There is something about the cooler months that makes us crave a warm, comforting bowl of soup. Maybe it’s the changing leaves, the cooler evenings, or simply the feeling of gathering around the table with something delicious that warms us from the inside out.

I’m excited to be sharing some delicious inspiration live on FOX 5 Good Day Atlanta around 11 a.m.! I’ll be showing viewers how to take the flavors of popular dinner favorites and transform them into hearty, satisfying soups.

You can also stream the segment live on the FOX 5 Atlanta website.

The idea is simple: Take everything you love about a favorite dinner and reimagine it in a soup bowl!

We’re not talking about tossing last night’s leftovers into a pot of broth. We’re taking the ingredients and flavors that make our favorite meals so delicious and creating something entirely new.

And the best part? With a few clever kitchen shortcuts, these soups can come together in about 30 minutes or less.

Here are the three soups I’m featuring, along with easy ways to make them at home.

1. Taco Tuesday Soup

Who says tacos have to be served in a shell? This hearty taco soup brings all the bold, delicious flavors of taco night into one comforting bowl.

Seasoned ground beef or turkey, black beans, sweet corn, tomatoes and warm Mexican-inspired spices create a flavorful soup that’s perfect for busy weeknights.

And just like traditional tacos, the toppings make it extra special!

Clever Kitchen Shortcuts

• Fresh pico de gallo: Skip chopping onions, tomatoes and peppers. Fresh pico de gallo brings those flavors together in one convenient ingredient.
• Jarred salsa: Adds instant flavor and creates a delicious tomato base.
• Canned black beans and frozen corn: Convenient pantry and freezer staples that make this soup quick and satisfying.

Quick Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef or turkey
• 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
• 1 cup prepared salsa
• 1 cup fresh pico de gallo
• 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 cup frozen corn
• 1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
• 2 cups beef or chicken broth
• Salt and pepper to taste

Toppings: Shredded cheddar cheese, avocado, sour cream, cilantro, lime wedges and tortilla chips.

Directions

1. In a large soup pot, brown the ground beef or turkey over medium heat until fully cooked. Drain excess fat if necessary.
2. Stir in taco seasoning, salsa and pico de gallo.
3. Add black beans, corn, tomato sauce and broth.
4. Bring to a gentle boil, reduce heat and simmer for 10–15 minutes.
5. Taste, adjust seasonings and serve with your favorite taco toppings.

Set the Table with Love Tip: Create a taco soup toppings bar! Set out little bowls of avocado, shredded cheese, cilantro, tortilla chips and sour cream so everyone can personalize their soup.

2. Italian Chicken Meatball and Tortellini Soup with Kale

Imagine tender Italian chicken meatballs, cheese-filled tortellini, fresh kale and Parmesan cheese simmering in a flavorful Italian-inspired broth.

This soup takes everything we love about a comforting Italian pasta dinner and brings it together in one beautiful bowl.

The kale adds a wonderful texture, a beautiful pop of green and an extra helping of vegetables. It’s hearty enough to serve as a complete meal, especially with a little crusty bread on the side.

Clever Kitchen Shortcuts

• Fully cooked Italian chicken meatballs: Frozen or refrigerated prepared meatballs eliminate the need to mix, roll and cook them from scratch.
• Refrigerated cheese tortellini: Fresh pasta cooks in minutes.
• Prewashed, chopped kale: Adds color, texture and nutrients without the extra work of washing and chopping greens.

Quick Recipe

Ingredients

• 12–16 ounces fully cooked Italian chicken meatballs
• 9 ounces refrigerated cheese tortellini
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes
• 5 cups chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 2 cups chopped kale, tough stems removed
• ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• Fresh basil or parsley for garnish

Directions

1. Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds.
2. Add diced tomatoes, chicken broth and Italian seasoning. Bring to a simmer.
3. Add the chopped kale and simmer for 5–8 minutes, until it begins to soften.
4. Add fully cooked chicken meatballs and heat according to package directions until thoroughly hot.
5. Stir in refrigerated tortellini and cook according to package directions until tender.
6. Stir in Parmesan, season to taste and garnish with fresh basil or parsley.

Set the Table with Love Tip: Serve this soup in wide, shallow bowls with freshly grated Parmesan, cracked black pepper and a drizzle of good olive oil. It’s an easy way to give a weeknight dinner a restaurant-inspired presentation.

3. Chicken Pot Pie Soup with Flaky Puff Pastry

Chicken pot pie is one of those classic comfort foods that instantly feels like home.

Tender chicken, sweet peas, carrots and a creamy herb-filled sauce wrapped in a buttery crust—what’s not to love?

For this soup, we’re keeping everything delicious about traditional chicken pot pie but skipping the time-consuming process of making and baking an entire pie.

Instead, we’re serving a rich, creamy chicken soup topped with a beautiful piece of golden puff pastry.

Clever Kitchen Shortcuts

• Rotisserie chicken: Already cooked, tender and ready to shred.
• Frozen mixed vegetables: No peeling or chopping required.
• Store-bought puff pastry: Gives you that beautiful, buttery crust without making pastry from scratch.

Quick Recipe

Ingredients

• 3 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
• 3 cups frozen mixed vegetables
• 3 tablespoons butter
• ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup half-and-half or heavy cream
• ½ teaspoon dried thyme or 1 teaspoon fresh thyme
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• 1 sheet thawed puff pastry
• 1 egg, beaten with 1 tablespoon water

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400°F, or follow the temperature listed on your puff pastry package.
2. Cut puff pastry into squares, place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and brush with egg wash. Bake according to package directions until golden brown and fully cooked.
3. Meanwhile, melt butter in a large soup pot over medium heat.
4. Whisk in flour and cook for about 1 minute.
5. Gradually whisk in chicken broth until smooth.
6. Stir in half-and-half, thyme, frozen vegetables and shredded chicken.
7. Simmer gently for 10–15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender and the soup is creamy and thickened.
8. Season with salt and pepper.
9. Ladle into bowls and top each serving with a golden puff pastry square.

Set the Table with Love Tip: Bake the puff pastry separately and add it just before serving. This keeps it light, buttery and flaky instead of becoming soggy in the soup.

My Favorite Kitchen Philosophy: Shortcut the Preparation, Not the Flavor!

One thing I always want to remind home cooks is that creating something delicious doesn’t mean spending hours in the kitchen.

Sometimes the smartest cooking decisions are the simplest ones.

Using a rotisserie chicken, a good-quality jarred sauce, frozen vegetables or fresh refrigerated pasta doesn’t mean you’re sacrificing a homemade meal. It means you’re finding creative ways to spend less time preparing food and more time enjoying it with the people you love.

A few fresh herbs, thoughtfully chosen seasonings and beautiful toppings can turn simple ingredients into something truly special.

Bringing Everyone Back to the Table

At Set the Table with Love, I’ve always believed that food is about so much more than what we serve.

It’s about creating moments of connection.

A pot of soup simmering on the stove has a way of inviting people to slow down, pull up a chair and stay a little longer.

Whether you’re preparing a quick weeknight dinner for your family, hosting friends for a casual lunch or simply making something comforting for yourself, these soups are a reminder that good food doesn’t have to be complicated.

Sometimes all it takes is a favorite recipe, a little creativity and a soup pot.

Because the best part of any meal isn’t just what’s in the bowl. It’s who we share it with.

With love,

Lisa Washington

Set the Table with Love

http://www.setthetablewithlove.com

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Watch Live on FOX 5 Good Day Atlanta!

Join me live on FOX 5 Good Day Atlanta around 11 a.m. as I share these three comforting soup recipes and clever shortcuts for making delicious meals without spending hours in the kitchen.

Can’t watch on television? You can stream FOX 5 Good Day Atlanta live at www.fox5atlanta.com.

Which favorite dinner would you love to turn into a soup? Share your ideas in the comments. I’d love to hear what you’re cooking!