Mexican soups, known as caldos and sopas, are the heart of home cooking. Nourishing, flavorful, and full of tradition, many recipes are passed through generations. In this list, you'll find meat-based stews, light vegetable broths, and creamy soups; there's a soup for every occasion.

Comforting Mexican Soups

Mexico offers a wide variety of flavors, ingredients, and hearty comfort foods like sopas and caldos that are part of everyday meals. Some are widely popular nationwide, especially during celebrations and cooler months, with variations like Birria and Pozole, while others reflect the country's diverse regions, featuring local ingredients, climates, and seasonal availability. 

From north to south, Mexico's soups tell a story of place, tradition, and the perfect use of what's fresh and abundant. The following list highlights some of the soups I grew up with; I encourage you to try them.

Most Popular Mexican Soups 

Here is a year-round staple nationwide, especially welcome in colder weather or as a comfort food. 

Caldo de Res (Mexican Beef Soup)  

A classic hearty beef and vegetable soup loaded with tender beef shank, corn, carrots, cabbage, potatoes, and squash in a rich tomato-infused broth. It's the ultimate comfort food, often called "cocido" or "puchero" in different regions.

Caldo de Pollo (Mexican Chicken Soup) 

Caldo de Pollo (Mexican Chicken Soup) is a delicious, traditional, comforting dish enjoyed in many Mexican homes. With a rich broth from the chicken and a medley of vegetables, this caldo de pollo is more than just a soup - it's a remedy for the soul. 

Mexican Red Pozole

Pozole Rojo is a vibrant, hearty Mexican soup that embodies Mexico's rich culinary traditions. This beloved dish, often enjoyed during celebrations, features tender hominy and succulent pork in a bold, red chile-infused broth, with many toppings to choose from.   

Sopa de Fideo (Mexican Noodle Soup) 

Thin noodles toasted and simmered in a tomato-based broth-quick, kid-friendly, and incredibly flavorful, and often garnished with queso fresco and avocado.  

Tortilla Soup (Sopa de Tortilla) 

If you're craving something cozy, comforting, and packed with bold Mexican flavors, this authentic tortilla soup is exactly what you need! It's made with roasted tomatoes, garlic, and smoky pasilla peppers, then simmered in rich chicken broth, and topped with crispy tortilla strips and a dollop of (Mexican Crema) or sour cream. 

Mexican Menudo 

Menudo, pancita, and mondongo are some of the names that this soup is known by in Mexico. It's famous for its taste and aroma, as well as for the distinctively spongy texture of the tripe-topped with Mexican oregano, piquing peppers or chili pepper, and a squeeze of lime juice. It can be found with hominy or without, cooked in a dried pepper sauce, or just plain: Menudo Blanco.

Beef Birria Recipe (Birria de Res) 

Birria is, without a doubt, one of the most popular dishes from Jalisco, Mexico. This traditional Mexican dish is known for its rich and flavorful broth, tender meat, and aromatic spices.

Note: If you have any leftovers of these popular soups, you can store them in an airtight container in your refrigerator for 3-4 days. 

Meat-Based Mexican Soups

Sopas and caldos with meat feature tender cuts of beef, pork, or lamb simmered in rich broths infused with chiles, herbs, garlic, onions, and sometimes hominy or vegetables.

Albóndigas Soup (Mexican Meatball Soup)  

Juicy meatballs made with ground beef (or pork), Sopa de albóndigas (Mexican meatball soup) is made in a big pot with potatoes, carrots, chayotes-or whatever veggies you have on hand-simmered in a rich tomato broth. 

Carne en su Jugo 

Carne en su jugo (Meat in its juices) is a heavenly and flavorful Mexican stew in one bowl. This concentrated brothy beef is served with beans, avocado, and a wide array of toppings. 

Soups with Chorizo

One way to enhance the flavor of soups is to add chorizo (Mexican-style pork sausage with a mixture of dry, chile-infused flavor). Chorizo adds richness and depth to broths, often releasing its seasoned flavor throughout the entire pot. 

Chorizo Lentil Soup (Sopa de Lentejas con Chorizo)   

Nutritious lentils simmered with vegetables; add chorizo for extra heartiness.

Black Bean Soup with Chorizo   

Hearty black beans boosted with smoky chorizo. This Black Bean Soup is hearty and wholesome, and it's great as a main dish on a cold winter evening. Enjoy!

Mexican Soups with Chicken

They range from light, restorative broths to bolder, chile-spiked versions, often using shredded or bone-in chicken simmered to tenderness.

Caldo Tlalpeño 

This is a delightful and nutritious soup made with chicken, carrots, chickpeas, and green beans. Add slices of avocado and cheese, and if you like a little spice, add Chipotle pepper on the side. 

Chicken Pozole Verde 

This Chicken pozole verde is a comforting and delicious dish that combines tender chicken, hominy, and a zesty green broth. This traditional Mexican recipe is sure to become a favorite in your home, perfect for family dinners or a cozy night in.

Olla Tapada 

"Olla Tapada" means "covered pot" and is also known as pollo tapado; it is one of the most comforting and iconic dishes in everyday Mexican home cooking. Imagine juicy chicken in a rich blanket of tomato-based sauce, vegetables, and potato slices.

Mexican Soups with Seafood

Coastal areas shine with lighter, seafood-forward soups like caldo de mariscos or shrimp-based varieties.  

Caldo de Mariscos (Mexican Seafood Soup)  

A coastal delight with shrimp, fish, and sometimes octopus in a light, flavorful broth-perfect for seafood lovers. This traditional seafood soup is originally from the State of Veracruz, on the Gulf Coast. 

Mexican Shrimp Soup (Caldo de Camaron) 

This soup is a favorite among shrimp lovers and is very popular around Lent. Simmering shrimp in brothy tomato sauce with carrots and potatoes is sure to be a favorite. 

Cremas - Creamy Mexican Soups

Often made with vegetables or legumes blended smooth (sometimes with milk or cream).

Creamy Black Bean Soup 

Smooth, rich black beans blended into a comforting crema. Making this dish takes less than 30 minutes from start to finish, but it tastes like something that took hours. The ingredients are simple- just the right combination of herbs and spices. 

Creamy Poblano Soup 

There is nothing like a warm bowl of creamy poblano soup to brighten up your day. Roasted poblanos bring that smoky, comforting flavor, and when you blend them into a creamy broth, it feels like a hug in a bowl.

Cream of Zucchini Soup 

Light and creamy zucchini puree, perfect for summer. Not only does it add vibrant colors to your dinner table, but this zucchini soup is also an authentic recipe made with a few simple ingredients you probably already have in your pantry. It's that easy! 

Creamy Fava Bean Soup (Sopa de Habas) 

 Sopa de habas (fava bean soup) is the ideal creamy soup to make on a cold and rainy day. These Earthy fava beans are blended and creamy, topped with nopales. 

Cream of Corn Soup 

This delicate Cream of Corn Soup is impressively easy to make and is the perfect soul-warming soup. Make this affordable, flavorful, and delightful soup as a light lunch or as a side dish to complement your favorite Mexican entrees. 

Vegetable-Based Mexican Soups 

For those who love light and healthy soups, here are a few recipes with Nopales and fresh milpa vegetables (like squash blossoms and corn). 

Nopal Soup 

Nopal Soup, or Nopales navegantes, which roughly translates to "sailing cactus soup," is a nutritious meal in a bowl. The nopales are cooked in a tomato-chicken broth base and gently combined with eggs. The eggs (whole or scrambled) make a robust meal, with your veggies and protein all in one bowl!

Garden Vegetable Soup (Sopa de Verduras) 

Fresh mixed vegetables in a light, healthy broth. Fill it with your favorites from the Farmer's Market. Then, enjoy the savory, spicy broth and top it all with some queso fresco. 

Mexican Vegetable Soup 

A vibrant mix of seasonal veggies in clear broth. This is a simple, easy, and very versatile dish; you can add all of those vegetables in your fridge or basket and have a superb, comforting soup. 

Corn and Zucchini Soup

Sweet corn and tender zucchini for a fresh, light option. This comforting dish showcases the best of the season's harvest: sweet, juicy corn kernels bursting with flavor, paired with tender Mexican zucchini for a refreshing touch. 

Mexican Potato Soup 

Comforting potatoes in a simple, flavorful broth. Delicious and soul-warming, this Mexican Potato Soup requires only a few ingredients. You can serve it as the first course of a comforting winter lunch or light dinner.

Swiss Chard and Potato Soup 

This Swiss chard and potato soup is one of those simple, rustic dishes that feels like a hug in edible form. Whether you're using up a bountiful bunch of rainbow chard from the market or just craving something wholesome and satisfying, this soup comes together in under an hour and tastes even better the next day. 

I hope you make one of the soup recipes! If the recipes were helpful to you, come back and let me know how they went. Please leave us a comment below and tell us all about it!

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