Kale would be better than spinach for crock pot recipes. Kale should be cooked, anyway. It takes well to a prolonged amount of heat.
– Signed, No Fan of Kale Salads
A family favorite: http://www.skinnytaste.com/2013/01/crock-pot-picante-chicken-and-black.html
I’m probably the one person on the planet who doesn’t love that Olive Garden soup! But I know everyone else does so maybe I’ll consider it. With this crowd anything too healthy would get their noses up in the air…truth! So a little unhealthy is fine. 
I myself cannot eat any Campbell’s chunky soup in any form - can’t get past the dog food look!
Love the suggestions - whether I use them now or later!!!
I don’t love it myself, but my husband does. I do love the zuppa toscana though.
As we’re talking about soup, anyone have a good (and easy) recipe for roasted red pepper bisque? A local cafe used to serve the most amazing one - I loved it. They closed suddenly under some mysterious circumstances and I really miss that soup.
Saute onion (small) and celery (chopped a couple stalks), add 2 potatoes cut into chunks, when the potatoes are soft add a large jar of drained roasted red peppers. Add 3-4 cups of vegetable broth (I like my soups alittle thicker) and simmer until potatoes start falling apart. Cool slightly and put into a blender or food processor with a 8 oz container of sour cream and whirl until smooth. I serve cilantro, sour cream and shredded pepper jack cheese on the side. I love soup - so glad it’s coming into soup season again!
Ooh, thank you. I will definitely give it a go.
I love soup too. Neither of my kids do. Weirdos.
momofthreeboys, that soup sounds delicious. It also sounds like an ideal candidate for use of an immersion blender.
Agree that kale is better than spinach in soup – but chop it pretty fine and give it some time to cook down.
I also agree that kale is best cooked! It is quite rich in fiber and can be pretty rough on the intestines when eaten raw:
http://health.heraldtribune.com/2012/09/25/kale-good-nutrition-for-you-just-dont-overdo/
momof3…(post #6) " …shredded roasted or boiled children,". I can’t stop laughing.
soupe au pistou? (vegetable soup with pesto) http://www.food.com/recipe/soupe-au-pistou-crock-pot-484231
I like the idea of the Thai butternut squash soup, here’s a curried soup that’s a bit tamer: http://aggieskitchen.com/2014/12/08/slow-cooker-curried-butternut-squash-soup/ You’ll need an immersion blender to puree it.
I’ve always loved Mollie Katzen’s Gypsy Soup from The Moosewood Cookbook. Here’s a crockpot variation: http://www.indiadivine.org/content/topic/1984939-recipe-gypsy-soup-~-crockpot-and-vegan/ (I know non-adventurous eaters at church suppers in NH love this one!)
You could make this ahead and tote it in and just let it heat in the crockpot. It’s really good. Serve w/ tortilla chips.
WW Taco Soup
SERVINGS 10 UNITS US
1 lb ground turkey breast
1 large onion (chopped)
1 (1 1/4 ounce) package hidden valley ranch dressing mix
1 (1 1/4 ounce) package taco seasoning mix
1 (15 ounce) can pinto beans
1 (15 ounce) can hot chili beans
1 (15 ounce) can whole kernel corn
1 (15 ounce) can stewed tomatoes (Mexican flavor)
1 (15 ounce) can stewed tomatoes (any flavor)
DIRECTIONS
Brown the meat and onions and drain.
Mix ranch dressing mix and taco seasoning mix into the meat.
Without draining, add all other ingredients.
Simmer 1 hour.
OH! i have a good one. it’s not really “soup” but you could add some broth and make it more “soupy”
calico beans!
its a mixture of big and small beans (chili beans, large lima beans, pork and beans, black beans) in a savory tomato-based sweet bbq sauce; with bacon, browned hamburger and onions. definitely can make it “liquidier”
this is a huge favorite around here; the exact recipe can be googled.
" As we’re talking about soup, anyone have a good (and easy) recipe for roasted red pepper bisque? A local cafe used to serve the most amazing one - I loved it. They closed suddenly under some mysterious circumstances and I really miss that soup. "
Here is one I like. I roasted my own peppers because I happened to have some I needed to use up and I didn’t have a jar of them .
http://www.girlgonegourmet.com/2015/01/roasted-red-pepper-tomato-bisque.html
These slow cooker soup recipes looking interesting.
http://www.msn.com/en-us/foodanddrink/recipes/16-satisfying-soup-recipes-anyone-can-make/ss-AAeKi4q
Thank you @lje62 . That looks amazing - and home made croutons 
. I’m going to have to try both these roasted red pepper recipes.
My favorite soup in the crock pot is goulash soup. I use this recipe from Epicurious, but modify the recipe per the reviews with broth made from half beef stock, half beer. The broth is the best part! I also add caraway to the recipe. http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/hearty-goulash-soup-110211021
Oh no - the goulash soup sounds lovely but the recipe seems to be no longer there. 
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rachael-ray/stuffed-cabbage-stoup-recipe.html
abasket: this one sounds yummy! It may be too many ingredients for this event, but looks good enough to try some time! I think I will too…