Vegan soup is more than just a can of Gardein from Walmart. Most of the time, the best vegan soup doesn’t try to rehash the old meat-and-dairy playbook with plant cream and protein substitutes; it simply uses what mother nature has to offer to cook up something cozy and satisfying. (Though, to be clear—there is a can of Gardein soup on this list, and we stand firmly by it. It’s friggin’ delicious.)
Unless you live in Southern California, where it’s approximately 100 degrees outside until November, soup season is nigh. It’s almost time for big bowls of hearty soup to keep you warm and fill you up. If you’re vegan, the soup aisle at the grocery store can be a bit tough to navigate. So many soups—even vegetable soups—contain animal-based broth, cream, or cheese. We can help!
What we looked for in the best vegan soup
Deep, honest flavor: rich, comforting flavor that doesn’t mask the vegetables.
Good texture: not too watery, gloopy, or grainy.
Umami and balance: a nice blend of acidity, spice, herbs to elevate the soup so it’s not bland.
Whether you’re strictly vegan or simply like to incorporate plant-based foods into your diet, it’s officially time to celebrate soup season with the best vegan soups.
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Best for TJ’s Shoppers
Trader Joe’s Lentil Soup with Ancient Grains
Hey, for a ranking of the best vegan soups, the fact that we only put two lentil soups on here ain’t bad. This little tub from TJ’s is hearty, thick, high in fiber, and more flavorful than your average lentil soup. (We did, however, take issue with the sheer amount of clove in it—but we also have super sensitive taste buds, so that might not bother you too much.) It’s not the best vegan lentil soup we tried (keep scrolling for that), but loyal Trader Joe’s shoppers deserve to know the best vegan soup they can buy on their next grocery run—and this is it. —Ariana Losch
If you’re vegan, you’ve probably consumed a lot of Campbell’s Tomato Soup in your day. So, yeah, this suggestion isn’t exactly revelatory, but, if it’s been a while since you’ve had it, perhaps this will serve as a reminder that this stuff is really good—sweet, salty, and umami. Buy the best vegan cheese, and pair this vegan soup with a vegan grilled cheese sandwich. —Gwynedd Stuart
If thom kha is always part of your Thai takeout order, try this vegan soup from Amy’s Kitchen. All of Amy’s soups are plant-based, but we love that this one scratches that itch for a creamy soup, which can be hard to find in vegan soups. It combines tofu, mushrooms, coconut milk, lime leaf, and lemongrass to create a soup that’s simultaneously light and filling, especially if you serve it over some white rice. —Gwynedd Stuart
Campbell’s Well Yes! line has several vegan soup options, but we particularly love this vegan minestrone soup. For such a light healthy veggie soup, it’s surprisingly flavorful—Sporked taste tester Jordan Myrick even detected the flavor of cheese. Of course, it’s totally dairy free, but we love this vegan soup’s nutty, umami flavor all the same. —Gwynedd Stuart
We love Gardein meats (their plant-based Chick’n Strips made our list of the best vegan chicken), so it wasn’t a huge surprise that this vegan chicken noodle soup was a hit for us. What was a surprise? That it ranked so highly among chicken-based chicken noodle soups—#3! Our taste tester thought it was way more flavorful than so many of the actual chicken noodle soups we tried. Why? MSG, baby! It’s a shortcut to big flavor in vegan soup, and it rules. —Gwynedd Stuart
If you’re looking for the best vegan soup to really fill you up, this split pea soup is a good candidate. It’s packed with protein (15 grams), it’s gluten free, and it’s totally plant based, which we found surprising given that this soup has a nice smoky flavor that tastes bacon-adjacent. Plus, this vegan split pea soup comes in a little cup you can just pop in the microwave, which makes it a fast and filling work lunch. —Gwynedd Stuart
The best lentil soup we found in our taste test also happens to be the best vegan lentil soup. Bare Bones Lentil Curry soup is packed with lentils, veggies, and wonderful aromatics. It’s super warm and inviting, but lemongrass adds a pop of brightness. The lentils are nice and creamy, too. Pair this with some crusty bread and this best vegan soup becomes a satisfying dinner. —Gwynedd Stuart
My girl Amy has really cornered the market on the best vegan soup; she appears on this list a few times. We tried all of her soups back-to-back, because that’s our job, and determined that this very classic, deeply savory French country vegetable soup with beans, red rice, and softly cooked veggies is the crème of the crop. To quote myself, because I said it best: “Every sip is a hug.” This soup is damn cozy, and we adore her. —Ariana Losch
If none of the premade vegan soups on our list are ringing your bell, you can make your own at home with this veggie broth from Trader Joe’s. It’s incredibly savory and delicious, despite being quite low in sodium, unlike most veggie broth. This isn’t classified as a vegan soup on Trader Joe’s website, but the ingredients are all plant based, so we’re adding it to the list. We’ll let you use your own discretion! —Gwynedd Stuart
Gwynedd Stuart
Ariana Losch
Jordan Myrick
Justine Sterling
Jessica Block
Thoughts? Questions? Complete disagreement? Leave a comment!