9 Delicious Toppings and Garnishes for Fall Soups

Nothing says fall quite like pumpkin seeds, so why not upgrade your pumpkin (or butternut squash) soup with these tasty little morsels? Toasted pepitas offer a satisfying crunch with every bite, plus they easily take on the flavors of your favorite spices.

Garlic lovers, this one’s for you. Up the incredible taste of garlic in your soup by adding thinly sliced and fried garlic on top. Each piece adds plenty of crunch and the rich, slightly sweet flavor of cooked garlic. What’s not to love?

Balance out a rich soup or chowder with some bright, tangy pickled veggies! Quick-pickled red onions are easy to make and add plenty of flavor and gorgeous color to soups, but you can also experiment with adding all kinds of pickled vegetables, including carrots, radishes, beets, peppers and more!

Add some heat to your favorite soups with a little (or heavy!) drizzle of chili oil on top. From tomato soup and butternut squash soup to broccoli-cheddar soup or minestrone, this topping is a great way to spice up just about any soup you crave.

For extra protein and flavor, top your favorite soup with roasted chickpeas. Chickpeas get nice and crunchy in the oven, so just toss them with oil and your favorite seasoning for a garnish that packs a flavorful and nutritional, punch.

Don’t just save croutons for salads. They’re delicious on soup, too! Store-bought croutons are a quick, easy way to upgrade soup or take a few slices of bread, cube them, add oil, mix with salt and seasonings and toast on the stove or in the oven for homemade croutons.

If you skin potatoes, sweet potatoes or other veggies, save the skins! You can quickly pan-fry them with a little oil and salt for a crispy, savory topping to add to soups.

Save the chicken skin from dinner prep and give it a quick pan-fry until nice and crispy, then add the crispy skins to your soup as a garnish. The result is a topping that’s full of great flavor and offers an extra-crispy crunch.