The Canned Soup That Doubles As A Creamy, Earthy Pasta Sauce

Cooking can be a soothing experience that melts away the stress of the day, but sometimes you just don't have it in you to spend the time and effort necessary to make something from scratch. On those evenings when you are rummaging through the pantry hoping to find something simple to enjoy, thinking outside the box can be your best solution. A humble canned soup will fill the hole in your stomach in a pinch, but why stop there? If you bulk it up with some tasty pasta, now you've got a hearty meal.

Utilized in a variety of recipes from green bean casseroles to one-pot chicken dishes, cream of mushroom soup is a versatile pantry staple that works wonderfully as a pasta sauce. Making a creamy mushroom sauce by hand requires prepping and cooking, not to mention vigilantly checking to ensure everything goes into the pan when it is supposed to. Using canned soup in lieu of freshly made sauce saves a whole lot of headache and time, especially if you're drained and your stomach is growling.

All you've got to do here to make a satisfying dinner is boil enough water to cook the pasta of your choice and simmer the soup with some additional liquid to get it to your desired sauce consistency. Even if you think the simple fare needs to be leveled up with a few additions beyond that, a hearty and satisfying meal full of earthy flavor can still be ready in minutes.

The directions on most brands of cream of mushroom soup call for adding a can of water while heating it. However, only adding half the water will make it thicker and creamier, which is precisely what you want for a pasta sauce. If you are like some who think canned soup is too salty, add more water or cream and let the sauce simmer longer to reduce it. Don't have the time for that? Incorporate a cornstarch slurry as you would to thicken beef stew.

Some folks think the canned soup needs a bit of help in terms of flavor. If you're in that camp, all you need are a few essential seasonings to boost your soup-based pasta sauce. With a little black pepper, some garlic powder, and maybe a teaspoon of thyme, the humble pantry staple can transform into an elevated pasta sauce without much extra effort on your part. All told, dinner after a long day doesn't have to come from the freezer or a delivery driver. With certain canned soups and a bit of pasta on hand, you have an abundance of meal options sitting right in your cupboard.