7+ hearty and delicious slow cooker soups

It's no wonder that when most people think of their favorite comfort food, they think of soup. Stirring memories of being warmed up on cold nights or being cared for when sick, a bowl of warm soup is enough to put a smile on anyone's face.

The broth of a good, slow-cooked soup is not just a tummy warmer, it maintains all the nutrients of the vegetables cooked in it, making it an excellent choice for making sure your family is getting their vitamins and minerals. 

Here are amazing slow cooker soup recipes we know you'll love. 

What would a slow cooker soup recipe list be without a mouth-watering beef soup? For a south-of-the-border variation, substitute a pack of taco seasoning for the onion soup mix. Get the full recipe here.

For the first several hours in the slow cooker, the onions develop a deep caramelized flavor. Then, add the broth, sherry and seasonings, and let the slow cooker merge the flavors for another hour. If you really want to get that true "pick the broiled cheese off the side of the mug" feeling that you get with restaurant-served French onion soup, just ladle the soup into ovenproof mugs, add the cheese and croutons, and pop it all under the broiler! Get the full recipe here.

I always think of chili as a winter meal, breaking up the cold, snowy days with a warm bowl filled with beef and beans. I have a hard time eating soups in the summertime because they are so heavy and hearty. The recipe below captures everything I love about wintertime chili without any of the rib-sticking feelings. Using chicken and white beans makes this soup light and refreshing enough to serve all year long. Get the recipe here.

Is there really such a thing as too much cheese? Not only is this soup a great way to fill your stomach and warm up from the inside out. The best part about this dish? It's as easy as it gets. Get the full recipe here.

This dish is perfect for all seasons! When it's too hot outside to warm up the house with the stove and oven, your slow cooker steps in to do all the work. When it's bitterly cold outside, the recipe that follows provides you with a hearty bowl of warm and comforting soup. Best of all, there's no frying or sautéing required beforehand. Just dump all your ingredients in, and then wait for that soup to hit the table. Get the full recipe here.

Sometimes people think that you need to include meat in a soup to make it hearty and delicious. As you'll see in the recipe below, however, that's just not true. This soup is definitely hearty and full of so many vegetables you'll start to wonder what's not in there. And because it uses wild rice, which is a little sturdier than regular rice, it holds up really well in the slow cooker. Did I mention that it's delicious, too? Get the full recipe here.

Everyone has their favorite Italian dish - but most people who've been to Olive Garden can agree that the Zuppa Toscana is delicious. This soup was an easy (and cheap) lunch option that came with fresh tossed salad, and amazing bread sticks. But you no longer have to get in the car to have this incredible soup. Get the full recipe here.

Soup is not that difficult to make, and when you make it in a slow cooker, as in this recipe, it becomes even easier. You can let it simmer all day long and when you get home or are just ready for dinner, simply add a little cream and cornstarch to thicken it up a little bit. The thickness of this soup may just be what I love most about it. It's not so thick it's going to turn to gluey mush on your spoon. It's just the right consistency to make it hearty and delicious. Get the full recipe here.

Minestrone is a traditional Italian soup made with tomatoes, vegetables and pasta (or rice). Essentially, it's happiness in a bowl! Now, we've landed on this outstanding slow cooker recipe for homemade minestrone soup, absolutely packed with flavor and utter delectability that just pulls on the heartstrings. Get the recipe here.