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These Chilled Soups Are Perfect for Hot Summer Days

Six bowls of different summer soups.
Epicurious/Love & Lemons/Vegetarian Ventures

Need a flavorful recipe for a hot summer day? A delicious chilled soup is the perfect solution!

Chilled soups are to summer what hearty, hot soups are to winter. They’re flavor-packed, easy-to-make meals that give your body exactly what it needs. These soups all pack in plenty of healthy, fresh veggies and your favorite spices.

On those sweltering days when eating a hot meal just doesn’t sound appealing, try one of these soup recipes for a refreshing change.

Cold Cauliflower Soup with Bacon and Croutons

A white bowl filled with cauliflower soup with bacon and croutons on top
Food Network

The cauliflower trend is a way to get that feeling of indulgence without eating something that’s too heavy. This delicious soup features plenty of veggies with a cauliflower and celery base. It calls for a delicious blend of spices, as well.

Amazon Basics Enameled Cast Iron Covered Dutch Oven

Yes, dutch ovens can make chilled soup!

It’s all puréed into creamy goodness and served cold with a touch of bacon and fresh, crispy croutons for extra texture and flavor.

Get the Recipe: Food Network

Easy Gazpacho

Several bowls of gazpacho, with bowls of tomatos and cilantro surrounding them
Love & Lemons

You can’t have a list of cold soups without a simple gazpacho recipe! This simple, cold soup originated in Spain and Portugal. It usually features a tomato base and extra-fresh flavors, including cucumbers and chiles.

It’s light enough to be a side dish or lunch meal, but you can also make a full-on dinner out of it. Make a big batch and keep it in the fridge for a perfect summer meal prep!

Get the Recipe: Love & Lemons

Chilled Coconut Corn Soup

An overhead shot of three bowls of coconut corn soup on a wood table
Epicurious

Bright, light, and full of summery flavors, this recipe is the perfect opportunity to experiment with flavor combinations you’ve likely never tasted in a soup before.

GOURMEX 2.6 Qt Induction Casserole

Make enough for leftovers.

This vegan meal gets its creaminess from a can of coconut milk. Corn, potato, lime, and coconut flakes are then melded together with a handful of spices to make a memorable combination of flavors in this cool, summery dish.

Get the Recipe: Epicurious

Green Gazpacho

Overhead view of a bowl of green gazpacho
Bon Appétit

Looking for an interesting twist on classic, cool gazpacho? Mix up your summer repertoire with this green version!

Featuring green peppers, jalepeños, cucumber, lime, and tomatillos, this cool, refreshing recipe offers a unique spin on one of the most iconic summer soups.

Get the Recipe: Bon Appétit

Avocado Soup with Spicy Salsa

Two bowls of avocado soup, plus a bowl of toppings and a sliced, scooped-out avocado
The Spice Adventuress

This soup offers a different take on those spicy, summery flavors we all know and love. Creamy avocados are combined with tomatoes, chiles, and red onions.

Then come the spices, including chaat and masala. Blend it all together, simmer and purée, and then chill. Served this one up with some delicious fresh salsa on top.

Get the Recipe: The Spice Adventuress

Spicy White Bean and Sweet Corn Gazpacho

A bowl of corn gazpacho sitting on a gray countertop.
Vegetarian Ventures

Sweet corn is a summer cookout staple, so take it to the next level with this unexpected (and tasty) soup. The white beans give it a boost of protein-packed goodness and a creamy texture.

The sweet corn, tomatoes, and garlic chili paste, meanwhile, combine into a sweet, yet spicy, cold soup that packs all the flavors of summer into one bowl.

Get the Recipe: Vegetarian Ventures

Chilled Cream of Basil Soup

A bowl of creamy basil soup with corn salsa on top and two spoons next to it.
With Food + Love

You’ve likely heard of cream of chicken and/or mushroom soup, but you’ve probably never had cream of basil.

KAMOTA Mason Jars

Soak your cashews in mason jars.

This cold, creamy dish starts with a base of softened cashews, spinach, basil, and some spices. Then, you top it with a fresh and delicious corn and cucumber salad. This super-light soup is easy to make whenever you’re in the mood for something fresh and tasty!

Get the Recipe: With Food + Love


Cold soups are perfect when you’re craving something different, yet familiar, on a hot summer day, and the fun doesn’t end here! Be sure to check out some of our fave summer cookbooks, which are chock-full of more light, delicious dishes.

Amanda Prahl Amanda Prahl
Amanda Prahl is a freelance contributor to LifeSavvy. She has an MFA in dramatic writing, a BA in literature, and is a former faculty associate focusing on writing craft and history. Her articles have appeared on HowlRound, Slate, Bustle, BroadwayWorld, and ThoughtCo, among others. Read Full Bio »
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