5 Delicious Immune-Boosting Soups to Fight Off Colds and Flu

Enjoy a warm, cozy dinner while supporting your immune system — talk about a two-for-one!

With cold and flu season just around the corner, you may be wondering if there’s anything you can do to prevent yourself from getting sick.

While there’s nothing you can do to guarantee 100% protection from illness, the following recipes contain ingredients that may help boost your immune system.

Moroccan cauliflower soup with lamb

This fragrant soup packs a secret spicy punch with the harissa. Harissa is a hot chili pepper paste that is made with roasted red peppers, Baklouti peppers, garlic paste, caraway seeds, coriander seeds, cumin, and olive oil.

The soup consists of broth, cauliflower, sliced almonds, cilantro, olive oil, harissa, cinnamon, cumin, coriander, salt, and pepper, all combined into a rich base using an immersion blender. Sour cream is stirred into the soup once it is blended, and it is topped with cooked ground lamb.

Almonds contain vitamins C and E, which can help boost the immune system. Almonds also contain antioxidants, which can help prevent infections and further support the immune system.

Chicken and pepper soup with baguette

This soup is packed with red bell peppers. Red bell peppers are blended into the soup base, where chicken thighs and additional red bell peppers are cooked until tender. It is served and topped with sour cream, green onions, sesame seeds, and a squeeze of lemon juice.

Red bell peppers can contain twice as much vitamin C as an equivalent amount of citrus fruits. Vitamin C plays a crucial roleTrusted Source in supporting the immune system.

Instant Pot turmeric tahini chicken soup

When you think of foods you eat when you’re feeling sick, chances are, chicken soup made that list. This flavorful twist on a classic soup contains ingredients that may help prevent you from getting sick in the first place. The best part? It can be made in an Instant Pot.

This dish contains onion, carrot, spinach, coconut cream, and tahini. It is seasoned with turmeric, ginger, ground coriander, and cinnamon, which lend the soup a robust and earthy flavor.

Mushroom, spinach, and barley soup

This vegan soup is packed with a variety of produce, including mushrooms, spinach, shallots, and white beans. This makes the recipe high in fiber, which can help support the immune system.

Spinach contains the minerals zinc and iron, which are essential for maintaining a healthy immune system.

Broccoli soup with crispy cheddar potato skins

If you love broccoli cheddar soup, you’ll want to try this recipe. The soup consists of broccoli, onions, chicken broth, and the flesh from the potatoes used to make the potato skins, all of which are pureed to create a rich and creamy base.

Broccoli contains alpha-carotene, zinc, iron, and phytochemicals, all of which can help support your immune system.