Healthy Soup Topping Ideas

Soup topping ideas! Transform soup into a meal with extra add-ins and soup toppers. Take your soup from good to great!

Enhance and enrich your favourite soup with these fun and healthy soup garnish ideas.

A bowl of homemade soup can be comforting when we're tired, when we're sick, when it's cold outside or when we simply don't feel like cooking a big dinner.

But why have plain soup when you can make it fancy schmancy with very little effort?

Or take a few more steps and add toasted sage leaves with crispy fried shallots, or add some crumbled bacon and parsley. Much more interesting and appealing, don't you agree?

Did you grow up adding a handful (or two) of crushed saltine crackers to your soup?

I know I did. I think we may have done that because canned soup was simply boring. Adding crackers gave it some texture (and depending on how many you added, made it more like a chowder!) However, there are so many healthier options than crackers.

A healthy homemade bowl of soup can be transformed into a work of art, if you choose, simply by adding soup garnishes and accompaniments. Choose soup toppings that are crisp and crunchy, fresh and herby, or add a swirl of creaminess!

Have you ever noticed what a difference a squeeze of fresh lemon juice makes to a bowl of Seafood Chowder?

A plain bowl of soup is good, but one with garnishes is better! Adding soup toppings and accompaniments adds interest, crunch and flavour and makes a simple bowl far more appealing.

Why not upgrade your soup and make it a masterpiece?

These are some of my favourite soup toppers. Choose one or more to add to your soup. Or serve toppings in individual bowls and let your family pick and choose what they would like best. The sky's the limit!

Check your fridge or pantry for possible toppings. You'll be surprised at how many ideas you can find in your own kitchen.

• crispy fried shallots
• thinly sliced green onions
• herbs: parsley, cilantro, thyme, tarragon, chives
• toasted sage leaves
• grated cheese: Parmesan, Cheddar, Gruyere, Mozzarella or your favourite cheese
• Parmesan crisps: homemade Easiest Ever Parmesan Crisps (or store-bought)
• croutons:  homemade, gluten-free if necessary
• polenta croutons
• spiced pumpkin seeds
• toasted flaked almonds
• crumbled bacon bits
• crispy prosciutto
• crumbled tortilla chips
• a spoonful of salsa
• a dollop of harissa or pesto
• sautéed peppers: I sometimes use shishito peppers leftover from Air Fryer Shishito Peppers
• pomegranate arils
• roasted chickpeas
• a swirl of sour cream or cream

Which soup recipes and toppings go together?

If you're not sure which toppings would work well together, try these suggested combinations. For example,

Butternut Squash Soup:  toasted sage leaves, crispy shallots and crumbled bacon bits, or a swirl of sour cream or yogurt

Creamy Tomato Soup: Parmesan crisps, croutons, green onions

Smoky Chipotle Sweet Potato Soup: polenta croutons, or crumbled tortilla chips, avocado cubes and cilantro

Roasted Cauliflower Soup:  spicy pumpkin seeds, croutons and thyme

Broccoli White Cheddar Soup: fresh herbs

Slow Cooker Moroccan Harissa Soup: toasted almonds, cilantro, harissa

Slow Cooker Vegan Black Bean Soup: avocado cubes, cilantro, lime slices, tortilla chips

Vegan Sweet Potato Corn Chowder: this soup is so loaded it only needs a sprinkle of green onions.

Creamy Roasted Garlic Irish Potato Soup:  fresh parsley and a drizzle of cream

Potato Leek Soup with Bacon:   crisp bacon bits, snipped chives, yogurt or sour cream drizzle

Carrot Ginger Soup with Apple: shallots, matchstick apple slices, parsley

Tuscan Minestrone Soup: another loaded soup that only need a few Parmesan shavings or Parmesan crisps.

Sweet Potato Turmeric Soup  roasted chickpeas, crispy fried shallots, pomegranate arils

But don't stop there! Once you start thinking of possible garnishes or soup toppers, it will be hard to stop!