We're just as into comfort foods as the next person, but if you still want to be healthy, we can give you the best of both worlds. Each and every one these healthy soups and stews is loaded with good-for-you ingredients and will still satisfy all of your cozy winter cravings. From vegetarian soups to stews packed with protein and vegetables, there's no shortage of delicious, filling recipes on our list.
Whether you’re on the hunt for an easy weeknight dinner or are preparing to host a lot of friends by cooking a make-ahead meal to serve a crowd, it’s important to make warm, winter dishes that don’t always pack on the calories. Thanks to these dishes, mostly under 500 calories, you’ll be loaded with great ideas for any time of year.
No matter your flavor preferences, you can make a quick soup or stew to enjoy throughout the year — all while sticking to your healthy lifestyle. Here are some of our favorite picks!
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1
Instant Pot Chicken Pho
Mike Garten
Get an extra hit of warmth from cinnamon, chili, and star anise in this easy Instant Pot soup.
In just 20 minutes, you can have a bowl of piping-hot, homemade soup that tastes way better than the canned stuff. With protein-packed quinoa and heart-healthy pumpkin seeds, it's healthier too.
Serve up this silky, savory soup as a starter. Or, ladle it up into big bowls for a main. Either way, you shouldn't feel guilty for licking the bowl clean.
We're obsessed with this fiery chili for a few reasons: While vegetarian, it packs 19 grams of protein per serving. Because it's made in a pressure cooker, it is ready in 15 minutes. And, it's crazy-delicious (duh).
Give the cold-weather classic a healthier spin. Made with olive oil, low-sodium chicken broth and reduced-fat Swiss, our version has 890 fewer calories than the original.
Consider this the tastiest way to use up all your pantry ingredients in one go. Pro tip: Stash all your onion peels, celery stems and Parmesan rinds in a bag in the freezer to make a super-flavorful stock.
A spoonful of this Italian-inspired dish is enough to help you escape the -30° temps. One slurp and you'll be swear you traveled to the sunny coast of Capri.
We're cutting down the calories of the classic chowdah. Thanks to the potatoes and low-fat milk, the diet version stays velvety and rich ... so no one (except you!) will even know it's healthier.
Get a taste of The Big Easy without hopping on a plane! This bold-flavored stew marries classic New Orleans flavors — sweet, succulent shrimp and zesty Creole spices. Now, you just need to find a Sazerac.
Out of broth? Sub in ginger-steeped green tea. Seriously! The brew keeps the liquid and flavor at a high, while slashing the sodium of the finished dish.
Sweet potatoes are one of our SuperCarb Diet superstars. Why? These carbs are crazy-flavorful and chock-full of filling fiber and immune-boosting antioxidants. So, when added to a dish, like this soup, it'll leave you feeling satisfied for a real long time.
The next time you're sick, forgo the classic chicken noodle and opt for this veggie-rich stew instead. All the kale, carrots, tomatoes, and beans will have you feeling better in no time.
Trish (she/her) is the deputy food editor at Good Housekeeping, where she covers all things food, from cooking trends and delicious recipes to top-tested kitchen products and grocery finds. She has more than a decade of experience writing about food for GH, Women’s Health, Prevention, Redbook, Woman’s Day, The Daily Meal and Food Network. When she’s not at the supermarket or trying out a new recipe, you can find her at the beach, in her backyard or on the couch — typically with a glass of wine in hand.
Becca Miller (she/her) has been working in the Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen since 2018, where she researches and writes about tasty recipes, food trends and top cooking tools. She graduated from NYU with a liberal arts degree focusing on creative writing. She makes killer scrambled eggs, enjoys a glass of un-oaked chardonnay and takes pride in her love of reality television.