Making a Condensed Tomato Soup Substitute is easy!
I needed a substitute for condensed tomato soup when I was making porcupine meatballs last week. I did a quick search on the internet and found this recipe. I used brown sugar instead of the white granulated sugar it called for and was shocked at how close to the real thing it tasted.
Whether you are gluten-free or just don’t like using canned soups, you will be so excited about this easy Tomato Soup Substitute.
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Two of my favorite comfort foods call for canned tomato soup. I’m not completely against using condensed canned soups, but I try to use them sparingly since they are high in sodium and preservatives. I use the canned soup when I am in a huge hurry and don’t have time to make my own substitute.
HOW TO MAKE A TOMATO SOUP SUBSTITUTE
- In a small bowl, whisk together:
- Tomato sauce
- Cornstarch
- Brown sugar
- Salt
- Use in recipes that call for condensed tomato soup.
I’m really excited to have this recipe and wanted to share it ASAP!
Chef’s Tools for Making a Condensed Tomato Soup Substitute:
- 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 1½ tbsp brown sugar
- ½ tsp salt
- Whisk all ingredients together in a small mixing bowl.
- Use in recipes that call for condensed tomato soup.
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I love this recipe. I keep coming back to it. Since going gluten free (medically necessary), I’ve been all of the recipes that call condensed tomato soup. Not anymore!
I’m canning my own tomato sauce this year, and will keep this recipe handy 🙂
Thank you
I am so glad you like it Nicole!
Does this taste like campbells?
Not exactly, but for a copycat recipe it is pretty close.
Thanks for a great idea- healthier Tom. Soup
You’re welcome, I’m glad you like it Dale.
What size canning jar and how long do you process and do you use water bath or pressure canner process
Also can you can this as a soup concentrate instead of a plain tomato sauce
No, that won’t work with this recipe.
Hi Dawn, This recipe isn’t formulated to be able to safely can. This is to be made and used in place of a can of tomato soup if you are in a bind or do not like all the preservatives in the ones you can buy at the store.
Did you use rosella tomato sauce
I always just use whatever tomato sauce I have on hand.
Thank You for this substitute. I needed tomato soup in a recipe & I live 6 miles from a grocery store. This worked out great!
You’re welcome, so glad you found the recipe.
I find tomato basil canned soup too expensive..I am going to add basil to this recipe thank you!
With the current Coronavirus situation, condensed tomato soup is like gold. We wanted to make a favorite casserole and found this recipe. It was perfect! Thanks!
Yay! So glad you found it! You are so right about certain everyday items becoming like gold. Hope you and your family are safe and healthy!
Awesome ! I have been making tomato soup at home for years but have yet to nail down a good recipie. This is it. A delicious part of childhood I can’t let go. Thanks Maria.
Awesome! Love hearing that John! So glad you found the recipe.
I was trying to find a substitute for condensed tomato soup due to corona virus and came across this recipe for my slow cooker – tomato and chive drummies! hope it might taste, well, tasty! it is cooking now had to wait 5 hrs on low thank you as I got all ingredients in the cupboard phew! you never know what we have in the pantry!
Glad you found the recipe, hope it turned out well with your drummies.
I would like a substitute for tomato sauce?
If I’m wanting to use this in a recipe that doesn’t require cooking (marinated carrot salad), do I need to cook the tomato sauce mixture first? I’m guessing yes, because of the corn starch. Or is there an alternate thickener I could use (Xanthan gum maybe? What amount?)
Hi Monica, I would suggest cooking it and letting it cool. I have only used cornstarch so I can’t suggest any other thickener.
Monica, you can add 1 to 2 tsp of xantham gum in place of corn starch. Xantham gum is safe to can. To be honest, I made homemade apple.pie filling this past summer and canned it with corn starch. It’s been completely fine.
Thanks for the recipe Maria! I like that it uses pantry items. Can’t wait to try it out with a chili-mac recipe, as soon as the heat lets up!
You’re so welcome! That sounds like the perfect way to use the Tomato sou recipe!
So do you add milk liked the canned versions when you just want to have soup and not use it in another recipe?
Yes. 🙂
I dont think i can get canned tomatosauce where i live. I can get canned chopped tomatoes. If i run that through the blender, will that be the same as your tomatoes sauce?
Hi Thor, It won’t be quite the same, but its a good place to start. I think you will need to simmer them after you blend them to get more of the liquid out so it can thicken into more of a sauce.
A can of Campbell’s tomato soup is bigger than an 8 oz can of tomato sauce. Just curious if I should double it?
Hi Brian, great question. I have never doubled it and it seems to be just right for the substitution.
Yes, you can double it. I have done it successfully.
Are you using a tomato sauce or a puree in this recipe?
Hi Jimmy,
I use tomato sauce in this recipe.
If I am going to put it in a casserole and bake, do I need to heat this up first? Someone suggested it might be necessary.
It should be fine either way. I usually just mix it and add it to casseroles without heating.
Exactly the same! Impressive.
Thank you!
I’m always looking for gluten-free options and have found a few for condensed tomato soup. This is the easiest and best by far. I might get the family to eat this without even knowing it’s gluten-free. Thanks.
Awesome! I love hearing that Carol!
Is the cornstarch going to clump up?
Hi Rebecca, No, it just helps it thicken.
Thanks so much. Do not like using canned condensed soups in recipes!!
You’re welcome
I’ve never seen a Shepherd’s Pie recipe with tomato soup, but many with tomato paste for umami. Then again, if I did, I would blot it from my memory! LOL
For medical reasons I had to go gluten free over a year ago and have been missing Campbells condensed tomato soup in my favorite recipes. Thanks to this simple, delicious recipe I am enjoying all my favorite dishes that call for tomato soup. Thank you so much for this!!!
Thank you, Elle. So glad to hear you’re able to enjoy your favorite dishes with this recipe.