8 Ways to Make Any Soup Creamier (2024)

Emma Christensen

Emma Christensen

Emma is a former editor for The Kitchn and a graduate of the Cambridge School for Culinary Arts. She is the author of True Brews and Brew Better Beer. Check out her website for more cooking stories

updated Aug 27, 2022

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8 Ways to Make Any Soup Creamier (1)

Sometimes in the middle of making a soup, I decide that creamy is what I crave. Yes, definitely. A creamy, spoon-clinging soup to savor slurp by slurp while I catch up with my Netflix queue. It’s time to travel off-recipe into improvisation territory: creamy soup or bust! As I discovered, there are ways to thicken soups and one of them is by using pantry staples like flour or ground nuts.

Ways to Make Soups Creamier

Of course, there could really be any number of reasons you might be looking for some creamy alternatives. Maybe you used the last of the heavy cream in your morning coffee. Or you’d love a thicker soup, but don’t want the extra calories. Whatever your soup situation, I have some ideas to help:

1. Add Cream: Let’s get the obvious one out of the way. Yes, you can definitely add cream to your soup. Whether you use a few tablespoons or a few cups, cream gives soup a silky mouthfeel and rich flavor. You can definitely add milk or other dairy as well, though it will taste gradually less creamy as you go down in percent.

2. Puree a Few Cups: Blend just a cup or two of your soup with a stick blender or in a food processor — not the whole batch, though. You just want to add a little body, but still keep the chunky goodness.

3. Add Stale Bread: A few slices of bread also help make a soup creamy. Tear them into pieces and let them soak in a cup or two of the hot soup before pureeing and stirring back into the main pot.

4. Add Yogurt: Plain yogurt works much like cream when added to soups like our avocado soup, but with a lighter result. I also love the tangy flavor it adds to my soups.

5. Add Ground Nuts: Nuts were actually one of the first thickeners used to thicken soups and sauces, historically-speaking. Grind a handful of nuts until they have completely crumbled and are just verging on becoming a paste. In a small bowl, whisk the nuts together with some of the soup broth and then whisk it into the main soup. Cashews are an especially good choice.

6. Make a Beurre Manié: Sounds fancy, but don’t fret! Knead equal parts butter and flour into a thick paste, and then whisk it into your soup until it has completely dissolved. Adding beurre manié is like a making reverse-roux, and it will thicken your soup in a similar way.

7. Add Flour, Cornstarch, or Other Thickener: Starches thicken soup and give it body. Whisk a few tablespoons of starch into a little of the broth in a separate bowl before whisking it into the main pot. This prevents the starch from clumping and helps it dissolve into the soup evenly.

8. Add Coconut Milk: One of my favorite dairy-free options. Just a quarter cup or so adds creaminess without drastically change the flavor of your soup. Of course, use more for a subtle coconut flavor!

What other ways do you make soup thick and creamy?

This post has been updated. Originally published January 14, 2010.

8 Ways to Make Any Soup Creamier (2024)

FAQs

How do I make my soup creamier? ›

The best options for thickening soup are cream or half and half. Plain yogurt or even freshly grated cheese works well and adds an extra layer of tangy, salty flavor. Add the dairy at the end and avoid bringing the soup to a boil since this can cause yogurt, cheese, or cream to split.

What makes soup thick and creamy? ›

Add Something Creamy

Possibilities include cream, coconut milk, yogurt, or even pureed avocado. If you choose coconut milk, be aware that it will impart a sweet, coconut flavor, which might not be right for every soup. Yogurt will add tanginess.

How can I thicken soup without cream or milk? ›

Aside from rice, you can also use bread, potatoes or beans, according to Breana Lai Killeen, M.P.H., RD. Killeen says, "When stirred into soup, stale bread, mashed beans and mashed potatoes cook down to create a creamy, rich texture, all without adding cream.

How to make creamy soups without adding dairy? ›

5 Dairy-Free Ways to Make a Creamy Soup, According to a Dietitian
  1. Nuts. One way to add body to your soup is with the addition of nuts. ...
  2. Lentils and Legumes. Lentils are a favorite ingredient amongst our staff. ...
  3. Peanut Butter or Tahini. ...
  4. Pureed Vegetables. ...
  5. Coconut Milk.
Mar 11, 2022

How do you make soup super smooth? ›

An immersion blender will do a fine job of puréeing your soup. You may want to skip the food processor, however. They're great for making chunky sauces, like pestos, but can't handle much liquid, and won't blend the vegetables as smoothly as a blender.

Does adding milk to soup make it creamy? ›

Yes, you can definitely add cream to your soup. Whether you use a few tablespoons or a few cups, cream gives soup a silky mouthfeel and rich flavor. You can definitely add milk or other dairy as well, though it will taste gradually less creamy as you go down in percent.

What is the secret ingredient to thicken soup? ›

Soup Thickening Method: Cornstarch Slurry

About this method: One of the most common ways to thicken sauces and soups is with a starch-based slurry, and cornstarch is a popular choice. Cornstarch is flavorless, easy to mix up, and versatile, which makes it a go-to pantry ingredient.

What can I use in soup instead of cream? ›

The 10 Best Substitutes for Heavy Cream
  • Milk and butter.
  • Soy milk and olive oil.
  • Milk and cornstarch.
  • Half-and-half.
  • Tofu and soy.
  • Yogurt and milk.
  • Evaporated milk.
  • Cottage cheese and milk.

How to thicken soup without milk? ›

Mix mix 1 tablespoon of arrowroot starch with 2 tablespoons of cold water until smooth then stir into the soup. May need to double or triple that depending on how much soup you have. Simmer gently to thicken. The advantage of arrowroot starch over cornstarch is that it does not break down as quickly when heated.

What is the healthiest way to thicken soup? ›

The absolute healthiest way to thicken soup is by using a traditionally made bone broth powder like the one from Bluebird Provisions.
  1. Oat Flour, Quinoa Flour or Chickpea Flour.
  2. Applesauce or Mashed Bananas.
  3. Eggs.

Is it better to thicken soup with flour or cornstarch? ›

It's important to note that cornstarch has twice the thickening power of flour. If you need to substitute cornstarch to thicken liquid in a recipe that calls for ¼ cup (four tablespoons) flour, you only need two tablespoons cornstarch.

How can I make my soup more creamy? ›

You can add a creamy substance, either ordinary cream, milk, or coconut milk, but which works best will depend on the flavors already on the soup. If you've made your souo with beans, potatoes, or rice, blending part of it and returning it to the pot will make everything creamier.

What's a non-dairy substitute for heavy cream? ›

What Do Vegans Use Instead of Heavy Cream? Fortunately, nearly any plant-based milk can be made into a heavy cream substitute. Nut milks, including hemp milk, oat milk, coconut milk and soy milk can all be used as the base for a heavy cream substitute with the addition of the right fats.

How to make things creamy without milk? ›

Key Takeaways
  1. Add blended avocado.
  2. Whip up an easy cashew-based sauce.
  3. Swap out cheese for white beans and nutritional yeast.
  4. Use up the coconut milk in your pantry.
  5. Blend potatoes for creamy soups.
  6. Bonus: Order Mama's Mac Sauce for a scrumptious vegan take on Alfredo sauce.

How do you add acidity to creamy soup? ›

Pantry hot sauces, like Tabasco and Cholula, generally have vinegar as an ingredient, so they introduce both acidity and heat. They are best when added to creamy canned soups and chowders such as broccoli cheddar, clam chowder, and corn chowder.

How to add heavy cream to soup? ›

Put the cream in a measuring cup or bowl, add 1tbs of the soup and stir, add another, stir, do this several times until it is warm then add it to the soup.

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