Popular American Soups: Famous Soups from the United States

New Orleans Gumbo, one of the most famous American soups, is a classic Cajun dish known for its rich, hearty, and spicy flavour. It typically consists of a roux (a mixture of flour and fat) that’s cooked until it’s dark brown, along with a combination of meat (such as chicken, sausage, or shrimp), vegetables (like onion, bell pepper, and celery), and spices (like cayenne pepper, paprika, and thyme). Gumbo is often served over rice and is a staple of Louisiana cuisine.

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Shrimp bisque is a creamy soup featuring shrimp and other flavourful ingredients. It’s typically made by sautéing shrimp shells and vegetables in butter, adding broth and cream, and then blending the mixture until it’s smooth. The soup is then seasoned with herbs and spices and garnished with cooked shrimp and fresh herbs. The soup originates from prawn bisque, a French classic. Image credit: Ceeseven, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Clam chowder is a thick, creamy soup made with clams, potatoes, onions, and bacon. It’s typically thickened with flour and butter and then simmered with milk or cream until it’s thick and hearty. Clam chowder is a classic dish from New England. There are two main types: Manhattan clam chowder, which is tomato-based and has a broth-like consistency, and traditional New England clam chowder, which is cream-based and has a thick and creamy consistency. Both types are typically served in a bread bowl or with oyster crackers. Image credit: Tobias Kleinlercher / Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A rich and creamy soup you might like to try is She-crab soup. It features female blue crabs, which are prized for their delicate, sweet meat. It’s typically made by simmering crab meat and roe in a mixture of milk and cream, along with flour or a roux for thickening. The soup is then seasoned with sherry, Old Bay seasoning, and other spices and garnished with fresh herbs. She-crab soup is a classic dish from the Southern United States, particularly from the coastal regions of South Carolina and Georgia. Image credit: @joefoodie via Flickr https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

Wedding soup, or Italian wedding soup, is a traditional Italian-American soup that people typically serve at weddings and other special occasions. It’s made with small meatballs, usually made with a combination of ground beef and pork, that you add to a chicken broth, along with vegetables such as spinach, carrots, and onions. The soup is then finished with a mixture of beaten eggs and grated Parmesan cheese, which gives it a rich and creamy texture. Despite its name, wedding soup doesn’t have any connection to weddings or marriage – the name is believed to come from the Italian phrase “minestra maritata,” which means “married soup” and refers to the combination of meat and vegetables. Image credit: https://www.pexels.com/creative-commons-images/

Wisconsin cheddar beer soup is a hearty and flavorful soup made with sharp cheddar cheese, beer, and various other ingredients. Sautéing onions and garlic in butter, adding flour to make a roux, and whisking in chicken broth, beer, and spices are typical processes to create the dish. The soup is then simmered until it’s thick and creamy, and then shredded cheddar cheese is added until it’s melted and fully incorporated. The soup often has garnishes of croutons, bacon, and chives, or sometimes extra cheese. Photo by Daria Klimova on Pexels.com

Saimin is a Hawaiian noodle soup dish that typically includes Chinese-style wheat noodles served in a hot dashi-based broth. The dish often includes toppings such as green onions, dumplings, kamaboko (fish cake), and char siu (Chinese BBQ pork). It is a popular comfort food in Hawaii, where it is considered the national dish and is enjoyed by locals and tourists alike. Image credit: Ryan Kawailani Ozawa https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/

Vermont corn chowder is a hearty and creamy soup perfect for chilly evenings. It’s typically made with fresh corn, potatoes, onions, celery, and bacon and has seasonings such as thyme, bay leaves, and black pepper. Some variations may include heavy cream or milk to give it a richer texture. This dish is a classic in Vermont, and it is on menus at local restaurants and diners throughout the state. Image credit: tomatoes and friends, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Great Northern bean soup is a comforting and nutritious soup that’s easy to make. It typically consists of Great Northern beans, onions, celery, carrots, garlic, bay leaves, and vegetable or chicken broth. Some recipes may include diced tomatoes, ham hocks or bacon, herbs and spices. The soup is usually simmered until the beans are tender. Some people leave the soup chunky, while others puree the ingredients to create a smooth and creamy texture. The chunky version is similar to our recipe for three bean and chorizo soup. Photo by Boryslav Shoot on Pexels.com

Tomato soup is unarguably one of the most popular soups in America. However, you could argue whether it is one of the classic American soups, as there are variations of tomato soups from across the globe. For example, it is a traditional soup in the UK.

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As the name suggests, the key ingredient of pumpkin soup is pumpkins. There are many variations of the soup that include a diverse range of flavourings and other ingredients, and many families have their version of pumpkin soup they have passed down through the generations. You might also like to try our recipe for butternut squash and chilli soup. Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels.com

Chicken tortilla soup combines the flavours of American and Mexican cuisine, which is typical of the dishes people serve in many of the southern states. Image credit: cogdogblog, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

If you’re looking for a comforting and satisfying soup, broccoli and cheese soup is a great choice. It’s creamy, flavourful, and perfect for a cold day when you want something warm and cosy. We have a recipe with a twist on this traditional American soup, broccoli and stilton soup. Image credit: Alpha from Melbourne, Australia, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The potatoes add substance and texture, while the bacon gives the soup satisfying saltiness and flavour. Many recipes for potato and bacon soup also include Velveeta cheese, although ours has Cheddar. Image credit: jeffreyw, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Avocado soup is a refreshing and healthy option for a light meal. The creamy texture of avocado mixed with the tangy taste of lime creates a delicious and unique flavour perfect for a warm summer day. You can read our recipe for avocado soup here. Image credit: Andrij Bulba from Slovakia, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Strawberry soup is a delightful, refreshing, light, and healthy meal. The fruity flavour of strawberries mixed with a touch of sour cream creates a unique and delicious taste that is perfect for warm days. You can eat this sweet and delicious soup as a starter to tantalise the tastebuds or as a light dessert to end a meal. Image credit: Photo by Antoni Shkraba: https://www.pexels.com/photo/hands-by-plate-with-food-4753636/

Kansas City steak soup has tender and juicy beef, mixed vegetables, and a rich and flavourful broth. It is full of protein and other nutrients to energise you. Although the dish originates from Kansas and the soup is famous across the Midwest, it is one of the most popular American soups across the United States. Image credit: jeffreyw, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Rotisserie chicken noodle soup is a classic American dish perfect for a cosy night in or a comforting meal when you’re under the weather. With tender chunks of chicken, hearty noodles, and flavourful broth, it’s a satisfying and nourishing meal that always hits the spot. The soup is so popular because it is so easy to make. Image credit: jeffreyw, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Maryland crab soup is a traditional dish people love because of its rich and flavorful broth, tender chunks of crab meat, and hearty vegetables. Therefore, it is unsurprising that it is one of the most popular American soups. Made with a base of tomatoes, Old Bay seasoning, and various fresh veggies like carrots, celery, and onions, Maryland crab soup is a perfect choice for seafood lovers looking for a warm and satisfying meal. Image credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/rusvaplauke/, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Texas taco soup is a delicious and hearty soup that perfectly exemplifies Tex-Mex cuisine. It typically features ground beef, beans, and corn, along with a variety of spices and seasonings like chilli powder, cumin, and garlic. Some variations may also include diced tomatoes, green chillies, and cheese. This soup is easy to make, and you can customise it to suit individual tastes. People often serve it with garnishes such as sour cream, grated cheese, and tortilla chips for added crunch and flavour. Photo by form PxHere

Spicy peanut soup is a rich and flavorful dish that demonstrates the cultural diversity of the United States and the influence these cultures have had on the cuisine. Its origins are in West African cuisine, and it typically features a combination of creamy peanut butter, aromatic spices like cumin and coriander, and various vegetables like sweet potatoes, carrots, and onions. Some versions of the recipe may also include chicken or tofu for added protein. The heat in this soup comes from adding chilli peppers or hot sauce, which you can adjust to suit individual preferences. People sometimes serve spicy peanut soup with a side of rice, bread, or crackers. Image credit: A Healthier Michigan from Detroit, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons