Find easy, delicious, and nutrient-rich recipes for soup for kids—including babies, toddlers, and their grown ups. With kid-friendly flavors and parent-friendly cooking methods…including storage and freezing tips to make sure you use what you make.
Soup for Kids
Whenever the weather turns chilly, we start our routine of “soup Sundays” (which is exactly what it sounds like) and I so love working through a variety of soups to share with the kids.
These easy recipes are perfect soups for babies and toddlers as they are full of bright, kid-friendly flavors, have easy cooking methods, and are designed to be enjoyed by the rest of the family too.
Which is to say, you can make a pot and enjoy a bowl yourself too!
The soups here are either on the thicker side with less broth—so they’re a little easier for kids to eat with a spoon or their fingers—or they’re pureed. Pureed soups can be served from a little cup too as well as a reusable pouch, or of course in a bowl.
Contents hide 1 Soup for Kids 2 Your toddler won’t eat? Help is here! 3 Quick Pastina Soup 4 Chicken and Stars Soup 5 Alphabet Soup 6 Kid-Friendly Minestrone Soup 7 Chicken Soup for Kids 8 Easy Macaroni Soup 9 Broccoli Cheddar Soup 10 Slow Cooker Black Bean Soup 11 Kid-Friendly Lentil Veggie Soup 12 Roasted Carrot Soup 13 Tomato Soup for Kids 14 Red Lentil Soup 15 Big Batch Vegetarian Chili 16 Veggie-Packed Potato Ham Soup 17 Creamy Butternut Squash Apple Soup 18 Favorite Baby Soup 19 How to Store Soup 20 Best Tips for Kids Soup 21 Related Recipes
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Quick Pastina Soup
This Italian comfort food takes about 20 minutes, is perfect for a fast toddler meal or to soothe sick kids, and is packed with nutritious ingredients.
Quick Pastina Soup With just a handful of simple ingredients, you can make this cozy Pastina Soup to share with the kids in under 30 minutes. Look for little star “pastina” pasta in the pasta aisle. Get the recipe
Chicken and Stars Soup
With comforting flavors and a bright hit of fresh lemon juice, this recipe is both easy and delicious.
Chicken and Stars Soup With a quick cooking time, a veggie-loaded base, and most comforting texture and flavor, this Chicken and Stars Soup is an all-time favorite family meal. It’s soothing when illness strikes and just makes for a fast and yummy meal when you need it. Get the recipe
Alphabet Soup
Cook up this cozy Alphabet Soup recipe the next time you want an easy meal that’s also fun! ABC pasta is a perfect addition to this kid-friendly soup—and you can tailor the veggies to the likes (or dislikes!) of your own kiddos. It’s so versatile!
(This is one of the best soups for picky eaters that we’ve found!)
Favorite Alphabet Soup You can use ABC pasta, orzo, pastina, or ditalini—or any other very small pasta shape in this Alphabet Soup recipe. And you can start with fresh or frozen veggies. See below for options. Get the recipe
Kid-Friendly Minestrone Soup
With an easy cooking method—with minimal chopping and less than 30 minutes start to finish—this Minestrone baby soup (that big kids will love too!) is a favorite comfort food meal to share. It’s easy to adjust for allergies as needed and it is packed with yummy flavor.
Extra-Veggie Minestrone Baby Soup (for Big Kids too!) With a streamlined method and a quick cooking time, this veggie-packed baby soup (that big kids and parents will also enjoy!) is filled with vegetarian protein and super yummy Italian flavors. Get the recipe
Chicken Soup for Kids
There’s nothing like a bowl of cozy, comforting Chicken Noodle Soup—especially when it’s one that’s easy to make in about 30 minutes. This version is quick to make and is one of our one of our very favorite soups for kids…and family dinners to share.
Easy Chicken Noodle Soup for Kids This easy recipe makes a big pot of comforting soup to feed the whole family—babies, toddlers, and big kids included. The leftovers store nicely so you can enjoy it for a few days! Get the recipe
Easy Macaroni Soup
This cozy Macaroni Soup is an easy and flavorful family meal—and so yummy with tomato, beef, and loads of veggies. I love to make this with elbow macaroni.
Easy Macaroni Soup Made with mostly pantry and freezer staples, this cozy Macaroni Soup is easy and flavorful—and so nourishing. I love to make this with elbows, but other small pasta shapes such as wagon wheels would work well, too. Get the recipe
Broccoli Cheddar Soup
You guys, if you’re wanting to get your kids into soup, this Broccoli Cheddar Soup recipe is such a good one to try! It’s packed with plant-based protein and fiber, sure, but it’s so super delish and cheesy. Plus, it’s a great family meal alongside crackers or muffins AND it also freezes wonderfully. Win, win, win!
Healthy Broccoli Cheddar Soup With plant-based protein, veggies, and cheese, this soup is a wonderful way to serve up healthy comfort food to the whole family. (Adapted from FamilyFun magazine.) Get the recipe
Slow Cooker Black Bean Soup
Use the crock pot to cook up a hearty and nutritious Slow Cooker Black Bean Soup with veggies and lots of kid-friendly flavor. It’s easy, versatile, and a great freezer meal!
Slow Cooker Black Bean Soup (with Instant Pot Option) The addition of grains helps to thicken the soup to a nice consistency for little eaters, so don’t be worried if it’s pretty thin before you add them in before serving. (This post was updated and the recipe was streamlined November 2020. You can get the original recipe here.) Get the recipe
Kid-Friendly Lentil Veggie Soup
With a quick method and a variety of vegetables packed into the broth, this vegetarian Lentil Soup is a perfect weeknight family dinner—especially when you’re craving comfort food!
Favorite Lentil Soup with Veggies I like our lentil soup with the veggies pretty blended in, which is why I chop them finely in a blender or food processor. You can also just chop them with a knife. (Recipe updated August 2020 to saute the veggies before simmering to ensure that there’s no raw onion flavor.) Get the recipe
Roasted Carrot Soup
With just a few simple ingredients, an easy method (that lends itself well to making the recipe ahead!), and a creamy, yet dairy-free end result, this Roasted Carrot Soup is a perfect family dinner to share with the kids.
Creamy Carrot Soup This creamy Carrot Soup is easy and comforting, and it’s a great vegetarian soup to share with the kids. Add some crackers or pita alongside to round out this meal. Get the recipe
Tomato Soup for Kids
Made with just 5 simple ingredients, this super creamy Vegan Tomato Soup is one of our favorite healthy comfort foods. Bonus: It’s perfect to share with babies and toddlers too and it freezes really well!
This is such a creamy texture and it’s a favorite baby soup too.
Vegan Tomato Soup (5-Ingredients!) Taste the soup after pureeing and add a little more salt if needed. The sweet potato adds creaminess without dairy—and so much flavor! Get the recipe
Red Lentil Soup
With plant-based protein and Vitamin C-rich veggies, this brightly flavored easy Red Lentil Soup is perfect for dinner…and to boost immunity with turmeric. And it’s a perfect texture and mild flavor for babies and toddlers.
This was a soup that I’ve made and shared with all three of my kids when they were babies. Such yummy flavors.
Easy Red Lentil Soup (with Sweet Potato and Coconut) Serve small portions by the spoonful or in a reusable pouch to babies and toddlers. Get the recipe
Big Batch Vegetarian Chili
Loaded with kid-friendly vegetables including sweet potato and corn, as well as plant-based protein from beans, this Vegetarian Bean Chili Recipe makes enough for two dinners—so you can stash one in the freezer for a future meal that’s all ready to go!
Big Batch Vegetarian Chili When serving this to a little one, I like to drain off much of the broth. This makes it a little easier (and less messy) for them to eat. If your family likes spice, add in a dash or two of cayenne pepper. Get the recipe
Veggie-Packed Potato Ham Soup
Made with just 5 simple ingredients, this super creamy Vegan Tomato Soup is one of our favorite healthy comfort foods. Bonus: It’s perfect to share with babies and toddlers too and it freezes really well!
Veggie-Packed Potato Ham Soup Since the saltiness of your ham may vary, taste at the end and adjust the salt and pepper as needed. You can add more ham if you prefer more. Get the recipe
Creamy Butternut Squash Apple Soup
We love to eat winter squash in all sorts of ways, but one of our favorite soups for kids is this Butternut Squash and Apple Soup. It’s velvety in texture, naturally sweet, and so comforting—and is totally dairy-free and vegan.
Easy Butternut Squash Apple Soup With a quick cooking method and the creamiest texture, this easy Butternut Squash Apple Soup is a family favorite. It is great for babies on up to adults, is dairy-free and packed with vegetarian protein, and just tastes so good. We love this with buttered toast or crackers. Get the recipe
Frequently Asked Questions
Which soup is best for cold for kids?
We love Chicken Noodle Soup or Alphabet Soup when the kids are sick. The broth is the best part to help them feel a little better.
How can I get my child to eat soup?
Serve it with less broth to start so it’s easier to eat. Try one with ingredients they like, such as pasta. Serve pureed soups with crackers or bread sticks for dipping. Start with small servings to avoid overwhelm and waste, and eat with them so they can copy how you’re enjoying the soup.
Favorite Baby Soup
Pureed soups are a perfect texture for babies. Favorite options include Butternut Squash Apple Soup, Roasted Carrot Soup, Black Bean Soup, and Red Lentil Sweet Potato Soup.
For babies eating finger foods, try Alphabet Soup or Minestrone Baby Soup.
Product we love
Souper Cubes
This big silicone tray is perfect for freezing leftover soup in portions or for making mirepoix, a combination of onion, carrots, and celery ahead to freeze.
Learn More
How to Store Soup
Store any soup in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Add more broth as needed when reheating and reheat in an heat-safe bowl in 30-second increments, stirring in between for even heating.
You can also freeze soup in a freezer bag or container for up to a year. Just label it so you know what’s what.
Best Tips for Kids Soup
- Start with small portions to avoid overwhelm and waste.
- Serve with less broth so it’s less messy as they learn how to eat soup.
- Try pureed soup in a reusable pouch or with crackers or breadsticks on the side of a bowl for dipping.
- Offer shredded or grated cheese on top for extra yumminess.
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