25 Soup and Stew Recipes to Make in Big Pots Ahead of the Holiday Travel Rush

Holiday travel can leave little time to cook once the packing, errands, and family plans begin. These 25 recipes cover hearty meat pots, vegetable-forward soups, ramen and chili, plus a broth base for another meal. The choices range from four-serving bowls to a batch that serves twelve, so you can match the yield to your table. Make a meal before the busiest days, then keep the recipe you want ready for a quiet night at home or an easy lunch.

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A pot of creamy vegetable and chicken soup with mushrooms, corn, peas, carrots, and herbs. — Chicken Pot Pie Soup. Photo credit: My Reliable Recipes.

Beet Soup

Ruby-red color adds a bright note to a cold-weather menu, and Beet Soup serves four with roasted beets, onion, garlic, vegetable broth, and rosemary. The smooth blend makes a lighter first course alongside bread, or a simple lunch before an afternoon of travel errands. Its vegetable-led profile works when you want a pot that can be portioned for more than one meal without taking over the holiday table.
Get the Recipe: Beet Soup

Wonton Soup

A ceramic bowl of clear soup containing dumplings, sliced mushrooms, broccolini, chopped green onions, and cilantro. — Wonton Soup. Photo credit: Hungry Cooks Kitchen.

Takeout-style flavor can be on the table without a long simmer, and Wonton Soup serves four with frozen wontons, shiitake mushrooms, broccolini, ginger, and chicken broth. Soy sauce and green onion finish the broth with salty depth. It works for a quick dinner between packing tasks, especially when a freezer bag of wontons is already on hand and everyone wants something warm.
Get the Recipe: Wonton Soup

Chicken Gnocchi Soup

A bowl of creamy soup with gnocchi, spinach, carrots, chicken pieces, and shredded cheese, garnished with herbs and black pepper. — Chicken Gnocchi Soup. Photo credit: Your Perfect Recipes.

Serving a larger group? Chicken Gnocchi Soup makes eight portions with chicken, gnocchi, spinach, carrots, celery, broth, cream, and Parmesan. The tender dumpling-like gnocchi make each bowl more filling than a clear broth soup. Set it out for a family dinner before departure day, or ladle portions into lunch containers for a busy stretch at home. That makes midday meals easier to plan.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Gnocchi Soup

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Kimchi Stew

On cold evenings, a little heat can wake up the menu, while Kimchi Stew serves four with kimchi, tofu, canned tuna, onion, garlic, sesame oil, and dashi or fish stock. Its short ingredient list gives the pot a deep, tangy flavor. Make it for a smaller household dinner before holiday plans take over, and pair each bowl with rice if you want a more substantial meal.
Get the Recipe: Kimchi Stew

Beef Bourguignon

Close-up of a savory beef stew with chunks of beef, bacon, onion, and vegetables in a rich, glossy sauce, served over creamy mashed potatoes. — Beef Bourguignon. Photo credit: Hungry Cooks Kitchen.

Slow simmering gives this dinner a rich profile, and Beef Bourguignon serves ten with beef, bacon, carrots, celery, pearl onions, mushrooms, red wine, and beef stock. The generous yield makes it a practical choice when relatives are coming together before a trip or when you want several portions from one cooking session. Spoon it over mashed potatoes for a filling meal that can anchor a chilly evening.
Get the Recipe: Beef Bourguignon

Gumbo

A plate of white rice topped with chunks of chicken in a yellow curry sauce, garnished with chopped green onions and herbs. A black fork is placed on the side. — Gumbo. Photo credit: My Reliable Recipes.

Louisiana-style cooking brings plenty of substance to the menu, and Gumbo serves six with andouille sausage, chicken thighs, bell peppers, celery, onion, broth, and Cajun seasonings. Flour and oil form the roux, while cooked white rice goes alongside. Serve it for a sit-down dinner before the travel rush, especially when a hearty bowl will do more than a quick snack.
Get the Recipe: Gumbo

Clam Chowder

A bowl of creamy soup with clams, bacon, chopped green onions, and parsley, placed on a pink surface next to a spoon and some fresh herbs. — Clam Chowder. Photo credit: My Reliable Recipes.

Creamy chowder offers a filling option for a chilly lunch, and Clam Chowder serves four with clams, potatoes, carrots, celery, onion, butter, and half-and-half. Bacon, parsley, and green onions finish the bowls. Pair it with crusty bread or a simple salad when you need a substantial meal before a drive, and choose this smaller batch when you are cooking for a few people.
Get the Recipe: Clam Chowder

Pumpkin Soup

Golden color brings a seasonal touch to the menu, and Pumpkin Soup serves eight with pumpkin, carrots, onion, vegetable stock, saffron, orange zest, and crème fraîche. Maple-coated pumpkin seeds add a crisp topping. The larger yield suits a family meal before holiday travel, while the smooth texture contrasts with chunkier stews and bean soups. Crusty bread makes it a fuller meal.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Soup

Dashi

A wooden ladle pouring fish sauce into a white ceramic bowl, with ripples visible on the liquid surface. A brown napkin is partially visible in the background. — Dashi. Photo credit: My Reliable Recipes.

As a clear, umami-rich base, Dashi makes four cups from water, kombu, and bonito flakes, giving another meal a useful head start. It is a broth rather than a stand-alone soup, so use it as the starting point for a Japanese-style bowl or another recipe that calls for dashi. This small batch is handy when you want to prepare one component before a busy day, without committing to a full pot of dinner.
Get the Recipe: Dashi

Cheeseburger Soup

A bowl of soup with ground meat, peas, carrots, cauliflower, shredded cheese, chopped herbs, and bacon pieces, served with a napkin on the side. — Cheeseburger Soup. Photo credit: Your Perfect Recipes.

Craving a familiar dinner in soup form? Cheeseburger Soup serves six with ground beef, potato, mixed vegetables, beef broth, milk, cheddar, and bacon. Worcestershire sauce and Italian seasoning season the creamy base. It offers a substantial option for the night before a trip, and those six portions make a useful dinner with some left for the next day’s lunch or another meal.
Get the Recipe: Cheeseburger Soup

Hot and Sour Soup

Tangy, peppery broth brings variety to the week’s menu, and Hot and Sour Soup serves four with chicken, mushrooms, tofu, eggs, chicken broth, soy sauce, and red pepper flakes. White pepper and sesame oil deepen the flavor, while scallion finishes each bowl. Its relatively compact yield is a fit for a smaller dinner before travel, or a warm starter when a larger meal is already planned.
Get the Recipe: Hot and Sour Soup

Birria Ramen

A bowl of ramen with meat, cilantro, and a lime wedge, topped with noodles wrapped around chopsticks. — Birria Ramen. Photo credit: My Reliable Recipes.

If the schedule allows a longer simmer, Birria Ramen serves six with chuck roast, dried Mexican chiles, beef broth, garlic, thyme, cinnamon, and ramen noodles. Onion, cilantro, and lime are added for serving. The rich broth and noodles make this a full meal in one bowl, suited to a weekend cooking session before holiday plans fill the calendar. Set out the garnishes so everyone can finish a bowl to taste.
Get the Recipe: Birria Ramen

French Onion Soup

Before a holiday meal, a classic first course can start with French Onion Soup, which serves four with yellow onions, beef broth, garlic, thyme, and red wine vinegar. Bread and Gruyere or Gouda go on top for serving. This smaller batch can start a holiday meal or make dinner with a green salad, leaving the bigger, meatier pots for days when you need a more substantial main course.
Get the Recipe: French Onion Soup

Minestrone Soup

Across a family table, a vegetable-packed pot gives you several textures in one bowl, and Minestrone Soup serves eight with zucchini, carrots, celery, tomatoes, white and kidney beans, green beans, pasta, and spinach. Italian seasoning brings the ingredients together; serve bread alongside. Choose this for a family lunch before travel or for a vegetable-forward dinner that can stretch across a table without requiring a separate side dish.
Get the Recipe: Minestrone Soup

Chicken Dumpling Soup

Close-up of creamy chicken and dumplings garnished with chopped parsley and black pepper. — Chicken Dumpling Soup. Photo credit: Hungry Cooks Kitchen.

Soft dumplings turn broth into a full meal, and Chicken Dumpling Soup serves six with shredded chicken, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, thyme, and milk-based dumplings. Evaporated milk and chicken broth make up the soup base. It suits a quiet dinner before the travel rush, when a single pot and a bowl of soup are easier to manage than a multi-part meal.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Dumpling Soup

Italian Wedding Soup

Bowl of soup with meatballs, spinach, pasta, and vegetables in broth, topped with grated cheese and herbs. — Italian Wedding Soup. Photo credit: My Reliable Recipes.

Well-rounded bowls of Italian Wedding Soup serve eight with ground beef and pork, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, carrots, celery, chicken broth, short pasta, and spinach. The ingredients give each serving a mix of meat, vegetables, and pasta. Make this the main course for a family dinner before departure day, with extra Parmesan at the table for anyone who wants it. It also suits a cold Sunday lunch.
Get the Recipe: Italian Wedding Soup

Cabbage Soup

Feeding a crowd gets easier with a generous batch, and Cabbage Soup serves twelve with cabbage, potatoes, carrots, white beans, tomatoes, celery, and vegetable broth. Fresh thyme seasons the pot; serve with toasted bread for an easy meal. It is a straightforward choice for a large pre-travel meal, especially when you want a vegetable-forward option that still includes beans and potatoes.
Get the Recipe: Cabbage Soup

Lamb Stew

Close-up of beef stew with tomatoes and herbs served over mashed potatoes, garnished with parsley. A fork and spoon rest on the plate. — Lamb Stew. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Dinner before a busy travel day can start with a substantial pot, and Lamb Stew serves eight with boneless lamb, onion, garlic, cumin, fire-roasted tomatoes, and beef broth. Chopped mint and parsley brighten the finished bowls, with lemon wedges for serving. The combination gives the dish an herbal profile when a lighter soup would not be enough for the evening meal.
Get the Recipe: Lamb Stew

Tom Yum Soup

For a broth with a lively contrast to richer holiday dishes, Tom Yum Soup serves four with shrimp, mushrooms, tomatoes, ginger, garlic, chicken stock, fish sauce, and red chilies. Cilantro, green onions, and chili oil finish the bowls. Serve it for a smaller dinner before traveling, or as a starter when a full meal is planned and you want a livelier broth on the menu.
Get the Recipe: Tom Yum Soup

Beef Chili

Two bowls of chili with kidney beans, meat, tortilla chips, shredded cheese, and cilantro. A black spoon in one bowl. Additional chili flakes in a small dish nearby. — Beef Chili. Photo credit: Hungry Cooks Kitchen.

With a busy week ahead, a thick, bean-filled pot helps cover more than one meal, and Beef Chili serves eight with ground beef, kidney beans, fire-roasted tomatoes, broth, onion, garlic, chili powder, cumin, and cocoa powder. Set out cheddar, sour cream, scallions, avocado, and tortilla chips as toppings. It suits a family dinner before a trip, with each person able to finish a bowl their own way.
Get the Recipe: Beef Chili

Gazpacho

Chilled and light, this tomato soup offers a change from steaming pots, and Gazpacho serves six with ripe tomatoes, cucumber, green pepper, white bread, garlic, olive oil, and sherry vinegar. Its cold serving temperature suits warm days when a hot meal is less appealing. Prepare it for lunch before an afternoon of travel errands, when a refreshing bowl is more useful than another hot meal.
Get the Recipe: Gazpacho

Coconut Ramen

Close-up of a bowl of ramen with noodles, bok choy, mushrooms, half a boiled egg, sesame seeds, and lime, garnished with chili slices. Black chopsticks hold some noodles above the bowl. — Coconut Ramen. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Evening brings a creamy broth and noodles for a quick dinner, and Coconut Ramen serves four with mushrooms, garlic, ginger, bok choy, ramen, coconut milk, red curry paste, and lime. Either chicken or vegetable broth works here. Four portions make it a compact meal for a busy evening before departure, with enough flavor and noodles to stand on their own without a long list of sides.
Get the Recipe: Coconut Ramen

Ham and Bean Soup

A bowl of white bean soup with pieces of ham, garnished with chopped parsley, and a spoon resting in the bowl. — Ham and Bean Soup. Photo credit: Hungry Cooks Kitchen.

Cooler days suit a hearty ham-and-bean pot, and Ham and Bean Soup serves six with navy beans, ham, onion, carrots, celery, garlic, and chicken broth. A bay leaf seasons the broth, and fresh parsley finishes each bowl. It makes a practical dinner to plan before holiday travel, especially when a simple bowl with toasted bread can carry the meal. Save it for a chilly evening at home.
Get the Recipe: Ham and Bean Soup

Egg Drop Soup

To round out a larger dinner, a light, silky broth like Egg Drop Soup serves four with eggs, chicken broth, cornstarch, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, and pepper. Finish each bowl with green onions, cilantro, or chili oil. Four portions make it a useful starter before a main course or a quick meal for a few people when holiday plans leave little time for cooking.
Get the Recipe: Egg Drop Soup

Chicken Pot Pie Soup

The flavors of a familiar pot pie come together in a spoonable dinner, and Chicken Pot Pie Soup serves six with chicken, potatoes, peas, carrots, green beans, corn, mushrooms, milk, and chicken stock. A pinch of thyme seasons the creamy base. Choose it for an at-home meal before departure day, when a single pot can provide a filling main course without assembling a crust.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Pot Pie Soup