Cream of Mushroom Soup (2024)

This is simply the best cream of mushroom soup recipe. The canned condensed version just cannot compare with the bold, earthy flavor of fresh mushrooms that shines through in every single bite. Since it only takes about 30 minutes to make, this creamy soup recipe is perfect for a cold night or busy weekday dinner. It’s also incredibly versatile: Serve it as a starter, side dish, or hearty main course…or as a base for delicious homemade casseroles!

The best part is you can control how much savory mushroom flavor you have by changing the type of mushroom you use. Cremini mushrooms yield a darker brown, very full-bodied mushroom soup, which you can temper by combining them with white button mushrooms. You could also throw in a few shiitake mushrooms and wild mushrooms for a more complex flavor. And if you want more homemade soup recipes, then try my potato leek soup recipe, split pea soup recipe, or corn chowder recipe.

What You Need to Make This Recipe

Butter — opt for unsalted butter so you have full control over how much salt goes into the creamy mushroom soup.

Mushrooms — a variety of sliced fresh mushrooms will give your soup a complex, deep flavor. Buy pre-sliced mushrooms to save some time.

Aromatics — onions add a hint of sweetness to balance out the earthy mushrooms, while garlic brings in a subtle nuttiness and mouth-watering aroma.

Fresh thyme — if you do not have fresh thyme, you can use a heaping teaspoon of dried thyme instead.

White wine — dry white wine like pinot grigio, pinot gris, and sauvignon blanc are all good choices. For a slightly sweeter option, use marsala wine. You don’t need to splurge a great wine, but do use one you would enjoy drinking. (If you don’t like the flavor of it on its own, you won’t like the flavor it adds to the soup.)

All-purpose flour — acts as a thickener for the base of the soup, giving this recipe for cream of mushroom soup its iconic velvety texture.

Broth — chicken broth or chicken stock, either homemade or store-bought, works very well. You could swap it for vegetable broth if you like. Keep in mind broth is lighter in color, whereas stock is darker and will make the soup more brown.

Heavy cream — heavy cream adds richness and a hint of indulgence to this soup, while also acting as a thickener.

How to Make Cream of Mushroom Soup

1. Melt the butter in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the sliced mushrooms, chopped onion, minced garlic, and thyme to the melted butter. Stir occasionally while they cook. Once the mushrooms are almost tender and starting to brown, about 8 minutes, add the dry white wine and simmer for 3 minutes.

2. Sprinkle the flour over the mushroom mixture. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 2 minutes. The mixture will thicken quite a bit during this time, which is normal.

3. Gradually stir in the chicken broth, salt, and black pepper, and bring the mixture to a boil. Turn the heat down to medium-low, cover, and simmer for about 15 minutes until thickened. Stir the soup a few times while it simmers.

4. Remove the soup from the heat and stir in the heavy cream. Serve immediately, garnished with fresh thyme leaves or other fresh herbs if desired.

Pro Tips for Making This Recipe

• Stir in the broth slowly. After you add the flour to the mushroom mixture, the soup will become very thick. Gradually stirring in the broth will break it up and allow the flour to be well incorporated into the broth. If you add the broth all at once or too fast, you may end up with a lumpy soup.
• Change up the texture of the soup. This recipe yields a nice velvety texture with tender mushrooms in every bite. If you want a smoother soup, you can puree it or puree part of it with an immersion blender before adding the cream.
• For extra protein: Add cooked shredded chicken or diced smoked sausage along with the mushrooms, onions, and garlic, then follow the recipe as written.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you’ve tried this cream of mushroom soup recipe, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you!