The Best Substitutes For Cream Of Mushroom Soup

Cream of mushroom soup is a staple in many homes in North America, and it’s rarely served on its own. It’s used as a base for a wide variety of casseroles and slow cooker meals.

It has become such a common item in pantries that it is listed as an ingredient in many recipes, just as you might see plain mushrooms or milk listed.

If you don’t have any cans of soup left in your cupboard, you don’t need to panic. You can still cook all of your favorite recipes by choosing the perfect substitute. 

What is the best substitute for cream of mushroom soup? The best substitute for cream of mushroom soup is cream of chicken, as it produces similar results in taste and texture and is also a gluten-free alternative. Other substitutes include cream of broccoli, celery, or potato, and sour cream or yogurt.

However, our true favorite substitute for canned cream of mushroom soup is homemade cream of mushroom soup, and we’ll provide you with an easy, quick recipe below as a bonus.

Whether you need a mushroom-free solution or a dairy-free option, we’ve listed our favorite cream of mushroom soup substitutes and shared our best advice for how to use each one.

Cream of Mushroom Soup

Cream of mushroom soup is occasionally served on its own, as soup, but it is also a listed ingredient in many different types of recipes.

If you can’t have dairy, don’t like mushrooms, or simply don’t have a can of soup on hand, you need to know what makes cream of mushroom soup so special before you can find an effective substitute for it. 

The most popular type of canned cream of mushroom soup, and what most recipes are referring to when it’s listed, is Campbell’s Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup.

It is a blended soup with mushrooms, cream, and garlic as the stand out flavors. It’s thick and smooth and works really well as a cream sauce in many different recipes. 

However, it does contain monosodium glutamate (MSG), which many people are sensitive to, and a variety of other common allergens, such as milk, soy, and wheat.

As you can imagine, there are many reasons you might be looking for a substitute for this cream of mushroom soup.

Popular Cream of Mushroom Soup Recipes

Some of the most popular recipes that call for cream of mushroom soup include:

• Green bean casserole
• Beef stroganoff
• Swedish meatballs
• Scalloped potatoes
• Chicken and rice casserole
• Tuna noodle casserole
• Broccoli and cheese casserole

These are just a few popular recipes. Campbell’s has a collection of what seems to be hundreds of recipes, and you can still enjoy them all with the right substitute.

Recipe – Homemade Cream of Mushroom Soup

If you don’t want to use canned condensed cream of mushroom soup and you find that the substitutions listed in this guide don’t quite cut it, the best solution is to make your own homemade cream of mushroom soup.

Here’s our favorite cream of mushroom soup recipe:

Prep Time: 10–15 minutes to slice, dice and mince vegetables

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

• 3 tbsp butter
• 8 oz of cremini or shitake mushrooms, sliced
• ½ cup onions, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• 2 cups chicken or vegetable broth
• ¾ cup of heavy cream
• Salt & pepper to taste

Here are the steps to make your own delicious cream of mushroom soup at home:

1. Warm butter in a frying pan and add the sliced mushrooms, diced onions, and minced garlic.
2. Stir consistently until the mushrooms have softened and the onions are translucent, for about 5 minutes.
3. Stir in the flour until the mushrooms are well coated.
4. Add the broth and stir continuously until the liquid starts to boil.
5. Reduce the heat to low and simmer uncovered until the mixture starts to thicken, for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
6. Optional: puree or blend the mixture to get a smooth soup with no chunks of mushrooms.
7. Add the cream, season with salt and pepper, and simmer for an additional 2–3 minutes to heat evenly, stirring constantly.

This recipe cooks up easily and quickly and may just be the real solution to your substitution problem.

If you’d like a more condensed version of this recipe to save or share with the other home cooks you know, we’ve provided a recipe card at the bottom of this page for your convenience.

Substitutions in Homemade Soup

The best part of making your own soup is that you can amend the recipe to suit your needs. Try some of these substitutions:

• Vegan: swap the heavy cream for canned coconut milk, use a vegan butter substitute or coconut oil, and opt for vegetable broth instead of chicken
• Mushrooms: swap the mushrooms for equal measurements of chicken, celery, broccoli or any other vegetable of your choice
• Onions: sensitive to onions? Try leeks instead!

But we understand that sometimes you just don’t have the time or energy to make something like a base from scratch. So below, we’ve provided some great, quick, and easy substitutes for you to check out.

Substitutes for Cream of Mushroom Soup

Deciding the best substitute for cream of mushroom soup depends on what you’re making. Some recipes require a specific denseness to the cream sauce, whereas others depend more heavily on the umami flavor of the mushroom.

Still other recipes simply need a foundation for the signature ingredients, like green beans or tuna and noodles. Sometimes you just need to cater a recipe to a specific restriction, like gluten-free, dairy-free, or vegan diets.

We’ve come up with a list of substitutes for canned cream of mushroom soup and explained why you might want to choose each one for different recipes or circumstances.

1. Cream of Chicken

If you don’t like mushrooms but want almost identical results to your recipe, cream of chicken soup is a perfect substitution.

Cream of chicken soup doesn’t have the umami undertones that you get with mushroom soup, but this gluten-free, organic Cream of Chicken soup from Healthy Valley uses a carefully selected combination of spices to ensure you won’t be disappointed in the flavor. 

The best thing about this particular brand of soup is the texture. It doesn’t have big chunks of chicken or vegetables, so it works amazingly well as a base for recipes like chicken and rice casserole, where there’s already plenty of texture in the food.

However, be aware that some customers have expressed concern over receiving dented cans in the mail. Unfortunately, this is always a risk when it comes to ordering food online, as the company cannot control what happens on its way to you.

This is especially true when it comes to canned goods, as they can suffer damage from changes in altitude and temperature. It may be in your best interest to try and find this brand or a similar one in a grocery store near you.

2. Cream of Broccoli

Cream of broccoli soup is a good substitute for mushroom soup when you’re trying to up your vegetable intake but don’t care for mushrooms.

Cream of broccoli is delicious and nutritious and works well in dishes like scalloped potatoes or tuna noodle casserole that could use a little extra color (a light, pleasant green) and variety.

You can find cream of broccoli soup in powdered form, which can conveniently allow you to choose how much liquid you want to add to your recipe, also ideal for casserole type dishes that are better with a thick sauce full of flavor.

Our favorite is the Cream of Broccoli Soup Mix from Fresh Success.

3. Sour Cream, Yogurt or Crème Fraiche

Sour Cream, yogurt, and crème fraiche are all quick and easy substitutes for cream of mushroom soup in any recipe that will benefit from a bit of tanginess, particularly recipes with a lot of cheese.

Sour cream is essentially just cream that is thickened with some lactic acid, which is also what makes it taste sour. To be an effective substitute, you should choose a full-fat version, as low-fat options aren’t as thick and might make your recipe watery. 

Similarly, if you choose yogurt as a substitute, opt for a full-fat Greek-style yogurt to give you the thick, creaminess needed as a substitute for cream of mushroom soup.

Finally, crème fraiche is an unpasteurized, cultured cream that is thickened with naturally occurring bacteria. 

All three of these options have a similar creamy tanginess. They are not an exact match for the thickness of cream of mushroom soup, but if you’re looking for a light, creamy foundation to your recipe, they’ll work perfectly. 

If you use sour cream, yogurt, or crème fraiche as a substitute for cream of mushroom soup, use 1 cup to substitute for a 10oz can of soup.

4. Cream of Celery

Condensed cream of celery soup, another one Campbell’s does best, substitutes well for condensed cream of mushroom soup in terms of consistency and creaminess. However, the underlying flavor is significantly different. 

Mushrooms provide an earthy, umami flavor and meatiness to the soup, whereas celery is almost herbal in its flavor and freshness.

If you don’t like mushrooms and you do like celery, this substitution is a win, as all other elements will be almost identical. It can be substituted ounce for ounce.

Celery soup works well in recipes that could use some bright flavors and freshening up.

You might think that a cream of broccoli soup would be a good substitute for cream of mushroom in a broccoli and cheese casserole, but cream of celery soup actually works better for this particular recipe.

It lightens the recipe and highlights the flavor of the broccoli without completely washing out the flavors of the cheese, like cream of broccoli might.

5. Cream of Potato

Cream of potato soup often has a bit of bacon or leek in it, adding depth to the flavor.

Because potatoes are very starchy vegetables, this kind of soup is a lot thicker and heavier, so it’s a good substitution when you’re cooking hearty, comfort foods. 

It gives depth to dishes like beef stroganoff or Swedish meatballs without challenging the flavor of the beef. Cream of potato soup can overwhelm a lighter casserole, like tuna noodle, so use it cautiously. 

6. Vegan Cream of Mushroom Soup

If you love mushrooms but choose not to eat dairy products, you can find mushroom soup mixes that are dairy-free, like this gluten and dairy-free Vegan Cream of Mushroom Soup Mix by Vivian’s Live Again.

Instead of adding milk, you can make it with coconut milk, soy milk, rice milk, some kind of nut milk, or water, and you instantly have a creamy mushroom soup, without the actual cream.

However, you may not want to add more soy to this product, as this mix already has powdered soy milk and starches to get the creaminess and thickness of a condensed cream soup without any dairy. 

While this is a good substitute for mushroom soup in any recipe that needs to be vegan or dairy-free, it will take some experimentation to get the liquid balance right, since it’s a dry mix.

This can be a pro or a con, depending on your comfort in the kitchen and your patience for testing liquid ratios.

Related Questions

What Are the Healthiest Substitutes for Cream of Mushroom Soup?

The healthiest substitute for canned cream of mushroom soup would be to make your own soup so that you know and are comfortable with all the ingredients you use.

Alternatively, you can try Campbell’s Condensed Healthy Request Cream of Mushroom Soup which has a lower fat content and fewer calories than their original condensed cream of mushroom soup.

What Can I Substitute for Mushroom Soup in Beef Stroganoff?

Our favorite substitute for cream of mushroom soup in beef stroganoff is cream of potato soup.

It’s hearty and thick, but it doesn’t compete with the flavor of the beef. You could also try mixing cream cheese with milk for a cheesier solution or opt for sour cream for a lighter, fresher version of beef stroganoff. 

What Can I Substitute for Cream of Mushroom Soup in Green Bean Casserole?

We love cream of broccoli soup as a substitute for cream of mushroom soup in a green bean casserole. You get the creaminess you’re looking for, with extra greens.

The tiny pieces of broccoli add interesting texture to the casserole and don’t offset the flavor of the beans. Top this with some sharp cheddar and your recipe is sure to win favor with your family. 

What Can I Substitute for Cream of Mushroom Soup in Tater Tot Casserole?

Tater tot casseroles are all about the texture of the tots, so our best suggestion for substituting cream of mushroom soup here is cream of celery soup or sour cream.

Both options will liven up the casserole, cutting through the heaviness of the potato and cheese and bringing a tangy burst of flavor to the dish.

Is There A Substitute for Condensed Cream in Cream of Mushroom Soup?

If your mushroom soup recipe calls for condensed milk or condensed cream, you can substitute it for heavy cream in most cases.

Condensed milk is simply dairy milk that has had some of the water content evaporated, leaving it with a thicker consistency. 

If you’re trying to avoid dairy altogether, you can substitute condensed cream for full-fat canned coconut milk.

Coconut milk has a naturally sweet flavor which will be similar to the sweetness of condensed milk, though with a hint of coconut, which pairs deliciously with the umami flavor of mushrooms.

What Is the Difference Between Mushroom Soup and Cream of Mushroom Soup?

Cream of mushroom soup uses a roux as its base, which is thinned with milk or cream and flavored with sautéed mushrooms. The result is thick, creamy mushroom soup. 

Mushroom soup can also be made without cream or a roux, but rather with a broth base with sautéed mushrooms added. This soup is much lighter and often flavored with fresh herbs or sherry.

What Herbs Go Well With Mushroom Soup?

Some of the most popular herbs to flavor mushroom soup include freshly chopped parsley, thyme, rosemary, oregano, or tarragon. You can also cook a bay leaf with your soup, just be sure to remove it before serving. 

Try some of these combinations:

• Five-spice powder will add an Asian flair to your soup
• Coriander, cumin, turmeric, and black pepper will bring a Middle-Eastern warmth to the soup
• Oregano, thyme, and basil will create an Italian sensation

Mushrooms work well with almost any herb or spice combination, so if you’re a fan of mushroom soup, you can vary the presentation by changing the herbs you use.

Up Next: Recipe – Mushroom Sauce Without Cream