I Tried 5 Popular Brands of Canned Chicken Noodle Soup—This One Still Tops Them All

My pantry is always stocked with canned soup. There’s a soup to fit every mood and craving. While I’ll often forget to re-stock once that last can of split pea has been enjoyed, I never have fewer than two cans of chicken noodle soup on hand. That’s because chicken noodle is my go-to for when a cold or other ailment takes me down. It’s the one I reach for when I can literally reach for nothing else. I’ve traditionally stuck to my long-time favorite (Progresso), but when tasked with testing a new bunch of contenders, I’ll admit, I may be adding some new cans to the collection. Here’s how I tested.

The Search Began at the Grocery Store

When it came to selecting the soups for testing, I went straight to my local chain grocery store. It was well-stocked as expected, but I was surprised at the limited brand contenders. I chose five, including two from the same brand. I chose soups that were labeled specifically as “chicken noodle” and were not designated as “low-sodium” to keep things as fair as possible. 

How I Tested

Each soup was warmed on the stove to 145 degrees F and then poured into a bowl. I made note of appearance, documenting the balance or imbalance of chicken/noodles/vegetables in relation to the broth. I tasted each soup and judged flavor based on the following criteria: salt level, amount of chicken detected/tasted, and overall taste. 

After observing and tasting all five soups, I found a winner. Here are the results of my very (un-)scientific taste test.

The Best Canned Chicken Noodle Soup Taste Test

The Zestiest Broth: Rao’s Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup  

The broth in this soup was its most notable feature. I could detect herbs and garlic and found that lovely. What I didn’t detect was chicken, even when I tried a bite of actual chicken. The vegetables weren’t much better and I disliked that both (vegetables and chicken) were cut into such tiny pieces. If you’re in the mood for some good, herby broth, then grab a jar. If you’re looking for classic chicken noodle soup though, this isn’t it.

When You Want Organic: Pacific Chicken Noodle Soup

This organic soup is average in both flavor and appearance. The noodles are wide, but thin and the small bits of chicken and vegetables are few and far between. Because of that, the soup feels less hearty and satisfying than others on the list. As for flavor, it’s just “okay.” The broth is rather bland and the other ingredients don’t do much to lift it.

The Best for When You’re Sick: Campbell’s Homestyle Chicken Noodle

It looks like the stuff your mom served you when you were sick, but upgraded with larger noodles, and bigger pieces of vegetables and chicken. The liquid is a bit thinner and less flavorful than Campell’s Chunky Classic Chicken Noodle (below), but the mild flavor could be its selling point on sick days. One thing to note is that this soup is salty, so don’t neglect to take down a glass or two of water while enjoying.

The Heartiest Version: Campbell’s Chunky Classic Chicken Noodle

This is for the person craving food versus soup. Upon opening, I could see the plentiful, huge pieces of noodles, chicken, and vegetables. It looked a lot like my winner (see below) and tasted like it too. True to its name, this soup delivers big bites, and I loved it. The broth was flavorful and satisfying and I’d definitely make room for it on my “soup shelf” in my pantry.

The Overall Winner: Progresso Chicken & Homestyle Noodles

It’s the perfect cozy bowl of chicken noodle soup. I love the slightly thickened broth that seems to somehow soothe a tired or sore throat. I also love the big pieces of vegetables and chicken, especially the sliced (versus cubed) carrots—which somehow make the soup feel more homemade that way. The noodles are thick and satisfying and there’s just the right amount of broth to keep it feeling like soup versus stew. If I’m buying canned chicken noodle soup, this is the one I want.