Easy soups and crockpot meals for chilly days
January-February 2026
(courtesy VECTEEZY)
Sausage Lentil Soup
recipe courtesy of Gloria Andree
Ingredients:
- 1 lb. breakfast sausage roll
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 3 stalks celery, chopped
- 1/2 cup grated carrots
- 1 lb. bag dried lentils, presoaked for 1-2 hours
- 1 box chicken stock olive/vegetable oil and 2 tablespoons butter for sautéing
- salt, to taste
- pepper, to taste
Directions:
Break up sausage roll in preheated soup pot. Add chopped/grated vegetables and sauté until veggies are softened and sausage has begun to brown.
Add drained lentils to pot and stir. Season liberally with salt and pepper. Add chicken stock and bring to a boil. Immediately reduce to low heat, adding more broth or water as needed. Partially cover, and taste and season as it cooks. Simmer on low for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Refrigerated leftovers may thicken. Add an additional can of chicken stock or water when reheating.
(courtesy Family Features)
Meatball Tortellini Soup
recipe courtesy of Family Features/Cookin’ Savvy
Ingredients:
- 4 cups beef broth
- 1 can (14-oz.) diced tomatoes
- 16-oz. frozen meatballs
- 19-oz. tortellini
- 6-oz. frozen spinach
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- ¾ cup Parmesan cheese, plus additional for serving
- salt, to taste
- pepper, to taste
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- bread, for serving
Directions:
In a Dutch oven, pour in beef broth and diced tomatoes. Fill empty diced tomatoes can with water and add to pot. Stir in meatballs, tortellini and spinach. Cook over medium heat and then add onion powder, garlic powder, Italian seasoning and 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Add salt and pepper, to taste. Cook 25 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add heavy cream and cook 5 minutes. Serve with bread and additional Parmesan cheese.
(courtesy VECTEEZY)
Crockpot Meatball Subs
recipe courtesy of Shelby Jean Walker
Ingredients:
- 2 cans/jars four-cheese spaghetti sauce
- 1 can crushed pineapple
- 1 bag, family-size, frozen meatballs
- any type of sub rolls or hot dog buns
- mushrooms (optional)
- provolone cheese slices
Directions:
Put all ingredients, except cheese slices and buns, in crockpot on high for 6 hours. Serve on buns and top with cheese slices. You can put the prepared sub in oven on broil for a few minutes to melt the cheese if you like.
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