15 Easy Recipes with a Can of Soup (updated 2023)

Updated for 2023. These recipes use cream of chicken soup, with a couple using cream of mushroom or cream of celery.

Cream soups are the base for hundreds of easy recipes made with pantry staples and everyday ingredients.

A collage of recipes that have been made with cream of chicken soup.

Table of Contents

🗝️ Key takeaways

Cream of chicken soup helps create a creamy comfort food without a lot of prep time.
Consider using condensed cream soups as a base for all kinds of creamy sauces, casseroles, and soups.
Most casseroles that include a can of cream of chicken soup are made with simple pantry ingredients that are available to almost everyone.

If you have a can of cream of chicken soup you only need a few more simple ingredients to create hundreds of delicious recipes the whole family will love.

The possibilities for easy dinner recipes are endless!

Quick casseroles are the ultimate comfort food as far as I'm concerned. You can put some vegetables, a protein, and some kind of carbs in a casserole dish, stir in a can of creamy soup, pop it in the oven, and 30 minutes later you'll have a delicious meal.

Frito Casserole

This creamy Frito chicken casserole is an update of a recipe I found in a 1950s Women's League cookbook. Cream cheese makes this extra rich and delicious.

Closeup of the pasta showing the gooey cheese sauce.

Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole

What do you get when you pair cream of chicken soup, pasta, and cheese? This comforting Chicken bacon ranch casserole!

Monterey Chicken Casserole

Creamy, delicious south of the border flavor! Monterey chicken casserole is a family favorite.

Taco Spaghetti

Easy taco spaghetti casserole goes together in just one pot in just 30 minutes! It's one of my favorite recipes for back to school.

A fork lifting a scoop of the casserole. Square image for feature image.

King Ranch Casserole

King Ranch casserole with Rotel is perfect for busy weeknights - and you can assemble it ahead of time!

Chicken Spaghetti

Southern chicken spaghetti with Rotel is a comfort food classic!

Closeup of salisbury steak covered in creamy gravy on a white plate.

Crock pot Salisbury Steak

Old fashioned salisbury steak simmers in a creamy mushroom sauce all day in the slow cooker. This recipe does use cream of mushroom soup but you could use any cream soup. Not a casserole but very delicious.

Chicken Empanadas

I love these super easy chicken empanadas for tailgating, game day, and anytime we need a meal on the go. A creamy mixture of cooked chicken breast and cream of chicken soup are baked inside fluffy biscuits. Not a casserole but too good not to include here.

Shepherd's Pie

This Shepherd's Pie is the BEST way to use leftover pot roast!

Casserole with a serving taken out showing the inside texture.

Cowboy Casserole

Cowboy casserole is a creamy combination of beef, cheese, and corn in a creamy sauce baked with Tater Tots on top!

Ranch chicken in the slow cooker waiting to be served.

Crockpot creamy ranch chicken

Creamy ranch chicken recipe is a dinner all in one dish! Chicken breast, potatoes, and carrots simmer together in a rich sauce.

A serving of cordon bleu casserole in a bowl.

Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole

Chicken cordon bleu casserole is as delicious as the 5-star favorite with just a fraction of the fuss!

Tongs holding serving of pasta over slow cooker.

Crockpot Chicken Spaghetti

Gooey, creamy, cheesy crockpot chicken spaghetti is a super-easy way to make this popular Southern recipe.

Closeup of a slow cooker filled with chicken and dumplings for feature image.

Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings

This easy crockpot chicken and dumplings has almost no prep time!

Overhead view of meatball stroganoff in a pan. This is the feature image.

30 Minute Meatball Stroganoff

This easy dinner goes on the table fast! Meatball stroganoff starts with pre-cooked, frozen meatballs that are simmered in a creamy sauce.

Squash Casserole

This simple yellow squash casserole recipe is full of fresh summer squash in a creamy sauce with a crunchy layer made with stuffing. Easy and delicious!

💭 Things to know

A can of cream soup is a quick way to create a creamy sauce or gravy. For beef gravy you can add the beef flavor of Better than Bouillion to cream of mushroom soup and a little garlic powder to taste.
Make a quick meal with sliced deli turkey and a can of cream of chicken soup. Thin the soup out with a little milk and warm the sliced turkey in it. Serve over toast.
Casseroles with canned cream soups can usually be frozen without any problem but recipes with homemade versions can't. The sauce will break and get watery.
You can use this pantry staple to thicken watery gravies, too! Just whisk it in the gravy a tablespoon or so at a time until you get the texture you're looking for.
Out of cream of chicken soup? Try this basic white sauce and add some "Better than Bouillion" in the chicken flavor.

👩‍🍳 FAQs

What is a good substitute for cream of chicken soup?

You can use an equal amount of sour cream as condensed soup. It will have a similar texture but you'll have to make up the flavor with seasonings.

Can you use cream of mushroom soup instead of cream of chicken?

Yes! You could also use cream of asparagus, cream of celery, or other cream soup varieties.

First published May 30, 2021. Last updated September 12, 2023, to add more recipes.