What Is Soup, cream of celery and How Can I Use It?
Wondering what to do with soup, cream of celery? This guide covers how to pick it, cook it, store it, and swap it, plus 97 recipes to put it to work.
Key Points
- Condensed canned soup used as a mild binder, not eaten as soup.
- The neutral choice for tuna and chicken casseroles, plus stuffing and dressing.
- It thickens rather than flavors; build real taste with onion, herbs, or lemon.
- Heavily salted, so taste the dish before seasoning, especially with canned tuna.
- A roux of butter, sweated celery, flour, broth, and milk replaces one can.
What is soup, cream of celery?
Cream of celery soup is the quiet member of the condensed-soup family. It is a pale, thick canned paste of celery in a salted flour base, poured from the can as a near-solid block rather than a liquid.
You rarely serve it as soup. It earns its pantry spot as a mild binding sauce: a pre-made roux with a soft vegetable flavor and plenty of salt, ready to thicken a casserole without taking over the taste.
Where cream of mushroom brings earthiness and cream of chicken brings meatiness, celery brings little but body and a faint green note. That neutrality is the whole point.
Ways to Use It
Like the rest of the condensed soups, it is built to be diluted with a canful of milk or broth. Casseroles usually call for it straight, though, so it can set the filling.
Its mildness makes it the default binder when a stronger soup would clash. It holds the filling together in Cable Car Tuna Casserole and Mix & Match Casserole, and it stands in for the mushroom version in Bev's Green Bean Casserole when you want creaminess without the mushrooms.
Cooks also stir it into bread stuffing and dressing. A spoonful adds moisture and a celery note that matches the chopped celery already in the mix, which is why it turns up around the holidays.
Keep the heat moderate. The flour base catches and browns on a dry pan, so loosen it with a little liquid and stir as it warms.
Pairing and Common Mistakes
Celery pairs with the things it grows up beside: poultry, fish, rice, potatoes. It is especially at home with canned tuna and chicken, where its soft flavor reads as background creaminess rather than a competing taste.
The usual mistake is treating it like a flavor source. It is not. Build the real flavor with onion and herbs or a squeeze of lemon, and let the soup handle the thickening.
The second mistake is salt. A can is heavily salted, so taste before you season, especially in a tuna or chicken dish that already carries salt of its own.
Substitutes
Cream of mushroom or cream of chicken swaps in one for one. Most people will not notice in a busy casserole, though the background flavor shifts.
To make your own, melt 3 tablespoons butter and sweat ½ cup finely chopped celery until soft. Whisk in 3 tablespoons flour, then add 1 cup broth and ½ cup milk and simmer until thick. Season with salt, pepper, and a pinch of celery seed.
A plain white sauce with a little celery salt covers the role too, since the soup is mostly thickener anyway.
Buying and Storing
Standard cans run about 10.5 ounces (roughly 298 grams), the "one can" most recipes assume. Lower-sodium versions exist if salt is a concern.
Skip any can that bulges or shows rust along a seam.
Unopened cans last a year or more in the pantry, usually past the printed best-by date. After opening, move leftovers to a covered container and use within three to four days. Do not refrigerate it in the open can.
Nutrition
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 1 cup (251g)Quick facts
Where to find soup, cream of celery: Soup, cream of celery is usually found in the canned goods section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.
Food group: Soup, cream of celery is a member of the Soups, Sauces, and Gravies US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.
- In Chinese
- 汤，奶油芹菜
- British (UK) term
- Soup, cream of celery
- en français
- soupe crème de céleri, conserve, condensée
- en español
- crema de sopa de apio, en lata, condensada
How much does soup, cream of celery weigh?
| Amount | Weight |
|---|---|
| 1 cup | 251 grams |
| 1 can (10.75 oz) | 305 grams |
Related
Soups, Sauces, and Gravies
Recipes using soup, cream of celery
There are 97 recipes that contain this ingredient.
Baked Eggs Florentine
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Best Vegetarian Broccoli Casserole
A hearty vegetarian broccoli rice casserole with brown rice, two cream soups, melty American cheese, and tender broccoli florets. The Sunday dinner casserole made meat-free without the fuss.
Six Can Casserole
Six Can Casserole is the easiest dump-and-bake dinner you'll ever make. Canned chicken, cream soups, chow mein noodles, and melted cheddar bake into bubbly comfort food with just 5 minutes of prep.
Tuna Noodle Casserole No. 2
A scrumptious tuna casserole that's perfect to take with you to the next family gathering!
Crockpot Chicken with Mushrooms & Onions
Crockpot chicken with mushrooms and onions in a creamy soup-and-broth sauce, slow-cooked until fall-apart tender, then finished with crisp crumbled bacon on top. Dump it in and walk away.
Cable Car Tuna Casserole For Two
A much improved tuna casserole that's perfectly sized for two hearty servings. Cheesy creamy and packed with a variety of textures.
Easy Cheddar Pasta & Vegetables
A creamy, tasty yet refreshing pasta dish. It's inexpensive to make, and it's ready within half an hour. An easy yet delicious dinner for a week day.
Bev's Green Bean Casserole
Green bean casserole built with cream of celery soup, sour cream, sweet corn, and a buttery Ritz cracker topping crowned with slivered almonds. A creamier, crunchier riff on the holiday-table classic.
Kielbasa Rice Skillet Dinner
Kielbasa rice skillet dinner simmers Polish sausage with rice, cream of celery soup, peas, corn, and Monterey Jack into a one-pan creamy comfort meal that hits the table in well under an hour.
Deluxe Chicken Supper
Cheesy dumplings baked on top of creamy sauce with chunks of chicken, bacon, onions and mushrooms. All in one deluxe chicken dinner.
Cable Car Tuna Casserole
Tuna casserole? Many will moan, but this recipe changes the image. Nice texture and crunch from the water chestnuts and the creamy sauce was wonderful. A real winner on this old classic.
Mix & Match Casserole
An easy yet delicious recipe. I followed the recipe, and used whatever I had on hand. Then just mixed them up, and baked in the oven until the cheese was nicely browned. I let the casserole rest for about 10 minutes, then served it. Overall a great dish.
Perfect Tuna Casserole
Tuna casserole with cream of celery soup, hard-boiled eggs, green peas, and a crunchy potato chip topping. A classic comfort food dinner with pantry staples.
Fowl Affair
Chicken and rice casserole baked with four cans of cream soup for a creamy, hands-off one-pan dinner. Just layer, cover, and bake for three hours with almost no prep.
In-A-Hurry-Curry Soup
Quick curry soup with chicken, diced tomatoes, cream of celery soup, and half-and-half. A creamy, lightly spiced 30-minute soup using pantry staples for a fast weeknight dinner.
Slow Cooker Pot Roast
Slow cooker pot roast that practically makes itself: a beef roast braised low in cream of celery soup and dry onion soup mix until fork-tender, with rich gravy built right in. A 4-ingredient dump-and-go dinner.
Tasha's Chicken Topping
Chicken breasts baked on a bed of creamy mushroom and celery soup with rice and onion soup mix. A nostalgic dump-and-bake casserole that practically makes itself.
Souper Chicken
Set-it-and-forget-it slow cooker chicken smothered in creamy celery soup with zucchini, tomatoes, and herbs. Just 10 minutes of prep for a tender, saucy dinner after a long day.
Great Tuna Casserole
Upgraded tuna noodle casserole with bell peppers, celery, pimentos, sherry, and slivered almonds. A retro comfort dish dressed up with classier ingredients than the standard version.
Microwave Casseroled Chicken
Microwave casseroled chicken: whole roaster cooked in the microwave with cream of celery soup, egg noodles, and mixed vegetables. Full dinner in 50 minutes.
Easy Yummy Cheese Soup
Easy 5-ingredient cheese soup made with canned cream of chicken, cream of celery, sharp cheddar cheese spread, and chicken broth. Stovetop in under 30 minutes, no roux needed.
Chicken Ole 2
Make-ahead Mexican chicken casserole with corn tortillas, cheddar, Monterey Jack, sour cream, and cream of celery soup. Assemble the night before and microwave until bubbly.
Chicken & Lima Bake
Chicken and lima bean casserole baked in a creamy celery soup sauce with carrots, onions, and Worcestershire. A hearty one-dish dinner with tender vegetables and golden browned chicken pieces.
Dent Knee's Cheese Soup
A rich, no-fuss cheese soup stirred together from cream of chicken soup, cream of celery soup, sharp cheddar cheese spread, mayo, and butter. Silky, warm, and ready in under an hour.
Creamy Hash Brown Bake
Frozen hash browns baked in a cream of celery and cream cheese sauce with onions, topped with melted sharp American cheese. Six ingredients, hands-off baking, total crowd-pleaser.
Pork Chops with Creamy Gravy & Vegetables
Pork chops with creamy gravy and vegetables made in one skillet with cream of celery soup, sour cream, sage, frozen green beans, and potatoes. A complete weeknight dinner from pan to plate in about 40 minutes.
Sherried Turkey Casserole
Quick 20-minute turkey casserole with cream of celery soup, Parmesan, dry sherry, rice, and pimientos. The fastest way to turn leftover turkey into a creamy, cheesy skillet supper.
Chicken Supreme
The ultimate dump-and-bake chicken casserole. Wild rice, cream of celery soup, green beans, water chestnuts, and mayo get mixed with chicken and baked uncovered in 30 minutes flat.
Avocado Kashmir
Avocado Kashmir fills halved avocados with a warmly spiced curry of eggplant, apple, and aromatic Indian spices, served over steamed rice with a spread of chutneys and condiments.
Fran's Potatoe Soup
Creamy potato soup with smoked sausage, cheddar cheese spread, and cream of celery soup. A hearty one-pot comfort bowl that gets better the longer it simmers.
Layered Dinner
Layered dinner casserole with green beans, sliced ham, cream of celery sauce, melted American cheese, and buttery croutons. A microwave-quick 1970s supper.
Tuna Pasta Casserole
Microwave tuna pasta casserole with Swiss cheese, cream of celery soup, peas, hard-boiled eggs, and a crunchy potato chip topping. Hot, bubbly comfort food in just 30 minutes, no oven needed.
Pork Chop Casserole
Microwave pork chop casserole in cream of celery soup with Worcestershire sauce and onion. Browned chops baked in a savory cream sauce, ready in 35 minutes.
Chicken Pot Pie# 2
No-fuss chicken pot pie with a self-forming batter crust. Chicken bakes under cream soups with peas and carrots while a simple flour batter rises into a golden lid.
Louise's Broccoli Casserole
Louise's broccoli casserole combines broccoli spears, cream of celery soup, sharp cheddar, green onions, and diced potatoes in the crockpot. Dump, stir, walk away for six hours.
Oven Beef Stew
Oven beef stew braised in red wine and cream of celery soup with potatoes, carrots, and broccoli. A hands-off Dutch oven dinner that practically cooks itself.
Rice Hotdish
Rice hotdish, the classic Midwest casserole of browned ground beef, celery, and rice baked in a trio of cream soups with a savory hit of soy sauce. Hearty, creamy comfort for a cold winter night.
Festive Tater Tot Feast
Tater tot casserole with seasoned ground beef and cream of celery soup topped with crispy frozen tater tots. A family-friendly weeknight dinner kids love.
Chicken Pie Deluxe
Creamy chicken pie with tender chicken, green peas, and cream of celery soup baked under a buttery Pepperidge Farm stuffing crust. Bubbly and golden in just 35 minutes.
Chicken Stuff
Chicken breasts layered with Swiss cheese and stuffing mix, then drenched in a creamy wine sauce made from mushroom and celery soups. Minimal prep, maximum comfort in under an hour.
Crab Pecan Delight
Southern-style baked crab casserole loaded with buttery pecans, cream of celery soup, and a crispy breadcrumb topping. Hearty, nutty, and ready in under an hour.
Turkey Hash
Classic turkey hash casserole with leftover turkey, diced potatoes, peas, cream of celery soup, and melted American cheese. A thrifty post-holiday dinner that comes together in under 45 minutes.
Meatball Stew with Dumplings
Homey meatball stew with cream of celery soup, peas, potatoes, and fluffy Bisquick egg or parsley dumplings dropped on top. Midwestern comfort food one-pot dinner.
Chef Freddy's Chicken & Rice Dinner
Chicken breasts baked low and slow on a bed of three cream soups and uncooked rice until everything is tender and creamy. This hands-off chicken and rice dinner practically cooks itself.
Layered Cornbread Chicken Casserole
Southern-style layers of golden cornbread stuffing, tender green beans, savory chicken, and creamy soup topped with earthy mushrooms. Like Thanksgiving dinner in casserole form.
Jenny's Tuna Casserole
Classic tuna noodle casserole with egg noodles, canned tuna, cream of mushroom and celery soups, topped with cheddar and cracker crumbs.
Creamy Vegetable Medley
I have tried this recipe for several times, very easy to make, and tastes very well too, especially they are all vegetables, and I always use no-fat milk. I love it.
Swiss Chicken
A great chicken casserole with a nice tangy sauce and just the right amount of crunch from the topping. It is one of our family favorites. The kids always ask for it.
Lima Bean Casserole
Crockpot lima bean casserole with cream of celery soup, mushrooms, pimentos, and dill, finished with cream and grated Parmesan. Hearty, hands-off vintage comfort food.
Chinese Bean Casserole
A retro potluck casserole made with canned green beans, cream of celery soup, chow mein vegetables, and chopped almonds, topped with crunchy French fried onions. Comfort food ready in 40 minutes.
More soup, cream of celery recipes
- Beefy Rice Casserole
- Bob's Chicken & Rice
- Chicken Breasts a L'Orange
- Chicken Pot Pie # 2
- Chicken Pot Pie# 2
- Chinese Bean Casserole
- Creamy Chicken & Rice
- Favourite All-American Clam Chowder
- Green Beans & Corn Casserole with Almond
- Jenny's Tuna Casserole
- Rice Hotdish
- Turkey Hash
- Yummy Crockpot Chicken & Rice Casserole
