You need to know some excellent cream of mushroom soup substitutes in case you run out of cream of mushroom soup right in the middle of cooking casseroles or other dishes. They will be a lifesaver for your whole dinner.
In other cases, if you are allergic to dairy or simply do not like mushrooms, you can absolutely consider a suitable substitute in the list that I will bring to you below. I also suggest the conversion ratio as well as the recipes that go well with each substitution.
What Is Cream Of Mushroom Soup?
If anyone likes to eat North American food, it is impossible not to love the cream of mushroom soup, a light appetizer but also great for a hearty meal. This is a simple but delicious creamy soup.
Simply put, cream of mushroom soup is a blended soup with mushrooms, cream, and some highlighted garlic flavor. Mushroom cream soup has a moderate flavor, fragrant with mushrooms, and has a soft creamy taste.
The texture of mushroom soup cream is thick and smooth, so it is usually used as a cream base or sauce in several main recipes. And an excellent substitute for mushroom soup cream must meet these requirements.
12 Excellent Substitutes For Cream Of Mushroom Soup
To find out the best alternative to imitate the flavor and texture of mushroom soup cream, you just need to look at the recommendations I give you below!
Cream of Celery Soup
If you love the common soup flavor of mushroom cream, celery soup cream may be a good alternative. This type of soup cream is often made with celery, cream, onion powder, thickeners, and maybe other seasonings.
This is an excellent stand-in to lighten the dishes with heavier ingredients. You can pair it well with several particular creamy, savory recipes containing chicken, tuna, rice and barley. It will also enhance the taste of tater tot casseroles and pasta.
As mushroom soup cream, celery soup cream can contribute the same creamy texture with a herbaceous, slightly peppery, bright, and vegetal taste. However, you should note that this substitute will not bring you any umami and mushroom flavor.
You can ensure that nothing will overwhelm your other ingredients with this alternative. As such, it does a great job of smoothing out the overpowering flavors you don’t want. Start with an equal amount of cream of celery soup to mushroom soup cream and adjust after tasting.
A homemade version of cream of celery soup is something you must try!
Crème Fraîche
You can use creme fraiche instead of cream of mushroom soup in case you want a lighter base for your dish. As you know, creme fraiche is a cream thickened by natural bacteria. It has a tangy flavor and a relatively creamy texture.
With creme fraiche, you can add flavor and texture to all sweet and savory dishes such as stews, pasta, or dollop. Its great flavor will contribute well to the overall taste of recipes.
Although it is impossible to create a completely similar texture to the cream of mushroom soup, 1 cup of creme fraiche can substitute for a 10oz can of mushroom soupcream and create a flavor that will never let you down.
Cream of Potato Soup
Instead of cream of mushroom soup, cream of potato soup is a good way to thicken or bind ingredients together. This ingredient can add a creamy texture like condensed cream, including potatoes and thickeners.
This is an absolute stand-in for the cream of mushroom soup, especially in meat recipes such as beef stroganoff. Cream of potato soup can make a rich and creamy sauce that fully complements the meat to create the best taste.
Potato soup also goes well with beef sandwiches, garlic bread, dinner rolls, and spinach salad with hot bacon dressing. Cream of potato soup may have a fairly mild overall potato flavor since it is seasoned with many ingredients like butter, celery extract, and dried onions.
It would be good to use the same amount of potato soup cream to substitute for your mushroom soup cream. You just need to pay attention while using this alternative in lighter dishes, such as tuna noodles, since a little less will balance out your flavor.
This is a creamy, heavy soup made using only potatoes!
Sour Cream
Sour cream is a great substitute to replicate mushroom soup cream’s creaminess and thick texture. The flavor will be a bit tangy but can pair well as a base for other flavors.
Since sour cream does not have the same flavor as cream of mushroom soup, you can use chicken broth and, of course, some mushrooms to best mimic the taste. A bit of spices like pepper, garlic, and salt can also improve the overall taste.
One thing to pay attention to is choosing the full-fat sour cream to avoid the watery fat-free versions. Sour cream is a bit thicker in consistency than cream of mushroom, but the ratio of 1:1 will still work well. You can add more if needed.
You should notice that this alternative may not have the flavor of cream of mushroom soup. It also contains much more sodium than the mushroom soup cream.
Cream of Broccoli Soup
Cream of broccoli soup is a perfect substitution for the cream of mushroom soup with a similar savory and creamy base. This cream is usually made with sugar, mustard flour, and dried onions. You may find flecks of broccoli pieces among the texture.
This substitute is also available in powder form, which allows you to easily adjust the consistency of your soup. This cream of broccoli soup goes so well with different kinds of casserole recipes.
This alternative also pairs well with stews, pasta, or egg dishes containing other veggies like potatoes, bell peppers, onions, and spinach. And the cream of broccoli can be so much better with some cheddar and parmesan cheeses.
Moreover, cream of broccoli soup will add some pinches of green to all your recipes, making them more exciting to eat. You can use an equal amount of broccoli cream instead of your mushroom cream.
Cream of broccoli soup is such a go-to healthy comfort food!
Yogurt
With the light tangy flavor, you can use yogurt to renew your recipes. As you may know, yogurt is thickened with lactic acid, making it taste quite sour.
The perfect substitute for cream of mushroom soup is not the low-fat one since it may become watery in your recipes. Instead, you should choose the full-fat version, such as Greek yogurt, to create a full texture.
Besides, yogurt will work best when added to recipes with a lot of cheese. It can bring the thickness and creaminess you need to your recipes. You can try 1 cup of yogurt to substitute for a 10oz can of mushroom soup cream.
Cream of Chicken Soup
This is a gluten-free substitute for cream of mushroom soup in case this is what you are looking for. Although this alternative will not bring you the umami undertones of mushroom cream, it may satisfy you with the savory taste and creamy texture.
Cream of chicken contains no large lumps, creating the smoothest texture ever. Besides, this cream is made with many interesting spices to bring the best overall taste.
You can pair cream of chicken soupwith thick-texture recipes, such as rice casserole, baked parmesan zucchini rounds, air fryer garlic bread, egg salad sandwich, etc.
The soup has plenty of aromas, the frugal taste of chicken and vegetables, with a little spice to create harmony for the dish’s taste. The only recipe that is not suitable to combine with cream of chicken soup is beef dishes, since the tastes may compete.
If you’ve found the old cream of mushroom soup boring, here’s a different recipe for you to try. For the conversion, you can substitute cream of mushroom with a 1:1 ratio with cream of chicken soup.
This cream of chicken soup is so yummy, and you must try it now!
Vegan Cream of Mushroom Soup
In case you need a dairy-free and gluten-free alternative to the cream of mushroom soup, you can try some vegan cream of mushroom soup. Almond milk is the most popular vegan cream choice you can choose as a good substitute for mushroom soup cream.
This type of mushroom soup cream also has a rich taste with many ingredients and spices. It can add a creamy and silky texture similar to the normal mushroom soup cream.
You can find this substitute so interesting to serve with bacon cheddar biscuits, green salad, garlic bread, and grilled cheese. With this vegan type, adding some coconut milk, rice milk, or nut milk will make up the same texture instead of milk.
This dry mix alternative will also require some experimentation before you can determine the best liquid balance right. You can start with the ratio of 1:1, the same as the amount you would use with mushroom soup cream, then add more if necessary.
Basic White Sauce
Homemade white sauce is a good choice to replace mushroom soup cream since you can vary different versions on your own. The ingredients you need are flour, milk, and butter. The texture may be very thick, and you can adjust it as you wish.
The flavor of white sauce is a bit bland, so you can freely add other spices to enhance the flavor. The other ingredients can be salt, beef bouillon, and pepper. So you can always add mushrooms to imitate the exact taste of the cream of mushrooms.
This sauce recipe works great as a gravy. You can pour this roux on the rice, mashed potatoes, or any recipes related to meat or poultry. The best substitution ratio you can use for this replacement is 1:1.
The basic white sauce is one of the simplest sauces to make!
Heavy Cream
In case your mushroom soup recipe requires a thicker texture and a richer taste, you can actually replace it with some heavy cream in your kitchen cabinet. It creates a creamy texture as a thickener and is also great to make a roux.
Nevertheless, you should expect some shift in flavor while using heavy cream. You may taste the ingredients more clearly when adding heavy cream. It is not a good option to enhance the main mushroom flavor and might need some spices or herbs to compensate.
For the ratio to create the best flavor and texture, you should replace a can of mushroom soup cream with a cup of heavy cream in any recipe.
Golden Mushroom Soup
Believe it or not, the golden mushroom soup will be an excellent substitute in case you need a dairy-free option for mushroom soup cream. These two both contain mushrooms, but they have some differences in texture, appearance, and taste.
Compared to the cream of mushroom soup which is thick and creamy, golden mushroom soup has a thinner consistency. The color of golden mushroom soup is darker since it is made with tomato paste, not cream.
There are a lot of dishes that will go well with golden mushroom soup, such as rustic roasted veggies, garlic parmesan cheese bread, and garlic roasted broccoli.
About flavor, golden mushroom soup may have some beef hints. The conversion ratio for this substitute is 1:1, and you can always add cream as needed. You can use canned golden mushroom soup or make it at home for a healthier version.
Cream Cheese & Milk
Using cream cheese and milk as a substitute for cream of mushroom soup can provide a similar creamy texture and a tangy, fatty taste. This roux creates a good texture that helps the ingredients stick well together.
This combination includes cream cheese, a cup of milk, and some butter. The best way to make this roux taste much like traditional mushroom cream is by adding a cup of sliced mushroom. You can season your favorite spices.
1 can of mushroom soup cream can be replaced with 4 ounces of cream cheese and 1 cup of milk. In pasta and casserole dishes, you may love to spread cream cheese cubes to make up the consistency.
Besides, you can add some pinches of cream cheese into sauce until the creaminess you need is reached. This substitute may lack a mushroom flavor, but you can always add-in, as I said before. Cream cheese and milk go well with meat, poultry, and bread.
Homemade Cream of Mushroom Soup
If you do not love any of these substitutes, homemade cream of mushroom soup will be the best choice! In particular, the ingredients to make this dish are very simple. What are you waiting for? Let’s try to make this creamy mushroom soup with me.
Ingredients
With a few simple ingredients available in your kitchen cabinet, you can make your own healthy cream of mushroom soup at home:
- 2 Tablespoons butter
- Half an onion (or – ¾ cup chopped onion)
- 2 Tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 3 cups of water (about 710 ml) including 1 cup of fresh milk + 2 cups of chicken soup
- 100 grams fresh mushrooms (or 1 cup chopped mushrooms)
- Salt and pepper
Making Process
It’s the right time to make your cream of mushroom soup by following the effortless steps below. You can change the ingredients and the way to make them according to your preferences:
Step 1: Heat Up The Spices
Reduce heat to medium-low, then add some butter. When it begins to melt, add the onion, season with a little salt and pepper, and stir well. Cover the lid and cook until onions are soft and opaque.
Step 2: Add Flour And Milk
Next, add the all-purpose flour and stir for a few minutes until the dough is cooked. Turn off the heat and pour in 1/2 cup of heated fresh milk.
Use a wooden spoon to beat the milk and flour together. When it thickens, continue to add ½ cup of hot fresh milk and stir well. Doing so will make the soup smooth and free from lumps.
Step 3: Add Chicken Broth
Next, turn the heat to high, add 2 cups of chicken broth and continue stirring until it boils. If the soup is smooth, not lumpy, it is successful. Add a little pepper and salt, then cover the pot and cook on low heat for about 7-8 minutes.
Step 4: Add Mushrooms And Finish
Then, you add the mushrooms and simmer for about 7-8 minutes until the mushrooms are soft and the soup thickens. Taste the soup again to taste and if you like the soup with a bit more fat, add about 2 tablespoons of heavy whipping cream.
Useful Tips
The following cooking tips will help you in special cases. Check them out and see if they’re useful!
- You can take advantage of canned mushrooms as an alternative to raw mushroom
- Vegetable broth can be used to replace chicken broth for vegan mushroom soup cream
- Instead of all purpose flour, you can choose a gluten-free mix to make a gluten-free cream of mushroom soup
This delicious homemade cream of mushroom soup is worth trying!
FAQs
There is so much more information you can learn about the alternative of mushroom soup cream. Let’s see what you can find out below:
Do You Find Your Best Cream of Mushroom Substitute?
Among the excellent alternatives for the cream of mushroom soup above, I believe that you have found one most interesting substitute to try. Let’s make your soup right tonight, and let me see your result!
These replacements will blow a new breeze to your whole dishes without the cream of mushroom soup. Do not hesitate to like this post and share with me your experiences by leaving a comment below!
