5 Soups and Stews Any Guy Can Make

Beef stew could easily be considered the manliest of stews. Sure, it can be enjoyed by just about anyone, but it's really little more than a bowl of flavorful meat. There are some vegetables in there, too, but this stew definitely falls into the "man food" category. A good beef stew recipe always contains -- at the very least -- potatoes, tomatoes, onions and maybe garlic. This recipe for The Best Beef Stew has sausage and beef. Best of all, it's cheap and easy to prepare, making it a perfect choice to serve any time you're looking to have a few guys over to watch a game or play some cards.

Everyone knows that ladies dig guys who know their way around a kitchen, so it's not a bad idea to try to impress your date with a delicious home-cooked meal. Fortunately, you don't have to be an expert chef to make great-tasting soup. In fact, this recipe for French Onion Soup, from our always-reliable recipe file of tasty dishes, is full of mouth-watering flavors and is easy to make. Just be sure to have some after-dinner mints handy, as onion breath isn't exactly known for its sex appeal.

Anyone can get the flu, and chicken noodle soup has been the food of choice for the ailing and unwell practically since the Dark Ages. Regardless if you're a bachelor caring for an ill girlfriend or an established family man nursing a house full of feverish kids, you need to know how stir up a batch of this curative cuisine. Canned soups are often made with preservatives, have absurdly high levels of sodium and contain potentially dangerous chemicals, such as BPA (bisphenol-A). Opt for this delicious Chicken and Homemade Noodle Soup recipe whenever anybody's temperature starts to rise.

Let's face it, not everyone can cook. There are plenty of people out there don't know a colander from a coffee maker, so don't beat yourself up if you're not exactly renowned for your culinary skills. However inept you are in the kitchen, once you've settled down and started a family, every once in a while it would be nice to let your wife take a night off and you cook the dinner. This Sweet Potato Stew recipe is easy, nutritious and delicious -- it's a crowd-pleaser that your wife and kids will love.

You like beer. You like cheese. And, if you're reading this article, it's a fair bet to assume that you also like soup. The robust flavor of this Beer and Cheese Soup recipe is sure to please your masculine taste buds. However, it's also great for the whole family because it contains very little alcohol, most, if not all, of which should be burned out during the cooking process. Don't worry if your spouse or children seem leery about this particular taste combo -- once they try it, they'll forget any previous misgivings.

Beer and cheese soup is an extremely versatile dish and can be easily adjusted to suit your tastes. Don't be afraid to add ingredients that complement the flavors of the meal. For example, adding a few carrots, a large diced tomato and a cup of yellow corn to the recipe will really enhance the dish. You can even add a pound of chopped bratwurst or sausage for a meaty kick.