Bring warmth to your cold evenings with 7 simple, comforting soup recipes children can help make and everyone will love.
November feels like the perfect time to bring soup back to the dinner table. Its aroma fills the kitchen, fogs up the windows, and somehow brings everyone closer together. But what makes soup extra special is how simple it is to prepare together. Children can rinse vegetables, sprinkle seasonings, stir pots, and help with taste-testing. These little roles make them feel included and proud while building independence and curiosity about food.
Here are 7 cozy, simple, and nourishing soup recipes for every day of the week to make your November evenings extra special.
1. Creamy Carrot & Apple Soup
A naturally sweet, smooth soup that feels like a hug in a bowl. Toddlers especially love this one.
What you need:
- Carrots (4 - 5), chopped
- 1 sweet apple, peeled & chopped
- 1 small potato
- 1 small onion
- 1 cup vegetable broth
- 1 - 2 tsp olive oil
- Cinnamon (a tiny pinch)
- Greek yogurt or cream (optional)
How to prepare:
- Start by softening the onions in olive oil over low heat until they turn translucent and smell slightly sweet. This gives the soup a comforting base.
- Add the chopped carrots, apple, and potato and stir them gently so they get coated in flavour before adding liquid.
- Pour broth to cover everything and let it simmer slowly until every piece is tender enough to blend effortlessly.
- Blend the mixture until smooth, adjusting the thickness with a bit more broth if needed.
- Finish with a swirl of yogurt or cream to give it a velvety texture that feels perfect for cold weather.
How children can help: They can wash the carrots, place chopped pieces into the pot, or sprinkle a tiny pinch of cinnamon (which will make them feel like a “real chef”).
2. Pasta Vegetable Soup
A colourful, playful bowl where every spoonful feels like a celebration.
What you need:
- Small pasta (stars, alphabet, mini shells)
- Peas, corn, diced carrots
- 1 tomato, chopped
- 1 cup veggie broth
- A little butter or olive oil
- Parsley or basil (optional)
How to prepare:
- Start by softening the tomato in a bit of butter or oil until it breaks down into a warm, gentle sauce.
- Add the vegetables and broth, letting them warm together before the pasta goes in.
- Stir in the tiny pasta and allow it to cook directly in the broth so it absorbs flavour and thickens the soup naturally.
- Finish with herbs or a tiny dollop of butter for richness.
How children can help: They can choose the pasta shape, scoop vegetables into the pot, or sprinkle herbs at the end.
3. Pumpkin & Lentil Soup
A beautiful orange soup packed with protein but still soft, sweet, and toddler-friendly.
What you need:
- ½ cup red lentils
- 1 cup pumpkin purée (or roasted pumpkin)
- 1 carrot
- 1 cup broth
- A tiny pinch of turmeric or mild curry powder (optional)
- Olive oil
How to prepare:
- Rinse the lentils well until the water runs clear to keep the soup smooth.
- Add lentils, pumpkin, carrot, and broth into a pot and let everything simmer quietly until the lentils soften completely.
- Blend or mash the soup depending on whether your child prefers smooth or slightly textured.
- Finish with a drizzle of olive oil for richness.
How children can help: Rinse the lentils, scoop the pumpkin, stir the pot gently, or choose what goes on top (tiny croutons, herbs, etc.).
4. Sweet Potato & Coconut Soup
A silky, naturally sweet soup that feels warm, gentle, and soothing and makes cold evenings feel a little softer.
What you need:
- 1 medium sweet potato, peeled & cubed
- ½ cup coconut milk
- 1 small onion
- 1 cup broth (or water)
- Pinch of mild curry powder or turmeric
- Olive oil
- Optional toppings: crushed crackers, a swirl of coconut milk
How to prepare:
- Start by softening the onions in a little olive oil until their edges turn golden and the kitchen starts to smell warm.
- Add in sweet potato cubes and gently toss them with the onions so they pick up all the flavour.
- Pour in the broth and let everything bubble softly until the sweet potatoes break apart with a spoon. Blend with coconut milk until velvety and golden.
- Adjust the thickness with more broth if needed.
How children can help: They can place the sweet potato cubes into the pot, add a pinch of turmeric, or help drizzle coconut milk at the end.
5. Tomato & Rice Soup
It feels like a warm hug or familiar, mild, and filling. Perfect for toddlers who love simple flavours.
What you need:
- 2 ripe tomatoes or ½ cup tomato purée
- 2 tbsp cooked rice
- 1 small carrot, finely chopped
- ½ cup broth
- A tiny pinch of sugar (to balance acidity)
- Butter or olive oil
How to prepare:
- Sauté the tomatoes and carrot together with a little butter until soft and fragrant.
- Add broth and let the mixture simmer until everything blends into one gentle flavour.
- Stir in cooked rice and let it thicken slightly.
- Blend optionally for picky eaters or leave it textured for older toddlers.
How children can help: They can help spoon rice into the pot, stir gently, or sprinkle a tiny pinch of sugar to balance the tomatoes.
6. Broccoli Cheddar Soup
A cozy classic with a soft, creamy, and mild enough for little tastebuds.
What you need:
- 1 cup chopped broccoli florets (“tiny trees”)
- 1 small potato
- ½ cup milk
- ¼ cup mild cheddar
- 1 cup broth
- Butter
How to prepare:
- Sauté broccoli and potatoes in a bit of butter until they turn bright green and begin to soften.
- Add broth and simmer until everything is tender and mashable.
- Blend until smooth, then stir in milk and cheddar on low heat until creamy and comforting.
How children can help: They can break broccoli into “tiny trees,” sprinkle cheese at the end, or help choose toppings like croutons.
7. Chicken & Alphabet Noodle Soup
A playful, cozy soup that turns dinner into a little story! Perfect for practicing letters or making shapes on the spoon.
What you need:
- ½ cup tiny alphabet noodles (or mini pasta)
- ¼ cup shredded cooked chicken (optional for families)
- 1 small carrot, grated
- 1 cup broth
- Parsley or a little butter
How to prepare:
- Warm the broth with grated carrot until it softens and smells comforting.
- Add alphabet pasta and cook directly in the broth so it plumps up and absorbs all the flavour.
- Stir in chicken and a small pat of butter for richness.
How children can help: They can scoop the alphabet noodles, stir the pot, or point out letters floating in their bowl (“find the A!”).
Final Thoughts:
These simple soups can turn cold evenings into small rituals where the ordinary days feel more comforting. They’re warm enough for the season, simple enough for busy weeknights, and flexible enough to let children help in ways that make them feel included and capable.
So whether you’re blending the pumpkin, simmering potatoes until they fall apart, or handing over the first warm bowl to an eager little helper, these recipes offer connection, routine, and a cozy pause in the middle of everything else.
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