March is a month of transitions. We’re not only exiting winter, but entering a season of change: from snow to sun and inside to outside, from cozy moments with a book or a movie to backyard activities — all with a more outward focus. Meeting up with friends, joining softball or pickleball leagues, and planning vacations. As a cook, I’m balancing my love for hearty comfort food with a hint of new cravings for green salads, fresh fruit, and all the lovely edibles that will soon sprout up in my vegetable garden. Browse my list of Seasonal Soups to Cook in March and get inspired to make that transition, too.
Where’s the Beef?
The last hurrah of winter always brings on a craving for beef soup. Partially because it’s the season to break out those Irish beef stew recipes, but also because it’s the comfort food hug we still need as we wait for snow and sub-freezing temps to lose their icy grips once and for all.
Barley in soup is always a comfort-giving elixir, and combined with the richness of slow-simmered beef and smoky bacon, you end up with a deeply satisfying bowl of goodness that you can't help but hover over.
Mongolian Beef Soup is the favorite take-out dish made into comforting soup form! An easy homemade saucy broth packed with Asian-inspired flavors, this hearty beef soup might just become your new family favorite!
Classic beef stew gets a flavor boost with sauce infused with zesty dijon mustard and smooth cognac. Serve with polenta, rice, egg noodles, or in a bowl by itself — it's just that good!
This mixed heritage goulash is a favorite that combines the best of two family traditions: a rich, paprika-loaded sauce (my Hungarian grandfather) and meltingly tender beef with plenty of vegetables (my Austrian grandmother). It's a hearty and comforting stew that’s perfect for a cozy night in.
For more hearty, cold-chasing meals, check out my collection of hearty beef soups.
Beery Good Soups
For those of us with strong Irish roots, March means beer. Some in a pint glass; lots in the Chicago River. In this household, it mostly goes in a big pot of soup or stew, where its malty flavors add extra richness that can’t be matched.
Take comfort food to a new level. This creamy soup blends lean ground beef, bacon, and beer, then finishes with lots of cheese (of course!) and a garnish of classic burger toppings. It’s the indulgent flavors of your favorite burger in a cozy, savory bowl.
Mac and cheese is great — I'm not going to minimize that incredible dish for a second — but mac and cheese in soup in a bowl that you hold in your hands and take in all the warmth and aromas is the kick. And then you dig into the cheesy beer broth, and it no longer matters what's going on in the world because this soup is all that exists for the next 15 minutes.
Tender beef cooked long and slow in a beer-boosted broth with lots of vegetables creates an incredibly delicious beef stew, rich and savory. Serve with a buttery baguette for a complete and satisfying meal.
Guinness Onion Soup is a deliciously savory soup with caramelized onions that are flavored-boosted with Guinness Extra Stout, and then topped with cheddary cheesy toast points that fit on the spoon, instead of broiling a cap of cheese over bulky bread slices.
A delightfully delicious plant-based twist on the classic stew, saucy lentils and authentic Guinness Stout simmer to create a rich and flavorful dish. Serve with mash and crusty bread. And more Guinness (which like this stew, is actually vegan!).
We can’t wrap up March soups without giving a nod to green. Green is life. In the garden, green makes all of the other colors possible. And greens in soup is just delightful, both nourishment-wise and flavor-wise. Goooo, Green!
Spring is the season of green, so let's get ready with a soup that celebrates just that (with a nod to St. Patrick's Day thrown in). It's not just a beautiful, vibrant color, but a healthy and delicious (yes!) soup full of leafy greens, tasty vegetables in a miso-boosted broth. Lots of fresh herbs kicked the color into almost neon green territory!
When you're craving something with a little spice and a whole lot of flavor, this soup will hit the spot. Thai green curry paste, one of my favorite condiments, brings bright, herbaceous flavors while lentils, smoked sausage, sweet potatoes, and coconut milk keep everything smooth and satisfying.
Chicken soup is wonderfully flexible and can be dressed up in a lot of ways. I was really in the mood for something bright and herby when a chicken soup craving suddenly kicked in. And this was the beautiful result. Chicken soup might not be on your agenda right now, but I hope you'll try it when you're ready to give your tummy a break from all the heavy winter fare.
Of all the soups I've included in this list today, my Potsticker Soup is the best example of a seasonal transition soup. It has the light, fresh vegetable base with lots of greens that we associate with spring and summer, but then the stuffed dumplings enter the conversation, and ohhhh.
Celebrate the return of fresh greens and veggies with a browse through my collection of Vegetable Soups.
I hope you’ll try something from this list to make your March come alive with possibilities. For more soup inspiration, please browse my entire collection of Soup Recipes.
