7 Cheap Homemade Soups to Make on a Budget in 2026
A warm bowl of homemade soup doesn’t have to come with an expensive grocery bill. In fact, some of the simplest soups start with everyday ingredients you might already have in your kitchen, including potatoes, rice, dried beans, carrots, and canned tomatoes. With grocery prices constantly on shoppers’ minds, making soup from basic ingredients is one practical way to keep meal costs manageable. You don’t need fancy seasonings, expensive cuts of meat, or a long shopping list to prepare something flavorful.
These seven homemade soups have estimated ingredient costs ranging from $0.38 to $0.70 per serving, based on selected U.S. online grocery listings checked October 13, 2026. Each recipe is designed to make approximately six 1½-cup servings, although the exact yields still need kitchen testing. Prices vary by location, and buying full packages upfront costs more than the ingredients used in one pot.
Vegetable and Rice Soup
Sometimes, the simplest ingredients make a surprisingly comforting dinner. Vegetable and rice soup is a perfect example, combining inexpensive pantry staples with a bag of frozen vegetables. For this version, you’ll need six ounces of dry white rice, a 12 ounce bag of frozen mixed vegetables, eight ounces of onion, three chicken bouillon cubes, and a tablespoon of canola oil. Add water, black pepper, and salt if needed.
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Start by softening the chopped onion in oil. Add six cups of water and the bouillon, then bring everything to a boil before stirring in the rice. Allow the rice to simmer, adding the frozen vegetables toward the end of cooking. Continue until everything is tender, adjusting the liquid as necessary. The proposed cooking time is approximately 25 to 30 minutes, making this one of the quicker options. Using selected Walmart grocery listings, the estimated ingredient cost is $2.26 per pot, or approximately $0.38 per serving.
Creamy Style Mashed Potato Soup
Potatoes are one of those ingredients that can transform into several completely different dishes. When turned into soup, they create a thick, comforting texture without requiring expensive additions. This recipe uses two pounds of russet potatoes, eight ounces of onion, one cup of whole milk, three chicken bouillon cubes, and a tablespoon of oil. Begin by cooking the onion in oil until softened. Add diced potatoes, four cups of water, and the bouillon cubes, then simmer until the potatoes can be easily crushed with a fork.
Instead of reaching for a blender, mash some of the potatoes directly in the pot. Leave a few pieces intact for texture, then stir in the milk and heat gently. The estimated cooking time is 25 to 35 minutes. Based on selected Walmart potato prices, the ingredients used cost approximately $2.55 per pot. That works out to around $0.42 per serving, although potato prices can differ noticeably between locations.
Homemade Pinto Bean Soup
If you don’t mind planning ahead, dried pinto beans offer an inexpensive foundation for a large pot of soup. This version starts with one pound of dried pinto beans, eight ounces each of onion and carrots, one tablespoon of oil, and three chicken bouillon cubes. Unlike canned beans, dried beans need additional preparation. Sort and rinse them before soaking overnight in the refrigerator. Alternatively, use a quick-soak method before draining and adding fresh cooking water. According to Nebraska Extension, soaked pinto beans generally require approximately 90 to 120 minutes of simmering.
While the beans cook, soften the onion and carrots in oil before adding them to the pot. Finish with bouillon and pepper, and mash a small portion of the beans if you’d like a thicker consistency. The estimated ingredient cost is $2.58 per pot, or $0.43 per serving. It’s not the fastest soup on this list, but it’s a practical choice for batch cooking.
Cabbage and Carrot Soup
Cabbage doesn’t always get the attention it deserves in everyday cooking, but it works beautifully in a simple broth-based soup. For this version, gather 1½ pounds of green cabbage, eight ounces of carrots, eight ounces of onion, three chicken bouillon cubes, and a tablespoon of canola oil. Slice the cabbage into thin strips and cut the carrots into small pieces. Soften the onion in oil, then add the cabbage and carrots. Stir until the cabbage begins to wilt before pouring in approximately six cups of water and adding the bouillon.
Allow the mixture to simmer until the vegetables reach your preferred tenderness. The proposed cooking time is about 25 to 35 minutes. At the selected Walmart cabbage price of $0.88 per pound, the estimated ingredient cost comes to $2.82 per pot. That’s approximately $0.47 per serving, making it another budget-friendly option built around ordinary produce.
Classic Split Pea Soup
Split pea soup is an excellent example of how a few basic ingredients can create a thick, spoonable dish. You’ll need one pound of dried green split peas, eight ounces of carrots, eight ounces of onion, three chicken bouillon cubes, and a tablespoon of oil. Start by rinsing the split peas and checking for unwanted debris. Cook the onion and carrots briefly in oil, then add the peas, approximately six cups of water, bouillon, and pepper. Bring everything to a boil before reducing the heat to a gentle simmer.
Unlike dried pinto beans, split peas don’t require soaking beforehand, according to Nebraska Extension. A published Mayo Clinic split pea soup recipe uses a simmering period of approximately 60 to 65 minutes. Stir occasionally and add water if the mixture becomes too thick. The estimated ingredient cost is $2.97 per pot, or approximately $0.50 per serving. The split-pea price used in this estimate should be reconfirmed locally.
Smooth Carrot Soup
If you enjoy smooth soups, carrots can create a vibrant bowl without requiring purchased cream or specialty ingredients. This straightforward version uses two pounds of carrots, eight ounces of onion, three chicken bouillon cubes, and a tablespoon of oil. Begin by softening the onion in oil, then add the chopped carrots, bouillon, and approximately six cups of water. Bring the mixture to a boil before reducing the heat and simmering until the carrots become tender. A Food Hero carrot soup recipe provides a similar cooking approach, including a roughly 30-minute simmer before blending.
Once the vegetables are tender, purée the soup until smooth, following your blender manufacturer’s instructions for hot liquids. The proposed preparation and cooking process takes approximately 50 to 60 minutes altogether. Using the selected carrot and pantry prices, the estimated cost is $3.20 per pot, or approximately $0.53 per serving.
Simple Canned Tomato Soup
When fresh ingredients are running low, canned tomatoes can become the foundation of a straightforward homemade soup. This recipe requires two 28-ounce cans of crushed tomatoes, eight ounces of onion, two chicken bouillon cubes, and a tablespoon of canola oil. Cook the onion in oil until softened, then add the crushed tomatoes, approximately three cups of water, and the bouillon. Bring everything to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally as the ingredients combine.
You can leave the soup slightly textured or blend it for a smoother finish. The proposed cooking time is approximately 20 to 30 minutes. At the selected Walmart canned tomato price, the estimated ingredient cost is $4.23 per pot. That’s roughly $0.70 per serving, making it the most expensive of these seven options within this particular price comparison.
