Recipes and Cooking Chili Healthy Stew, Soup, and Chili Recipes to Warm You from the Inside Out By Karla Walsh Karla Walsh Instagram Website Karla Walsh is a Des Moines, Iowa-based freelance writer, editor, level one sommelier, and former fitness instructor and personal trainer who balances her love of food and drink with her passion for fitness. (Or tries to, at least!) Her writing has been published in AllRecipes, Runner's World, Shape and Fitness Magazines, as well as on EatingWell.com, Shape.com, BHG.com, ReadersDigest.com, TheHealthy.com, Prevention.com, WomensHealthMag.com, and more. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on August 12, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Blaine Moats Cozy up to some comfort food that's deceptively good for you with these healthy soups and stews and healthy chili recipes. Loaded with whole grains, veggies, and lean protein, these healthy soups and chili recipes will satisfy even the biggest hunger. Recipes here include healthy beef stews, a restaurant copycat healthy turkey chili, and healthy butternut squash soup, but there's much more. Pick your favorite for dinner tonight. 01 of 23 Spinach Artichoke Dip Soup View Recipe Brie Passano Your favorite hot dip recipe now comes in healthy soup and stew form. Yes, you have our full permission to eat it by the big bowl! Canned artichokes and frozen spinach make this easy, affordable, and nutritious any time of year. A little cream cheese cranks up the decadence factor for maximum flavor. No one will believe you when you let them know that each serving has just 182 calories and 13 grams of carbs. Toss in some shredded chicken to make it a heartier meal. 02 of 23 Spicy White Chili View Recipe Andy Lyons On a crisp fall day, cozy up with a warm, well-balanced white chicken chili made flavorful with green chiles, Monterey Jack cheese, and a dash of cayenne pepper. By swapping traditional ground beef for chicken in this healthy soup recipe, you'll save both fat and calories. One BH&G home cook declares this is "One of the easiest soups you can make. A real crowd pleaser. SO GOOD!" 03 of 23 Veggie-Pesto Lasagna Soup View Recipe Blaine Moats Lasagna without the fussy layering? Sign us up. This healthy soup recipe, made on your stovetop or in a slow cooker, is the perfect way to use broken lasagna noodles. Basil pesto perks up the flavor of this veggie-packed, light-yet-filling soup. 04 of 23 Sweet Potato Chicken Stew View Recipe Brie Passano Chicken thighs, rosemary, mushrooms, and sweet potatoes pack this healthy chicken stew with warm fall flavors. But with pantry staples for most of the rest of the ingredients, you can make it anytime you're craving a bonus dose of comfort, using a stovetop or slow cooker method. If you're in the mood for a wine pairing, try a cup of white wine instead of chicken broth. 05 of 23 Copycat Turkey Chili View Recipe Matthew Clark Inspired by Panera's fan favorite, this healthy turkey chili packs the just-right amount of heat through diced green chilies and a big pinch of crushed red pepper flakes. The turkey and two kinds of beans add 22 grams of lean protein per 324-calorie bowl, making this chili a meal in itself. That being said, we can't serve this without a side of homemade cornbread—and we recommend you follow suit! 06 of 23 Chunky Vegetable-Lentil Soup View Recipe Andy Lyons Only 5% of Americans get their recommended daily quota of dietary fiber. One bowl of this tasty soup, and you're halfway there. The secret lies in the mix of French lentils, high-fiber legumes packed with heart-healthy folate, plus piles of veggies, including mushrooms, carrots, and a crunchy cabbage topping. 07 of 23 Spicy Brazilian Turkey Soup View Recipe Jason Donnelly Some like it hot! If that's you, you'll dig this jalapeño- and ginger-infused soup. Don't worry: A mélange of tomatoes, lime, coconut milk, beer, and roasted peanuts tames the kick. The result is a fresh, colorful, and healthy soup recipe you'll make over and over again. 08 of 23 Maple-Kissed Cream of Sweet Potato Soup with Bacon-Cheddar Crostini View Recipe Jason Donnelly Pureed veggies give this beautiful and healthy soup a head start on its smooth texture. Then Greek yogurt makes each spoonful silky smooth and a good source of protein. Finally, a crostini of French bread with mayo, bacon, cheese, and green onion is a stunning (and delicious) topper. 09 of 23 Roasted Cauliflower Soup View Recipe Alexandra Grablewski Pizza crust, rice, gnocchi … what can't cauliflower do? In this healthy cauliflower soup, we make the versatile veggie delicious by roasting it to caramelize the natural sugars. Onions, garlic, herbs, and light cream complete this easy 125-calorie creamy soup recipe that's a warming side dish to include on your fall or winter dinner menu. 10 of 23 Lentil-Toasted Barley Soup with Sausage View Recipe Jason Donnelly Chicken broth and chicken sausage team up to take this just-a-bit-of-meat recipe beyond basic veggie soup and chili recipes. This good-for-you recipe is filled with hearty whole grain barley, veggies, lentils, and tender sausage links. Toasting the barley before cooking brings out a rich nutty flavor to add a new dimension to your healthy soup recipe. 11 of 23 Gingered Chicken Meatball Soup with Brown Rice and Basil View Recipe Jason Donnelly Asian ingredients such as rice vinegar, ginger, sesame oil, and soy sauce add dynamic flavor to this satisfying soup. Brown rice, chicken, and veggies fuel you with three food groups for just 391 calories per serving. It's a breeze to transform this into a healthy chicken and wild rice soup, too—just substitute wild rice or a rice blend containing wild rice for the cooked brown rice. 12 of 23 Creamy Roasted Chicken, Potato, and Noodle Soup View Recipe Jason Donnelly Healthy chicken noodle soup can make a meal. This twist on classic chicken noodle soup adds potato and a bit of evaporated milk for fuller body. A purchased roasted chicken (leftovers work, too!) is included for richer flavor and simple prep. 13 of 23 Slow-Cooked Minestrone View Recipe Andy Lyons You may know and love minestrone thanks to a popular Italian restaurant chain. Ground beef or ground turkey turns this vegetable soup into a satisfying meal. Fresh-grated Parmesan cheese makes the perfect topper for this healthy vegetable soup recipe. As far as sides go? Unlimited breadsticks are optional but highly recommended. Delicious Copycat Recipes That Are Better Than the Originals 14 of 23 Shrimp Soup with Chili Tortilla Strips View Recipe Andy Lyons This light yet flavorful broth-based soup is loaded with shrimp, corn, beans, mild poblano pepper, and cooling avocado for a well-balanced bowl of comfort. Don't fuss about thawing the shrimp; it can go straight into the soup from a frozen state. Not so fond of seafood? Try this same strategy using leftover chicken instead for a healthy chicken tortilla soup. 15 of 23 Sweet Potato Soup and Kale Chips View Recipe Jason Donnelly Chipotle peppers give this healthy potato soup a sultry spice that builds as you make your way through the bowl. Looking for a little more flavor for your kale chips to top this cozy sweet potato recipe? Sprinkle them with garlic salt or another favorite seasoning. 16 of 23 Mushroom Goulash View Recipe Kritsada Panichgul Need a meatless main soup or chili recipe that actually satisfies? This slow cooker goulash gets its hearty flavor from portobello mushrooms. With plenty of herbs, a pile of al dente egg noodles, and a dollop of sour cream, no one will ask, "Where's the beef?" 17 of 23 French Lentil, Leek, and Mushroom Soup View Recipe Blaine Moats Sturdy French lentils are smaller and darker than regular brown lentils and hold their shape better during cooking. They're also the secret that gives this healthy lentil soup a whopping 14 grams of protein per serving—and it's completely vegetarian. Mushrooms, carrots, tomatoes, leeks, and more boost the vitamin level and the filling factor even more, thanks to all their fiber. 18 of 23 Triple-Tomato Soup View Recipe Andy Lyons For a triple play of childhood nostalgia, turn up the volume on your typical tomato soup. But unlike the watery canned version, this chunky and healthy tomato soup recipe combines pantry-ready tomatoes—canned, dried, and paste—with onions, celery, and parsley for a satisfying texture and layers of flavor. Also, speaking from experience: Each bowl is best enjoyed with a grilled cheese sandwich. 19 of 23 Ginger-Carrot Soup View Recipe Jay Wilde If you're choosing between healthy soup and chili recipes to feed a crowd, consider this 105-calorie, serves-12 dish. Caramelized onions and fresh ginger amplify the flavor in this creamy carrot and sweet potato soup. Pair with your favorite protein and a slice of fiber-rich whole grain bread, and let the dunking commence. 20 of 23 Italian Spinach Soup View Recipe Andy Lyons Fresh emerald green spinach brings the brilliance of a spring day to this light and healthy soup. Its Italian accent comes from herbs, garlic, and shallots, plus a sprinkling of shaved Parmesan cheese at serving. For a protein boost and to make this healthy vegetable soup more of a meal, top each bowl with shredded leftover or rotisserie chicken. 21 of 23 Barley-Beef Soup View Recipe Marty Baldwin Healthy beef stew, soup or chili recipes definitely exist—just load 'em up with whole grains and plenty of veggies. (Here, we call for fresh, canned, and frozen produce for ease and affordability without sacrificing flavor.) Garlic-seasoned beef adds filling protein to this healthy mix of veggies and quick-cooking barley. If you're more fond of slow cooker simmers, simply trade the quick-cooking barley for regular, then set and forget the ingredients as your dinner preps. 22 of 23 Chicken Chili View Recipe Andy Lyons Seeking a healthy, cozy dinner for two? This slow cooker option is your answer! This small-scale, fiery, healthy chili recipe, brimming with tender chicken and white kidney beans, owes its bold flavor to a zesty mix of cumin, oregano, garlic, and chile peppers. 23 of 23 Two-Pea Soup View Recipe Andy Lyons Making a split decision between making a healthy soup recipe and a hearty one? This cozy yet springy blend delivers equal parts of both. Mixing earthy green split peas, green peas, and fresh Italian (flat-leaf) parsley puts a vibrant spin on a comfort food favorite. Simmer with smoked pork hocks if you're a traditionalist. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit