10 Slow Cooker Christmas Soup Recipes Prep Ahead (Easy Holiday Meals)

By /
Slow Cooker Creamy Tomato Basil Soup
10 Slow Cooker Christmas Soup Recipes Prep Ahead (Easy Holiday Meals)

Hands-Free Holiday Cooking

Busy holiday schedules demand cooking methods that require minimal attention. These ten slow cooker Christmas soups allow you to prep ingredients in the morning and enjoy homemade meals all day. Simply combine ingredients, turn on the slow cooker, and let it work while you focus on other holiday preparations. These recipes deliver restaurant-quality results with minimal effort, proving that comfort food and convenience coexist beautifully.

Why Slow Cooker Soups Shine

Slow cookers free holiday hosts from constant kitchen monitoring. Ingredients combine during cooking to develop deeper, more complex flavors. The extended cooking time tenderizes tough cuts of meat while infusing broth with richness. Most slow cooker soups can be partially prepared the night before, reducing morning rush stress. These recipes handle variable cooking times gracefully, adapting to schedule changes without compromise.

Creamy Slow Cooker Holiday Soups

1. Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Soup

Cook: 6-8 Hours on Low

Silky butternut squash soup develops rich flavor through slow cooking without constant attention.

Ingredients (Serves 8):

  • 2 large butternut squashes, peeled and cubed
  • 6 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 teaspoon sage
  • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Step-by-Step Instructions:

  1. Add cubed butternut squash to slow cooker.
  2. Add diced onion and minced garlic.
  3. Pour in vegetable broth.
  4. Add sage and nutmeg.
  5. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.
  6. Squash should be very tender when done.
  7. Using an immersion blender, puree soup until smooth.
  8. Stir in butter and heavy cream.
  9. Cook on high for 5 more minutes to heat through.
  10. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  11. Serve in warmed bowls.

2. Slow Cooker Creamy Tomato Basil Soup

Cook: 6-8 Hours on Low

Classic tomato soup with fresh basil becomes deeply flavored when slow cooked.

Ingredients (Serves 8):

  • 2 cans crushed tomatoes
  • 1 can tomato sauce
  • 4 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 12 fresh basil leaves
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Step-by-Step Instructions:

  1. Add crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, and vegetable broth to slow cooker.
  2. Add diced onion and minced garlic.
  3. Stir in tomato paste.
  4. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.
  5. Using an immersion blender, puree soup until smooth.
  6. Stir in heavy cream.
  7. Cook on high for 5 minutes.
  8. Add fresh basil leaves.
  9. Season with salt and pepper.
  10. Serve hot.

3. Slow Cooker Celery Root and Truffle Soup

Cook: 7-9 Hours on Low

Elegant celery root soup with truffle oil becomes luxurious through slow cooking.

Ingredients (Serves 6):

  • 2 pounds celery root, peeled and cubed
  • 5 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 tablespoon truffle oil
  • 1 teaspoon thyme
  • Salt and white pepper to taste

Step-by-Step Instructions:

  1. Add cubed celery root to slow cooker.
  2. Add diced onion and minced garlic.
  3. Pour in vegetable broth.
  4. Add thyme.
  5. Cover and cook on low for 7 to 9 hours.
  6. Celery root should be very soft.
  7. Using an immersion blender, puree soup until completely smooth.
  8. Stir in heavy cream and truffle oil.
  9. Cook on high for 5 minutes.
  10. Season with salt and white pepper.
  11. Serve immediately.

Hearty Slow Cooker Holiday Soups

4. Slow Cooker Turkey and Wild Rice Soup

Cook: 7-8 Hours on Low

Perfect for using holiday turkey leftovers in a warming, satisfying soup.

Ingredients (Serves 10):

  • 3 cups shredded cooked turkey
  • 1.5 cups wild rice
  • 8 cups turkey or chicken broth
  • 3 carrots, diced
  • 3 celery stalks, diced
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon thyme
  • 1 bay leaf
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Step-by-Step Instructions:

  1. Add wild rice to slow cooker.
  2. Add diced carrots, celery, and onion.
  3. Add minced garlic.
  4. Pour in turkey broth.
  5. Add thyme and bay leaf.
  6. Cover and cook on low for 7 to 8 hours.
  7. Wild rice should be tender.
  8. Add shredded turkey in the last 30 minutes of cooking.
  9. Remove bay leaf.
  10. Season with salt and pepper.
  11. Serve hot.

5. Slow Cooker Beef Stew Soup

Cook: 8-10 Hours on Low

Tender beef becomes melt-in-mouth tender through extended slow cooking.

Ingredients (Serves 10):

  • 2 pounds beef stew meat
  • 8 cups beef broth
  • 4 potatoes, cubed
  • 3 carrots, sliced
  • 2 celery stalks, diced
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon rosemary
  • 1 bay leaf
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Step-by-Step Instructions:

  1. Add beef stew meat to slow cooker.
  2. Add diced onion and minced garlic.
  3. Pour in beef broth.
  4. Stir in tomato paste.
  5. Add rosemary and bay leaf.
  6. Cover and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours.
  7. Beef should be very tender.
  8. Add cubed potatoes and sliced carrots in the last 3 hours of cooking.
  9. Add celery in the last hour.
  10. Remove bay leaf.
  11. Season with salt and pepper.
  12. Serve hot in bowls.

6. Slow Cooker Cranberry Beef Soup

Cook: 8-10 Hours on Low

Festive soup combining tender beef with tart cranberries perfect for holidays.

Ingredients (Serves 10):

  • 2 pounds beef stew meat
  • 1.5 cups fresh cranberries
  • 8 cups beef broth
  • 3 carrots, diced
  • 2 celery stalks, diced
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon rosemary
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Step-by-Step Instructions:

  1. Add beef to slow cooker.
  2. Add diced onion, carrots, and celery.
  3. Add minced garlic.
  4. Pour in beef broth.
  5. Stir in tomato paste, rosemary, and honey.
  6. Cover and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours.
  7. Beef should be very tender.
  8. Add fresh cranberries in the last hour of cooking.
  9. Cranberries will burst and add tartness.
  10. Season with salt and pepper.
  11. Serve hot.

7. Slow Cooker French Onion Soup

Cook: 8-10 Hours on Low

Classic French onion soup becomes deeply flavored through slow cooking with caramelized onions.

Ingredients (Serves 6):

  • 3 pounds yellow onions, sliced
  • 8 cups beef broth
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon thyme
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 6 slices crusty bread
  • 2 cups Gruyere cheese, shredded
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Step-by-Step Instructions:

  1. In a large skillet, melt butter over medium-low heat.
  2. Add sliced onions and cook for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  3. Onions should caramelize to deep golden brown.
  4. Add sugar and balsamic vinegar, cooking for 2 minutes.
  5. Transfer caramelized onions to slow cooker.
  6. Add beef broth, thyme, and bay leaf.
  7. Cover and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours.
  8. Remove bay leaf.
  9. Season with salt and pepper.
  10. Ladle soup into oven-safe bowls.
  11. Top each with bread slice and shredded Gruyere.
  12. Broil until cheese melts.
  13. Serve immediately.

8. Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup

Cook: 6-8 Hours on Low

Italian vegetable soup with seasonal ingredients becomes comfort in a bowl.

Ingredients (Serves 10):

  • 8 cups vegetable broth
  • 2 cans white beans, drained
  • 1 can diced tomatoes
  • 2 cups butternut squash, cubed
  • 2 carrots, diced
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 cups kale, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 bay leaf
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Step-by-Step Instructions:

  1. Add vegetable broth to slow cooker.
  2. Add cubed butternut squash, diced carrots, and diced onion.
  3. Add minced garlic.
  4. Add white beans and diced tomatoes.
  5. Add Italian seasoning and bay leaf.
  6. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.
  7. Add chopped kale in the last hour of cooking.
  8. Remove bay leaf.
  9. Season with salt and pepper.
  10. Serve hot in bowls.

9. Slow Cooker Gingered Carrot Soup

Cook: 7-9 Hours on Low

Warming carrot soup with fresh ginger becomes spiced and aromatic through slow cooking.

Ingredients (Serves 8):

  • 2 pounds carrots, sliced
  • 1 large apple, peeled and chopped
  • 6 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 tablespoons fresh ginger, grated
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon thyme
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Step-by-Step Instructions:

  1. Add sliced carrots to slow cooker.
  2. Add diced onion and minced garlic.
  3. Add grated ginger and chopped apple.
  4. Pour in vegetable broth.
  5. Add thyme.
  6. Cover and cook on low for 7 to 9 hours.
  7. Carrots should be very tender.
  8. Using an immersion blender, puree soup until smooth.
  9. Stir in heavy cream.
  10. Cook on high for 5 minutes.
  11. Season with salt and pepper.
  12. Serve hot.

10. Slow Cooker Pumpkin and Sausage Soup

Cook: 6-8 Hours on Low

Festive pumpkin soup with sausage creates warming holiday comfort.

Ingredients (Serves 10):

  • 1.5 pounds Italian sausage
  • 2 cups pumpkin puree
  • 8 cups chicken broth
  • 3 carrots, diced
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 cans white beans, drained
  • 1 teaspoon sage
  • 1/2 teaspoon thyme
  • 1 bay leaf
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Step-by-Step Instructions:

  1. In a large skillet, brown Italian sausage, breaking it apart as it cooks.
  2. Remove sausage and drain excess fat.
  3. Transfer sausage to slow cooker.
  4. Add diced carrots, onion, and minced garlic.
  5. Add pumpkin puree and chicken broth.
  6. Add white beans, sage, thyme, and bay leaf.
  7. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.
  8. Remove bay leaf.
  9. Season with salt and pepper.
  10. Serve hot in bowls.

Slow Cooker Soup Prep Tips

Prep ingredients the night before:

Cut vegetables, measure seasonings, and assemble ingredients in containers the evening before. In the morning, add everything to the slow cooker and turn it on. This approach saves morning time while ensuring dinner is ready when needed.

Use removable slow cooker liners:

Disposable liners make cleanup effortless after cooking. Simply remove the liner and discard. This small convenience makes hosting holiday meals more enjoyable.

Brown meat before adding to slow cooker:

Searing meat in a skillet develops flavor through browning before slow cooking. This extra step creates deeper, more complex soup flavors. Transfer browned meat to the slow cooker for best results.

Add cream at the end:

Stir in heavy cream, sour cream, or milk in the last 30 minutes of cooking. Adding cream too early can cause separation or curdling. This timing preserves creamy texture perfectly.

Freeze leftover slow cooker soups:

Most slow cooker soups freeze beautifully for up to three months. Portion into freezer containers for convenient future meals. Label containers with contents and date for easy reference.

Adjust cooking time based on your schedule:

Most slow cooker recipes work on both low and high settings. Low takes longer but develops more flavor. High cooks faster when schedules require earlier meals. Adjust liquid amounts slightly when changing cooking times.

These ten slow cooker Christmas soup recipes prove that holiday convenience and delicious homemade comfort coexist beautifully. Minimal morning effort creates impressive results that satisfy throughout the festive season.

Related Posts

Scroll to Top