Here’s What You Can Substitute for Cream of Chicken Soup (9 Options!)

Need a substitute for cream of chicken soup? Here are several tasty stand-ins you can use in pinch, plus easy homemade recipes!

Cream of chicken soup is an essential component to many of our favorite casseroles and potluck dishes. They simply wouldn’t be the same without it!

So, if you run out of cream of chicken soup or need a healthier version, here are some great ideas to try!

Use Other Condensed Soup Varieties

1. Cream of Mushroom Soup

Cream of Mushroom is a great stand in for cream of chicken, in a pinch. It doesn’t have a very assertive flavor which allows it to mesh well with lots of different dishes.

It’s also a common pantry staple that many people have on hand.

2. Cream of Celery Soup

Cream of celery soup has a unique and tasty flavor that goes well with sausage casseroles, ground beef and meaty soups. You could easily use this to make a dirty rice dish, for example.

While not as popular as cream of chicken or cream of mushroom soup, cream of celery is still readily available in most grocery stores.

3. Cream of Shrimp

Cream of shrimp is definitely a more niche condensed soup alternative, but would work really well in a seafood dish or soup, like Jambalaya casserole or Gumbo.

4. Cream of Asparagus

Cream of asparagus is a great stand in for a ham and vegetable casserole, chicken and rice dishes, and soups.

If you like the taste of asparagus, you can use this as a substitute in any of your favorite dishes.

5. Cream of Potato Soup

Cream of potato soup would work best as a substitute in soup recipes, a potato gratin dish, baked potato casserole or dishes similar to a hash brown casserole.

Try Sour Cream or Plain Greek Yogurt

If you don’t have other condensed soup options on hand or the time to make a homemade alternative, you can simply use sour cream or plain Greek yogurt with added seasonings.

Greek yogurt and light sour cream also make for an especially healthy cream of chicken soup substitute.

Add these to your dish to mimic the creaminess and consistency of cream of chicken soup.

Make Your Own Cream of Chicken Soup

Did you know you can make your own cream of chicken soup? It’s simple and cheap to do and great to have in your cooking arsenal.

Homemade cream of chicken soup also allows you to avoid the preservatives and artificial flavors and colors that are common in the store-bought kind.

There are lots of recipes out there, but most start with a flour based roux and a few other simple ingredients.

Here’s an easy cream of chicken substitute to try:

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 tablespoon flour
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 1/2 cup milk
• Salt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS:

MELT the butter in a medium sized pan using medium-low heat. Once the butter has melted, ADD in the flour and WHISK until smooth and bubbling.

Slowly STIR in the broth and milk and bring to a low boil, stirring constantly, until the soup thickens. ADD seasonings to taste.

And, here’s a cream of chicken soup recipe that calls for heavy cream for an even richer cream of chicken soup substitute:

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons dried onion flakes
• 1⁄2 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1⁄4 cup milk
• 1⁄4 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1⁄3 cup flour
• 1⁄4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt

DIRECTIONS:

MELT the butter in a medium sized pan and ADD the onion, garlic, salt and pepper to sauté. Once fragrant, ADD the flour a little at a time stirring until it forms a paste.

REMOVE from heat, and slowly ADD the milk, heavy cream and broth, stirring constantly.

PLACE the pan back on the burner to continue thickening until the desired consistency.

Keep in mind, you can always get adventurous with your homemade soup substitutes and change up the seasonings to your liking and try new combinations that complement your dish.

PRO TIP: You can even use seasoned water to substitute for the broth if you run out of that, too!

Gluten Free

Another benefit of making your own cream of chicken soup, is that you can make it gluten free.

Simply swap out the traditional flour with a gluten free option like:

• Almond Flour
• Arrowroot Flour
• Brown Rice Flour
• Oat Flour

Recipes with Cream of Chicken Soup

Here are some easy and delicious recipes you can use to try out your homemade cream of chicken soup and the other great cream of chicken substitutes!

The Easiest Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup

Easy and Cheesy Chicken Macaroni Casserole

Homemade Chicken Enchiladas with Sour Cream White Sauce

Cheesy Chicken and Linguine Recipe

Chicken and Broccoli Casserole with Mayo

The Best Hawaiian Haystacks Sauce Ever