This creamy vegetable soup is one of our favorite cozy dinners, a hearty, comforting bowl loaded with vegetables in a rich, creamy broth, ready in about thirty five minutes. For us that kind of warm, wholesome comfort is exactly what real food for real life is about. It is the kind of bowl that proves comfort food can be light and wholesome, loaded with colorful vegetables in a rich, creamy broth that happens to be entirely dairy free.
Carrots, celery, onion, and garlic simmer with peas, corn, and beans in a creamy, dairy free broth thickened with a simple roux and brightened with fresh herbs. This creamy vegetable soup is a comforting, plant based one pot meal that comes together easily and works for many diets. Simmering the aromatics with peas, corn, and beans in a creamy, dairy free broth thickened with a simple roux and brightened with herbs makes a comforting, plant based one pot meal that suits many diets.
A hearty mix of vegetables in a rich, creamy broth makes this creamy vegetable soup a comforting, wholesome bowl.
Why You Will Love This Creamy Vegetable Soup
- Cozy and comforting. A warm, creamy bowl that is perfect for any day.
- Loaded with vegetables. Carrots, celery, peas, corn, and beans make it hearty and wholesome.
- Plant based. A dairy free, creamy soup that works for many diets.
- One pot meal. Everything cooks in a single pot for easy cleanup.
- Ready in about thirty five minutes. A quick simmer makes it an easy weeknight dinner.
What Makes This Creamy Vegetable Soup So Good
A great creamy vegetable soup starts by softening the aromatics. Cooking onion, carrots, celery, and garlic builds a savory base before any liquid goes in. Softening the onion, carrots, celery, and garlic first builds a savory base, so the soup tastes deeply flavorful before any liquid or thickener goes in.
A roux of dairy free butter and flour thickens the soup into a creamy, velvety texture without any dairy, while nutritional yeast adds a subtle, cheesy, savory depth. A roux of dairy free butter and flour thickens the soup into a creamy, velvety texture without any dairy, while nutritional yeast lends a subtle, cheesy, savory depth.
The key to this creamy vegetable soup is layering. Adding broth slowly to the roux keeps it smooth, and stirring in peas, corn, beans, and herbs at the end keeps the vegetables bright and the soup hearty. Adding the broth slowly to the roux keeps it smooth, and stirring in the peas, corn, beans, and herbs at the end keeps the vegetables bright and the soup hearty.
Optional Pro Tip: Add Broth Slowly
Whisk the broth into the roux gradually so the soup stays smooth and lump free as it thickens. For the best creamy vegetable soup, stir often as it heats so it does not stick, and add the delicate vegetables near the end so they stay tender, not mushy. Whisking the broth into the roux gradually keeps the soup smooth and lump free as it thickens, and adding the delicate vegetables near the end keeps them tender rather than mushy.
Tips for the Best Creamy Vegetable Soup
Cook the roux until it coats the vegetables so the creamy vegetable soup turns creamy, and add the broth slowly while whisking. Cooking the roux until it coats the vegetables sets up that creamy texture, and whisking the broth in slowly is the trick to keeping the soup silky and lump free.
Add the peas, corn, and beans near the end so they stay bright, and season to taste with salt, pepper, and fresh herbs. Adding the peas, corn, and beans near the end keeps them bright and tender, and a final taste with salt, pepper, and fresh herbs rounds the whole bowl out.
Variations and Add Ins
- Extra protein. Add more chickpeas or white beans.
- Different veggies. Add potatoes, green beans, mushrooms, or kale.
- Cheesy. Add more nutritional yeast or a dairy free cheese.
- Herb forward. Add extra rosemary, thyme, or fresh parsley.
- Not vegan. Use regular butter, milk, and a sprinkle of Parmesan.
How to Store and Make Ahead
Store leftover creamy vegetable soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. The flavor stays rich and comforting. Stored airtight, it keeps its rich, comforting flavor for a few days, making it an easy, wholesome meal to portion out for quick lunches through the week.
Reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave, adding a splash of broth or dairy free milk if it has thickened. Stir well so it stays creamy. A splash of broth or dairy free milk stirred in while reheating loosens it if it has thickened, and stirring well keeps the soup smooth and creamy.
Serving Suggestions for Creamy Vegetable Soup
Serve this warm with crusty bread or a side salad, finished with fresh herbs and a crack of black pepper. It makes a cozy, wholesome lunch or dinner. A finish of fresh herbs and a crack of black pepper brightens the bowl, and crusty bread or a side salad turns it into a cozy, wholesome lunch or dinner.
Much of the savory, cheesy depth here comes from nutritional yeast, a deactivated yeast popular in plant based cooking, as described in this overview of nutritional yeast. That ingredient is part of what gives this creamy vegetable soup its rich flavor without dairy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes this soup creamy without dairy?
A roux of dairy free butter and flour thickens it, while dairy free milk adds richness for a creamy, velvety texture. A roux of dairy free butter and flour does the thickening, while dairy free milk adds richness, giving the soup a creamy, velvety body without any dairy at all.
What is nutritional yeast?
It is a deactivated yeast with a savory, cheesy flavor, often used in plant based cooking to add depth without dairy. Nutritional yeast is a deactivated yeast with a savory, cheesy flavor, widely used in plant based cooking to add depth and richness without dairy.
Can I make it not vegan?
Yes. Use regular butter and milk, and add a sprinkle of Parmesan if you like. To make it not vegan, simply use regular butter and milk, and a sprinkle of Parmesan stirred in adds an extra savory, cheesy note.
What vegetables work best?
Carrots, celery, peas, corn, and beans are great. Potatoes, green beans, mushrooms, or kale also work well. Carrots, celery, peas, corn, and beans are a great core, while potatoes, green beans, mushrooms, or kale all stir in nicely to suit the season.
How do I keep the soup smooth?
Whisk the broth into the roux slowly and stir often as it thickens to keep it lump free. Whisking the broth into the roux slowly and stirring often as it thickens is the simple way to keep the soup perfectly smooth and free of lumps.
Is this soup gluten free?
Use a gluten free flour blend in place of all purpose flour to make it gluten free. Swapping in a gluten free flour blend for the all purpose flour keeps the soup just as creamy while making it fully gluten free.
How do I make it heartier?
Add more beans, chickpeas, or diced potatoes for a more filling soup. Adding more beans, a handful of chickpeas, or some diced potatoes is an easy way to make the soup heartier and more filling.
Can I make it ahead?
Yes. It keeps for up to three days and reheats well with a splash of broth or dairy free milk. Because it reheats so well, it makes a great make ahead meal, returning to its creamy self with just a splash of broth or dairy free milk.
Can I freeze it?
Yes, though the texture may change slightly. Thaw and reheat gently, stirring in a little liquid to loosen it. It freezes reasonably well, though the texture may shift a little, so thaw it gently and stir in a little liquid while reheating to loosen it back to creamy.
What can I serve with it?
Crusty bread, a side salad, or crackers all pair nicely. Crusty bread, a side salad, or a handful of crackers all pair nicely and round the soup out into a satisfying meal.
A Wholesome Bowl of Comfort
This creamy vegetable soup packs a colorful mix of vegetables into a rich, creamy, dairy free broth for a cozy, wholesome meal. It is comforting and good for you at once. It packs a colorful mix of vegetables into a rich, creamy, dairy free broth for a cozy, wholesome meal that is comforting and good for you at once.
Add your favorite vegetables, beans, or herbs to make it your own, and serve with crusty bread for a satisfying dinner. It is an easy, flexible one pot favorite. Add your favorite vegetables, beans, or herbs to make it your own, and serve it with crusty bread for a satisfying, flexible one pot dinner.
If you love cozy, veggie forward dishes like this, you will also enjoy our sweet potato enchiladas, another favorite from our kitchen.
Results vary by ingredients, equipment, and cooking conditions. Always taste and adjust seasoning as you go.
Creamy Vegetable Soup
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Heat a large pot on medium heat.
- Once warm, add the oil, onions, carrots, celery, garlic, and salt.
- Cook for 5 minutes or until the onions are translucent.
- Add the butter to the pot.
- Once it starts to melt combine the flour and mix covering the vegetables in flour.
- This roux mixture will be thick and sticky.
- Slowly add the vegetable broth, pepper, oregano, thyme, and rosemary and mix until well combined.
- Stir the soup frequently until it comes to a gentle boil.
- As the soup heats up you will start to see the soup thicken.
- Make sure to keep stirring so the soup does not burn.
- Combine the peas, corn, nutritional yeast, chickpeas, and milk to the pot.
- Cook for an additional 5 to 7 minutes on low heat or until the peas and corn have warmed.
- Divide soup into bowls and serve.
- Leftovers can be kept in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 3 days.
Nutrition
Notes
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!Enjoyed the recipe? Share it!
Kitchen Essentials We Recommend
Tools that make cooking easier — tried, tested, and loved.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Got a recipe the world should try?
Share your favorite family recipe or national dish with food lovers in 100+ countries.
Submit Your Recipe