31 Cold Soup Recipes for Hot Summer Days (2024)

Alexia Dellner

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

You're only a few pulses away from making the most iconic chilled soup of them all. Its ingredients are almost all vegetables and herbs, so hunting down the best produce you can find is key.

Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Sarah Copeland

If the acidity of red tomatoes is a deal breaker for you, swap them for mild yellow tomatoes instead. Better yet, this soup screams summer, thanks to the addition of fresh peaches.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

It's as simple as blending the produce, herbs and Greek yogurt until smooth. The Asiago-encrusted baguette is just the cherry on top.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BRIAN CHASZAR

Never let another pint of berries go to waste. Pair them with apple, fresh ginger, herbs and spices to turn them into the most surprising soup you've ever tried.

Erin McDowell

This summer star is delicious served hot or cold. What can we say? We like having options. (P.S.: Feel free to use canned corn kernels if you don't have fresh ears on hand.)

Feasting at Home

Healthy, beautiful and ready in 15 minutes? Dreams really do come true. Top it off with a swirl of sour cream and all the fresh dill.

Cooking with Janica

Aka the ultimate summer desk lunch. The shrimp are coated in smoked and sweet paprikas, making them the perfect spicy pairing for the mild, refreshing soup.

Foodie Crush

It's creamy, velvety, buttery and nutritious. Most importantly, it tastes heavenly both hot and cold.

Well Plated by Erin

This comforting recipe may sound like it's destined for your winter table, but cold potato soup is totally a thing. In fact, it's a lot like French vichyssoise when served chilled.

Dude That Cookz

Earthy black truffle + fresh asparagus + heavy whipping cream = the most decadent spring soup of all time. We'll take ours with a grilled cheese sandwich, please.

Feasting at Home

Lime juice, Greek yogurt and jalapeño bring this cool cucumber concoction to life.

Feasting at Home

Not into a little spice in your soup? Try this twist on chilled cucumber—it calls for half a medium cantaloupe, but feel free to use honeydew or watermelon instead.

This Mess Is Ours

You're only four ingredients away from a fruit-based gem that even your picky kids will approve of. The secret? White grape juice.

Vintage Kitty

This blender soup from Spain traditionally calls for green grapes, but this version uses crisp, tart Granny Smith apples instead.

The Mediterranean Dish

It's loaded with toasted walnuts and fresh herbs. Bring a batch to your next barbecue to have with grilled lamb chops or chicken kebabs.

Gimme Some Oven

Need help breaking down that massive watermelon? We've got your back: This is the easiest way to cut one into cubes.

Carlsbad Cravings

Believe it or not, this fruity beauty comes together in the blender in just five minutes with the help of vanilla yogurt and coconut cream.

The Endless Meal

A Thai-inspired dinner that only *looks* like it took you all night to make (even though all you needed was 40 minutes). Serve it hot or cold, depending on the weather.

Feasting at Home

Make it a meal by topping a bowl off with poached shrimp or lobster meat. To keep it vegetarian, finish it with microgreens, fresh cilantro and sour cream.

Gimme Some Oven

Fetch your food processor and take this recipe for a whirl—it'll only take ten minutes and eight ingredients.

The Full Helping

This flavorful pick will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for five days or in the freezer for one month. So, make a batch to enjoy chilled and save the leftovers to try hot another time.

Simple Veganista

Psst: We're betting you have just about everything you need to make this cool starter right this minute.

Whitney Bond

Earthy beets puréed with zingy balsamic vinegar and creamy Greek yogurt sound delicious. But TBH, the soup's color is what sold us.

Foodie Crush

If you really want to wow your picnic guests, look no further than this 30-minute appetizer that boasts summer corn and fresh snow crab meat.

Salt and Wind

Inspired by South Asian riti raita, a dip-like condiment typically made from yogurt and raw or cooked vegetables, this soup is cool, refreshing and tangy.

Brown Sugar & Vanilla

There's no need to chill the soup after making it, since it starts with three cups of frozen watermelon. Genius.

Salt and Wind

When you've had your fill of zoodles, you can always lean on this herbaceous soup starring zucchini, fresh thyme and basil, toasted nuts and Greek yogurt.

The Endless Meal

This no-cook soup is beyond simple, so feel free to get fancy with the finishing touches. Think crumbled bacon, pickled red onions, toasted pepitas or chili oil.

Foodie Crush

Behold, tomato-free gazpacho. It's equal parts fruity, refreshing and zesty, thanks to fresh ginger, vinegar and mustard seed in the shrimp brine. (BTW, before you get cooking, this is the best way to slice a mango.)

Feasting at Home

Celery is way more nutritious than you may realize. It's high in fiber, folate, vitamin K, potassium and calcium, plus it boasts antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.

40 Aprons

The key here is starting with the butteriest, ripest avocados at the farmers market; they're pressed through a fine-mesh sieve before being transformed into soup.

Food Editor

Taryn Pire is PureWow’s food editor and has been writing about all things delicious since 2016. She’s developed recipes, reviewed restaurants and investigated food trends at...

Executive Editor

Alexia Dellner is an executive editor at PureWow who has over ten years of experience covering a broad range of topics including health, wellness, travel, family, culture and...