When the weather turns rainy and you just want to burrow into the couch, coming up with a dinner plan can be the last thing you want to do. If your food supplies are running low, it can be even more of a challenge. It’s tempting to just order food, but why not be both healthier and thriftier and make use of a staple sure to be in your pantry: chicken broth! The following 6 ideas from the kitchn are sure to inspire you and make use of the leftover ingredients hanging around your kitchen.

1. Bean and Sausage Soup
   
   the kitchn
   
   Start with this easy, extra-filling variation! Warm up some sausage in a saucepan, then add your chicken broth and bring to a simmer. Once simmering, stir in the beans and some greens and voila! Soup!
2. Egg Drop Soup
   
   the kitchn
   
   In addition to your chicken broth, grab:
   – 1 large egg
   – 2 teaspoons cornstarch
   – Sliced scallions
   – Soy Sauce
   Then just:
   1. Bring the chicken broth to a simmer.
   2. Remove 1/4 cup of the broth and whisk it together with 1 teaspoon of the cornstarch in a small bowl.
   3. Whisk the cornstarch-stock mix back into the rest of the chicken stock and simmer for 1 minute.
   4. Whisk together the other 1 teaspoon of cornstarch with the egg.
   5. With the stock at a bare simmer, whisk in the egg-cornstarch mix slowly.
   6. Let stand for 1 minute. Serve with scallions and soy sauce!
3. Miso Soup
   
   the kitchn
   
   All you need for this one is 1 tablespoon of miso paste, some tofu and scallions. Like with the last two, start by simmering your broth. Whisk a 1/4 cup of it with the miso paste until smooth, then add it back into the rest of the stock and warm without boiling. Add the tofu and scallions, heat until just warm, and serve!
4. Noodle Soup
   
   the kitchn
   
   This variation is a great way to incorporate any leftover veggies and greens you have hanging around your kitchen. Stir some egg noodles – udon and soba also work well! – into your simmering stock and cook until warm. Add the veggies or greens and cook until they wilt. For an extra bit of flavor, top with some Parmesan before eating!
5. Rice and Lemon Soup
   
   the kitchn
   
   This 5-ingredient soup probably surprised me the most; I’ve never heard of lemon soup before! Add 3 tablespoons of white rice to 2 cups of simmering chicken broth and cook for 10 minutes, until al dente. Whisk together an egg and the juice of 1 lemon (about 3 tablespoons) in a separate bowl. Add a cup of the cooked rice to the egg mixture and whisk, then stir it all back into the broth.
6. Tortilla Soup
   
   the kitchn
   
   Amazingly, this soup is the only one on the list to incorporate chicken beyond the broth! Add some chopped, cooked poultry to simmering broth and warm, then follow with the juice of 1 lime (about 2 tablespoons). Top with tortilla chips, cheese and cilantro to complete this southwestern comfort food.

Yum! Which soup do you think you’ll try first? Do you think any of these soups would work with vegetable stock to make them totally vegetarian?