Bacon Mushroom Soup

A big bowl of this rich and savory soup is just the ticket for chilly days. Our bacon mushroom soup recipe takes only 30 minutes to prepare—pretty impressive for a from-scratch dish! The soup base starts with sauteed sliced mushrooms, onions and garlic, which are stirred into a velvety broth with cream and Swiss cheese.

Homemade soups like this one make delicious, casual dinners, especially when paired with slices of buttered bread and fresh green salads. It also makes an excellent potluck lunch buffet recipe; just transfer it to a slow cooker to keep it warm so everyone can help themselves. Set out bowls of cooked bacon and chopped parsley for guests to garnish their bowls.

Bacon Mushroom Soup Ingredients

• Bacon: Cooked diced bacon adds lots of flavor to the soup, so use one of the best bacon brands for the most impact.
• Mushrooms: Of the different types of mushrooms to use in this soup, I recommend cremini, shiitake or portobello.
• Chicken broth: Store-bought or homemade chicken broth gives this soup a savory boost. You can also opt for beef or vegetable broth.
• Heavy whipping cream: Heavy whipping cream gives the soup its creamy texture. Half-and-half cream also works well if you want to lighten things up a touch.
• Garlic: Fresh garlic tastes better than the jarred variety. Plus, it’s a cinch to mince fresh garlic cloves with a Microplane or garlic press.
• Onion: Several types of onion work well in bacon mushroom soup, so you should use what you have on hand, whether that’s yellow or sweet onions or even shallots.
• Cheese: Many beloved Swiss cheese recipes call for mushrooms, and that’s because they’re so delicious together. If Swiss isn’t your favorite, you can use shredded smoked Gouda or cheddar.
• Seasonings: With the aromatics, cheese and bacon providing plenty of flavor, you can keep the seasonings simple and add just a little salt and pepper.
• Cornstarch: When blended with cold water and then simmered with the soup, cornstarch is an effective thickener.
• Fresh parsley: This garnish is optional, but it adds a pop of color to bowls of mushroom bacon soup. Here’s how to easily chop fresh parsley and other leafy herbs.

Directions

Step 1: Cook the bacon

In a large saucepan, cook the diced bacon over medium heat until it’s crisp. Using a slotted spoon, remove the bacon and transfer it to paper towels to drain. Reserve 2 tablespoons of drippings in the pan.

Step 2: Saute the mushrooms and aromatics

In the drippings, saute the mushrooms and onion until they’re tender, five to seven minutes. Add the garlic and cook it with the mushrooms and onion for one additional minute.

Step 3: Build the broth

Stir in the cream and broth, then bring the mixture to a simmer. Gradually stir in the cheese until it’s melted.

Step 4: Thicken and finish the soup

In a small bowl, combine the cornstarch, salt, pepper and water until they form a smooth slurry. Stir the slurry into the soup. Bring the soup to a boil, then cook and stir for about two minutes or until it’s thickened. Garnish the soup with bacon and, if desired, parsley.

Bacon Mushroom Soup Variations

• Add beans: Stir canned black or pinto beans into the pot when adding the cream and broth.
• Add chicken: For even more protein, add cooked, shredded chicken into the soup for the last few minutes of cooking to warm it through.
• Add some green: Add fresh or frozen peas to the soup when adding the broth. They give the soup color and a little fresh flavor.

How to Store Bacon Mushroom Soup

Once the mushroom bacon soup has cooled, transfer it to an airtight container. Keep the soup cold in the refrigerator for up to four days.

Can you freeze mushroom bacon soup?

Although freezing soup is a great way to get ahead on meal prep, we don’t recommend freezing this mushroom bacon soup because it has dairy cream. The thawed soup will be grainy and separated.

How should you reheat bacon mushroom soup?

Reheat bacon mushroom soup in a saucepan set over medium heat on the stove. Stir the soup often as you gently warm it in order to bring back the broth’s creamy texture. You can also reheat the soup in the microwave. Loosely cover the top of the dish. Microwave the soup in 30-second bursts, stirring after each one, until it’s nice and hot.

Bacon Mushroom Soup Tips

What can you serve with bacon mushroom soup?

This rich and creamy soup is perfect when served with crusty bread for dunking. Try a rustic French loaf recipe or our one-dish no-knead bread. Easy potato rolls spread with butter are another cozy choice. Have you tried homemade Hawaiian roll croutons? They’re very easy and add lots of crunch to this creamy soup.

To turn bacon mushroom soup into a complete meal, serve bowls with loaded baked potatoes topped with cheese and bacon. Or make this soup the side dish; serve small bowls alongside toasty grilled cheese sandwiches or a classic turkey club.