Today, I want to share my homemade cream of mushroom soup recipe. Here’s the deal: I stock canned cream of mushroom soup, but this mushroom soup is different. You can make this creamy, rich, mushroom soup in less than an hour.
When fall hits, I’m ready for soup; any soup can make my day, especially if it’s made from scratch. I wish you could smell how heavenly this soup smells, let alone taste it. It looks gourmet or restaurant quality, need I say more? It seems like we worked all day to make this yummy soup.
There is something so comforting when you put your spoon in the bowl to taste that first spoonful of soup. One thing I love about this soup is the fact that you can add your dehydrated or freeze-dried mushrooms if you’d like. Either way, they taste great and add flavor and texture to this truly homemade soup.
Today, I’m using fresh mushrooms; you can use any mushroom variety you choose. It’s all about the flavor.
Items You May Need In The Kitchen:
- Measuring Cups
- Measuring Spoons
- Stainless Steel Whisk or Danish Whisk
- Large 6-Quart Soup Pot or Dutch Oven Pan w/Flat Bottom
- A Good Knife To Chop Ingredients
- Cutting Board
Cream of Mushroom Soup
Ingredients
- Butter: Adding a little bit of fat to this soup helps bring out a lot of flavors.
- Heavy Cream: The fantastic thing about the cream is that it will not curdle when you boil it. It’s a thickener for soups and sauces. Of course, when it’s whipped, it’s the perfect topping for many desserts.
- Chicken Broth: Adds flavor and serves as a good base for the soup.
- White Flour: adds substance and thickness to the soup.
- Vegetable Oil to Sauté Onions and Garlic: Sautéing before adding to the soup helps to soften and caramelize the onions and garlic.
- Onions: A staple in most soups, they add robust flavor and texture.
- Garlic: Garlic adds an almost nutty flavor. You can even bake them or eat them raw. They enhance the flavor of any dish. Raw garlic has a more pungent taste and hence a stronger smell.
- Fresh Mushrooms: Mushrooms give a lot of flavor and chunkiness to this recipe.
- Chicken Bouillon: Bouillon adds a rich flavor. It can be used to make broth or added to a sauce to enhance flavor.
- Salt and Pepper: Both spices add flavor and help to bring all of the flavors together.
- Fresh Thyme: Thyme has a very distinct, almost minty flavor. If fresh thyme is used, it is preferable to use just the leaves and discard the stems.
- Fresh Parsley: Parsley adds a bit of mild bitterness to any recipe. It helps to balance out the flavors in savory dishes.
- Marsala: mushrooms and Marsala are an excellent combination, and they are often cooked together in many recipes. Marsala is known for its rich color and sweetness. It’s generally a very mild flavor, but it adds a great splash of flavor.
Cream of Mushroom Soup Recipe
Step One: Gather the Ingredients
Step Two: Sauté Onions & Garlic
Sauté the onions and garlic in oil until slightly tender.
Step Three: Add Mushrooms to Mixture
Remove the pan from the stove. Add the freshly sliced mushrooms to the onion and garlic mixture. Set the pan aside.
Step Four: Melt Butter
Grab a large soup pan and melt the butter in it.
Step Five: Add Flour – Make Roux
Add the flour to the soup pot to make a roux, and whisk constantly.
Step Six: Stir in Broth & Cream
Stir in the chicken broth and heavy cream. Continue to stir or whisk constantly.
Step Seven: Add Bouillon Cubes & Spices
Add the crumbled chicken bouillon cubes. Stir until thoroughly mixed into the soup. Add salt and pepper.
Step Eight: Add All Ingredients Together
Add the onion, garlic, and mushrooms to the soup. Then add the Marsala wine and thyme to the soup pot. I used 1-1/2 teaspoons of dried thyme instead of fresh.
Finished Product
Cream of Mushroom Recipe
Cream of Mushroom Soup
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter
- 1 cup white flour
- 1 quart heavy cream or half and half
- 1 quart chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons of oil to slightly cook the chopped onions and minced garlic
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced or chopped
- 2 onions, finely chopped
- 3 pounds of freshly sliced mushrooms
- 2 cubes chicken or beef bouillon (crumbled)
- 1-2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup of Marsala cooking wine
- 4 teaspoons of fresh thyme, finely chopped or 1-1/2 teaspoons of dried thyme
- chopped fresh parsley, optional to garnish just before serving
Instructions
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1. Sauté the onions and garlic in oil until slightly tender. Remove the pan from the stove. 2. Add the freshly sliced mushrooms to the onion and garlic mixture. Set the pan aside. 3. Grab a large soup pan and melt the butter in it. 4. Add the flour to the soup pot to make a roux, and whisk constantly. 5. Stir in the chicken broth and heavy cream. Continue to stir or whisk constantly. 6. Add the crumbled chicken or beef bouillon cubes. Stir until thoroughly mixed into the soup. 7. Add the onion, garlic, and mushrooms to the soup. 8. Add the Marsala wine and the thyme in the soup pot. 9. Add salt and ground black pepper to taste. Garnish with fresh parsley, if desired.
Cream of Mushroom Soup: A Timeless Comfort Food Classic
Cream of mushroom soup is one of those humble, comforting dishes that has quietly earned its place in kitchens for generations. Rich, velvety, and deeply savory, this beloved soup brings together the earthy flavor of mushrooms with smooth creaminess to create a bowl of pure comfort, whether enjoyed on its own or used as a versatile cooking staple. Cream of mushroom soup remains a timeless favorite.
Why Cream of Mushroom Soup Is So Popular
Few soups strike the perfect balance between simple ingredients and luxurious flavor quite like cream of mushroom soup. Its popularity stems from its ability to feel both hearty and refined at once. The natural umami of mushrooms delivers depth, while the creamy base provides warmth and satisfaction in every spoonful.
This soup is especially beloved during cooler months, but its versatility makes it a year-round favorite. It can be served as a starter, a light lunch, or used as a flavor-boosting base for countless comfort food dishes.
The Flavor Profile That Keeps Us Coming Back
Cream of mushroom soup is known for its earthy, savory character. Mushrooms bring a deep, woodsy richness that pairs beautifully with creamy textures. When properly balanced, the soup offers a smooth mouthfeel with layers of flavor that feel cozy, familiar, and indulgent without being overwhelming.
The aroma alone, warm, savory, and slightly nutty, can instantly evoke memories of home-cooked meals and family gatherings.
A Pantry Staple With Endless Uses
Beyond being enjoyed as a soup, cream of mushroom soup has long been a trusted pantry staple. Home cooks rely on it to add richness and depth to casseroles, baked dishes, slow-cooker meals, and comfort food classics. Its creamy consistency helps bind ingredients together while enhancing flavor without overpowering other components.
From holiday side dishes to weeknight dinners, this soup has earned its reputation as a reliable kitchen essential.
A Nod to Tradition and Homemade Comfort
For many families, cream of mushroom soup carries a sense of nostalgia. It often brings back memories of handwritten recipe cards, shared meals, and comforting dishes passed down through generations. While modern variations exist, the heart of this soup remains rooted in simplicity and tradition.
It’s a reminder that some of the best comfort foods don’t need to be complicated—they just need to be made with care and enjoyed slowly.
Perfect for Any Occasion
Cream of mushroom soup fits seamlessly into nearly any meal plan. It’s elegant enough to serve at a dinner party yet comforting enough for a quiet evening at home. Paired with crusty bread, a fresh salad, or enjoyed on its own, it delivers warmth and satisfaction every time.
Do I have to use both chicken broth and chicken bouillon?
The chicken broth gives the soup the base it needs, and the chicken bouillon adds bursts of flavor by crumbling the concentrated cubes into the soup. They truly are both required. Today I used beef bouillon because I had it in the pantry.
Do I have to use mushrooms, or can I use a different ingredient?
The mushrooms really make this recipe, along with the richness of the cream and other tasty ingredients. The combination of the listed ingredients makes for a delicious soup that can be served for any occasion.
Do I have to sauté the onions and garlic, or can I add them to the soup while it cooks?
Sautéing the onions and garlic is a must! By doing this, you are caramelizing the onions and garlic, and it adds such a fantastic flavor and texture to the soup.
Does using half-and-half change the flavor of the soup, or do I need to use heavy cream?
It really depends on the thickness that you are looking for. I love using the heavy cream! It gives the soup heartiness, along with the mushrooms. Such a delicious combination! Adding in the flavor of the Marsala wine, you are in for a fantastic treat!!
You are definitely welcome to tailor this recipe to the thickness that works for your family, and to reduce calories and fat by using half-and-half.
Can I sauté the mushrooms with the onions and garlic as well?
I highly recommend only sautéing the onions and garlic! If you sauté the mushrooms, they will release additional moisture into the soup. We want the mushrooms’ flavor and chunkiness, but not the added liquid.
Is the type of flour used in the recipe necessary?
Here’s the deal with the flour in this recipe. I only stock white all-purpose flour and bread flour. I can’t recommend another flour because the consistency may not be satisfactory.
You could use a 1:1 Red Mill Gluten-Free flour substitute, but if you have gluten issues, you probably already know which flour works in your recipes for white sauce or gravy.
Is it best to simmer this soup on high, medium, or medium-high heat?
I would recommend simmering this soup on medium heat. This will allow the soup to cook at a reasonable rate without overcooking the ingredients.
Is there a way to make this soup dairy-free? Would coconut milk or other alternative milk taste good?
Substituting dairy-free milk for this recipe will change the consistency and flavor of the soup. You may need to play around a bit with what your family will enjoy. I have found that oat milk generally has a milder, thicker consistency, whereas coconut or rice milk is quite a bit thinner. Almond milk is a little denser than coconut or rice milk, but it has a stronger flavor, which could change the taste of the soup. Again, you may have to try a couple of different kinds of milk to see what you and your family like and go from there.
Would this soup taste good served with a side salad?
This cream of mushroom soup would taste wonderful with a side salad, along with a roll or slice of bread. I have added some other suggestions below!
What is the best type of mushroom to use in this recipe? Would cremini mushrooms taste good? Button mushrooms?
I would highly recommend using any of the three mushrooms in the button family. Please see below for a description of the three: button, cremini, and portobello. Any of the three mushrooms would taste delicious and are generally easy to find in any grocery store. I have added some additional information regarding different mushroom varieties if you are interested in trying something other than the more common mushrooms.
Would an immersion blender work well for blending all the ingredients?
I would highly recommend using any blender, but an immersion blender would work really well.
Would vegetable stock or chicken stock be an option as a substitute for the broth and bouillon?
I recommend using broth and bouillon in this recipe. Using stock would create a thicker consistency for the soup, which is not what we are looking for, given the thickness the cream and flour will add. The broth and bouillon will create a thinner consistency and add much more flavor than stock.
Are there any additional herbs that would taste good in this soup?
Thyme adds a succulent flavor to this recipe! Sage would also be a great addition if desired.
Is this recipe gluten-free?
For any food sensitivity or allergy, please review each ingredient in the recipe and on any product label to ensure it complies with your dietary restrictions. *White flour is added, which makes this recipe not gluten-free.*
Is there a way to lower the sodium level in this recipe?
There are a variety of options to lower the sodium level. Each broth and/or bouillon can be found sold as reduced or sodium-free. It may change the recipe’s flavor due to the lower sodium content.
Can I pressure can this recipe?
No, because of the flour, this recipe would be unsafe to can for our families. Any thickening agent slows heat penetration throughout the product. Heat must be distributed evenly and at a high enough temperature to destroy mold, yeast, and bacteria.
Mushroom Types:
- Button: most common mushroom; young in age compared to other mushrooms; perfect for sautéing.
- Cremini: older version of a button mushroom; great for soups and stews; firmer and browner (due to age) than the more common button mushrooms, which helps to retain some of the texture while sautéing and cooking.
- Portabello: the oldest version of a button mushroom; larger and more flavorful than button and cremini.
- Hedgehog: orange or yellow caps; tends to have a fruity smell; delicious sautéd in butter and herbs, such as sage or thyme.
- Maitake: best served cooked or sautéd; they tend to have a strong, earthy, and savory flavor.
- Morel: a more expensive mushroom due to scarcity; tends to have a firmer texture and a bit of a nutty flavor; known for its honeycomb texture.
- Shiitake: the caps are generally used, and the stems are discarded because they’re a little tricky.
- Porcini: an excellent variety for recipes that use a heavy cream sauce; known for its white stem and red/brown cap.
Just in case you missed these other posts:
- Creamy Sausage Potato Soup Recipe
- Quick And Easy Creamy Italian Sausage Soup
- Mushrooms: Everything You Need to Know
- Can You Freeze Mushrooms? Yes, You Can
- Dehydrating Mushrooms
What can I serve with this recipe?
- Crostini Bread
- French Bread
- Garden Salad
- Fruit Tray
- Rice Pilaf
- Roasted Vegetables
- Roasted Potatoes
- How To Make My No-Fail Homemade Bread
- How To Make No-Fail Dinner Rolls
- Easy To Make Cheesy Garlic Bread
Final Word
I hope you and your family enjoy this rich, hearty, and tasty cream of mushroom soup recipe! It is one of my absolute favorites! The taste and aroma of this soup will make you and your family go back for a second helping or a third! Please let me know which mushroom variety you and your family enjoyed. There are so many different options you can choose to suit your family’s taste buds. The combination of the mushrooms, garlic, onions, thyme, and heavy cream makes this a soup to remember and a staple in any home!
Cream of mushroom soup is more than just a classic; it’s a symbol of comfort, versatility, and timeless flavor. Whether you savor it by the bowl or use it as a trusted ingredient in your favorite dishes, this creamy, savory soup continues to earn its place in kitchens everywhere. Simple, satisfying, and endlessly comforting, cream of mushroom soup is a true staple worth celebrating. It’s all about teaching our kids and grandkids how to cook from scratch! May God bless this world, Linda
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