• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Keto Recipes
  • Breakfast and Breads
  • Snacks and Appetizers
  • Entree
  • Side Dishes
  • Freezer Friendly Recipes
  • Desserts
  • Drinks
  • Sauces & Seasonings
  • Menus
  • Resources

This Moms Menu

menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Keto Recipes
  • Breakfast and Breads
  • Snacks and Appetizers
  • Entree
  • Side Dishes
  • Freezer Friendly Recipes
  • Desserts
  • Drinks
  • Sauces & Seasonings
  • Menus
  • Resources
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Sauces & Seasonings

    Published: Oct 30, 2022 ·Updated: Apr 28, 2023 by Sabra · 7 Comments

    Homemade Condensed Cream Soup (chicken, mushroom, celery, or cheese)

    Jump to Recipe Rate this Recipe
    homemade condensed cream soup pinterest image

    This homemade condensed cream soup can be used in all of your favorite recipes. Made with only real, wholesome ingredients, and ready in just minutes you will be ditching the canned stuff for good!

    four varieties of homemade condensed cream soup in glass jars including cream of celery, cream of chicken, cream of mushroom, and cream of cheddar

    This Mom's Menu is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. This post may be sponsored or contain affiliate links but all opinions are my own. I may earn money from purchases made through the links shared here (at no additional cost to you)

    Look, I love a good casserole as much as the next midwestern transplant. But what I don't love is the ingredient list on most conventional cream of (insert flavor here) soup cans.

    When I discovered how easy it was to make these condensed soups with just a handful of real ingredients, I knew I had to share.

    If you've stumbled on this recipe then you probably already know how you are going to use this soup, but if you need some ideas check out my recipe for instant pot tuna casserole or dutch oven pot roast - both of which use cream of mushroom soup. The cream of chicken soup can be used to make my easy chicken pot pie recipe.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients and Substitutions
    • Equipment
    • Before you get started ...
    • Instructions
    • Variations
    • Storage
    • FAQs
    • Top tip:
    • 📖 Recipe
    • Pin It
    • 💬 Reviews

    Ingredients and Substitutions

    The ingredient list for homemade condensed cream soup is short and can easily be customized to change the flavor or to accommodate many dietary preferences.

    ingredients for homemade condensed cream soup. The ingredients include flour, milk, butter, mushrooms, chicken base, cheese, and celery

    The base for this soup requires just three ingredients plus salt and pepper and is nothing more than a basic roux. You will need:

    • Butter, margarine, or oil
    • All-Purpose Flour or sweet rice flour for gluten free.
    • Milk or milk alternative
    • Salt and Pepper to taste

    After you have made the base you can flavor it in almost infinite ways. Here are some options:

    • For cream of chicken soup add chicken base or bouillon
    • Add finely diced mushrooms to make condensed cream of mushroom soup
    • To make cream of celery use celery salt in place of the table salt and add very finely diced celery.
    • For cheddar cheese soup simply add shredded cheddar cheese.

    See the recipe card for quantities.

    Equipment

    No special or fancy equipment is needed here! You will only need measuring cups and spoons, a skillet, a wire whisk, and a rubber spatula. Depending upon which variation you are making you may also need a knife and cutting board.

    Before you get started ...

    This recipe takes hardly any time to make, so I find it very helpful to have everything measured out and ready to go before you begin.

    Instructions

    To make your own condensed soup, start out by melting the butter in a medium skillet over medium heat.

    butter melting in a skillet
    flour being whisked into melted butter to make a roux

    After the butter is melted, whisk in the flour. Cook the butter and flour for 3-4 minutes whisking constantly.

    milk being whisked into butter and flour for making a sauce.

    Whisk the milk into the butter and flour mixture until it is smooth and free of lumps.

    Hint: Don't stop stirring the butter and flour mixture and keep a close eye on it as it cooks. It can burn very quickly. If it does burn, you'll need to toss it out and start over.

    Mushrooms being stirred into a roux for homemade cream of mushroom soup

    Reduce the temperature to low and stir in the additional ingredients for the soup flavor that you are making.

    a creamy mushroom soup being stirred with a rubber spatula.

    Continue cooking, stirring constantly, and being sure to scrape the bottom of the pan, until the mixture has thickened to s pudding-like consistency.

    When the mixture has thickened, you can use it immediately in any recipe that calls for condensed cream soup or store it in the fridge or freezer for later. One batch is equal to one 10.5-ounce can.

    Variations

    In addition to the variations listed in the recipe card, here are a few other ideas:

    • Low Carb - Melt the butter along with 4 ounces of cream cheese. Once melted add the milk (omit the flour) and stir until smooth. Then add in the additional ingredients for the variety you are making and cook until thickened.
    • Vegan - Use plant-based margarine and an unsweetened milk alternative in place of butter and milk.
    • Add seasoning or other flavors - make these soups more flavorful by adding things like roasted garlic, sauteed onions, fresh herbs, or spices.

    Storage

    You can store this DIY condensed cream soup in the fridge for up to 5 days before using it in your favorite recipes.

    It can also be frozen for up to 6 months but should be fully thawed before cooking with it.

    FAQs

    What is the difference between cream of chicken soup and condensed cream of chicken soup?

    Regardless of the variety, condensed soup is meant to be mixed with a liquid, usually milk or water. Condensed cream of ... soups are often used to add creaminess and flavor to recipes. Soups that are not condensed are generally ready to heat and eat, with no additional ingredients required.

    Can you freeze homemade condensed cream of mushroom soup?

    Yes, these homemade condensed soups can be frozen. They should be thawed before using them in your favorite recipes.

    Top tip:

    • Don't stop stirring the butter and flour mixture and keep a close eye on it as it cooks. It can burn very quickly. You'll need to toss it out and start over if it does burn.

    📖 Recipe

    four glass jars full of homemade condensed cream of mushroom, cream of chicken, cream of celery, and cream of cheddar soups.

    Homemade Condensed Cream Soup (chicken, mushroom, celery, or cheese)

    Sabra - This Mom's Menu
    This homemade condensed cream soup can be used in all of your favorite recipes. Made with only real, wholesome ingredients, and ready in just minutes you will be ditching the canned stuff for good!
    5 from 3 reviewers
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Servings 6 servings
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 5 minutes mins

    Equipment

    • Skillet
    • Measuring Cups and Spoons
    • wire whisk
    • Rubber Spatula

    Ingredients
      

    Base:

    • 3 tablespoon Butter
    • 3 tablespoon All-Purpose Flour
    • 1 cup Milk
    • Salt and Pepper to taste

    For Condensed Cream of Chicken:

    • 1 tablespoon Chicken Base or bouillon

    For Condensed Cream of Mushroom:

    • ½ cup Mushrooms trimmed and finely diced

    For Condensed Cream of Celery:

    • ½ cup Celery finely diced
    • ½ teaspoon Celery Salt

    For Condensed Cheese Soup:

    • 1 cup Cheddar Cheese Shredded

    Instructions
     

    • Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
      3 tablespoon Butter
    • Whisk the flour into the butter and cook for 2-3 minutes until the mixture is just barely beginning to brown, stir constantly.
      3 tablespoon All-Purpose Flour
    • Whisk in the milk until it is well integrated and there are no lumps.
      1 cup Milk
    • Stir in the extra ingredients for the soup flavor you are making and reduce the heat to low.
      1 tablespoon Chicken Base, ½ cup Mushrooms, ½ cup Celery, ½ teaspoon Celery Salt, 1 cup Cheddar Cheese
    • Allow the mixture to simmer until it has thickened. For the chicken and cheese soup, this will only take 2-3 minutes. Celery and Mushroom soup will have to cook longer (10-15 minutes) due to the excess liquid in the vegetables. Be sure to stir the mixture frequently using a rubber spatula to scrape the bottom of the pan to prevent lumps.
    • Season to taste with salt and pepper.
      Salt and Pepper
    • Use immediately or store in the fridge or freezer for later. 1 batch is the equivalent of 1, 10.5 ounce can of condensed soup

    Notes

    Nutrition info is only for the base and does not include variety specific ingredients.

    Be sure to read the entire post for tips, tricks, and help troubleshooting.

    The nutrition information listed here is only an estimate and is simply provided as a courtesy. It nor any other information within this post should constitute medical or nutritional advice. Be sure to read all packaging and ingredient labels for potential allergens. Optional ingredients are not included unless otherwise specified.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 88kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 2gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.3gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 61mgPotassium: 67mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 241IUCalcium: 52mgIron: 0.2mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @thismomsmenu or tag #thismomsmenu

    Pin It

    homemade condensed cream soup pinterest image

    More Sauces & Seasonings

    • ranch dressing in a glass jar with a spoon
      Restaurant Style Ranch Dressing
    • a mall bowl filled with homemade chicken taco seasoning
      Homemade Chicken Taco Seasoning
    • a glass jar filled with homemade Italian dressing
      Homemade Italian Dressing
    • a white ramekin filled with chunky homemade applesauce
      Instant Pot Applesauce

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 3 votes (2 ratings without comment)

      Rate this Recipe Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Rate this Recipe:




    1. Shyla says

      August 28, 2024 at 9:48 pm

      Tried the chicken and cheddar with dairy free substitutes and it worked well! -With homemade oat milk and daiya dairy free cheddar cheese

      Reply
      • Nikki says

        August 31, 2024 at 1:08 pm

        How long do they stay good for (fridge/freezer)?

        Reply
    2. Bobbi says

      September 22, 2024 at 7:31 pm

      My husband is on a low salt diet. My daughter is gluten free so I replaced the flour with almond flour 1:1. Just adding pepper and a little salt for taste. It was a great alternative to the cans of soup that are just loaded with msg. I will be making all of my casseroles with this recipe for now on.

      Reply
    3. Penny says

      December 22, 2024 at 3:42 pm

      What size container would you freeze these in? They come out to 10.5 ounces each? Those look like 8 ounce mason jars that you used. I would like to make some to keep in the freezer to have on hand.

      Reply
    4. Karen says

      January 02, 2025 at 7:15 pm

      Would you b able to can these once made?

      Reply
    5. Kaylie says

      January 04, 2025 at 1:21 pm

      Is there a healthier option instead of chicken boullion? I wanted this recipe to avoid all the yucky ingredients in canned cream of soups but the chicken bouillon powder isn’t much better as far as ingredients go. Thanks!

      Reply
      • Ally says

        January 17, 2025 at 2:02 pm

        Most recipes I've found use broth. My recommendation is to look for a different recipe to meet your dietary preferences. These will probably require more roux to thicken, and make more that one can's worth of soup.

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

    Hi! I am Sabra and I'm the face behind This Mom's Menu. I live just outside of Louisville Kentucky with my husband and four kids. Here at This Mom's Menu, you can expect to find family-friendly, healthy recipes plus articles about what is helping me get through my daily to-do list with a little sanity to spare! My favorite things right now are fresh flowers, eggs, and re-runs of The Office ...

    More about me →

    Trending posts

    • a plate full of golden Thai Corn fritters topped with sour cream and fresh chopped green onions
      Thai Corn Fritters
    • The Best Keto Pancakes
    • low carb cauliflower casserole in a dish after baking.
      Loaded Cauliflower Casserole with Chicken
    • a plate full of sticky Asian glazed chicken thighs topped with sesame seeds and green onions.
      Sticky Asian Glazed Chicken Thighs

    Seasonal Recipes

    • homemade lemonade in a mason jar
      State Fair Lemonade
    • Corn Ribs
    • a stack of smash burgers with cheese and burger sauce on a white plate
      Blackstone Smash Burgers
    • creamy pie with a graham cracker crust
      Banana Split Pie
    • Pineapple salsa being scooped up with a tortilla chip
      Pineapple and Jalapeno Salsa
    • a large cast iron skillet with lemon pepper pork chops
      Lemon Pepper Pork Chops

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About Me
    • Privacy Policy

    Follow Me:

    • Instagram
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2021 This Mom's Menu, LLC

    15.9K shares
    15.9K shares

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.