Best Homemade Vegetable Soup Recipe
The Vegetable Soup That Changed My Mind
Growing up, I was not a big fan of vegetable soup. Most of my experiences with it involved mushy vegetables and a serious lack of flavor. If you've had similar disappointments and given up on veggie soup altogether, you’ve found the right recipe. This Best Homemade Vegetable Soup is packed with rich, savory flavors and comes together easily in no time. It’s perfect on its own or served alongside a meal, and it’s incredibly versatile, you can keep it vegan or use it as a base for a heartier, meaty soup.
I wish this had been my first experience with vegetable soup, but I’m so glad I kept experimenting! Not only is this soup comforting and delicious, but it’s also a fantastic way to get those much-needed vitamins into your diet. Okay, let’s get started!
Building the Perfect Flavor Base
This recipe doesn’t require many steps—it’s all about creating a rich, flavorful base and then adding the vegetables. Here’s what makes this soup’s flavor base so special:
- • Carrots, Celery, Onions, and Garlic: These vegetables are the base of the soup. The onions and garlic add savory depth, the carrots bring natural sweetness, and the celery adds an herby freshness.
- • Fire-Roasted Tomatoes: The fire-roasted tomatoes give the soup a smoky depth. You can swap for any diced tomatoes—fresh, seasoned, or garlic fire-roasted for extra flavor.
- • Tomato Paste: Tomato paste adds richness and enhances the flavor of the tomatoes, making the soup more full-bodied. If you want a milder tomato flavor, you can skip it, but it really ties everything together!
Watch it being made!
Customizing Your Soup: Broth and Vegetables
There are two key variables in this recipe: the broth and the vegetables. You can keep it completely vegan by using vegetable broth, or go with chicken or beef broth for a richer depth of flavor. Personally, I like a mix of vegetable and chicken broth for a well-rounded taste. Whatever you choose, make sure it’s a broth you enjoy, as it adds an extra layer of flavor to the soup. If you’re planning to add chunks of beef, a hearty beef broth would be a great option.
The Vegetables: Endless Possibilities
The second variable is the choice of additional vegetables. What’s your favorite veggie? Toss it in! The possibilities are endless; bok choy, zucchini, kale, spinach, leeks, or even beans. Just keep in mind the texture and how it affects the overall flavor. For example, if you’re adding leeks, you might want to reduce the amount of onions. Spinach is best added at the very end or even directly into your bowl to keep it from overcooking. The beauty of this soup is that it’s completely customizable to your tastes!
Hearty Veggie Soup
Ingredients
- 2 large carrots diced
- 2-3 celery stalks chopped
- 1 onion diced
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 3 medium yellow potatoes diced
- 1 cup fresh green beans trimmed & chopped
- 2 cans 14.5 oz each diced tomatoes
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 heaping tbsp fresh parsley or 1 tbsp dried
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 1 cup frozen corn
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes optional
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 6-8 cups vegetable or chicken broth
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- Olive oil for sautéing
Instructions
- Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add carrots, celery, and onion. Sauté until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1–2 minutes.
- Add tomato paste and stir for 1 minute, allowing it to deepen in flavor.
- Pour in diced tomatoes, all seasonings, and bay leaves. Stir well.
- Add potatoes and fresh green beans, then pour in broth. Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce heat to a simmer.
- Cook until potatoes are almost tender, about 15–20 minutes.
- Stir in frozen peas and corn. Simmer for another 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat and stir in fresh parsley, apple cider vinegar, and lemon juice. Adjust seasoning if needed.
- Serve warm and enjoy!
Notes
- Feel free to add your favorite vegetables! Here's how to adjust cooking times:
- Bok choy & leeks – Add with onions and carrots for a flavorful base.
- Zucchini & kale – Stir in during the last 5–7 minutes to soften without becoming mushy.
- Spinach – Add at the very end, just before serving, as it wilts quickly.
- Adjust seasoning as needed and make this soup your own! 😊
The Perfect Soup for Any Season
When you’re craving a bowl full of nourishing veggies, this is the perfect soup for you. It’s hearty, flavorful, and works just as well as a standalone meal with some fresh bread as it does as a side to a sandwich or even a starter course. The texture is completely up to you, do you prefer a brothy soup or something more hearty? It all depends on how much broth you add and how large you chop your veggies.
Personally, I love a chunkier, heartier soup in the colder months, but as spring and summer roll in, I adjust by cutting the veggies smaller and adding a little more broth for a lighter feel. No matter how you prepare it, this soup is a winner year-round. And if you really want to turn it into a comforting meal, serve it up with a side of Honey Cornbread, you won’t regret it! Hope you enjoy every spoonful! 
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Hey, if you tried this recipe, leave a comment below and let me know what you think! A quick rating helps others out too, and if you added your own twist, let’s talk about it!