A soups and stews meal plan for cold weather.
When the weather turns cold, a pot of soup or stew is the easiest dinner there is. One pot, a handful of vegetables, a protein and some broth become a warming meal that tastes even better the next day. Soups and stews are also forgiving, flexible and some of the most economical dinners you can make.
This sample week is all soups and stews, with variety in flavor and texture: a Moroccan chickpea stew, a fish and potato chowder, a Thai-style coconut chicken soup, a lentil and vegetable soup and a white bean and kale stew. Each dinner is made in one large pot and makes enough for leftovers or the freezer. Serve with good bread, rice or a simple salad. Most can be made on the stovetop in under an hour, or adapted for a slow cooker or pressure cooker.
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A sample week of five dinners.
One idea for Monday to Friday, with roughly how long each takes and why it earns its place. Swap any night; ARK Table rebuilds the list.
- Monday40 min
Moroccan chickpea and vegetable stew
Warm spices, chickpeas and vegetables in a hearty stew.
- Tuesday35 min
Smoked fish and potato chowder
A creamy chowder with flaked smoked fish and potatoes.
- Wednesday30 min
Thai-style coconut chicken soup
Chicken, coconut milk, lime and lemongrass in a fragrant soup.
- Thursday35 min
Red lentil and vegetable soup with lemon
Lentils cook down into a thick, warming soup.
- Friday35 min
Tuscan-style white bean and kale stew
White beans, kale and tomatoes with crusty bread.
Sample dinners for planning inspiration. Times are approximate and include prep.
Making this week your own.
Soups and stews are some of the most forgiving dishes to cook, so they’re perfect for using up vegetables and adapting to what you have. If you’re missing an ingredient, swap in something similar: kale for spinach, white beans for chickpeas, sweet potato for squash. Keep a few good stock options in the pantry, and you’ll always have a soup night ready.
Make a big batch on the weekend, and you’ll have lunches for the first half of the week as well.
Soup nights also work well for families with mixed preferences, since toppings let everyone customize their bowl. Set out yogurt, grated cheese, herbs, chili flakes, lemon wedges or toasted seeds, and let each person finish their own. Leftover soups can be thickened into pasta sauces or used as a base for a quick stew the next day, so nothing goes to waste. A heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven is the most useful equipment for this kind of week, since it holds heat evenly and stops the base scorching.
Tips that make this week work.
Build flavor from the base
Cook onions, garlic and spices slowly before adding liquid. It gives soups real depth.
Finish with something fresh
Lemon juice, herbs, yogurt or a drizzle of good oil brightens a soup at the end.
Make extra for the freezer
Most soups and stews freeze well. Cool quickly and freeze in portions.
Serve with something to dip
Crusty bread, flatbread or toast make soup dinners more filling.
Season at the end
Taste and season soups and stews at the end of cooking, since flavors concentrate as liquid reduces.
Questions, answered.
Do soups and stews freeze well?
Most do, especially lentil, bean and tomato-based soups. Cream-based soups can separate, so add dairy when reheating.
How do I make soup more filling?
Add legumes, grains or potatoes, and serve with bread. Protein like chicken, fish or beans makes soup a full meal.
Can ARK Table plan a soup week?
Yes. You can ask ARK Table or Noah for soups and stews, and the grocery list will combine shared ingredients.
Related meal plans.
See all 50 meal plans- Slow cookerA slow cooker meal plan for familiesA slow cooker family meal plan: morning prep, ready-at-dinner stews, curries and soups with chicken, legumes and vegetables. Five sample dinners.
- Pressure cookerA pressure cooker meal plan for weeknightsA weeknight pressure cooker meal plan: fast-cooked legumes, curries, risotto and chicken dishes using an electric multicooker. Five sample nights.
- Freezer-friendlyA freezer-friendly meal planA freezer-friendly meal plan: cook-ahead soups, stews, curries and patties that freeze and reheat well. Batch, label and thaw tips plus five dinners.
- Large familiesA meal plan for large families of six or moreA weeknight dinner plan for families of six or more: big-batch traybakes, stews and bowls, bulk-buying tips, and ways to share the cooking.
Plan your own week, free.
Tell ARK Table who’s at the table and how much time you have. It plans the dinners, sizes every portion and builds one grocery list for any store.
Savings meter: up to $4,400/yr*
*Illustrative family-of-four budgets. Your savings will vary.
ARK Table by ARK Wellness is a food-planning tool, not medical advice. If you follow a diet set by your doctor or care team, their guidance comes first.