Cream of Mushroom Soup

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Cream of Mushroom Soup, when done right, is nothing short of amazing.

We’re going to show you how to make the best cream of mushroom soup in the world. Whether you like it extra thick and creamy, or loaded with mushroom pieces, or silky smooth, we’ve got you covered. And this iconic soup comes together in only about 40 minutes!

A white bowl filled with cream of mushroom soup on a white background with a spoon and a sprig of thyme next to it.

HOW TO MAKE CREAM OF MUSHROOM SOUP

Cream of Mushroom soup is actually much easier than you might think.

The key ingredients, of course, are mushrooms. But rounding out the flavors with a few other important ingredients is critical in putting this soup over the top in yumminess.

Watch us show you how to make cream of mushroom soup in your own kitchen!

CHOOSING THE BEST MUSHROOMS

As mentioned, you want your cream of mushroom soup to taste like mushrooms. We love using a variety of fresh mushrooms.

Here a some of our favorites to use:

  • Cremini
  • Shiitaki
  • Oyster
  • White button
  • Baby portobello
  • Porcini (see Tip, if using dried)

EXPERT TIP: We use a combination of any of the mushrooms listed above. We typically go with fresh mushrooms, but if you want to try dried mushrooms, then you’ll need to re-constitute them in warm water for about 20 to 30 minutes. The soaking liquid can then be substituted (or included with) the vegetable broth called for in the recipe.

Fresh mushrooms being sliced on a wooden cutting board with two hands and chef's knife.

You’ll want to start the flavor profile by sautéing chopped onions and garlic.

Next, it’s time to add in the mushrooms.

EXPERT TIP: After cooking over medium-high heat, the mushrooms will begin to exude liquid. They will seem dry at first, but be patient, as they soften, they will no longer look and feel dry. This typically takes about 5 to 10 minutes, depending on the size of the mushroom pieces. After they have softened, we like to take a slotted spoon and remove about 1 cup of the cooked mushrooms to use later as garnish.

Sliced mushrooms being scraped off a cutting board into a Dutch oven of sautéed onions and garlic.

HOW TO THICKEN CREAM OF MUSHROOM SOUP

After the mushrooms have begun to soften and release their liquid, it’s time to create a roux. This is done by adding and coating the vegetables with flour before adding sherry and then vegetable stock and letting simmer for about 20 minutes until reduced somewhat and slightly thickened.

This is Step 1 for thickening the cream of mushroom soup.

EXPERT TIP: We like our soup to be thick, but not so thick that it’s like gravy. To achieve this thickness, we add 1/4 cup of all-purpose flour to create the roux. If you like your soup to be a little thicker, then increase the flour amount to 1/3 cup, or 1/2 cup for a thick texture.

We’ll show you Step 2 for thickening in just a moment.

A hand dumping flour into a Dutch oven with sautéed mushrooms for cream of mushroom soup.

Now…Step 2 for thickening the soup. After the mushrooms have cooked in the stock and the liquid has reduced and thickened, we remove the mixture from the heat, and ladle about half into either a blender or food processor.

Puree the mixture until smooth and silky. The pureed mushrooms act as a natural thickener, but also, once added back with the reserved mixture, you will still have plenty of sautéed mushroom pieces in the soup.

If you prefer your cream of mushroom soup to have no mushroom slices in the final dish, then puree the entire mushroom mixture, not just half of it. If you prefer the soup to be silky smooth, then after pureeing the entire mushroom mixture, pass through a fine-mesh sieve, or colander lined with cheese cloth, using a wooden spoon to help.  And then continue with recipe.

A blender of pureed mushroom soup with two hands holding it in place.

FINISHING THE SOUP

Okay, folks, we’re almost there.

All we need to do now is gently pour in the cream. We recommend a heavy whipping cream, as it adds a luxurious texture and truly creamy taste to the soup.

It’s just about time for homemade Cream of Mushroom Soup!  And you know another great recipe that uses our cream of mushroom soup?  The classic Broccoli, Cheddar and Rice Casserole!

A cup of cream being poured into a large blue Dutch oven of sautéed mushroom and sauce.

CREAM OF MUSHROOM SOUP FAQs

  • What can be substituted for the sherry? You can certainly substitute a dry white wine, or even a nice port in place of the sherry. If you do not want to add anything with alcohol, then we suggest omitting it altogether. Although 99% of the alcohol will evaporate our during the cooking process, we understand for some, no alcohol is preferred at all. The sherry adds flavor, but the soup will still be delicious without it.
  • How can I make this soup vegan? You can substitute non-sweetened, non-flavored almond milk for the cream. Obviously, the taste and texture won’t quite be the same as with cream, but the taste will still be outstanding. Also, most types of Worcestershire sauce are made with anchovies, which makes it neither vegetarian or vegan, and can simply be omitted from this recipe if that is what you desire. 
  • Can I used dried mushrooms? Yes! Just be sure to re-constitute them in warm water first for 20 to 30 minutes. If doing so, be sure to use the soaking liquid in place of, or along with, the stock for the recipe!
  • How long will the soup keep? The finished soup will keep in the refrigerator for up 1 week and can be frozen for 2 months.

OTHER FAVORITE SOUP RECIPES TO TRY

In the meantime, let’s make this amazingly delicious and restaurant-quality Cream of Mushroom Soup!

A close up view of a white soup bowl holding cream of mushroom soup with sautéed mushrooms on top.

Ready to make a soup that is so good your guests will swear you got it from a 5-star restaurant? Go for it!

And when you make the soup, be sure to take a picture, post it on Instagram, and tag #howtofeedaloon and @howtofeedaloon!

 

A close-up view of a white bowl holding cream of mushroom soup.

Cream of Mushroom Soup

This cream of mushroom soup is so good, we swear, it's as good as you'll get at a top-notch restaurant. And it comes together in about 40 minutes!
5 from 7 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Appetizer, Soup
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Cream of mushroom soup recipe, Cream of mushroom soup video, homemade condensed cream of mushroom soup
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 10 people
Calories: 136kcal

Equipment

  • Blender or food processor

Ingredients

  • 2 tsp butter unsalted
  • 1 medium onion yellow,chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 ½ lbs mushrooms sliced
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp Kosher salt divided
  • 1 tsp pepper freshly ground black
  • 1 tbsp thyme fresh, chopped
  • ¼ cup sherry
  • 6 cups vegetable stock
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • ½ tsp nutmeg ground

Instructions

  • In a large pot (i.e., Dutch oven), melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until softened, about 4 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute more.
  • Add the mushrooms, Worcestershire sauce, 1 tsp salt, ½ tsp pepper, and the thyme. Cook until mushrooms are softened and starting to release thier liquid, about 8 to 10 minutes, stirring with a wooden spoon frequently.
  • If desired, use a slotted spoon to remove about 1 cup of the sauteed mushrooms. Set aside for garnish to the finished soup.
  • Add the flour to the pot and stir until the mushrooms are fully coated. Cook for about 1 minute.
  • Add the sherry and cook until reduced by about half, about 3 to 4 minutes.
  • Add the stock and another ½ tsp of salt and bring to a strong simmer. Cook for 20 minutes, or until liquid has reduced somewhat and has thickened slightly.
  • Remove from heat and use a ladle to add half of the mushroom mixture to a blender or food processor, or bowl with an immersion blender. Puree the mixture until smooth.
  • Add the pureed mixture back into the pot with the reserved mushroom mixture. Turn the heat back on to medium.
  • Add the cream and nutmeg and stir until incorporated. Bring just to a simmer and then turn off the heat. Taste and add more salt, if desired.
  • Serve at once in individual soup bowls.
  • Garnish with reserved mushrooms, thyme, and grated nutmeg (if desired).

Video

Notes

Use a variety of mushrooms, if possible.  We like a combination of button, shiitake, and baby Bella.  Cut the stems from the shiitake before slicing, as they can sometimes be a little rubbery in the final dish.
You can substitute a dry white wine or port for the sherry.   If you prefer no alcohol at all, simply omit.  It adds a depth of flavor, but the soup will still be delicious without it. 
If using dried mushrooms, be sure to soak in warm water for at least 20 to 30 minutes before adding to the pot.  Use the soaking liquid along with the stock when simmering the mushrooms.
If you feel the soup is too thin, then just before adding the cream, take 1 tbsp of corn starch and 1 tbsp of cold water and mix together, then pour into the soup. Stir until thickened.  This will take a couple minutes to thicken.  If still not thick enough, repeat this process.  Be careful not to add too much of the slurry, it will thicken up too much if you do!
If you feel the soup is too thick, simply thin with a little more stock until the desired consistency is reached. 
The soup will keep in the refrigerator for up to 1 week and freezes nicely for up to 2 months. 

Nutrition

Calories: 136kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 35mg | Sodium: 1066mg | Potassium: 272mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 708IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe? Take a Picture!Mention @HowToFeedALoon or tag #HowToFeedALoon!

POST UPDATE: This recipe was originally posted in November, 2016, but the recipe was improved with new photography and awesome video in October, 2019. 

19 Comments

  • 5 stars
    Mushroom Tofu and Spinach Soup
    Prettislim ClinicMushroom Tofu and Spinach Soup
    Ingredients:
    Musroom Tofu and Spanach Sout

    2 cups Blanched.
    Spinach leaves.
    100 gms Tofu.
    8 – 10 Mushrooms.
    1 or 2 Red Chilly.
    5 gms Butter.
    Salt, soya sauce and pepper according to taste.
    Method:
    In a large sauce pan, add butter and all the ingredients and sauté.
    Add water 3 cups of water and bring it to boil.
    Simmer it for 2 minutes.
    Add salt, soya sauce and pepper and serve hot.

  • The soup was too thin, so I googled and found a genius fix: rice! I threw in a handful, but by the time it was done, the shrooms were liquidated. Sauteed more shrooms and threw in some kale. Added to soup. Perfect!!!

  • 5 stars
    This soup is absolutely delicious and easy to make! I used my immersion blender for the entire soup and used cremini, oyster and baby Bella’s along with really good sherry! I added extra garlic because we love that and it is yumminess!! Thanks so much for sharing this recipe! ❤️

  • 5 stars
    Hello Kris and Wesley, This is Susan and Marge from Minnesota! Made this amazing Mushroom Soup today with Portabella and Dried Shitake mushrooms. Soup is just wonderful the best soup I have ever made! I used half and half and white wine instead of the sherry, just because that is what I had available without going shopping. I put the soup in a blender and decided to push it through a wire strainer which proved difficult, so I added the cream and then strained the soup which worked much better. Delicious, my first recipe to try of yours. Thank you so much, can I say this is Minnesota Loon approved:)

  • I’m psyched to make this. Do you recommend a type of sherry? Dry I am assuming? And do you have a preference in terms of what stock to use? We don’t have dietary restrictions. Thanks so much!

    • Hi Meredith! Sorry for the delayed response!! A just nice dry sherry will work. No need to break the bank. We wouldn’t recommend cooking sherry, but that’s a matter of taste. We cook mostly with stock from Pacific Foods or Kitchen Basics. Hope this helps and let us know if you make the mushroom soup and what you think! All the best, Kris & Wesley

  • 5 stars
    Happy New Year, gentlemen! I made this soup over Christmas/New Year week. Absolutely fabulous!!! I used crimini (baby ports) and oyster mushies. And, of course, used my immersion blender, but briefly only on 1 side of the cauldron. Going forward, I will only used canned mushroom soup if it is being buried in a recipe. For stand-alone soup, this is my new go-to. Thanks for another amazing recipe!

    • Hi Rhonda!! We are so THRILLED you had such amazing success with the cream of mushroom soup! And your tweaks sound perfectly spot on!! Making us hungry!! We agree, though, it’s so good when you make it from scratch!! Thank you so so much for letting us know and for the wonderful review!! WE can’t say enough how much that means to us!! All the very best…and have a spectacular 2021!!! All the best, Kris & Wesley

  • 5 stars
    BEST EVER mushroom soup. Didn’t have vegetable broth so used homemade chicken stock. Didn’t have sherry so used half dry vermouth and half sweet vermouth. One bone to pick with your suggested mushrooms. Cremini are baby portobello. I used both 🙂

  • 5 stars
    Love this recipe. I use it as a jumping off for so many things. I use beef broth and add noodles or potatoes or rice and it is a whole meal! Or chicken broth, if I feel like chicken. The possibilities are endless.

    • Hi Dawn! That is so wonderful to hear! We use it as the basis for so much, too! We’re going to update the classic broccoli, cheddar and rice casserole, using this soup. Your ideas sound amazing, too! Thank you for letting us know and THANK YOU for the great review! We appreciate that so so so much!! All the best!! Kris & Wesley

  • Please tell me what brand of vegetable stock you used. I used Pacific Foods and I’m not real thrilled with the flavor of the soup and I love Cream of Mushroom Soup.

    Thanks
    Cindi

    • I followed your directions and the soup was absolutely amazing. It made me very happy to know I’m able to freeze the soup and continue to enjoy it for as long as it lasts.

      • HI Irene!! So so thrilled you had such great success with the cream of mushroom soup!! And we are happy to hear you had success with freezing it, too! Happy New Year!! All the very best, Kris & Wesley

  • 5 stars
    I made this mushroom soup last night. It was totally delicious! I used almond flour and almond milk, as we are gluten and dairy allergic. But it was still wonderful. I’m looking forward to making it again!

    • Hi Tiff!! That is awesome to hear!! So glad you enjoyed the soup (it’s definitely one of our favorites!) and the modifications you made sound perfect. Thank you so much for letting us know and for the great review. We truly appreciate it so very much. Please stay in touch!! All the best, Kris & Wesley

  • I have been so into making soups lately despite Singapore being still very warm and humid. Am preparing for the colder, rainier december and November months, hopefully!! Just made my wild mushroom soup with no butter, using oats instead to thicken it.

    The mushroom essence sounds so cool! I was wondering if I make a big batch what else can I use it for?

    Check out my recipe here if you are interested:

    https://breakfastandsalads.wordpress.com/2016/11/10/creamy-wild-mushroom-soup-vegan/

    • Hi Gem!!

      That creamy wild mushroom soup looks amazing! And we love your site. Gorgeous! Oh, usually double the batch of the mushroom essence and freeze it. Use it any way you’d use a normal vegetable stock. I’ve never done this, but have been meaning, too, it would be a great way to make an incredible deeply flavored mushroom risotto.

      We would love to get to Singapore one day. It has definitely turned cooler here in the Northeast U.S., and the really colds months are quickly approaching. Perfect time for soup!!

      Thanks for sharing your recipe and beautiful site. Stay in touch!!

      Kris & Wesley

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