The 10 Best Soups for a Cold to Cook Yourself Back to Health

Let's be honest: The only thing we want to eat when we're sick is a bowlful of brothy soup. We tapped some of our favorite foodies to source delicious, healthy immune-boosting recipes that we can easily whip up as soon as we start sniffling, whether or not it's cold-and-flu season. Now all that's left to do is grab a spoon, queue up a binge-worthy show, and slurp these reviving soups.

Spanning a detox vegetable soup that "heals all" to a spicy, garlic pepper soba soup that will perk you up, these are the 10 best soups for a cold. Go ahead and call in sick so you can cook yourself back to health with these recipes. 

"Almost every soup recipe uses the descriptors of 'soothing' and 'restorative,' and this one is very honestly both," confesses recipe creator Laura Wright of The First Mess. Loaded with simple, good-for-you ingredients like kale, garlic, and lemon juice, it's not hard to see why she describes this creamy, white bean soup that way.

Filled with nutrient-rich ingredients (think kale, carrots, and purple cabbage), it's no wonder recipe creator Tieghan Gerard of Half Baked Harvest claims this Mean Green Detox Vegetable Soup "heals all," saying she makes it any time she feels sickness coming on. 

Boasting immune-boosting garlic, chili flakes, and lime juice, this garlic pepper soba is a heartier, healthier take on store-bought ramen that doesn't compromise on comfort-food vibes. Recipe creator Wright of The First Mess deems it "an easy, slurpy bowl of noodle soup with lots of feel-good ingredients."

What's more comforting than a bowlful of classic chicken noodle soup when you have a cold? Spoon Fork Bacon's recipe calls for all the staple ingredients—celery, carrots, and noodles, of course—along with fresh thyme and chives to take the dish to the next level. You might just swear off the canned variety for good.

The only thing better than a comforting bowl of tomato soup is an easy-to-make bowl of tomato soup. "Essentially, you just cook the onions for a bit then throw everything else in the pot for half an hour, then give it a whiz," says recipe creator Sarah Tuck of Stuck in the Kitchen.

If you're feeling under the weather, this flavorful miso dumpling soup will perk you right up. Brimming with nutrient-rich autumn squash, this "soup is so flavorful that you'll find yourself making this over and over," promises recipe creator Gerard of Half Baked Harvest.

Recipe creator Sonja Overhiser of A Couple Cooks describes this nourishing tomato artichoke lentil stew as having "an earthy, Italian flair." Featuring hearty red lentils, leafy kale, and tasty artichoke hearts, this isn't your typical tomato soup (in the best possible way).

This white bean chicken soup gets a spicy kick from sliced jalapenños and a fresh finish from a sprinkling of fresh dill. Trust us, you'll be making it on repeat until you're back to 100%.

The best part about this turkey pozole rojo recipe isn't that it's loaded with hearty ingredients like cabbage, hominy, and carrots. Nope. It's that it comes together in one pot in about an hour. Yep. In 60 minutes, you can be enjoying this Mexican-inspired dish.

Chock-full of broccoli, eggplant, mushrooms, and red bell peppers, this vegetable curry soup will nurse you back to health with its nutrient-rich ingredients. Just add a side of naan to sop up every last delicious drop.