January is National Soup Month, and it couldn’t be better timed. After the sparkle of the holidays fades and winter settles in for real, January invites us to slow down, warm up, and nourish ourselves in simple, comforting ways. With cold winds, shorter days, and snowy evenings, soup feels less like a meal and more like a small act of self-care.

There’s something wonderfully practical about soup in January. It’s warming from the inside out, helping to take the chill off after coming in from the cold. Steam rising from a bowl warms your face, your hands, and somehow your spirit too. Many soups are packed with vegetables, proteins, and broths that hydrate and replenish, which is especially welcome when winter air feels dry and heavy. Whether it’s a slow-simmered chicken soup, a hearty bean and vegetable blend, or a creamy broccoli cheddar soup, each spoonful delivers comfort and nourishment at the same time.

Soup is also gentle and grounding. After weeks of rich holiday foods, January often calls for meals that feel wholesome and balanced. Brothy soups can be light yet satisfying, while heartier stews provide lasting warmth and energy on cold days. They’re easy to digest, filling without being heavy, and endlessly adaptable—perfect for using what’s on hand and stretching meals during the heart of winter.

Most of all, soup carries a deep emotional warmth. Many of us associate it with care, tradition, and being looked after. It’s the meal that shows up when someone isn’t feeling well, when the weather turns harsh, or when time slows, and family gathers around the table.

There’s a quiet kind of magic in a pot of soup simmering on a winter afternoon. The windows fog slightly, the kitchen fills with the scent of onions and herbs, and the sound of bubbling broth becomes a steady, comforting background. Outside, snow falls softly, or the sky turns gray and still. Inside, coats are hung by the door, mittens are set out to dry, and bowls are lined up, waiting. When the soup is finally ladled out, it feels like a reward for enduring the cold—a warm pause in the middle of winter’s long stretch.

In January, soup isn’t just food. It’s warmth, nourishment, and comfort all in one bowl. It reminds us to slow down, gather close, and find joy in the simple pleasure of being warm on a cold winter day.

Let's Make Crockpot Broccoli Cheese Soup 

Ingredients:

• 4 cups broccoli florets
• 1 onion, diced
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions:

1. Place broccoli, onion, broth, garlic powder, and onion powder in the Crockpot.
2. Cook on low for 4-6 hours until the broccoli is tender.
3. Blend the soup partially using an immersion blender for a creamy consistency.
4. Stir in the heavy cream and cheddar cheese and cook on high for 10 minutes until melted.
5. Serve hot with freshly cracked black pepper to taste and a slice of buttery bread.

Don't Have a Crockpot? 

Try Harvest Array's Anderson House , Virginia Blue Ridge Broccoli Cheddar Soup Mix

The Soup Mix contains: Rice, Potato, Broccoli, Carrot, Onion, Bell Pepper, Bay Leaf. (Saves the prepping time when making it from scratch in the recipe above)

You Will Also Need to add:

• 4 cups chicken or vegetable broth (32 oz.)
• 1 cup heavy cream or half & half (8 oz.)
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (4 oz.)
• (optional vegetable additions: 2 cups chopped, fresh or frozen broccoli or cauliflower

With prep and cooking time, this soup will be ready to eat in 45 minutes! Simple instructions can be found on the package. Serves about 5.

Crockpot recipe provided by https://slimmingviolet.com