Give Canned Soup 10x More Flavor By Adding A Sprinkle Of This Pantry Staple

Whether you're looking for a quick side for a sandwich or something that's soothing and easy when you're under the weather, it's smart to keep a solid supply of canned soup in your pantry. But sometimes, the flavor can fall a bit flat, and salt alone doesn't quite seem to get the job done. Enter: chicken bouillon (the powdered kind, not the cubed bouillon). Sprinkling a bit of this super-flavorful powder into canned soup as it cooks can help provide some depth of flavor salt alone cannot. You'll simply need to add a bit according to package directions (since your canned soup already has some flavor, add the amount of bouillon needed to make a cup of broth — the measurement can be different depending on whether you're using bouillon powder, cubes, or paste), and add more if necessary depending on your tastes.

Chicken bouillon is made from dehydrated chicken stock. When you add it to your soup, you're basically adding a super-charged sprinkle of chicken flavor. Some brands also contain monosodium glutamate, or MSG, which deserves its own spot in your seasoning cabinet. The combination of dehydrated chicken stock, MSG, spices, and salt work together to create a taste similar to what you'd get if you had homemade soup simmering all day. While you might not get exactly the same taste as you would if you made soup from scratch, a sprinkle of chicken bouillon will definitely elevate the flavor of your favorite canned version.

If you're going to add chicken bouillon to canned soup, there are a few things to consider. No matter what type of chicken bouillon you decide to use, keep in mind that it doesn't just add flavor — it also adds quite a bit of salt. Be sure to taste as you go so you don't end up over-salting your soup. In fact, you should leave out straight-up added salt until you're ready to eat. 

There are also several different brands of chicken bouillon powder on store shelves, and it can take some time to find the one you prefer. You might even find that certain types work better for certain dishes. For example, Maggi-brand chicken bouillon is a great one-step flavor boost for incredible mashed potatoes, but it might be too salty for soup. 

Finally, chicken bouillon powder isn't your only option if you're rifling through your pantry to find something to add some extra flavor to your canned soup. If you're all out of chicken bouillon powder, you can try adding another type of bouillon, like beef or vegetable. While this will add a bit of a different flavor to your soup, you'll still get plenty of richness and depth. Be sure to let your chicken bouillon fully dissolve with each addition to prevent any grittiness in the bottom of your soup so you can enjoy every flavor-packed spoonful.