Soup season is my favorite season in the kitchen. One pot, minimal cleanup, and dinner is done. But if you or someone at your table avoids tomatoes because of acid reflux, a nightshade sensitivity, or plain old picky taste buds, soup ideas can shrink fast. So many classics soups start with a can of tomatoes.
Some of the coziest soup recipes without tomatoes are gathered. Here are nine of my family's favorites, from a 30-minute vegan Tuscan bean soup to a slow cooker (affiliate) chowder and an Italian wedding soup big enough for a crowd. I've even included my mom's chicken broth (affiliate), the base for so many soups.
My backstory:
Key Takeaways
- The article shares nine family favorite soup recipes without tomatoes, catering to those with sensitivities.
- It includes a variety of options like vegan Tuscan bean soup, roasted butternut squash soup, and hearty vegetable chowder.
- Each recipe features a brief description and a link to the full recipe for easy access.
- Tips for making great soups without tomatoes emphasize a flavor base, good broth, and depth from herbs (affiliate) and spices (affiliate).
- The article concludes with ideas on what to serve with these soups and a prompt for reader interaction about their favorites.
Jump to:
- My backstory:
- Key Takeaways
- 1. Easy Tuscan Bean Soup with Baby Greens
- Easy Tuscan Bean Soup Recipe with Baby Greens (vegan, gluten-free)
- 2. Roasted Butternut Squash and Black Bean Soup
- Roasted Butternut Squash and Black Beans Soup Recipe
- 3. Easy Butternut Squash Soup
- Delicious Butternut Squash Soup recipe for Weeknight Meals
- 4. Pasta and Lentil Soup
- Pasta and Lentil Soup Recipe
- 5. Italian Wedding Soup for a Crowd
- No Pasta Italian Wedding Soup Recipe for a Crowd
- 6. Escarole and Meatball Soup
- Delicious and Easy Escarole and Meatball Soup Recipe {gluten-free}
- 7. Stracciatella with Kale
- Keto Style Stracciatella With Kale Soup Recipe
- 8. Hearty Vegetable and Potato Chowder
- Hearty Vegetable and Potato Chowder Recipe
- 9. Bonus: My Mom's Chicken Broth
- How to Make My Mom's Chicken Broth Recipe
- Tips for Making Great soup recipes without tomatoes
- What to Serve with these No-Tomato in Soups
- Frequently Asked Questions
1. Easy Tuscan Bean Soup with Baby Greens
Creamy cannellini beans, carrots, celery, and a handful of baby spinach, kale, and Swiss chard, simmered with rosemary, oregano (affiliate), and thyme. It's vegan, gluten-free, made in one Dutch oven (affiliate), and ready in about 30 minutes. Sauté the veggies first, add the beans and herbs (affiliate), pour in the broth, and stir in the greens at the very end so they stay bright.
Get the Tuscan Bean Soup recipe
Easy Tuscan Bean Soup Recipe with Baby Greens (vegan, gluten-free)
This Tuscan Bean recipe is super hardy and delicious. Great for those Meatless Mondays, cold winter days, and Lent.
2. Roasted Butternut Squash and Black Bean Soup
Roasting the squash and onion brings out natural sweetness, and Za'atar spice mix adds an earthy, zesty depth you won't find in a standard squash soup. The black (affiliate) beans make it hearty enough to be a full meal. Blend it to your preferred texture, and thin with a splash of water if needed.
Get the Butternut Squash and Black Bean Soup recipe
Roasted Butternut Squash and Black Beans Soup Recipe
Butternut squash soup is an easy dish for any family to make. However, this one has kicked it up a notch. The roasted butternut squash with the black beans makes it a more complete meal. And, we added Za'atar seasoning (one of my favorite seasonings), which gives it a depth you will not forget and enjoy for years to come. Give it a try.
3. Easy Butternut Squash Soup
Prefer a classic? This smooth, velvety soup is a weeknight go-to that comes together in about 35 minutes. Pre-cut squash saves time, a little cinnamon (affiliate), curry, and ginger add warmth, and light cream makes it silky. Roast the squash first for extra flavor, and use an immersion blender (affiliate) for a smooth finish. It's easy to double or triple for guests.
Get the Butternut Squash Soup recipe
Delicious Butternut Squash Soup recipe for Weeknight Meals
An easy and smooth butternut squash soup uses a light cream and a blender. Roast the butternut for a more robust flavor.
4. Pasta and Lentil Soup
This is a holiday-table favorite from my mom's kitchen, and my kids love it because "it has pasta in it." I love that it's packed with lentil protein. This version adds spinach and cavatelli (gluten-free pasta works too). Comfort in a bowl, and it feeds eight.
Get the Pasta and Lentil Soup recipe
Pasta and Lentil Soup Recipe
Pasta and lentils are great for a quick comfort food using a stove top dutch oven.
5. Italian Wedding Soup for a Crowd
I first made this big-batch, no-pasta version while running hospitality for a school event. Tender meatballs, escarole, and a silky egg-and-Romano swirl in a savory chicken broth (affiliate). It makes 12 servings, holds beautifully in a slow cooker (affiliate), and is gluten-free with gluten-free meatballs.
Get the Italian Wedding Soup recipe
No Pasta Italian Wedding Soup Recipe for a Crowd
No pasta Italian wedding soup recipe for a crowd. Great for parties.
6. Escarole and Meatball Soup
My husband introduced me to this soup 30 years ago; it came from his mother's kitchen. It's simpler than wedding soup, with no eggs, cheese, or pasta. Just tiny meatballs, cannellini beans, and tender escarole in broth. Finish with a little grated Romano.
Get the Escarole and Meatball Soup recipe
Delicious and Easy Escarole and Meatball Soup Recipe {gluten-free}
A Delicious and Easy Escarole and Meatball Soup Recipe that you can make for dinner tonight. It has beans, meatballs (Gluten Free or regular), and escarole for the entire family.
7. Stracciatella with Kale
Italian egg drop soup was my mom's go-to for quick protein on cold weeknights. Eggs and Pecorino Romano ribbon through hot broth with kale for a keto-friendly one-pot dinner in about 15 minutes of hands-on time. At around 108 calories per serving, it's light but satisfying. This recipe can also be made without kale, just omit the kale.
Get the Stracciatella with Kale recipe
Keto Style Stracciatella With Kale Soup Recipe
This recipe is a modification of my spinach and Stracciatella recipe. It is very good and hardy and great for a weeknight meal.
8. Hearty Vegetable and Potato Chowder
The easiest one on the list: a slow cooker (affiliate) chowder with frozen mixed vegetables, russet potatoes, onion, garlic, and thyme in vegetable broth, with cream of mushroom soup for creaminess. Prep takes about 15 minutes, then let it simmer all day. Top each bowl with shredded cheddar. It makes 6 to 8 servings, so it's great for busy weeknights.
Get the Vegetable and Potato Chowder recipe
Hearty Vegetable and Potato Chowder Recipe
Yummy hardy chowder with potatoes, carrots, peas, green beans, and lima beans cooked in a slow cooker.
9. Bonus: My Mom's Chicken Broth
Many of the soups above start with broth, and homemade is worth it. My mom made this while working long hours because one pot gave her several meals. Chicken thighs, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, and potatoes simmer for 45 minutes, and you get 8 cups of broth plus cooked chicken to use for chicken salad, a pastina or orzo soup, or sides. Use the broth in any recipe above.
Get My Mom's Chicken Broth recipe
How to Make My Mom's Chicken Broth Recipe
Easy broth recipe like mom used to make.
Tips for Making Great soup recipes without tomatoes
Tomatoes bring acidity, sweetness, and umami. Without them, you just need to build those layers another way.
- Start with a flavor base. Sauté (affiliate) onion, carrot, and celery in olive oil (affiliate) until soft, then add liquid. That step does a lot of the work.
- Use good broth. With no tomato to lean on, broth is the backbone. Make your own with my mom's recipe, or choose low-sodium store-bought so you control the salt (affiliate).
- Bring herbs (affiliate) and spices (affiliate). Rosemary, thyme, oregano (affiliate), sage, Za'atar, curry, and cinnamon (affiliate) add depth. Red pepper (affiliate) flakes give a gentle kick.
- Add brightness at the end. A squeeze of lemon juice or a splash of white wine vinegar wakes up the pot and replaces the tang tomatoes would give.
- Don't skip the umami. Grated Romano or Parmesan, a Parmesan rind simmered in the broth, roasted garlic, or beans all add savory richness.
- Roast your vegetables. Roasting squash and onions caramelizes them and adds natural sweetness. Check out my roasted vegetables recipes.
- Add greens last. Spinach, kale, Swiss chard and escarole only need a few minutes. Escarole and kale hold up longer than baby greens.
- Wash escarole well. It hides sand. Rinse until the water runs clear, which can take two to four rinses.
- Use your slow cooker (affiliate). For soups like the chowder, spray the insert, stir well, and let the pot rest 15 minutes before serving.
- Prep before you cook. Quick soups like the Tuscan bean go fast, so chop everything first. Display the different ingredients on a cutting board (affiliate) for a quick grab with you start cooking.
What to Serve with these No-Tomato in Soups
- Tuscan Bean Soup: garlic bread or crusty bread for dipping.
- Butternut Squash Soups: toasted garlic bread and a light green salad, or a warm butternut squash spinach salad.
- Pasta and Lentil Soup: a simple side salad and warm rolls. It's filling on its own.
- Italian Wedding Soup: crusty Italian bread and extra grated Romano on top.
- Escarole and Meatball Soup: a slice of toasted Italian bread and a sprinkle of Romano.
- Stracciatella with Kale: toast for dipping, or a small side salad.
- Vegetable and Potato Chowder: a grilled cheese sandwich or crusty bread, and a crisp side salad.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have any questions about no tomato in soup recipe, feel free to check out the questions and answers below.
Roasted vegetables like butternut squash or carrots add sweetness and body. Beans and lentils add heartiness. A splash of lemon juice or vinegar adds the acidic tang tomatoes normally provide.
Several are. The Tuscan bean, butternut squash, escarole and meatball, and stracciatella soups are naturally gluten-free or easy to make gluten-free. Use gluten-free meatballs for the wedding and escarole soups, and gluten-free pasta for the lentil soup.
Check the label on the cream of mushroom soup in the chowder, since many brands contain wheat. You can find cream of mushroom soup gluten free usually at a health food store. Always check your broth and meatball labels too.
The Tuscan bean soup is vegan. The roasted butternut squash and black bean soup is vegan with vegetable broth.
The classic butternut squash soup uses light cream and chicken broth, so swap in a dairy-free milk or cream and vegetable broth.
The chowder has vegetable broth but includes cream of mushroom soup and cheddar, so it's vegetarian, not vegan. The pasta and lentil soup includes ham, so leave it out and use vegetable broth.
You can use a dairy-free milk or cream instead of the light cream in the butternut squash soup. Skip the cheese toppings, or use a dairy-free alternative.
Yes. Most keep in the refrigerator for about three days. Add extra broth when reheating, especially for the pasta and lentil soup, since the pasta absorbs liquid. For egg-based soups like stracciatella, I recommend serving them fresh.
Bean, squash, and meatball soups generally freeze well, and so does homemade broth. For soups with pasta, freeze the soup base and cook the pasta fresh so it doesn't get mushy. Cream-based soups can separate, so stir well when reheating.
Wedding soup has an egg-and-cheese swirl. My family's escarole and meatball soup skips the eggs, cheese, and pasta and adds cannellini beans instead.
The Italian wedding soup makes 12 servings and stays warm in a slow cooker. The chowder is another easy slow cooker option for 6 to 8. Or double any of the others.
Stracciatella with kale is on the table in about 15 minutes, followed by the Tuscan bean soup at 30. If you want hands-off, the slow cooker chowder needs only about 15 minutes of prep.
Use it in chicken salad, add it to a pastina or orzo soup, or serve it with mashed potatoes and carrots.
I hope these no tomato soup recipes help you and your family enjoy something warm during the cool months. Which one will you make first? Tell me in the comments, and pin this list for your next chilly night.
Here are all my soup recipes, with and without tomatoes.
