9 Best Cream Of Mushroom Soup Substitutes

I bet you are a huge fan of mushrooms, just like me! They are such a versatile ingredient that enhances any recipe. Now, if you like mushrooms, I am sure you must like cream of mushroom soup. It makes a great base for various recipes!

However, have you ever found yourself in a situation where you don’t have any cans left? Instead of running to the supermarket to get some, how about using a substitute? This article will help you with the best cream of mushroom soup substitutes. 

What are good substitutes for the cream of mushroom soup? The best cream of mushroom soup substitutes are cream of chicken soup, cream of celery soup, sour cream, heavy cream, cream cheese, and white sauce. 

Although, before I start discussing the substitutes, let me familiarize you with canned cream of mushroom soup. This will help you understand which substitute would work best for your recipe. 

Quick Peek: Cream Of Mushroom Soup

This section will help you with every detail about the cream of mushroom soup. You will get to know what it is, its flavor and texture, uses, and nutritional information. Read on to know all about it!

What Is Cream Of Mushroom Soup?

Cream of mushroom soup is nothing but a thick soup made by thinning out roux with milk or cream. It has added mushroom pieces or mushroom broth and has a strong garlic flavor. When referring to the same, most recipes call for the canned version.

In North America, Campbell’s canned cream of mushroom soup is most popularly used. It has a standout flavor of mushrooms, cream, and garlic. It does, however, contains Monosodium Glutamate, commonly known as MSG. 

Quite a lot of people are extremely sensitive to MSG and should consider it before using the soup. It also has other common allergens like milk, wheat, and soy. 

Describing Cream Of Mushroom Soup: Flavor And Texture

Canned cream of mushroom soup has a very thick consistency. This is because it is concentrated and does not have water. The soup’s flavor is also salty and extremely spicy because of the concentration of the soup. 

When the canned soup is thinned down with water, the consistency becomes thinner, and flavors disperse well. The standout flavors of cream of mushroom soup are mushrooms, cream, and garlic. 

Uses Of Cream Of Mushroom Soup

Cream of mushroom soup is an extremely versatile ingredient. It is, of course, mainly used by thinning it down with water and eaten as a soup. However, there are various other uses of cream of mushroom soup. 

It is used as a base for various recipes that need a thick sauce as a base. Instead of the conventional white sauce, it can be used as a base for various pasta recipes. Moreover, it adds various recipes like stroganoffs, meatballs, and casseroles. 

Cream Of Mushroom Soup On The Health Radar | Looking Through The Wellness Telescope

Cream of mushroom soup is definitely high in calories, considering the amount of heavy cream it contains. A can of the same, which is around 630 grams in weight, contains 410 calories. Out of this, the calories from fat are 203. 

It contains a small amount of proteins, dietary fibers, and carbohydrates. It also has certain vital nutrients like vitamin A and C and minerals like calcium, iron, potassium, and sodium. However, the sodium content is extremely high. 

Cream of mushroom soup also contains some amount of cholesterol and saturated fats. It might not be the best option for people with cardiovascular issues and hence must be eaten in moderation. 

I think I have rambled enough about the information on the cream of mushroom soup. Now, let us quickly explore its substitutes!

Other Food Substitutes You Can Try

9 Best Cream Of Mushroom Soup Substitutes

This section will help you with the best substitutes for the cream of mushroom soup. This section has canned substitutes and also has a recipe for homemade cream of mushroom soup.

So before we get to the canned substitutes, let me first discuss the homemade cream of mushroom soup. 

1. Homemade Cream Of Mushroom Soup

If you do have the time and don’t want to use any canned substitute, this recipe for homemade cream of mushroom soup will work out really well for you. All you need is 15 minutes of preparation time and 20 minutes to cook the soup. 

The ingredients for homemade cream of mushroom soup are as given below. 

• 2 tablespoons or 30 grams of Butter
• 6 oz or 170 grams of Button Mushrooms
• ⅓ cup of Diced Onion
• 1 clove of garlic, minced
• ⅛ cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup vegetable broth
• ½ cup heavy cream
• Pepper and salt to taste

  The method of making homemade cream of mushroom soup is as follows:

1. Add butter to a saucepan. Once it melts, add the onion, mushrooms, and garlic.
2. Let the mushrooms and onion cook for about 5 minutes, until the mushrooms are soft and onions are translucent.
3. Once they are cooked, add the flour and mix well until the mushrooms are coated completely.
4. Add the broth while stirring continuously. Let the mixture simmer for 10-15 minutes, uncovered. Stir continuously while simmering. 
5. Let the mixture cool once cooked. Puree the mixture once it has cooled down completely.
6. Reheat the soup and add the cream, along with salt and pepper. Simmer at low heat for 2-3 minutes. Voila! Your soup is ready!

This is a great substitute for anyone that has the time to make the soup. However, if you are running low on time and want to stick to canned substitutes, there are various options given below for you to choose from!

2. Cream Of Chicken Soup

Cream of chicken soup does not have the umami flavor that mushrooms do. However, it still does have a very similar taste profile. Hence, it makes a great substitute for cream of mushroom soup.

Cream of chicken soup, as the name suggests, is made with chicken chunks and chicken broth. It has a similar savory flavor and creamy texture to the cream of mushroom soup. 

It works very well as a base for various recipes, in place of cream of mushroom soup. The chicken chunks in canned soup are very small and will hardly come in the way.

So, if you are okay with a non-vegetarian alternative, cream of chicken soup would work well. 

3. Cream Of Celery Soup

Cream of celery soup has a thick consistency and creamy flavor. It can work well as a substitute for cream of mushroom soup in various recipes. 

One downside of using the cream of celery soup is that the flavor of celery is quite different from that of mushrooms. Mushrooms have an umami flavor, whereas celery has a more herby flavor. 

However, the creaminess and consistency of the two is very similar. Cream of celery soup might not make the best substitute when you want to serve it on its own. However, it makes a great base for various types of casseroles. 

4. Cream Of Potato Soup

Certain recipes call for cream of mushroom soup to bind or thicken the recipe’s base and add depth to it. For such recipes, cream of potato soup works as a great substitute. 

The cream flavor of potato soup is extremely mild. It works really well in recipes where you want other ingredients to shine. The soup is extremely thick, so you might want to use it according to your recipe’s amount of thickness. 

Cream of potato soup works extremely well in recipes like stroganoff. However, if you want some mushroom flavor in your recipe, you can always add some extra sliced or diced mushrooms. Here is how you can make a 4-ingredient potato soup.

5. Cream Of Broccoli Soup

Cream of broccoli soup is made with sugar, onions, mustard, and broccoli, resulting in a thick, creamy soup. Due to its thickness and creaminess, it makes a good substitute for cream of mushroom soup. 

Broccoli works well with most vegetables and meats. It also really works well with different types of cheese. Hence, it can easily be used as a base for various casseroles. 

Moreover, if you want to increase your vegetable intake and don’t care too much about mushrooms, cream of broccoli soup is a great option for you. You can use a standard 1:1 ratio while using it as a substitute. Here’s the recipe for Gordon Ramsay’s broccoli soup for you.

6. Heavy Cream

Heavy cream has an extremely thick consistency. If you want the flavors of your main ingredients to stay intact, heavy cream makes a great substitute for cream of mushroom soup. 

While using heavy cream, you will have to use your judgment a little bit. Whether you actually want the taste of mushrooms in your dish or you want the flavors of your main ingredients to shine. 

If you want your main ingredients to stand out, you can easily use heavy cream as a substitute in a 1:1 ratio. However, if you want some flavor of mushrooms, you can sauté some mushrooms, add them to the dish directly, and use heavy cream. Here’s how you can make whipped peanut butter at home.

7. Sour Cream

Sour cream has a tangy taste, creamy, and thick consistency. Hence, it can be used as a substitute for cream of mushroom soup. 

Sour cream will add a great tangy taste to food. You can use it in various recipes where mushrooms can easily be substituted. Moreover, it is important to remember to use full-fat sour cream instead of low-fat sour cream. 

This is because full-fat sour cream is much thicker in consistency, whereas low-fat sour cream is thinner. Sour cream is thicker than cream of mushroom soup too. Hence, while using it as a substitute, try using half the quantity. Here is how you can make tuna casserole using sour cream.

8. Cream Cheese

Cream cheese has a soft texture and creamy flavor. When thinned down with milk, it makes a great substitute for cream of mushroom soup.

You can easily make the cream cheese and milk mixture taste like cream of mushroom soup. Combine the cream cheese and milk with some butter, diced or pureed mushrooms, and garlic. 

This combination of flavors will work extremely well, and you will hardly be able to tell the difference. However, if you want the other flavors to stand out, you can avoid adding the mushrooms and the garlic. 

9. White Sauce

White sauce, also called bechamel sauce, is essentially made with butter, flour, and milk. It has a creamy consistency, very similar to that of cream of mushroom soup. This makes it a good substitute for the same. 

Basic white sauce is very easy to make. You just need to whisk equal quantities of butter and flour together and thin it down with ten times the amount of milk. Moreover, white sauce is extremely versatile. 

White sauce can act as a base for various recipes like casseroles and pasta. Moreover, you can add some diced mushrooms to the white sauce to give it a mushroom flavor. 

Short Recap

I am sure that by now, you must have gone through all the substitutes. But are you still confused about which one would work best? Hence, I have broken it down further for you into three categories. Have a look!

Most Suitable: The most suitable substitute for cream of mushroom soup is cream of chicken soup. 

Easily Available: All of the canned soup options given above are very easily available. 

Best Flavor Profile: Homemade cream of mushroom soup will give the best flavor profile to your food. 

How To Use Cream Of Mushroom Substitutes In A Recipe

Cream Of Mushroom Substitutes

If you like mushrooms, I am sure you must like cream of mushroom soup. It makes a great base for various recipes! However, have you ever found yourself in a situation where you don’t have any cans left? Instead of running to the supermarket to get some, use a substitutes for cream of mushroom soup!

• Homemade Cream Of Mushroom Soup
• Cream Of Chicken Soup
• Cream Of Celery Soup
• Cream Of Potato Soup
• Cream Of Broccoli Soup
• Heavy Cream
• Sour Cream
• Cream Cheese
• White Sauce

• Go through the substitutes and see which one seems fit for the recipe.

• Collect your ingredients and use your preferred substitute.

• Use the substitute in the required amount and proceed to make the dish according to the recipe.

Final Word

As we have reached the end, I hope you were able to find the best substitute for cream of mushroom soup. While all the substitutes given are worthy options, homemade cream of mushroom soup will give the best result. 

Homemade cream of mushroom soup can be made exactly according to your taste profile. You can season it with extra flavorings and seasonings, as per what fits your taste palate.

So, if you do have some time handy, definitely do try the recipe for homemade cream of mushroom soup!

Frequently Asked Question ( FAQs)