Making Spirits and Budgets Bright with Feasts: Soup and Chili

By More Food

Cooler temperatures bring us inside and look for warm, cozy meals. Soups and chilis offer one-pot meals that can save you time on prep and clean up. Following our series theme of feasts on a budget, all of these dishes are made with ingredients that can be found at Walmart and are SNAP eligible.

Note for readers: The cost-per-dish is based on shopping for the entire recipe. Before going to the store always check your pantry for items on hand to avoid overspending. Many of these ingredients can also be used in multiple recipes so think about what ingredients have versatility (spices, produce, canned goods, etc.) and if needed, swap with what you have on hand. The soups mentioned in this series use broth or stock which freeze well. If you are cooking for a smaller household, or just yourself, consider freezing any of these dishes to have a meal ready to go for later.

Shopping list prices were obtained from the Walmart website. Prices and availability are subject to change depending on location.

Walmart Corporation. Walmart – Official Website. Accessed November 19, 2025. https://www.walmart.com/.

White Bean and Pasta Soup

This white bean soup is hearty and comes together in less than 30 minutes. White beans are a good source of protein and are versatile so if you don’t have cannellini beans, swap them out with navy or great northern beans.

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 ½ cups frozen mirepoix (diced onion, celery and carrot)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
  • 1 28-ounce can no-salt-added diced tomatoes
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 1 15-ounce can cannellini beans, rinsed
  • 8 ounces small pasta, such as elbows
  • 1 ½ cups frozen cut-leaf spinach
  • 4 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

  1. Put a large saucepan of water on to boil.
  2. Heat one tablespoon of oil in a large pot over medium-high heat.
  3. Add 1 ½ cups frozen mirepoix and cook, stirring, until softened, about 3 minutes.
  4. Add two cloves minced garlic, one teaspoon Italian seasoning, one teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper and ¼ teaspoon ground pepper and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about one minute.
  5. Add one can of tomatoes and their juices, two cups of broth and one can of beans and bring to a boil.
  6. Reduce heat to maintain a lively simmer. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes begin to break down, about ten minutes.
  7. Meanwhile, cook eight ounces of pasta in the boiling water for one minute less than the package directions. Drain.
  8. Stir 1 ½ cups spinach into the soup. Stir in the pasta just before serving. Serve topped with four tablespoons of Parmesan.

 

Nutrition

Servings: 6

1 ⅓  cup: 277 calories, 5g fat (1g saturated fat), 3mg cholesterol, 576mg sodium, 49g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 9g fiber), 12g protein.

O’Brien, Devon. “White Bean Soup with Pasta.” EatingWell. Last updated January 17, 2025. Accessed November 19th 2025 https://www.eatingwell.com/recipe/7923697/white-bean-soup-with-pasta/.

Shopping List

  • Great Value Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 17 fl oz: $6.12
  • Great Value Diced Mirepoix Mix, 10 oz Bag (Frozen): $1.46
  • Great Value Minced Garlic in Water, 8 Ounce Jar: $2.16
  • Great Value Italian Seasoning, 0.95 oz: $1.00
  • Great Value Crushed Red Pepper, 1.75 oz: $1.44
  • Great Value Black Pepper & Iodized Salt, 5.25 oz: $1.94
  • Great Value Diced Tomatoes in Tomato Juice, 28 oz: $1.48
  • Great Value Reduced Sodium Chicken Broth, 32 oz Carton, Shelf-Stable/Ambient, Gluten-Free: $1.50
  • Great Value Cannellini Beans, 15.5 oz: $0.86
  • Great Value Elbows, 16 oz: $0.98
  • Great Value Chopped Spinach, 12 oz (Frozen): $1.26
  • Great Value Grated Parmesan Cheese, 8 oz Shaker: $2.98

Pre-tax: $23.18 (if you are receiving SNAP this is what you would pay when using your EBT card!)

Post-tax: $24.86

Cost per serving: $3.86

Split Pea Soup 

Split pea soup is a little sweet, salty and smokey in flavor and comes together for less than $20. The shopping list for this recipe calls for purchasing ham but this soup works great for any leftover ham you have from other gatherings.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 ribs celery, diced
  • ½ onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, sliced
  • 1 pound dried split peas, rinsed
  • 1 pound cooked ham, diced
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 quart chicken stock
  • 2 ½ cups water
  • salt and ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Gather all ingredients.
  2. Melt butter in a large soup pot over medium-low heat.
  3. Stir in celery, onion, and sliced garlic; cook and stir until onions are translucent but not brown, five to eight minutes.
  4. Stir in split peas, ham and bay leaf.
  5. Pour in chicken stock and water; stir to combine and simmer until peas are tender and soup has thickened, about one hour and 15 minutes. Stir occasionally.
  6. Season with salt and black pepper to serve.

Nutrition

Servings: 8

Calories 347 Total Fat 14g  Saturated Fat 6g  Cholesterol 40mg  Sodium 1187mg  Total Carbohydrate 37g  Dietary Fiber 15g  Total Sugars 6g  Protein 25g  Vitamin C 23mg  Calcium 54mg  Iron 3mg  Potassium 805mg

Mitzewich, John. “Ham and Split Pea Soup Recipe — A Great Soup.” Allrecipes. Last updated December 5, 2024. Accessed November 25th 2025 https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/219170/ham-and-split-pea-soup-recipe-a-great-soup/.

Shopping List

  • Great Value Sweet Cream Unsalted Butter, 16 oz Box, 4 Sticks: $3.67
  • Fresh Celery Stalk Bunch: $0.97
  • Fresh Whole Yellow Onion, 1: $0.60
  • Garlic Bulb, Fresh Whole, 1: $0.72
  • Great Value Green Split Peas, 1lb: $1.42
  • Smithfield, Boneless Cooked Hickory Smoked Ham Steak, 1lb: $4.37
  • Great Value Bay Leaves, 0.12 oz: $2.98
  • College Inn Chicken Stock, 32 oz Carton: $1.96
  • Great Value Black Pepper and Iodized Salt pack, 5.25 oz: $1.94

Pre-tax: $18.63 (if you are receiving SNAP this is what you would pay when using your EBT card!)

Post-tax: $19.89

Cost per serving: $1.12

Homemade Chili

A simple chili is perfect for office potlucks, game days and just getting together with friends for a warm lunch. This chili comes together quickly and easy to add more vegetables if you wish. If you want to add a little kick add some extra spices to the chili seasoning packed so the heat builds over time.

Ingredients

  • 2 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 yellow onion
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1 lb. ground beef
  • 1 15oz. can kidney beans
  • 1 15oz. can black beans
  • 1 15oz. can diced tomatoes
  • 1 6oz. can tomato paste
  • 1 cup water
  • Chili Seasoning

Instructions

  1. Dice the onion and mince the garlic.
  2. Add both to a large pot with the olive oil and cook over medium heat until they are soft and translucent.
  3. Add the ground beef to the pot and continue to sauté until the beef is fully browned. Drain fat if needed.
  4. Drain the beans and add them to the pot along with the diced tomatoes, tomato paste, one cup water and the chili seasoning.
  5. Stir until well combined.
  6. Place a lid on the pot and allow it to simmer over a low flame for at least 30 minutes, stirring occasionally (the flavor gets better the longer it simmers).
  7. Give the chili one final taste, adjust the salt or seasonings if needed, then serve hot with your favorite toppings.

Nutrition

Servings made: 6

Calories: 398kcal Carbohydrates: 30g Protein: 23g Fat: 21g Sodium: 468mg Fiber: 10g

Adapted from Moncel, Beth. “Classic Homemade Chili.” Budget Bytes. Published March 23, 2025. Accessed November 25th 2025 https://www.budgetbytes.com/basic-chili/.

Shopping List

  • Fresh Whole Yellow Onion, 1: $0.60
  • Garlic Bulb, Fresh Whole, 1: $0.72
  • 73% Lean/ 27% Ground Beef Roll, Frozen: $5.44
  • Great Value Tomato Paste, 6oz: $0.86
  • Great Value Diced Tomatoes of Tomato Juice, 14.5 oz: $0.96
  • Great Value, No Salt Added, Canned Black Beans ,15oz: $0.86
  • Great Value Classic Olive Oil, 17 fl oz: $5.94
  • Great Value Mild Chili Seasoning Mix, 1oz: $0.74

Subtotal: $18.06 (if you are receiving SNAP this is what you would pay when using your EBT card!)

Post Tax: $18.42

Cost per serving: $3.01

Keep an eye out for more recipes in this series as we explore breakfast dishes to feed the whole family while on a budget!

Photo by Ala on Unsplash

Photo by Peppe Occhipinti on Unsplash

Photo by Jesson Mata on Unsplash

Photo by micheile henderson on Unsplash