Food 9 Elegant Fall Soups to Kick Off Your Thanksgiving Feast These soups are light, elegant, seasonal, and full of flavor; just the thing to kick off the meal of the year. By Chandra Ram Chandra Ram Chandra Ram leads the digital food strategy for Food & Wine. She has 15 years experience writing and editing food content and developing recipes. A former restaurant cook and server, she also writes cookbooks. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on November 26, 2024 Close Photo: Food & Wine / Photo by Rachel Marek / Food Styling by Lauren McAnelly / Prop Styling by Gabriel Greco A bowl of soup might be the perfect first course for a Thanksgiving dinner, especially when you want to get the meal started and offer your guests something to eat while the main course rests. The key is to select a soup that showcases seasonal ingredients with a celebration-worthy presentation. Soups that can be prepared in advance and bowls that aren't too heavy are bonuses — after all, you have a feast to eat. Here are standout fall soups to serve on Thanksgiving. 01 of 09 Oyster Bisque Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Audrey Davis Melissa M. Martin loads this light and creamy bisque with chunks of potatoes and plump, juicy oysters, garnishing with scallions and parsley. Get the Recipe 02 of 09 Creamy Pumpkin Soup Diana Chistruga This silky, smooth use for a can of pumpkin puree is delicately spiced with garlic, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cayenne. Get the Recipe 03 of 09 Cream of Mushroom Soup Greg Dupree / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Thom Driver Anna Theoktisto caramelizes a mix of meaty cremini mushrooms and earthy shiitake mushrooms for this silky soup that's balanced by dry sherry. Get the Recipe 04 of 09 Butternut Squash Soup with Bacon and Crème Fraîche Erin Kunkel Clare Carver upgrades the fall classic with a dollop of rich crème fraîche and crumbles of savory bacon. Get the Recipe 05 of 09 Silky Chestnut Soup Food & Wine / Photo by Rachel Marek / Food Styling by Lauren McAnelly / Prop Styling by Gabriel Greco Wolfgang Puck's silky-smooth autumnal soup showcases sweet and earthy chestnuts with fruity ruby port and luscious heavy cream. Get the Recipe 06 of 09 Roasted Carrot Soup with Fresh Cheese and Black Bread Photo by Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Christine Keely Roast two pounds of carrots with cumin and caraway seeds, simmer with vegetable broth, and blend with sour cream until silky smooth. Serve the soup with crisped Baltic black bread and crumbled farmer's cheese. Get the Recipe 07 of 09 Pumpkin Soup with Thai Red Curry Paste and Lemongrass Photo by Morgan Hunt Glaze / Food Styling by Ruth Blackburn / Prop Styling by Christina Daley This 45-minute bowl of flavor gets depth and heat from Thai red curry paste and garlic, brightness from lemongrass, ginger, and fresh lime juice, and creaminess from coconut milk. Get the Recipe 08 of 09 Roasted Root Vegetable Soup © Beatriz Da Costa Bring a beet, turnip, and parsnip together for this bitter, sweet, and striking soup garnished with crème fraîche and fresh dill. Get the Recipe 09 of 09 Creamy Parsnip Soup with Pear and Walnuts © Paul Costello Chef Marcus Samuelsson says pear and walnuts add "sophistication and crunch" to this earthy, Indian-spiced soup. Get the Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit