30 Simple Recipes with Canned Soup That Actually Taste Good (2024)

Canned soup may be a little lacklustre on its own, but did you know you can use canned soup to make mouth watering recipes? From using tasty garnishes to boost their flavour, to fully transforming a can of soup into a meal, canned soup hacks are plentiful and awesome. You can bulk up your canned soups with add-ins that make them more nutritious, satisfying and delicious. Plus, through adding proteins and grains, you can transform them into meals in their own right! Check out these simple recipes with canned soup that actually taste good.

10 Canned Soup Hacks

1. Make Tomato Soup Into Chilli
Canned tomato soup on its own isn’t much of a meal, but add in some veggies and protein and you have a filling bowl of chilli! Create a chilli-like consistency by adding diced tomatoes, black beans, bell peppers, corn and spices. Top it with sour cream and avocado for a scrumptious dinner the whole family will love!

2. Load It Up with Fibre and Protein
There’s not a lot of protein and fibre in canned soups, especially ones that are made up of single vegetables like tomato, butternut squash, carrot and broccoli. These soups are a great base for adding fibre and protein. Use protein add-ins like cooked turkey sausage, rotisserie chicken or leftover steak. Wild rice, quinoa and lentils are great fibre sources to add to soups to pack in some serious nutrients!

3. Use Milk Instead of Water for Tomato Soup
Using milk instead of water for canned tomato soup is a major flavour booster. It makes the soup richer, creamier and oh, so delicious. If you’ve never tried this hack, you’re in for a serious treat. The directions on the can say to fill the can up with water and add it to the soup, so instead, use your choice of milk product for a delicious twist!

4. Transform Chicken Noodle Soup Into Ramen
Elevate a can of classic chicken noodle soup into a delectable bowl of ramen! Add in fresh veggies like carrots and scallions, soft boiled eggs, and top it with cilantro, fresh ginger, sriracha and sesame seeds.

5. Use Mushroom Soup for Beef Stroganoff
Beef stroganoff is a dinner staple. It’s delicious and easy to make with a can of cream of mushroom soup. Use all the fixings beef stroganoff typically calls for and add cream of mushroom soup to make it extra mushroom heavy and tasty! It’s a quick and easy spin on the original and tastes just as great!

6. Pasta for the Win
Load up your soups with pasta to create satiating meals that are much more filling than a can of soup of its own. Tortellini and ravioli are popular pastas to use in soups like minestrone and vegetable. Smaller pastas such as orzo and stelline are best for brothy soups. Pasta adds a nice texture to the finished dish and will leave you feeling satisfied!

7. Add Herbs for Zest
Fresh herbs such as basil, parsley and thyme are a great way to add interest and flavour to your canned soups! Whether you get them from the grocery store or grow them in your backyard, herbs are the perfect finishing addition for soup! Add basil in tomato soup, parsley in carrot soup, and thyme in lentil soup and prepare for a boost of awesome flavour coming through.

8. Grilled Cheese Croutons for Tomato Soup
Grilled cheese croutons are pretty much the most epic add-in there is for canned tomato soup. If you’re like me, grilled cheese and Campbell’s tomato soup was a lunch staple for you growing up. I absolutely love this twist on it! Check out this grilled cheese crouton recipe and add them to your canned tomato soup for a delicious treat!

9. Add in Leafy Greens
Adding leafy greens to canned soup is an awesome way to boost the flavour as well as nutrients of your soup. Many greens turn silky and soft in soup when it heats up, adding richness and texture to your final meal. Spinach, chopped kale and microgreens are some great options!

10. Create a Mexican Fiesta with Black Bean Soup
Black bean soup is rather basic on its own. Spice it up with all your favourite nacho toppings from cheese to avocado to fresh tomato. Add spices such as cumin, chilli powder and smoked paprika for bold flavour and add fresh lime juice for some zest!

30 Recipes with Canned Soup

1. Classic Chicken Casserole | Tasting Table
2. Chicken Ramen Noodle Bowls | Eating Well
3. Waffle Fry Pot Pie | Delish
4. Tomato Soup Spice Cake | Taste and Tell
5. Beef Stroganoff Casserole | Spicy Southern Kitchen
6. Crock Pot Chicken Dumplings | Delish
7. Curried Butternut Squash Soup | Eating Well
8. Tuna Noodle Skillet Casserole | I Wash You Dry
9. Crockpot Cheesy Ravioli | Life in the Loft House
10. Mexican Tater Topped Casserole | Jo Cooks
11. Chicken Pot Pie Crescent Bread | Wine and Glue
12. Crockpot Swedish Meatballs | The Spruce Eats
13. Instant Pot Meatloaf with Roasted Potatoes | Campbell’s
14. Chicken Tortilla Pie | Spicy Southern Kitchen
15. Loaded Black Bean Nacho Soup | Eating Well
16. Easy Sloppy Joes | Taste and Tell
17. King Ranch Mac and Cheese | Life in the Loft House
18. 20-Minute Pork Chop Rice | Call Me PMC
19. Chicken Spaghetti Casserole | Cookies and Cups
20. Broccoli Cheddar Chicken Casserole | Delish
21. Ziti Chicken Casserole | The Spruce Eats
22. Italian Ground Beef Casserole | CD Kitchen
23. Bacon and Corn Chowder | My Food and Family
24. Chicken Parmesan Risotto | CD Kitchen
25. Shepherd’s Pie | Campbell’s
26. Crockpot Chicken Supreme | The Spruce Eats
27. Easy Chicken Cordon Bleu | My Food and Family
28. Tomato Soup Pasta Bake | Australia’s Best Recipes
29. Gravy Baked Pork Chops | CD Kitchen
30. Meatball Stew En Casserole | The Spruce Eats

There are so many ways to spruce up canned soups and use them for delicious meals! Try our hacks and recipes the next time you want to get creative with canned soup!

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30 Simple Recipes with Canned Soup That Actually Taste Good (2024)

FAQs

What can I add to canned soup to make it better? ›

More vegetables: This is a great place for leftover cooked veggies. If you are working with a creamed soup, consider pureeing some vegetables to stir in. Cooked cauliflower, potatoes, winter squash, or carrots would work really well. Herbs: Fresh chives, thyme, or cilantro stirred in just before serving.

How do you doctor up a can of soup? ›

But to put some pep back in your soup's step, you're going to want to add more. Start by sautéing any combination of finely chopped vegetables and alliums—like onion, garlic, carrots, celery, bell peppers, and ginger. Whatever you choose is going to infuse the entire can of soup you're about to heat.

How to make canned soup tastier? ›

Garlic and onions make everything tastier! While the soup is cooking on the stove, sautee onions and garlic, adding them into the soup towards the end of cooking. Or for an aromatic that'll give a refreshing flavor, add chopped ginger into the soup while it's still cooking, stirring it in to blend the flavors together.

How to make soup really flavorful? ›

7 Easy Ways to Make Any Soup Better
  1. Brown or Sear the Meat.
  2. Roast the the Veggies.
  3. Mix up the Texture.
  4. Use Homemade Stock Whenever Possible.
  5. Put Your Cheese Rinds to Work.
  6. Perk up a Bland Soup With Simple Pantry Staples.
  7. Add Fresh Herbs or Dairy When Serving.
  8. Recipes Pictured.

What can I add to my soup to make it tastier? ›

Use fresh vegetables, high-quality meats or broth, and fresh herbs to add depth of flavor. Add acidity: A squeeze of lemon or lime juice, a dash of vinegar, or a splash of wine can brighten the flavors of a soup and make it taste more complex.

What can I add to my soup for flavor? ›

Ground black pepper or a pinch of red pepper flakes can add a hint of heat. Aromatics:Sautéing aromatic vegetables like onions, garlic, and celery before adding the broth can build a flavorful base. Consider adding ginger or lemongrass for an extra layer of taste.

How do you jazz up canned soup? ›

The addition of meat and vegetarian replacements like chicken or tofu, as well as carbs like rice or legumes add additional heft to any canned soup. Veggies and a splash of citric acid can brighten up a boring tomato soup.

How to make Progresso chicken noodle soup taste better? ›

Dried herbs and spices are the easiest and most budget-friendly way to add flavor to your canned soup. They'll last forever in your pantry, and you don't need to add much to get a good kick.

Why do canned soups say not to add water? ›

If the soup doesn't say condensed on the label, adding water will dilute the flavor and it won't taste good. All of this is a matter of taste.

How do you upgrade Campbell's soup? ›

For example, if you're heating up a can of spicy black bean soup, add in some chili powder, paprika, cumin, and red pepper flakes. Similarly, if you're heating up some minestrone, throw in some thyme and oregano, or some parsley in your average bowl of Campbell's can of chicken noodle.

Why is my soup so tasteless? ›

If a soup is tasting bland in the bowl, consider adding acid rather than salt. A squeeze of lemon or lime, or a dash of yogurt or sour cream can add brightness to the bowl. Start with the basics. Ensure you've added enough salt and black pepper.

How do you fix bad tasting soup? ›

The first thing is to add some salt because salt dials up all the flavour naturally occurring in the soup. If that doesn't fix it, try more salt. And if it still tastes flat add a squeeze of lemon or lime. The other option is to serve with a big flavour bomb ingredient on top.

How do you spice up boring soup? ›

The key here is using the right herbs. Choose tender, leafy herbs for topping soup, like parsley (flat leaf or curly), cilantro, chives, or even mint. Skip the woody herbs, like rosemary and thyme — or add them in the beginning of the cooking process — otherwise they will dull, rather than brighten, the flavor.

Can you put Worcestershire sauce in soup? ›

Soups and Chilis

Worcestershire sauce in soup? Trust me on this one. Just a little goes a long way; it helps cut through the richness in chilis and thick soups.

What are 6 qualities of a good soup? ›

A good soup should be full-flavored, with no off or sour tastes. Flavors from each of the soup's ingre- dients should blend and complement, with no one flavor overpowering another. Con- sommés should be crystal clear. The vegetables in vegetable soups should be brightly colored, not gray.

What can I add to canned tomato soup to make it better? ›

10 Simple Ingredients to Add to Tomato Soup
  1. 1) Fresh Rosemary. Kicking off the list is the simplest way to jazz up your tomato soup – fresh herbs. ...
  2. 2) Sauteed Onions. ...
  3. 3) Crispy Bacon. ...
  4. 4) Cream. ...
  5. 5) Chutney. ...
  6. 6) Melted Cheese. ...
  7. 7) Tinned Anchovies. ...
  8. 8) Toasted Pine Nuts.
Mar 21, 2022

How to make Progresso chicken noodle soup better? ›

Add Some Herbs

Start by melting a little butter in a pan and add some fresh herbs like ground pepper, oregano, thyme, and basil. Mix the sauteed herbs into the broth to add flavor to a boring canned soup. You can also toss a sprig of rosemary or fresh sage into the pot while you heat up the soup.

How do you make canned soup healthier? ›

How can I make canned soup healthier?
  1. Choose healthier options. ...
  2. Add fresh or frozen vegetables to increase the fiber, vitamins, and minerals. ...
  3. Toss in spices instead of salt to punch up the flavor of low-sodium soups without increasing the salt content.
Mar 6, 2024

How do you make canned food taste better? ›

Browning is your friend. To bring out the taste of more full-flavored canned meat like Spam, your best move is to brown it in a frying pan or oven. This caramelizes the meat and intensifies the distinctive taste. Mix it up.

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