Updated on April 9th, 2023
Green bean casserole is a popular American dish. It is mostly served during thanksgiving as a side dish. It is made with green beans, cream of mushroom soup, and french fried onions. Dorcas Reilly created this unique recipe in 1955. She intended to create a “quick and easy recipe” out of the American kitchen’s most common ingredients. One of its most important ingredients is the cream of mushroom soup.
Cream of mushroom soup is a soup from the “cream soup” family of recipes. It is mostly used in casseroles, hot dishes, and comfort foods. Its major function is to serve as a base ingredient in such dishes. It is mainly made with cream or milk, mushrooms, broth, or both. It can be made very easily, even with a low budget. The cream of mushroom soup has thickening properties. This ingredient gives a savory flavor and has a smooth, creamy texture. It is a mixture of subtle smack-y flavor and a sweet smell. This is due to the mushroom-y flavor in it combined with other ingredients. It has a creamy, meaty taste to it as well.
Cream of mushroom soup contains about 2.6g of fat, 3.3g of carbohydrates, 0.7g of protein, and no cholesterol. It also contains sodium, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, and vitamins. The cream of mushroom soup is usually canned. However, you can prepare a homemade recipe. It is mostly made with dairy products. Due to reasons like these and more, we may want to look for other options. This article seeks to discuss suitable substitutes for the cream of mushroom soup in green bean casserole.
Cream of Mushroom Soup Nutrition Facts:
Uses of Cream of Mushroom Soup in Recipes
Cream of mushroom soup can be used in many dishes. These dishes range from hot dishes to comfort dishes to casseroles. Some of such recipes include;
- Crock-Pot Swedish meatballs
- Tuna Casserole
- Chicken spaghetti
- Nacho potato chowder
- Avocado ranch pork chops and rice
Substitutes for the Cream of Mushroom Soup in Green Bean Casserole
Cream of Celery
This is a great substitute for those who do not like mushrooms. Cream of celery is a soup prepared just like cream of mushroom. Instead of mushrooms, celery is added to the recipe. The amount of celery you will put depends on your taste. If you love celery, then you can put a lot of celery while preparing it. Otherwise, put a little. The flour and the butter in the recipe should, however, remain in the same ratio. This is what makes the soup thick and creamy. Once this is done, you will have your creamy base for your green bean casserole. Serve in the same amount you will serve cream of mushroom soup in your dish.
Celery boldens the taste and flavor of this substitute. It has a plant-like, earthy taste, and smell that affects the taste of the soup. It is thick and creamy. However, you will not get the mushroom-y flavor. This is because it contains no mushrooms. Making homemade cream of celery is much healthier than using canned ones. The soups can usually carry a metallic taste.
Cream of Chicken Soup
Cream of chicken soup is another great substitute for cream of mushroom soup. It is a delicious and satisfying base for casseroles in general. This will be no different in green bean casserole. The aromatic flavor of the chicken enhances the soup’s taste and aroma. However, when preparing it, the amount of salt should be reduced. This is due to the presence of salt while preparing chicken meat.
One serving of cream of chicken soup contains; 5g sugar, 23g fat, 10g carb, 2g protein, and 0.9g of salt. It also contains about 347kcal, 13g saturates, and 2g fiber. There’s no hard rule when using the cream of chicken as a substitute. Just use it in the same way you would use cream of mushroom soup in your dish.
Read More: Green Bean Casserole Recipe
Sour Cream Mushroom Soup
Sour cream makes casseroles creamy and flavorful. This serves as an amazing substitute for cream of mushroom soup. It is a much healthier version of cream of mushroom soup. It is low in calories and uses low-fat milk as well. This recipe is homemade. When preparing it, substitute the cream in cream of mushroom soup with sour cream. Once this is done, your soup will be ready for use. However, when preparing this, bear in mind that one 10 ounce can of cream in cream of mushroom soup equals one cup of sour cream.
Sour cream has a tangy tart smell and taste. Its rich creaminess is seen in this version of mushroom soup. One serving of this soup contains; 155 calories, 17.2g carbohydrates, 20.5mg cholesterol, 103.2mg calcium, and other vitamins. Serve sour cream mushroom soup in green bean casserole the same way you would do with cream of mushrooms soup.
Keto Cream of Mushroom Soup
This recipe is a low-carb cream of mushroom soup. It is an alteration of the ingredients used in the original cream of mushroom soup. This is done to suit the needs of a person on a keto diet. This recipe contains high fat but low carb. Therefore making it perfect for those on a keto diet. It uses cream cheese to thicken and add flavor to its soup. Its thick creaminess makes it a great substitute for cream of mushroom soup. This recipe requires the following Ingredients;
¼ cup butter, 5 cups mushrooms(chopped), ½ cup onions (chopped), one clove garlic (minced), ½ tsp salt, ½ tsp ground black pepper, ¼ tsp dried thyme, 32-ounce chicken broth, 2 cups heavy whipping cream, 4-ounce cream cheese, 2tbsp sherry.
This is how this recipe is made;
- Melt butter in a pan on medium heat
- Add mushroom, garlic onions and stir until it becomes tender.
- Add the seasonings (salt, pepper, and thyme) and let it cook for 1 minute.
- Add chicken broth, whipping cream, and cream cheese.
- Allow to cook; stir at intervals until it is well cooked (for at least 45 minutes).
Once this is done, serve it in your green bean casserole in the same ratio you would with cream of mushroom soup.
Golden Mushroom Soup
This is a great substitute for vegetarians. It is also gluten and dairy-free. It is very similar to cream of mushroom soup in taste, smell, and flavor. The cream of mushroom soup contains dehydrated cream. Golden mushroom soup, on the other hand, contains no dairy milk.
Golden mushroom soup is prepared with a little wine and tomato paste. This is what gives it its sophisticated French flavor, taste, and smell. Vegetables such as carrots, potatoes, and turnips are also added to this recipe. Just like the cream of mushroom soup, the golden mushroom soup contains food starch and monosodium glutamate. This is typically found in canned soups.
People avoid anything unhealthy or do not like canned soups, making a homemade soup. Please do this by browning your pot roast and placing it on a slow cooker. Afterward, you add your seasonings(in whichever way it suits you). However, if you wish to create a French version, add in a few more ingredients. Those ingredients include; red wine, tomato paste, and sautéed onions. The pot roast should then be cooked for up to 5 or 7hrs (basically, until it is tender). Make a roux once this is done (by whisking melted butter and flour in the pan you used to brown the meat). Next, pour in the reserved liquid to thicken it to a gravy consistency. Add salt and pepper to taste. This essentially provides you with a more natural flavor.
To substitute, use the golden mushroom soup as you would use the cream of mushroom soup in your dish. If you wish to get more insight into this, you can check up recipes for golden mushroom soup on the internet. There are other ways to prepare it and with different ingredients too. It all depends on your taste.
Read More: Green Bean Casserole
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between cream of mushroom and cream of chicken?
The difference is in the ingredients used. It uses chicken and finely chopped onions and the mushroom and other ingredients in the cream of the mushroom recipe in cream of chicken soup.
Is mushroom soup fattening?
No. the Mushroom soup is low in calories. It is great for people with high blood pressure and great for weight loss.
Is there a difference between cream of mushroom and mushroom soup?
Yes. The difference is that the cream of mushroom soup is thicker and creamier than mushroom soup.
Conclusion
The cream of mushroom soup is one major ingredient in green bean casserole. There are many reasons why one may not use the cream of mushroom soup. It could be due to being on a vegan diet or a keto diet. It could also be due to allergies to mushrooms or even unavailability of cream of mushroom soups. Thus, we look for the next best possible option. This article has discussed five suitable substitutes for the cream of mushroom soup in green bean casserole. Each substitute has been aimed to suit various needs. I hope you found this helpful.
