13 quick soups and chili in 20 minutes
Soup does not need to simmer all afternoon. These soups and chilis use quick-cooking ingredients and good shortcuts so they are on the table in 20 minutes or less.
Updated October 2026 · ranked by popularity
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1. 20-minute chicken noodle soup
Proper chicken noodle soup without the all-day simmer: soft carrot and celery, shredded rotisserie chicken and egg noodles in a lemony, thyme-scented broth.
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2. Copycat Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana
Crumbled Italian sausage, tender little potato cubes and kale in a creamy, peppery broth with a pinch of red pepper flakes. Our quick take on Zuppa Toscana.
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3. Copycat Panera broccoli cheddar soup
Our take on Panera's broccoli cheddar soup: tiny florets and shredded carrot in a thick, velvety half-and-half and sharp cheddar base, done in 20 minutes.
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4. Egg drop soup
Silky ribbons of egg swirled through a gently thickened ginger chicken broth with white pepper, sesame oil and scallions. Ten minutes, start to finish.
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5. Speedy tomato and basil soup
A silky, bright tomato soup from two cans, a softened onion and a big handful of basil, finished with a swirl of cream. Ready in under 20 minutes.
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6. Chicken tortilla soup
Smoky tomato and chile broth loaded with rotisserie chicken, black beans and corn, topped with crispy fried tortilla strips, avocado and lime.
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7. Copycat Wendy's chili
A thick beef and two-bean chili with tomato, onion, celery and green bell pepper, gently spiced and topped with cheddar. Our speedy take on Wendy's chili.
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8. Quick beef pho
Store-bought beef broth simmered with toasted star anise, cinnamon and ginger, poured boiling over rice noodles and paper-thin raw beef that cooks in the bowl.
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9. Upgraded instant ramen with jammy egg
Instant noodles leveled up: a garlicky miso and sesame broth, wilted bok choy, corn, a soft jammy egg and chili oil. Better than takeout in 15 minutes.
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10. Tom kha gai (coconut chicken soup)
A silky coconut and chicken soup infused with lemongrass, galangal and lime leaves, with mushrooms and a sour-salty kick of lime and fish sauce.
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11. Leftover turkey noodle soup
Leftover roast turkey and tender egg noodles in a hot thyme-scented broth with carrots, celery and onion. The easiest way to use up the bird, in 19 minutes.
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12. Avgolemono soup with orzo
Greek lemon chicken soup: orzo and rotisserie chicken in broth, thickened silky with whisked egg and lemon. Bright, creamy and dairy-free.
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13. Chorizo and butter bean stew
Crisp chorizo, creamy butter beans and smoky tomato simmered together in one pan, with spinach stirred through. Serve with crusty bread for mopping.
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Most soups taste even better the next day. Cool them quickly, keep them in the fridge for up to 4 days, and reheat until steaming hot.