10 Secret Ways to Make Canned Soup Taste Homemade (2024)

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10 Secret Ways to Make Canned Soup Taste Homemade (1)

ByHannah Twietmeyer

Taste of Home's Editorial Process

Updated: Jan. 15, 2024

    You can create custom recipes from a simple can of soup! To learn how to make canned tomato soup better in a pinch, read on—we have soup-er secrets to share.

    10 Secret Ways to Make Canned Soup Taste Homemade (2)PETER MULLER/GETTY IMAGES

    We’ll be the first to admit that homemade tomato soup is a lot of work. From simmering to pureeing, a recipe that doesn’t use any premade products takes time. It’s not a project for a busy weeknight, that’s for sure!

    Lucky for us, canned tomato soup is a quick alternative. You can have a warm bowl on the table in minutes. The caveat? That can of tomato soup in your pantry doesn’t often taste like grandma’s secret family recipe. That’s why it’s helpful to know how to make canned tomato soup taste better with our tips and tricks.

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    Add Protein

    Adding cooked meat that’s high in protein is an easy way to make canned tomato soup taste better and more filling. Chopped bacon pairs well with tomato soup for a BLT-esque soup, or try adding in crumbled ground meat like spicy sausage for some added flavor. For a simple addition that requires little to no work, turn to shredded rotisserie chicken.

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    Add a Splash of Cream

    If you have cream in your fridge, a splash can add body to your tomato soup. Start by adding the cream sparingly at first. You can always build the cream content after starting small. Don’t have heavy cream in your fridge? These heavy cream alternatives will work just fine.

    Also, recreate the comfort of Panera tomato soup with our easy 30-minute copycat recipe that’s faster than going to Panera or waiting for delivery!

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    Use the Condiments in Your Fridge

    A sour cream topping isn’t only meant for baked potatoes, tacos and chili—adding a dollop to your canned tomato soup can seriously upgrade your bowl! You can even use Greek yogurt, rich in consistency and creamy in flavor, for a sour cream substitute.

    Pesto, hot sauce, lemon juice—the list goes on. Any of these will enhance the flavor profile and give your can of Campbell’s the boost it needs to go from good to great.

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    Sprinkle in Extra Spice

    Give your canned tomato soup a bit of heat with your favorite form of spice. Top it with a few slices of jalapenos for a nice crunch. Stir in Sriracha, chili crunch or red pepper flakes so there’s extra spice in every spoonful.

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    Toss in Some Greens

    Take your tomato soup to the next level with a handful of leafy greens. Frozen spinach works wonderfully as it melts right into the liquid, but you can throw in handfuls of raw spinach as well. If you have salad greens sitting in the fridge, use them up by adding them to the soup. The softened leafy greens add a silky texture to the tomato soup, creating a Florentine-inspired bowl. For an earthy addition, add bunches of kale to thicken the soup.

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    Add a Carb

    To transform canned tomato soup into a hearty meal, add some form of carbs. A thick piece of bread or crackers are great for dipping; they will soak up broth and add more substance to your dish. You can even dress your bowl with toasted croutons, breadcrumbs or use a round of sourdough as a bread bowl!

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    Use Herbs and Seasonings

    Enhance the flavors from that can of tomato soup by adding a few dashes of seasonings or fresh herbs. Add chopped fresh basil or parsley at the end of cooking to bring out that rich tomato flavor. Turn to your pantry for seasonings like fresh cracked black pepper, Italian seasoning or oregano, stirring them in while the soup is still cooking.

    Using fresh herbs is also an easy way to upgrade store-bought spaghetti sauce and make white rice taste better.

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    Add Aromatics

    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.

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    Let the Soup Simmer

    After adding in these tasty extras, let the soup simmer on the stove for a few minutes. This’ll let the soup really absorb those added flavors, making for a tasteful dish.

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    Use Soup as an Ingredient

    Think outside the box and add your tomato soup to rice or pasta. For example, dress up cheese tortellini with a ladle of canned soup. The choice is yours!

    Originally Published: October 04, 2021

    Author

    Hannah Twietmeyer

    Hannah is a writer and content creator based in Milwaukee with a passion for all things food, trends and food trends. Before her leap into journalism, she worked in the hospitality industry and served up lattes and iced coffees as a barista.

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    10 Secret Ways to Make Canned Soup Taste Homemade (13)

    10 Secret Ways to Make Canned Soup Taste Homemade (2024)

    FAQs

    10 Secret Ways to Make Canned Soup Taste Homemade? ›

    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 canned soup taste like homemade? ›

    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.

    What can I add to a can of soup? ›

    Having a couple of cans of soup on standby is a good idea for some cozy, lazy meals. You can upgrade your favorite chicken noodle soup by adding an egg or some crackers. Freshly grated parmesan, hot sauce, or sausage can also amp up a can of soup.

    How to doctor up Campbell's vegetable soup? ›

    Fresh lemon juice: this is best to add at the end of cooking, otherwise the lemon flavor can become bitter. Cooking Vinegars: such as balsamic vinegar, red wine vinegar, or even apple cider vinegar. Hot sauce: helps to add both acid and heat, so you're getting even more bang for your buck.

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

    "Ground paprika, turmeric, nutmeg, ground ginger, and other powdered spices add a touch of color and spiciness to broths," she says. As a general rule, use fresh herbs at or near the end of cooking and dried herbs and spices early on. This helps you get the flavors you're looking for in the right balance.

    How do you deepen soup flavor? ›

    Vinegar – A spoonful of vinegar is a quick fix when you find yourself with a bowl of dull, flat-tasting soup. Just a small amount of acid will brighten up the flavors. 2. Soy Sauce – Soy sauce is another item that's ideal for brightening up and adding depth of flavor to an otherwise dull soup.

    How to make soup extra tasty? ›

    Perk up a Bland Soup With Simple Pantry Staples

    Add a splash of vinegar (any kind!), or a squeeze of citrus. Chances are, you could use a little more salt. Go ahead—it's ok. Salt perks up flat flavors and helps balance out bitter-tasting ingredients.

    How do you make canned soup go further? ›

    All, just reminding you, you can stretch out most soups and chili's. For most soup you can just add more water and maybe some additional seasonings if needed to keep it a soup. You can add in whatever veggies or protien you have too.

    What ingredient can be added to a soup to make it thicker and richer? ›

    Add Flour Or Cornstarch

    You can thicken soup by adding flour, cornstarch, or another starchy substitute. For the best results, never add flour or cornstarch directly to your soup. If you do, it will clump up on top. Instead, ladle a small amount of broth into a separate bowl and let it cool.

    How do you liven up vegetable soup? ›

    Cumin is great for adding a little warmth but no heat. If you want heat, then a couple of twists of ground pepper work. Vegetable soup can stand out on its own but can need a little help to draw out the flavours. Salt is one of those spices that can do that.

    How to jazz up canned soup? ›

    Add swirls of pesto, chili crisp, hot sauce, sour cream, or salted yogurt. Garnish your bowl with fried shallots, garlic chips, croutons, or a mish-mash of toasted seeds. Douse tender, fresh herbs—like cilantro, dill, parsley, or basil—in good-quality olive oil and vinegar and pile them on top.

    What makes soup really tasty? ›

    All soups and stews must have three major components in order to be tasty: an undercurrent liquid, aromatics, and volumizing ingredients. In every case, they're layered together until all of the flavors meld together in a harmonious, silky balance.

    What gives soup depth of flavor? ›

    Dried herbs and seasonings: homemade seasoned salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning, and dried bay leaves lend flavor to the soup.

    How do you get the tin taste out of canned soup? ›

    Metallic taste in canned food can be reduced by using the cold or nirmalize food not the hot food.

    How do you add Flavour to tasteless soup? ›

    Perk up a Bland Soup With Simple Pantry Staples

    Add a splash of vinegar (any kind!), or a squeeze of citrus. Chances are, you could use a little more salt.

    How do you make canned taste good? ›

    Use seasonings

    Seasonings like garlic powder, onion powder, dried basil, oregano, and chili powder can be used in different combinations to give your vegetables an extra kick of flavor without adding extra calories.

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