There’s something wonderful about prepping dinner early in the day, enjoying the delicious scent of it simmering away all afternoon, then serving a no-hassle meal whenever the timing is right. Whether you’re batch cooking or feeding a large family every evening, a slow cooker is a busy kitchen’s secret weapon—and now that we’re well into chilly November, it’s the perfect time of year to take it out of hibernation.

It’s officially soup season in Canada—that wonderful time of year when we spend chilly evenings inside with a cozy, delicious bowl of homemade soup. Chicken noodle, beef barley, potato and leek with bacon, Italian wedding soup, mulligatawny—we love it all, and we bet you do, too.

Whether you’re a slow cooker aficionado, love your Dutch oven or swear by an old favourite soup pot, these family-friendly recipes are hearty, flavourful and packed with high quality local products from Olliffe. Get your best set of bowls ready—soup’s on!

Creamy lemon chicken orzo soup

This recipe takes a classic chicken noodle soup and cranks up the flavour profile with zesty lemon. There are crisp vegetables, tender chunks of chicken and orzo in every bite, plus a rich, creamy chicken broth. This is one you’ll want to make over and over again. Consider serving it with sliced sourdough or a nice baguette. Here’s the recipe—enjoy.

Beef vegetable soup

Tender Ontario beef, hearty root vegetables and flavourful beef broth make this soup a family favourite. You can personalize it by adding more vegetables (diced parsnips, chopped yellow beans or sliced mushrooms would be delicious). Slice the beef and veggies as large or small as you’d like—it’s up to you. This is a classic winter dish that’s perfect for enjoying with fresh dinner rolls or even garlic bread. Here’s the recipe.

Tortellini sausage soup

Fresh or frozen cheese tortellini is a great product to keep on hand—not only can it be used to make a quick pasta dinner, it’s ideal for adding to delicious winter soups. This one starts with mild Italian sausage and is best made with the rind from a great parmesan cheese (available in store). Because the tortellini will absorb a lot of broth when stored in the fridge, this soup is best enjoyed the day it’s made. Try it with fresh bread and a Caesar salad on the side for a super satisfying meal. Here’s a great recipe.

Happy soup season!

Thanks as always for supporting our proudly independent, Canadian butcher shop. We’re glad to have your business and hope you enjoy these delicious, cozy, comforting soup recipes. If you have another favourite soup recipe, let us know about it in the comments on Facebook or Instagram. We’d love to know what else you’re cooking!

Easy Egg-Fried Rice & Homemade Garlic Chili Crisp recipes, great to pair with our delicious signature beef tenderloin stir fry!