Soup, cream of chicken, dry, mix, prepared with water
Whole food · Soups, Sauces, and Gravies
Photo: Wikipedia
This is a dehydrated, powdered mix that transforms into a velvety, pale-yellow soup when reconstituted with water, offering a mild, savory chicken flavor and a smooth, slightly thin texture. It's a pantry staple known for its ultra-low calorie count, providing a quick, warm comfort food base with minimal fat and protein. The preparation is as simple as stirring the powder into hot water, making it a go-to for a fast, light meal or a foundational ingredient in other recipes.
Calorie split: 7% protein · 49% carbs · 44% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
People love it for its nostalgic, comforting simplicity and the fact that it's a near-instant, warm meal that feels like a hug in a bowl. Its mild flavor makes it a versatile base for adding herbs, spices, or extra ingredients like vegetables or shredded chicken.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
Critics often note its high sodium content and potential for blood-sugar spikes due to its refined carbohydrate base and low fiber. To counteract this, pair it with a source of protein (like a hard-boiled egg or shredded chicken) and healthy fat (a drizzle of olive oil or some avocado) to slow digestion, and be mindful of portion size if monitoring sodium intake.
Key benefits
- Extremely low calorie (41 kcal per 100g prepared)
- Very low in fat (2.04g per 100g)
- Provides quick, simple carbohydrates for energy
- Long shelf life as a dry mix
- Convenient and fast to prepare
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The 'cream of' in its name is a historical misnomer; many traditional recipes for this type of soup mix contain no actual cream, relying instead on modified starches and vegetable oils to create a creamy texture.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 90.9 g |
| Energy | 41.0 kcal |
| Energy | 172 kj |
| Protein | 0.68 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 2.0 g |
| Ash | 1.2 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 5.1 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 0.10 g |
| Total Sugars | 1.6 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 29.0 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 0.10 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 2.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 37.0 mg |
| Potassium, K | 82.0 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 454 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 0.60 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.10 mg |
| Manganese, Mn | 0.30 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 3.1 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 0.20 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.04 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.08 mg |
| Niacin | 1.0 mg |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.30 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.02 mg |
| Folate, total | 2.0 ug |
| Folic acid | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, food | 2.0 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 2.0 ug |
| Choline, total | 5.4 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.10 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 8.0 ug |
| Retinol | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 82.0 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 5.0 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 18.0 ug |
| Vitamin A, IU | 156 iu |
| Lycopene | 1.0 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 50.0 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 0.23 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3), International Units | 0.00 iu |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 5.6 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 1.3 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.08 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.52 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.21 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 0.29 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.19 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 0.45 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.04 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 0.41 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 0.16 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 0.16 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Cholesterol | 1.0 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
Estimated from Soup, bean with pork, canned, condensed — USDA does not publish this profile for Soup.
| Tryptophan | 0.06 g |
| Threonine | 0.24 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.29 g |
| Leucine | 0.48 g |
| Lysine | 0.40 g |
| Methionine | 0.07 g |
| Cystine | 0.07 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.33 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.18 g |
| Valine | 0.32 g |
| Arginine | 0.31 g |
| Histidine | 0.15 g |
| Alanine | 0.29 g |
| Aspartic acid | 0.66 g |
| Glutamic acid | 1.1 g |
| Glycine | 0.28 g |
| Proline | 0.27 g |
| Serine | 0.29 g |
FAQ
Is this soup mix gluten-free?
Not necessarily. Many cream of chicken soup mixes contain wheat flour or modified food starch derived from wheat as a thickener. Always check the ingredient list for specific allergens if you have celiac disease or gluten sensitivity.
How can I reduce the sodium in this soup?
You can dilute the prepared soup with extra water or unsalted chicken broth, or use only half the recommended mix per cup of liquid. Adding fresh herbs, a squeeze of lemon, or black pepper can boost flavor without adding sodium.
Can I use this mix as a thickener for other dishes?
Yes, it's a common pantry hack. Whisk the dry powder into a small amount of cold water to make a slurry, then stir it into simmering stews, casseroles, or sauces to add body and a subtle chicken flavor.
Nutrient density (calculated · NRF9.3)
Nutrient Rich Foods index: beneficial nutrients (protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals) minus saturated fat, added sugar & sodium, per 100 kcal.
NRF9.3 index — Fulgoni, Keast & Drewnowski, 2009. Computed from USDA nutrients.
Weight-loss friendliness (composite index)
Energy density 0.41 kcal/g · 7% calories from protein · 0.1 g fiber · 1.6 g sugar per 100 g.
Composite of energy density (Rolls et al., 1999), protein & fiber satiety, minus sugar. A calculated heuristic — ranks satiety-per-calorie, not a clinical measure.
Dietary load (calculated from USDA values)
Potential renal acid load. Positive = acid-forming, negative = alkaline-forming.
Sodium-to-potassium ratio: 5.54 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.