If you make soup, chili or stew in the slow cooker every week, good soup bowls are worth having. The right bowl keeps soup hot, fits a generous serving, and is easy to carry to the couch. Here is how to choose.
The Short Answer
Choose 16 to 24 oz stoneware or porcelain bowls with a thick wall for soups and chili, and wider 30 oz pasta-style bowls for chunky stews. Bowls with lids keep soup hot and are great for leftovers.
Sizes by Dish
| Dish | Bowl size |
|---|---|
| Starter soup | 8 to 12 oz |
| Main-course soup or chili | 16 to 24 oz |
| Chunky stew | 24 to 32 oz wide bowl |
| Noodle soup | 35 oz and up |
Soup Bowls We Love
- Large ceramic pasta and soup bowl: perfect for stew.
- Retro rooster soup bowl with lid: farmhouse charm that keeps soup hot.
- Lemon ceramic soup bowl: a cheerful everyday bowl.
- Hand-painted covered bowl with lid.
Keep Soup Hot Longer
- Warm bowls in a low oven (if oven safe) or with hot water for 1 minute.
- Choose thick stoneware over thin porcelain.
- Use bowls with lids for slow eaters.
- Serve with a wooden ladle straight from the slow cooker set to WARM.
Soups to Fill Them
Try our crockpot potato soup, crockpot chili, beef stew or the full list of crockpot soup recipes.
Equipment I Used
- Large ceramic pasta and soup bowls: deep enough for stews, soups and saucy dinners.
- Teak wood soup ladle: will not scratch the ceramic crock insert.
Planning a busy week? The Slow Cooking for Busy Days guide covers time-saving slow cooker recipes and meal planning.
Soup Bowls FAQ
What size is a soup bowl?
Main-course soup bowls hold about 16 to 24 oz.
What material keeps soup hot the longest?
Thick stoneware and bowls with lids.
Are soup bowls with lids worth it?
Yes, if you like to keep soup hot or store leftovers in the same bowl.
Can I use pasta bowls for soup?
Yes, especially for chunky stews; thin soups cool faster in wide bowls.
