14 Cheap Soups That Feed Four for Under $6
Fourteen soups, stews and chowders at about $1.40 a serving or less that all feed four or more, ranked cheapest first, with protein and cook time.
A pot of soup is the cheapest hot dinner there is: every one below works out to about $1.40 a serving or less, which is roughly $6 for a pot that feeds four. Soup gets there because the expensive ingredient is optional — stock, an onion, something starchy and one bag of beans or lentils is the whole formula, and the meat is a garnish if it's there at all.
Anychef catalog data: 75 of our soups, stews and chowders come in at $2 a serving or less while feeding four or more, at a median $1.40 a serving and 40 minutes. Forty-eight of them are meatless. Cheapest first, biggest pot first on ties. Costs are per-serving estimates, not measured prices.
The list
1. Vegetable Barley Soup
10g protein280 cal$1.00/serving50 min
Hearty barley soup with root vegetables and aromatic herbs.
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2. Hearty Black Bean Soup
15g protein290 cal$1.00/serving35 min
Smoky, cumin-scented black beans simmered thick and partly blended, a pantry hero that costs pennies and eats like a feast.
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3. Corn Chowder
10g protein350 cal$1.10/serving40 min
Sweet corn and tender potatoes in a creamy, buttery broth, the kind of chowder that makes a plain Tuesday feel special.
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4. Smoky Split Pea Soup
18g protein280 cal$1.10/serving50 min
Thick, protein-packed soup with smoky flavors and tender vegetables, the kind that warms you from the inside.
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5. Creamy Lentil Soup
16g protein280 cal$1.20/serving40 min
Earthy lentils simmered with carrots, celery, and onion in a silky broth, a warming vegetarian dinner that fills the belly and empties the wallet.
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6. Creamy Tomato Soup
6g protein210 cal$1.20/serving25 min
Silky tomato soup made with coconut milk, perfect for dipping crusty bread.
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7. Potato Leek Soup
6g protein300 cal$1.20/serving40 min
Buttery leeks and potatoes blended into a silky, comforting bowl that proves four humble ingredients can taste luxurious.
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8. Roasted Carrot Ginger Soup
6g protein220 cal$1.20/serving35 min
Smooth roasted carrot soup with fresh ginger and a hint of maple.
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9. Silky Egg Drop Soup
12g protein180 cal$1.20/serving18 min
Silky, comforting broth with delicate strands of egg and scallions-the ultimate light starter that feels elegant yet takes just minutes.
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10. Butternut Squash Soup
7g protein260 cal$1.30/serving40 min
Creamy butternut squash soup with sage and a hint of nutmeg.
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11. Sweet Potato Chili
12g protein330 cal$1.30/serving45 min
Warm sweet potato chili with beans and a touch of maple syrup.
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12. Crispy Tortilla Soup
7g protein280 cal$1.30/serving30 min
Spiced tomato broth topped with crunchy tortilla strips and fresh toppings.
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13. Italian Minestrone Soup
10g protein250 cal$1.30/serving40 min
Hearty vegetable and bean soup with pasta, seasoned with Italian herbs.
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14. Moroccan Vegetable Stew
12g protein340 cal$1.40/serving50 min
Aromatic Moroccan stew with chickpeas, dried apricots, and warming spices.
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Every recipe above comes from the Anychef library of 1,700+ recipes, each with cost per serving and full macros — browse the budget collection and every recipe under $2 a serving. Or skip the browsing entirely: scan your fridge with the Anychef app and get recipes built from what you already have, macros and grocery list included.
