Last Updated January 4th, 2026 at 09:29 am by Lisa
There’s nothing like a warm, cheesy soup to bring comfort during the holidays. This Christmas Soup is quick to assemble and easy to adapt — make it in a slow cooker for a hands-off holiday meal or simmer it on the stove for a cozy family dinner or party. Serve in large bowls or handled mugs so guests can dip breadsticks, crackers, or croutons into every delicious spoonful.
Christmas Soup Recipe
This festive soup works well as a first course, an appetizer, or the main comfort dish on Christmas morning. It’s loaded with cheesy tomato flavor and can be tailored with the protein and pasta you prefer. Below are the ingredients and straightforward steps to make a large pot that will warm family and friends.
Christmas Soup Ingredients
- 28 ounces canned diced red tomatoes with their juice
- 10 ounces canned Rotel (original, mild with green chilies — not the hot variety)
- 1 pound Velveeta cheese, cut into 1″ cubes
- 4 cups chicken stock (or substitute chicken broth, bone broth, or vegetable broth)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 12–16 ounces holiday or tri-color pasta (red/white/green, bow ties, or themed shapes)
- 1 tablespoon fresh basil, thinly sliced for garnish
- Meat options: 2–3 small chicken breasts, 6–8 sliced sausages (thin), 16 ounces crumbled sausage, or about 2 cups rotisserie chicken
Soup Instructions
- Place the diced tomatoes and Rotel (with juices) into a slow cooker or large soup pot.
- Add the chicken stock and the Velveeta cut into 1″ cubes. In a slow cooker, cook on high for 1 hour. On the stove, simmer over low heat for 1 hour, stirring occasionally so the cheese melts smoothly into the broth.
- After the first hour, reduce the slow cooker to low (or lower the stove heat). Whisk in the heavy cream and stir until fully incorporated.
- Add your chosen meat. Defrosted meat works best and heats faster: brown sausages or crumbled sausage in a skillet for extra flavor, then slice or add to the soup. If using whole chicken breasts, they will shred after cooking an hour—shred with two forks in the pot or remove, shred on a plate, and return to the soup.
- Stir in the pasta and continue cooking until the pasta is tender, about 45 minutes. Avoid leaving pasta in the slow cooker for much longer than an hour to prevent it from becoming overly soft.
- After the pasta has been in the soup for about an hour the pasta will begin to absorb liquid and thicken the soup. If you prefer a looser consistency, add extra chicken stock or water to thin it before serving.
- Serve hot in bowls or handled mugs and garnish with basil ribbons. Offer bread, crackers, or croutons for dipping.
Christmas Soup — Top Serving Tips
What to Serve With Hot Soup
- Crusty bread or toasted baguettes
- Flavored crackers or seasoned croutons
- Soft breadsticks or dinner rolls
- Tortilla chips for scooping
- Parmesan croutons or crostini for extra crunch
How to Serve Soup Hot
Warm bowls and mugs keep soup hotter longer. Heat serving dishes in the oven on a low setting or microwave them briefly with a little water inside, then dry before filling. Large holiday mugs and colorful bowls add a festive touch and make the meal feel special.
If you’re serving guests or hosting a party, an electric warming tray or slow cooker set to warm will keep the soup at serving temperature throughout the event.
Stovetop tip: Make this soup in a large Dutch oven over low-medium heat, stirring often. Once the cheese has melted, reduce heat and follow the same timing for cream, meat, and pasta as above.
Leftovers: Store in a large covered container in the refrigerator. Reheat gently on the stovetop over medium heat, or microwave individual portions until warmed through. If the soup has thickened after chilling, add a splash of stock or water when reheating.
Make-Ahead Tips & Tricks
Pro tip: If you prepare the soup in advance, do not add the pasta until about 45 minutes before serving. Pasta absorbs liquid and will make the soup thick and pasta-like if added too early. You can always thin the finished soup with extra chicken stock or water if needed. Also, pasta will become mushy if it cooks for more than an hour in a slow cooker.
Variations
This soup is flexible. Try festive-shaped holiday pasta for a seasonal look, or swap proteins and vegetables to match your family’s tastes.
- Meat options: uncooked chicken breasts, diced cooked chicken, sliced chicken or pork sausages (pan-browned and sliced), crumbled browned sausage, rotisserie chicken, or diced leftover ham.
- Pasta options: spirals, bow ties, cheese tortellini, or gnocchi all work well—adjust cooking time as needed.
- Vegetarian option: omit meat and add diced sweet potatoes, bell peppers, small potatoes, or other favorite vegetables.
More Hearty Soup Ideas
If you enjoy this recipe, try other comforting soups for the season such as classic chicken noodle, creamy chicken gnocchi, rich cheese soup, or a tomato soup with basil dumplings. These are all hearty choices for winter dinners or holiday get-togethers.
Recipe details: Prep time about 10 minutes. Cook time about 2 hours. Makes approximately 12 servings. Calories per serving ~301 kcal (values are estimates).
If you make this Christmas Soup and love it, please leave a rating and comment to let others know how it turned out. Happy cooking and warm holiday wishes!