The 5 Best Canned Soups To Buy at Costco

Plus the 5 you should skip!

Canned soup is great to stock up on for easy, instant meals, and Costco is one of the best grocery stores to shop at for canned goods and buying in bulk. Canned soup has a long shelf life, is affordable and convenient, and comes in a variety of types and flavors. And, if shopping at Costco, you’re bound to find many soups to try. But, not all canned soups are alike—some are better than others, differing in quality, taste, texture, and flavor.

Costco is one of the best grocery stores to shop at, for produce, bakery items, prepared foods—including fan-favorite Costco’s rotisserie chicken—bulk purchases, and more. Costco’s offerings are generally top-notch; however, there are a few products customers consider less satisfying and not worth the price tag.

So the next time you are at Costco here are the soups you should load up your cart with, and a few you should leave behind based on suggestions from customers and experts, and online reviews. Plus, a tip—you can give it an upgrade, to make store-bought soup taste homemade, by implementing simple tweaks at home to boost flavor.

The Best Canned Soups To Buy at Costco

Kirkland Signature Organic Chicken Noodle Soup

Chicken noodle soup is a comforting, classic remedy for nursing a common cold. Many other brands offer chicken noodle soup containing a high level of sodium with a rather bland and basic flavor. The Kirkland signature chicken noodle soup is a satisfying and flavorful option for providing comfort on chilly evenings. “It tops the list for organic ingredients, rich chicken flavor, and hearty noodles,” says registered dietitian Trista Best, MPH, RD, LD. Bonus: It’s only $9.99 for a pack of six cans.

Amy's Organic Lentil Soup

Perfect for meatless Monday meals, Amy's Organic Lentil Soup is a vegetarian soup that’s popular among Costco shoppers for its lovely flavor and excellent nutrition label. “It's packed with protein, fiber, and a delightful blend of spices,” Best explains. While you can make your own lentil soup recipes in large batches to have on hand for easy meals throughout the week (or to stock up your freezer for meals all winter long), this canned soup option is definitely handy for busy weeks, when you’re short on time, or whenever you need an instant meal. Plus, you get eight cans for just $12.99.

Progresso Italian-Style Wedding Soup

This soup hits all the right marks, as it provides a nice and hearty meatiness in a thick, flavorful soup that epitomizes the idea of comfort in a cup. “Progresso's Italian-Style Wedding Soup combines tender meatballs, spinach, and pasta in a savory broth, and it’s a tasty option satisfying cravings for traditional Italian flavors,” Best says. And, it’s a great canned soup to buy at Costco when you can’t make an Italian Wedding Soup recipe from scratch at home for only $8.99 per six pack.

Pacific Foods Organic Creamy Tomato Soup

Tomato soup is basic, but never boring, as it’s easy to experiment with different flavors and ingredients that’ll give the classic recipe a fun, unique and delightful twist. You can add herbs and spices or manipulate the thickness and texture by adding dairy or pasta. Pacific Foods’ Organic Creamy Tomato Soup is rich and filling with an indulgent taste and texture. “It's a versatile base for recipes or a comforting meal on its own,” Best notes. Jazz it up—use it in different recipes or combine with ingredients to boost taste and satiety. The six pack costs $10.99.

Campbell's Chunky New England Clam Chowder

If you love seafood, you’ll definitely want to try Campbell's Chunky New England Clam Chowder the next time you’re shopping at Costco. “It's loaded with clams and potatoes, and has a creamy broth, providing lovely flavors associated with the New England coast,” Best says. You can whip up batches of New England Clam Chowder recipes at home, but for cold, busy nights, where you’re simply exhausted and approaching “hangry” status, this soup at Costco will do the trick. You can purchase a pack of eight for $11.99.

The Worst Canned Soups To Buy at Costco

Kirkland Signature Chicken Tortilla Soup

Some customers like the Kirkland Signature Chicken Tortilla Soup, and preferences can vary, so it’s worth giving it a shot if you tend to enjoy chicken tortilla soup. However, Best considers it to be inferior to Kirkland’s Chicken Noodle, among many other soups you can buy at Costco. “While Kirkland Signature offers great products, the Chicken Tortilla Soup falls short in flavor and texture, and lacks the depth you'd expect,” Best says. It costs $10.99 for a two-quart serving.

Chef Boyardee Beef Ravioli

Chef Boyardee's Beef Ravioli is a classic and a “comfort food” for many. At Costco, you can buy eight cans for $7.99, but you’re better off getting another beef soup off the shelf, to avoid being disappointed with its flavor and texture. Or, consider making ravioli soup at home, swapping cheese ravioli for beef beef ravioli that’ll yield a hearty, meatiness more similar to the Chef Boyardee version.

Campbell's Cream of Mushroom Soup

While Campbell’s soups can be delicious, such as the New England Clam Chowder, others are lackluster and less satisfying. “Campbell's Cream of Mushroom Soup can be overly salty and may not meet the expectations of those seeking a homemade taste,” Best explains. It’s affordable (costing $8.99 for 10 cans), but for a reason. Make your own cream of mushroom soup if you want a luscious, made-from-scratch taste.

Progresso Light Chicken Noodle Soup

“This soup sacrifices flavor for a lower-calorie content, resulting in a bland, unsatisfying broth,” Best says. And, the “light” factor actually backfires, by limiting sustenance and thus preventing the ability to adequately fill up or keep hunger at bay afterwards. It’s priced at $9.99 for an eight pack at Costco. Instead, enjoy chicken noodle soups with simple, nourishing ingredients and flavors.

Hormel Chili with Beans

Chili is a classic for colder months, as it’s comforting and versatile, meaning you can enjoy it as a vegetarian chili, or with meat, such as chicken, turkey or beef, for a high-protein chili, dense and boasting great flavor. Canned soups and store-bought chili options from a grocery store is a convenient hack for when you don’t have time to cook, but Hormel's Chili with Beans is a soup to avoid. It’s often criticized by customers for tasting processed and bland with a disappointing, lackluster flavor. Better soup options, including chilis, exist on shelves, so save the $12.99 for a six pack of these, and opt for other canned or prepackaged soups at Costco.

Read the original article on All Recipes.