and delicious. It is made with lots of (jarred) sauerkraut, potatoes, onions, bits of pancetta bacon, and a few simple spices.

We both grew up eating different versions sauerkraut soup, so this recipe has a special place in our hearts. It's a warm, hearty soup that's great for any cabbage lover.

bowl of cabbage potato soup on wooden board with silver spoon beside

Cabbage Potato Soup

This cabbage potato soup is easy to make without any fancy ingredients. You just need some cabbage, potatoes, tomatoes, broth, and a few spices.

This soup doesn't take much prep and can be enjoyed fresh or reheated the day after. You can also add some meat if you prefer, but we like to keep this soup light and veggie forward.

white bowl on wood filled with potato soup with parsley behind

German Potato Soup (Kartoffelsuppe)

If you're not a fan of creamy potato soups, try this German potato soup loaded with potatoes, carrots, leek, celery, wieners, and lots of fresh parsley.

You can either serve it hot as a starter or as the main meal. For special occassions, it looks great served in small bread bowls.

white bowl of greek chickpea soup on counter with chopped parsley around.

Greek Chickpea Soup (Revithosoupa)

This quick and simple version of Greek Chickpea Soup is made with canned chickpeas, carrots, and celery. It's perfect if you're looking for a veggie forward soup that also has some protein.

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Hi, we're Eric & Lisa!

We're a Canadian with Hungarian roots and a German who have spent years living in different European countries and exploring many others.

Recipes From Europe is about celebrating food, family, and culture. It's about reconnecting with old family favorites, learning about a country's cuisine, and getting inspired to taste something new.

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