Skip to content

Top Navigation

Martha Stewart Martha Stewart
  • FOOD
  • HOLIDAYS
  • ENTERTAINING
  • HOME
  • GARDENING
  • CLEANING & ORGANIZING
  • WEDDINGS
  • SHOP
  • DIY
  • BEAUTY & WELLNESS
  • LIFE
  • NEWS
  • MARTHA'S BLOG
  • About Us

Profile Menu

Martha's Blog
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Contact Us
  • Your Content
  • Logout

More

  • Enter to Win $10,000 to Makeover Your Home!
  • Martha's Blog
  • Weddings
Login
Pin FB

Explore Martha Stewart

Martha Stewart Martha Stewart
  • Explore

    Explore

    • Tips on Organizing Your Home

      Tips on Organizing Your Home

      From the kitchen and bathroom to the bedroom and laundry room, here are 40 ways to simplify, streamline, and banish clutter throughout the house. Read More
    • These Are the Paint Colors You'll See Everywhere in 2022

      These Are the Paint Colors You'll See Everywhere in 2022

      Upgrade your spaces with new—and old—classics. Read More
    • 39 Make-Ahead Holiday Dishes That Are Perfect for Festive Family Gatherings

      39 Make-Ahead Holiday Dishes That Are Perfect for Festive Family Gatherings

      These classic recipes will help you get a head start on the festivities. Read More
  • FOOD

    FOOD

    See All FOOD
    • Breakfast & Brunch Recipes
    • Lunch Recipes
    • Dinner Recipes
    • Appetizers & Snacks
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Drink Recipes
    • Salad Recipes
    • Side Dishes
    • Soup Recipes
    • Healthy Recipes
    • Quick & Easy Recipes
    • Vegetarian Recipes
    • Cooking How-Tos
    • Baking
    • Menu Planning
    • Food News & Trends
    • Wine
    • Mastering the Holiday Meal
    • What's for Dinner
    • All Recipes
  • HOLIDAYS

    HOLIDAYS

    See All HOLIDAYS
    All of Our Best Valentine's Day Crafts to Make from the Heart

    All of Our Best Valentine's Day Crafts to Make from the Heart

    Express your love with handmade Valentine's crafts like paper cards, gift ideas, and decorations.
    • Valentine's Day
    • St. Patricks Day
    • Passover
    • Easter
    • Mother's Day
    • Father's Day
    • Fourth of July
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Hanukkah
    • Christmas
    • New Year's Eve
  • ENTERTAINING

    ENTERTAINING

    See All ENTERTAINING
    Will We Entertain Differently in 2022? These Are the New Trends Hostesses Should Bookmark

    Will We Entertain Differently in 2022? These Are the New Trends Hostesses Should Bookmark

    Secure your role as the host with the absolute most.
    • Seasonal Entertaining & Decorating
    • Baby Shower Ideas
    • Dinner Party Ideas
    • You're Invited
  • HOME

    HOME

    See All HOME
    How to Hang and Arrange Pictures

    How to Hang and Arrange Pictures

    Amp up your home décor with perfectly placed frames.
    • Home Design & Decor
    • Paint Colors & Palettes
    • DIY Home Projects
    • The Well-Kept Home
  • GARDENING

    GARDENING

    See All GARDENING
    Six Houseplant Mistakes to Avoid This Winter

    Six Houseplant Mistakes to Avoid This Winter

    Don't let your varieties fall victim to the perils of poor cold-weather maintenance.
    • Container Gardening
    • Flower Gardens
    • Houseplants
    • Landscaping
    • Vegetable Gardens
  • CLEANING & ORGANIZING

    CLEANING & ORGANIZING

    How to Deep Clean Your Oven with Baking Soda

    How to Deep Clean Your Oven with Baking Soda

    Our easy tips will make this cleaning task a lot less daunting.
    • Cleaning
    • Storage & Organization
    • Laundry & Linens
  • WEDDINGS

    WEDDINGS

    See All WEDDINGS
    Your Ultimate Wedding-Planning Timeline

    Your Ultimate Wedding-Planning Timeline

    Ready, set, go! Our no-nonsense guide will help you learn how to plan your wedding like a pro.
    • Real Weddings
    • Wedding Party
    • Wedding Planning & Advice
    • Wedding Ceremony & Reception
    • Wedding Jewelry
    • Dresses & Style
    • Wedding Beauty & Wellness
    • Wedding Registry
    • Wedding Showers & Parties
    • Love & Marriage
    • Wedding Travel
  • SHOP
  • DIY

    DIY

    See All DIY
    How to Knit: A Beginner's Step-by-Step Guide

    How to Knit: A Beginner's Step-by-Step Guide

    Learn how to knit your own mittens, hats, scarves, and more. We'll take you through the step-by-step instructions and teach you how to cast on, knit, purl, and cast off.
    • Dyeing
    • Holiday Crafts
    • Kids' Crafts
    • Knitting
    • Paper Crafts
    • Sewing
    • Rescue & Revamp
  • BEAUTY & WELLNESS

    BEAUTY & WELLNESS

    Your Complete Guide to Restoring Moisture Back Into Your Skin

    Your Complete Guide to Restoring Moisture Back Into Your Skin

    Take a multi-pronged approach if you're experiencing excess dryness.
    • Beauty
    • Health & Wellness
    • Live Well
  • LIFE

    LIFE

    See All LIFE
    • Family
    • Pets
    • Travel
    • Net Worth
  • NEWS
  • MARTHA'S BLOG
  • About Us

Profile Menu

Martha's Blog
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Contact Us
  • Your Content
  • Logout

More

  • Enter to Win $10,000 to Makeover Your Home!
  • Martha's Blog
  • Weddings
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. marthastewart.com
  2. Food & Cooking
  3. Recipes
  4. Thanksgiving Soup Recipes to Start the Feast

Thanksgiving Soup Recipes to Start the Feast

By Lynn Andriani Updated October 09, 2019
Skip gallery slides
Pin
roasted squash and parsnip soup
Credit: Mikkel Vang
A taste of autumn's bounty in a bowl is a good start to the holiday dinner.
Start Slideshow

1 of 14

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message
roasted squash and parsnip soup
Credit: Mikkel Vang

Starting your Thanksgiving dinner with an elegant soup is a bit like dipping your toe into the pool before jumping off the high-dive. It's a slow warm-up, a gentle easing in to what is, for many of us, the biggest meal of the year. Fall ingredients and flavors are a natural for soup, too—think of all those hearty root vegetables, and how wonderfully they transform into silky purées. Or of how nicely fall spices like ginger and cloves blend into a creamy spoonful of soup.

The Thanksgiving soups here run the gamut from traditional to inventive, and incorporate autumn superstars, such as the honeynut squash and parsnip combination shown here, as well as pumpkin, butternut squash, apple, and pear. There are loads of luxurious purées, such as a Leek-and-Parsnip Soup with Caviar and Black-Pepper Cream (and the caviar needn't break the bank); Cauliflower and Roasted Garlic Soup; Harvest Pumpkin Soup; and Butternut Bisque. And wow-worthy garnishes—herbed crostini, caramelized cauliflower florets, thin slices of baked pears—make them feel extra-special.

One word of advice, considering the many dishes to come: Don't overdo it on the portions. You can place the bowls on a larger plate to look more complete and balanced. And now's the time to break out your soup tureen, if you have one. If not, any pretty pot or large serving bowl will work just fine.

Finally, busy cooks, rejoice: Most of these soups (and many of their garnishes) can be prepared far in advance.

1 of 14

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 14

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Spiced Butternut Squash and Apple Soup

spiced-butternut-squash-apple-soup-mbd108052.jpg
Credit: Bryan Gardner
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This lovely soup is a breeze to make: Simply cook the vegetables (and apple) and blend. A smattering of zippy, warm spices—ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves—give it wonderful depth of flavor.

2 of 14

3 of 14

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Caramelized-Shallot Soup

shallot-soup-md109034.jpg
Credit: William Brinson
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This creative recipe is a play on the classic French onion soup, swapping in shallots for the onions, and topping the bowls with melted Gruyère. Sautéed chestnuts add a little crunch.

3 of 14

Advertisement

4 of 14

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Leek-and-Parsnip Soup with Caviar and Black-Pepper Cream

Leek-And-Parsnip Soup with Caviar and Black-Pepper Cream
Credit: Jonny Valiant
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Definitely not your everyday soup, this leek and parsnip purée is topped with creme fraîche spiked with black pepper and a small dollop of caviar.

4 of 14

5 of 14

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Ginger Squash Soup with Parmesan Croutons

soup_00848_t.jpg
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

You can use any winter squash—butternut, acorn, or sugar pumpkin—to make this balanced, flavorful soup. Parmesan-dusted croutons are a savory garnish.

5 of 14

6 of 14

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Cauliflower and Roasted Garlic Soup

Cauliflower and Roasted Garlic Soup
Credit: Krause, Johansen
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

A lovely soup that starts with cauliflower simmered with thyme; it's then puréed with plenty of roasted garlic cloves and sautéed onions. The pièce de résistance: caramelized cauliflower florets scattered on top.

6 of 14

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 14

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Harvest Pumpkin Soup

Pumpkin Soup
Credit: Krause, Johansen
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

The combination of puréed pumpkin, potato, and turnip result in a soup that's a perfect mix of sweet and savory. There's a hint of thyme, too, which adds lovely flavor.

7 of 14

8 of 14

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Butternut Bisque

med104169_1108_butternut.jpg
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This creamy butternut squash bisque is seasoned with cinnamon and a bit of cayenne powder, though you can certainly play with the spices. Try ground nutmeg or cloves instead of cinnamon, or add a Southwestern touch with a pinch of chili powder.

8 of 14

9 of 14

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Chestnut-Mushroom Soup

ml111k4_sip_fd08_chestnutso.jpg
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Here's another bowl that's definitely a notch about your usual Thursday evening soup. It features sophisticated roasted chestnuts and cremini and shiitake mushrooms—but it's surprisingly straightforward to make.

9 of 14

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 14

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Creamy Winter Squash Soup with Herbed Crostini

mla103805_1208_soup.jpg
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This puréed winter squash and potato soup is delicious on its own, but for the holiday, a crostini garnish brushed with cream that has been infused with chopped rosemary, parsley, and thyme, then broiled until crisp feels just right.

10 of 14

11 of 14

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Pear and Autumn-Vegetable Soup

Pear and Autumn Vegetable Soup
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Bartlett pears, butternut squash or pumpkin, and turnips bring sweetness and earthiness to this creamy fall soup. Thin slices of baked pears make an elegant garnish that looks as lovely as it tastes.

11 of 14

12 of 14

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Creamy Broccoli-and-Spinach Soup

Creamy Broccoli-and-Spinach Soup recipe
Credit: Yuki Sugiura
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Amid the beige canvas of Thanksgiving, a bright green soup made from puréed broccoli and handfuls of baby spinach is a refreshing and bracing start. Another bonus: This velvety-textured soup doesn't contain any cream.

12 of 14

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 14

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Creamy Mushroom Soup

soup_01337_t.jpg
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Fresh wild mushrooms combined with dried porcini and morels make for an elegant starter with rich flavor. This creamy soup gets extra depth from Madeira wine or cognac.

13 of 14

14 of 14

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Pumpkin Chestnut Soup

Pumpkin-Chestnut Soup
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Whole peeled chestnuts and Yukon Gold potatoes add structure to this festive pumpkin soup, enhancing its texture. An optional toasted pumpkin seed garnish delivers a welcome bit of crunch.

14 of 14

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Lynn Andriani

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 14
    2 of 14 Spiced Butternut Squash and Apple Soup
    3 of 14 Caramelized-Shallot Soup
    4 of 14 Leek-and-Parsnip Soup with Caviar and Black-Pepper Cream
    5 of 14 Ginger Squash Soup with Parmesan Croutons
    6 of 14 Cauliflower and Roasted Garlic Soup
    7 of 14 Harvest Pumpkin Soup
    8 of 14 Butternut Bisque
    9 of 14 Chestnut-Mushroom Soup
    10 of 14 Creamy Winter Squash Soup with Herbed Crostini
    11 of 14 Pear and Autumn-Vegetable Soup
    12 of 14 Creamy Broccoli-and-Spinach Soup
    13 of 14 Creamy Mushroom Soup
    14 of 14 Pumpkin Chestnut Soup

    Share & More

    Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message
    Martha Stewart

    Learn More

    • Contact Us
    • Customer Service
    • Media Kit
    • Martha's Blog
    • Advertise
    • Content Licensing
    • FAQ
    • Corporate
    • International
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Follow Us
    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    Sign Up
    MeredithMartha Stewart is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2022 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright Martha Stewart. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.marthastewart.com

    Sign in

    View image

    Thanksgiving Soup Recipes to Start the Feast
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.