We had so much fun at our Soup Cook-Off this year! After the success of last year’s epic Chili Cook-Off, I knew we had to do something just as fun, so we decided to spice things up with a soup-themed competition. And let me tell you, it did not disappoint! The soups were delicious and the competition was fierce. Everyone brought their best, and the night was filled with great food, lots of laughs, and more soup than we could possibly eat!
If you’ve ever thought about hosting a cook-off but aren’t sure where to start, a Soup Cook-Off is the perfect way to dive in! It’s super easy to pull together—just ask your friends to bring their favorite soup, and maybe a side or dessert to share. It’s all about the fun, not about being a professional chef. Trust me, it’s an event your friends will remember and look forward to year after year!
Some highlights from our Soup Cook Off Party…
Soup Cook Off Instructions
The instructions were simple: bring your BEST soup, a ladle (and definitely bring your gold ladle if you were last year’s winner to proudly flaunt that victory!), $20 to buy into the competition (winner takes all), and either an appetizer or dessert to balance out all that soup. Oh, and don’t forget to bring your toppings—because what’s a soup without the perfect finishing touches?
For drinks, we served beer on tap, wine, and a signature cocktail that was a huge hit — Winter White Cosmos!
Soup Cook Off Set-Up
I asked everyone ahead of time to let me know what type of soup they were bringing to avoid duplicates (and so I could make a tag for it!). We ended up with 7 crockpots of soup, and let me tell you, every single one had its own unique twist, making the competition that much more fun. From spicy to creamy, vegetarian to meaty, everyone brought their best with creative and delicious soups. The variety made for an epic showdown, and everyone was eager to dig in and cast their votes for the best of the best!
For our setup, we used the same layout from last year since it worked so well. Two folding tables draped in tablecloths, two power strips hooked up for all the crockpots, and small plates to serve as spoon rests. To add a little extra fun, I made mini cornbread muffins using a cute autumn-themed muffin tin, which paired perfectly with the soups.
As guests arrived, they set their soup next to their place card, added any serving notes (like “serve with cheddar cheese and green onion”), and plugged in their crockpot. It was the perfect way to get everything organized and ready for the competition to begin!
Tasting & Scoring
For the taste test, I made a scorecard ballot in Canva for guests to rank each chili and then select a winner, and provided lots of tasting cups and disposable spoons. After the tasting was finished, I set out full size bowls for everyone to enjoy their favorite chili!
The entries were anonymous, but we all had a pretty good idea of who made which soup (hello, gold ladles!). That didn’t stop anyone from being completely honest, though. People shared their favorites, and let’s just say, no one held back when it came to expressing which ones weren’t their top picks. The debates and laughs kept rolling all night!
This year, we decided to score the soups a little differently with two winners—one based on a popular vote and the other through an electoral vote. I wouldn’t exactly recommend the electoral vote method though, as it turned out to be a bit tricky to calculate after, ahem… too many Winter White Cosmos! Let’s just say the numbers got a little fuzzy, but it definitely added to the fun of the night!
The Soup Line-Up
Here were the soups that were entered into the contest…
- Zuppa Toscana Soup
- Corn & Crab Bisque
- Sausage & Cheese Tortellini Soup (the soup I made for the contest!)
- Chicken Tortilla Soup
- Lasagna Soup
- French Onion Soup
- Good Soup
Soup Cook Off Winning Recipes
Courtney and Matt took 1st place with their Zuppa Toscana Soup though honestly, they usually win everything we host—ping pong tournaments, chili cook-offs, soup cook-offs—you name it! Last year, they took 2nd place with their chili, so it wasn’t much of a surprise they came out on top this year with their delicious soup!
However, the winners were separated by only ONE vote, so it was close!
McKinsey and Bobby snagged 2nd place with their Corn & Crab Bisque! After taking 3rd place last year with their chili, they moved up a spot this year in the contest. However, everyone agreed they deserved to win “most expensive soup” since it cost around $75 to make with all the crab they used (McKinsey tripled the crab!). If only she had added just a teeny bit more salt…they would have taken the top spot! (Told ya, we were honest).
The Soup Cook-Off was an unforgettable night and definitely one for the books! Between the delicious soups, the laughs, and the fierce competition, it was such a fun way to kick off soup season with our neighbors. Everyone brought their best, and I couldn’t have asked for a better group of people to share it with. And we’ve already agreed on what next year’s theme will be — and it’s HILARIOUS.
If you’re ever thinking about hosting your own cook-off, I highly recommend it—it’s an easy way to gather people, enjoy great food, and make some hilarious memories along the way. I’ve got lots of hosting tips in last years Chili Cook Off Party post!
