Cream of mushroom soup is a creamy, rich, and flavorful soup that can be eaten in many different ways. It is a versatile ingredient that can be used to make quick and easy meals, or elevated into more complex dishes. The creamy texture and earthy mushroom flavor pair well with many different foods and preparation methods. Here are some tips on the different ways you can eat this popular canned soup.
As a Sauce
One of the easiest ways to eat cream of mushroom soup is as a sauce or gravy. The thick, creamy consistency makes it perfect for coating and smothering foods. For example:
- Use it as a sauce for chicken, beef, pork chops, meatloaf, etc. Spoon it over the cooked meat for extra moisture and flavor.
- Make a mushroom gravy for mashed potatoes. Whisk together the soup with milk or cream for a rich topping.
- Drizzle it over steamed vegetables like green beans, broccoli, or cauliflower.
- Use it in place of mushroom sauce in recipes like chicken marsala or beef stroganoff.
When using it as a sauce, you can thin it out with milk or cream to reach the desired consistency. Start with just a splash and continue adding more liquid until you reach the right thickness.
In Casserole Dishes
Cream of mushroom soup is a staple ingredient in many classic casserole recipes. The creaminess helps bind together ingredients like meat, vegetables, rice or pasta. Some popular casserole dishes featuring this soup include:
- Green bean casserole – A Thanksgiving favorite with green beans, cream of mushroom soup, fried onions.
- Tuna noodle casserole – Made with egg noodles, tuna, peas, and cream of mushroom soup.
- Chicken and rice casserole – Shredded chicken, rice, mushrooms, onions, carrot and soup makes this comforting bake.
- Beef stroganoff casserole – Ground beef, egg noodles, sour cream and soup creates a hearty meal.
When making casseroles, you can use the soup straight from the can or thin it out slightly with milk. Pour the mixture over the casserole ingredients and bake until heated through and bubbly.
As a Base for Soups & Stews
The rich taste of cream of mushroom soup makes it an ideal base for hearty soups and stews. Try using it in recipes like:
- Creamy mushroom soup – Thin out the condensed soup with milk and chicken broth for an easy homemade soup.
- Beef and barley stew – Browning beef chunks and veggies then simmering in soup makes a comforting meal.
- Cream of vegetable soup – Puree cooked veggies then combine with soup and broth for a creamy blend.
- Chicken and rice soup – Dice chicken breast, cook with rice and veggies in broth and condensed soup.
When making soups and stews, start by cooking your protein and vegetables in broth or oil first to build flavor. Then stir in the cream of mushroom soup and additional broth or milk to reach the desired consistency.
Over Pasta
The rich, velvety texture of cream of mushroom soup makes a perfect pasta sauce. Simply heat up the soup and toss with your favorite pasta shapes like:
- Fettuccine or linguine – The flat, wider shapes hold the creamy sauce nicely.
- Penne or rigatoni – The tubed shapes trap bits of mushroom and sauce in the ridges.
- Farfalle or rotelle – Fun shapes like bowties or wheels pair nicely with the creamy soup.
- Gnocchi – The soft, pillowy dumplings work well with thick, rich sauces.
For a creamier sauce, mix in a splash of milk or half-and-half. You can also sauté mushrooms, onions, garlic in oil first to add flavor before mixing in the soup.
Over Bread
Using cream of mushroom soup as an easy topping for bread is a fast and convenient meal option. Some ways to serve it over bread include:
- Open-faced sandwiches – Toast bread slices, top with soup, meat and veggies for an easy lunch.
- Baked potatoes – Top russet or sweet potatoes with soup, shreds of chicken, bacon, cheese, etc.
- Biscuits – Split and top with the mushroom sauce, similar to chicken and biscuits.
- Stuffing – Toss cubed bread with soup, onions, celery, herbs for a simple side dish.
When serving the soup over bread, you can thin it with a bit of milk or cream to make it more pourable. Letting it sit on the bread allows the bread to soak up the flavorful sauce.
With Vegetables
In addition to green bean casserole, cream of mushroom soup pairs deliciously with many other vegetables. Some tasty veggie pairings include:
- Roasted carrots – Toss carrot chunks in oil, roast, then drizzle with soup for flavor.
- Sauteed zucchini – Cook zucchini slices in olive oil then mix in soup for a yummy side.
- Mashed cauliflower – For lower carb mashed potatoes, blend riced cauliflower with soup.
- Creamed spinach – Wilted spinach becomes extra decadent when blended with cream of mushroom soup.
The earthy, savory flavor of the mushroom soup complements the sweetness of many vegetables. You can use it as a drizzle, sauce or mix-in to add creaminess and flavor.
As a Dip
Thick and creamy condensed cream of mushroom soup makes an excellent base for dips. Simply combine it with different mix-ins like:
- Sour cream – For an easy chip dip, blend together equal parts soup and sour cream.
- Chopped spinach – Sauteed spinach, artichokes and soup makes a dip for crusty bread.
- Caramelized onions – Sweet, softened onions mixed with soup can be served with focaccia wedges.
- Shredded cheese – For a hot broccoli-cheese dip, combine soup, cheese and cooked broccoli.
Adjust the consistency as needed by thinning it out with a bit of milk or fortifying it with more cream cheese or sour cream to reach a smooth, dippable texture.
In Crusts & Fillings
The velvety texture and savory flavor of cream of mushroom soup can be used to add moisture and taste to crunchy crusts and creamy fillings like:
- Quiche – Spread mushroom soup on the crust before adding egg filling for extra flavor.
- Pot pies – Mix soup into fillings like chicken or turkey to enhance taste.
- Crab Rangoon – Use it instead of cream cheese in the creamy crab filling.
- Stuffed mushrooms – Combine it with bread crumbs, onion and herbs as a stuffing.
Take advantage of the creamy properties by using it in place of oils or butter in crusts or pair it with drier ingredients like bread crumbs or crackers to add moisture.
On Pizza
Drizzling cream of mushroom soup over a prepared pizza crust can make an easy, tasty meal. Some pizza topping ideas include:
- Mushroom & onion – Sauteed mushrooms, caramelized onions and soup is delicious.
- Chicken & spinach – Shredded chicken, wilted spinach and creamy soup is great.
- Bacon & Brussels sprouts – Crisp bacon, roasted Brussels sprouts and mushroom sauce.
- Four cheese – Mix soup with shredded mozzarella, cheddar, Parmesan, fontina.
Spread the soup evenly over the crust before adding toppings for the best coverage. Sprinkle with cheeses last or drizzle a bit more on top when pizza is finished baking.
In Eggs & Breakfast
The creamy flavor of mushroom soup can also be incorporated into egg dishes and breakfast foods like:
- Mushroom omelet – Sauteed mushrooms and soup makes a tasty omelet filling.
- Eggs Benedict – Drizzle over eggs and ham on English muffins instead of hollandaise.
- Breakfast casserole – Mix with hash browns, sausage, cheese, eggs for an easy bake.
- Biscuits and gravy – Use instead of traditional sausage gravy over fluffy biscuits.
The velvety texture and savory taste complements fluffy scrambled eggs, omelets and egg bakes. It can also stand in for richer hollandaise or gravy on breakfast foods when you want something quicker.
In Vegan Dishes
Cream of mushroom soup is not strictly vegan since traditional condensed versions contain dairy. However, there are dairy-free, vegan cream of mushroom options that work well in plant-based dishes like:
- Vegan green bean casserole – Use vegan soup for this classic Thanksgiving dish.
- Cauliflower steak – Smother roasted cauliflower steaks in thickened, vegan mushroom sauce.
- Jackfruit pot pie – Fill a vegan pie crust with jackfruit, veggies and creamy soup.
- Stuffed peppers – Mix with rice and veggies for the filling in roasted red peppers.
Look for vegetarian soups made with soy or coconut milk and thicken with arrowroot powder or cornstarch if a thicker consistency is needed. The earthy mushroom flavor pairs nicely with meat substitutes and vegetables.
On Its Own
And of course, one of the simplest ways to enjoy cream of mushroom soup is to eat it on its own. Just heat and serve for an easy meal or snack. You can enjoy it:
- As a simple soup – Heat it up and enjoy a bowl of mushroom soup.
- Over rice – Ladle it over a bowl of hot rice for added substance.
- With bread or crackers – Great with crusty bread for dipping or buttery crackers.
- With a sandwich – Enjoy with a basic sandwich for a comforting lunch.
Doctor up refrigerated single servings or regular cans with additions like croutons, parsley, or a swirl of heavy cream to dress it up. Stir in sautéed mushrooms or onions for extra flavor and texture.
Conclusion
Cream of mushroom soup is endlessly versatile, making it easy to incorporate into all types of savory dishes across cuisines. Its creamy umami flavor pairs nicely with proteins, vegetables, breads, eggs and more. While excellent on its own, experiment with using it as a quick sauce or gravy, folded into casseroles or combined with fillings and toppings. With a bit of creativity, you can transform basic cream of mushroom soup into all sorts of delicious meals.