Progresso soup is a popular canned soup brand owned by General Mills. It offers a wide range of soups, from low-sodium and low-calorie options to high-protein varieties. The brand has a "Spice It Up" collection with spicy soups like Spicy Chicken Tortilla and Spicy Tomato, and a "Rich and Hearty" range with heavier soups like Three Cheese Tortellini and Loaded Potato with Bacon.
Progresso Soup and Gluten Content
General Mills offers several products that are labeled gluten-free. To check if a Progresso soup is gluten-free, look for the gluten-free statement on the package label. Only products verified to be gluten-free will be declared as such on the label.
For products not labeled gluten-free, check the ingredient declaration for gluten-containing ingredients like wheat, oats, barley, rye, or derivatives such as malt, semolina, Durham, triticale, and spelt. Progresso does not include gluten-containing ingredients in the 'Natural Flavors' or 'Spices' on the product ingredient list.
If the product label doesn't list gluten-containing ingredients but doesn't make a gluten-free claim, Progresso cannot fully assure that the product is gluten-free due to factors like sourcing and manufacturing conditions.
A Taste Test of Progresso's Traditional Soups
A taste test focused on the brand's traditional line, including flavors like Split Pea and Ham, Chicken Noodle, and New England Clam Chowder, provides insights into the quality and taste of Progresso soups.
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Hearty Chicken and Rotini
This soup is a spin on the brand’s Chicken Noodle soup, made with rotini pasta and filled with vegetables and meat.
- The look: Similar to other chicken-based soups, with a bright yellow-hued broth.
- The taste: The pasta was slightly soft, and the flavor didn’t hit the mark. It tasted far from anything made from scratch, with a deep roasted chicken flavor but still falling short.
Chicken Noodle
Progresso has an option that fits the bill if you don’t have time to make homemade chicken noodle soup.
- The look: A semi-clear yellowy broth with oversized pasta pieces and vegetables like carrots and celery.
- The taste: A balanced, savory roasted chicken flavor that wasn’t too salty or sweet. The pasta wasn’t overly soft, and the vegetables provided a nice touch. This soup didn’t have a metallic taste, but it could use a little something.
Manhattan Clam Chowder
Progresso’s take on the tomato-based, Manhattan-style soup is filled with clams, carrots, potatoes, and celery.
- The look: A light tomatoey-red with bits of clams, chunky white potatoes, and diced carrots. The broth was slightly thinner and looser than the other soups.
- The taste: Very savory, with a brackish taste from the clams and a slight acidic undertone from the broth. The potatoes were soft, and the vegetables added some contrast to the chewy clam bits. It’s a pretty unremarkable soup, but if you’re looking for a meatier, umami canned soup, this is it.
Chicken Barley
Progresso’s Chicken Barley option is a good choice for when you want a chicken-based soup that isn’t the usual chicken noodle variation.
- The look: A translucent, orangy broth with medium-sized pieces of barley, hefty chunks of white meat chicken, and chopped carrots and celery.
- The taste: Just alright but kind of boring. It wasn’t too salty, but this soup seemed to lack something. The barley was chewy, the carrots and celery were well-cooked, and the chicken pieces were tender. Meanwhile, the broth had a slightly goopy feel.
New England Clam Chowder
Progresso makes one that brings New England to you if you can’t take a trip to New England to enjoy a bowl of this flavorful soup.
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- The look: It was thick and velvety smooth, resembling ranch dressing. It contained chunks of potatoes and clams enrobed in its opaque broth.
- The taste: It had a neutral yet savory, seafood-y taste and didn’t come across as too sodium-packed or overly sweet. Meanwhile, the actual potatoes weren’t seasoned enough and were kind of just there.
Chicken Rice
This soup is made with chicken, herbs, vegetables, and rice that isn’t overly soft or mushy.
- The look: A transparent yellow broth with apparent herbs, carrot, and celery pieces, white meat chicken morsels, and crushed tomatoes.
- The taste: Even though a lot is happening here, there still isn’t a tremendous amount of flavor, which was confusing. The soup has a roasted taste, but that’s about it. It didn’t taste salty, which was a relief, but overall, the flavor was a touch too bland for my liking. I have to say, though, that the rice was cooked well and didn’t have a mushy texture, which I worry about with canned soups.
Broccoli Cheddar
This soup is a decent backup choice for Panera Bread’s Broccoli Cheddar soup.
- The look: This soup was very glossy and smooth right out of the can. It was a very pale yellow with muted green broccoli chunks.
- The taste: Pretty good, but it tasted even better after I added a dash of salt. This soup has a pared-down cheesy flavor that I thought would be sharp and zingy but instead was mellow. The texture was consistently velvety, and the broccoli pieces were extremely soft; they kind of just dissolved in my mouth. This soup was pretty good and quickly grew on me.
Beef Barley
This option had a better, looser texture and a more appetizing taste thanks to its tomato-based broth and tender beef pieces.
- The look: A deep orangy-red broth with a good amount of barley, chopped carrots, and celery, beef chunks, and crushed tomatoes. A few oil pools were noticeable on its surface.
- The taste: It was really good. It was beefy with a slightly acidic tomatoey taste and didn’t come across as synthetic or metallic. The beef had a nice, chewy texture, while the carrots were soft and provided a touch of sweetness. The only thing I didn’t fully like about this soup was that the peas tasted borderline mushy and didn’t really offer much taste to this dish.
Chicken and Sausage Gumbo
This was the first time I tried this soup, and I’m happy I did. Even though it errs on the smokey and spicy side, it still has a delicious kick to it that makes you want to keep eating more.
- The look: A see-through light red broth with flecks of seasoning. This soup was packed with ingredients such as white meat chicken, andouille sausage crumbles, chopped okra, peppers, and more.
- The taste: A deliciously smoky flavor with an overwhelmingly spicy taste that lingered in the back of my throat after I took a spoonful. The chicken pieces were tender, moist, and didn’t take synthetic, while the andouille sausage was chewy and hearty. It was palatable, but the smoky and spicy flavors were overpowering and didn’t leave much room for the other flavors.
Split Pea and Ham
Progresso’s version makes it a little bit easier to like it. Made from split peas, root vegetables, and diced ham, this soup is hearty and filling with a cozy, comforting feel.
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- The look: A thick and chunky green base with diced carrots, hams, and a good amount of whole peas.
- The taste: Delicious. I was actually surprised by how much I enjoyed this split pea soup. It had a mild earthy flavor and wasn’t overly salty. Overall, this soup won first place because it had a great balance of flavor, didn’t have an overly thick or “goopy” texture, and was tasty enough to enjoy as a main or serve as a side dish during lunch or dinner. While other soups on this list felt like a chore at some points to go through, my boyfriend and I went through this can so quickly, talking after about how shocked we were that we enjoyed a pea soup that much.
Ranking Progresso Soups: A Comprehensive Taste Test
Progresso offers a massive selection of soup flavors. To narrow it down, the specialty soup lines were eliminated - rich & hearty, reduced sodium, light, protein, and spice it up - in order to focus on their traditional and vegetable classics selections. Then multiple grocery store inventories were checked to see which options from those lines seemed to be the most widely available and the best sellers. Each soup was prepared on the stovetop, using the instructions on the can. Each soup was tasted individually for initial impressions, then re-tasted them all to fine-tune the final rankings. Since all of these Progresso soups are the same price, value was not a consideration. The ranking looked purely at flavor and quality.
14. Broccoli Cheddar
It's basically just a bowl of liquid cheese. There are bits of broccoli floating within, but they're chopped quite small and have a soft, almost mushy texture. The texture of the cheese base is rich and smooth with a lovely creamy mouthfeel, which is the best thing this soup has going for it. I wanted it to have a more intensely sharp cheddar flavor, and the broccoli to have more bite. Since cheddar and broccoli are the two major elements of this soup, and I didn't particularly enjoy either of them, there wasn't much in this soup for me to like.
13. Chicken & Herb Dumplings
Even my second-least favorite Progresso soup is still pretty good, and that honor lies with the chicken & herb dumplings variety. The main elements of this soup are chicken broth and spätzle, a type of dumpling that's one of Germany's best-loved dishes. The dumplings don't take up much real estate in this soup, and because they're thick and relatively heavy, they sink to the bottom. It's not a major problem, as it's easy enough to send your spoon on a diving exhibition to pick one up, but this does leave the majority of the soup dumpling-less. The chicken broth has a lovely savory, herbaceous flavor, and just eating that with the vegetables and chicken pieces is fine, it's just not what I signed up for.
12. Manhattan Clam Chowder
The broth is described as "rich" but I found it to be fairly light, with a watery tomato flavor. There are plenty of big chunky potatoes and diced carrots to add texture. The best part of this soup is the clam element - the clams are chopped quite small, but that means you get some bits in every bite, and they add a prominent briny flavor to the broth that gives it a fresh, salty, oceanic quality. If you like a very clam-forward chowder, this could be the soup for you.
11. Creamy Mushroom
Part of the Vegetable Classics line, Progresso's creamy mushroom soup is simple. What this soup has going for it is the mushrooms, in both flavor and texture. Portobellos, which are among the most versatile types of mushrooms, are used here, chopped unevenly to give the soup some textural interest, and they have a good solid bite to them - they're not overcooked or mushy at all. The base of the soup itself is on the thin side for a creamy soup. It comes across more like milk than cream. I also found myself looking for something to add depth, maybe punchier herb or spice flavor, or even a teeny bit more salt to bring out the flavors.
10. Chicken Noodle
Progresso is not reinventing the wheel with their chicken noodle soup. Compared to the chicken soup with dumplings, I much preferred this variety, despite the fact that they're fairly similar soups. Here, the egg noodles float throughout the golden broth so you don't have to hunt for them, and they have a satisfying silky texture without being too soft. Cutting the carrots into larger coin shapes, rather than dicing them, adds more texture and keeps them from losing their structural integrity in the liquid.
9. Split Pea Soup
Bits of tender ham add a smoky, salty bite, and there's a generous amount of chunky vegetables that easily make their way into each spoonful. I enjoyed the combination of textures from the potatoes, carrots, and whole peas. The only thing I wasn't crazy about was the soup base itself. Split pea soup should have some thickness, but this one borders on goopy.
8. Tomato Tortellini
It's hard to be mad about any combination of dough, tomato, and cheese. In this variety, Progresso takes a vegetable-packed tomato broth and adds tortellini pasta pockets stuffed with cheese to make a soup that celebrates that classic trio of ingredients. The tortellini are on the large side and there are plenty of them, and the noodle's folded ridges work well as little reservoirs for the tomato broth. While the size is generous, it's also a bit of a drawback, as it's a challenge to eat an entire tortellini in one bite, especially when it's hot. The tomato base is flavorful but falls on the sweet side, especially with the selection of vegetables - carrots, zucchini, onions, and tomatoes all add to the impression of sweetness.
7. Italian-Style Wedding Soup
What I like about this soup is how jam-packed it is with ingredients. You'll be hard-pressed to get a spoonful of plain broth here, as the pasta, meatballs, and vegetables seem to enthusiastically leap into every bite. The spinach is well chopped so you don't get any long, slick, hard to eat greens, which I appreciate, and it pervades every ounce of the soup, giving it a unique vegetal and earthy tone. The meatballs are light but quite flavorful, with Romano cheese in addition to the two meats giving them salt and tang.
6. Beef Barley
Progresso's beef barley is a soup to keep on hand for a cold day. The broth is on the thin side, but has a deep, rich beef flavor, enhanced by touches of sweetness and umami from tomato paste and chunks of tomato. A generous amount of diced pieces of beef ensure that, along with the broth, you get plenty of meatiness in every spoonful. There are also diced carrots and celery, which add texture and a sweet and vegetal contrast to the beefiness, along with the tangy tomato. Barley rounds the soup out with its mellow grainy, nutty flavor and firm, chewy mouthfeel.
5. Lentil Soup
For a mass-produced canned food, the ingredient list is shockingly short. Somehow out of that small humble group of, let's be honest, boring-sounding ingredients, Progresso crafts a hearty, rich, and satisfying vegetarian soup. The lentils maintain their texture in the broth, and have a good size to them. They're also soft enough so that they melt in your mouth, making the simple broth seem richer and creamier than its vegan ingredients indicate. I have two issues with this soup, neither of which are dealbreakers because I still found it enjoyable, but which keep it out of the running for the top spot. First, the whole thing is a little underseasoned. I appreciate that it's not overly salty, but a touch more would be welcome. Secondly, the spinach and celery seemed unnecessary. Unlike in some of the other soups, both were fairly large here, making their mushy texture noticeable and unappealing.
4. New England Clam Chowder
The soup base is creamy without being heavy or gummy, and has a subtle yet pleasantly salty clam taste. Speaking of clams, there are a lot of them, and they're chopped in fairly large pieces so you get lots of tender, chewy seafood bites. The potatoes, of which there are plenty, are cooked well so they add both firm texture and creaminess. Of all the soups on this list, this can contains the most calories and sodium, which means it's probably not a good everyday meal.
3. French Onion Soup
There's a rich, concentrated depth to the beef broth that's addictively savory, and slices of onion that are cooked to the point that they're soft, but still have a subtle touch of crunchy texture.
2. Tomato & Penne Pasta
The soup base is the true star here. Tomato puree, chicken broth, and just the right amount of cream come together in a velvety, silky, rich liquid that has a bisque-like consistency. The sweet roasted tomato flavor is well concentrated, and there are chunks of tomato to add an extra pop of that flavor. The penne noodles are a bit soft, but not mushy, and have a silky consistency of their own. There's some chopped spinach floating around too, not a big part of the soup but does offer a subtle contrast to the intensity of the tomatoes.
1. Chicken and Sausage Gumbo
Smoky, savory Andouille sausage and chunks of chicken abound, sharing space in the chicken and tomato base with rice and loads of vegetables including green pepper, celery, and of course, okra. The varied textures of all of these ingredients make every bite unique and interesting. The soup base itself has a solid level of peppery heat, and the spicy sausage brings that up even further. There's a satisfying thickness to the base, but it's still liquid enough to fall into the soup category, though it's just as robust as any stew.
Progresso Reduced Sodium Roasted Chicken Noodle Soup
Product Description
Progresso Reduced Sodium Roasted Chicken Soup is made with savory vegetables and roasted white meat chicken. This take on the original comes with 30% less sodium* than Traditional Progresso Chicken Noodle Soup, with low fat per serving. It is ready in minutes and can be enjoyed on its own, or served alongside a toasted sandwich or fresh bread. The roasted chicken soup is made with no artificial flavors and no colors from artificial sources. Unlike instant ramen, Progresso soup is ready to serve, no need to add water.
*Sodium content has been reduced from 690mg to 460mg per serving.
Allergens / Disclaimers
Contains egg, milk, soy and wheat ingredients.
Benefits / Consumer Statements
- Reduced sodium roasted chicken noodle soup made with delicious, quality ingredients.
- A tasty part of lunch or dinner.
- No artificial flavors and no colors from artificial sources.
- Ready-to-serve canned soup you can warm up in minutes.
- Stock up on Progresso soups as the perfect pantry staple.
- Sodium content has been reduced from 690mg to 460mg per serving.
Ingredients
Chicken Broth, Carrots, Cooked White Chicken Meat, Egg Noodle (semolina wheat, egg, egg white), Celery. Contains less than 2% of: Modified Food Starch, Corn Protein (hydrolyzed), Water, Chicken Fat, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Onion Powder, Carrot Puree, Flavoring, Maltodextrin, Sugar, Soy Protein Isolate, Tomato Extract, Garlic Powder, Sodium Phosphate, Natural Flavor, Parsley, Yeast Extract, Spice, Whey Powder, Chives, Beta Carotene (color). *Dried
Contains egg, milk, soy and wheat ingredients.
Nutrition Facts
- Calories: 80 per serving
- Total Fat: 1.5g (2% Daily Value)
- Saturated Fat: 0g (0% Daily Value)
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Cholesterol: 15mg (5% Daily Value)
- Sodium: 460mg (20% Daily Value)
- Total Carbohydrate: 12g (4% Daily Value)
- Dietary Fiber: 1g (4% Daily Value)
- Total Sugars: 1g
- Added Sugars: 0g (0% Daily Value)
- Protein: 5g
- Vitamin D: 0mcg (0% Daily Value)
- Calcium: 0mg (0% Daily Value)
- Iron: 0.4mg (2% Daily Value)
- Potassium: 490mg (10% Daily Value)
Progresso Light Chicken Noodle Soup
Product Description
Progresso Light Chicken Noodle Soup features chicken broth, carrots, tender chunk white meat chicken, and egg noodle. This light recipe alternative is 130 calories per can - at least 33% fewer calories per serving than the leading chicken, pasta, and vegetable ready-to-serve soup.* This Progresso Soup contains no artificial flavors and no colors from artificial sources. There is a half cup of vegetables in every can, and low fat per serving. Unlike instant ramen, Progresso soup is ready to serve, no need to add water.
*Progresso Light: 60 calories, 0.5g fat per serving; Leading chicken, pasta, and vegetable ready-to-serve soup: 100 calories, 2.5g fat.
Allergens / Disclaimers
Contains egg, soy and wheat ingredients.
Benefits / Consumer Statements
- A mouthwatering combination of chicken broth, carrots, tender chunk chicken, and egg noodle, with 130 calories per can
- At least 33% fewer calories per serving than the leading chicken, pasta, and vegetable ready-to-serve soup*.
- No artificial flavors and no colors from artificial sources; Half cup of vegetables in every can and low fat per serving
- Progresso soup is ready to serve; Unlike instant ramen, there's no need to add water - just warm it on a stovetop or in a microwave in minutes
Ingredients
Chicken Broth, Carrots, Cooked White Chicken Meat, Egg Noodle (semolina wheat, egg, egg white), Celery. Contains less than 2% of: Corn Protein (hydrolyzed), Water, Salt, Xanthan Gum, Modified Food Starch, Flavoring, Potassium Chloride, Onion Powder, Sugar, Soy Protein Isolate, Tomato Extract, Sodium Phosphate, Chicken Fat, Garlic Powder, Dried Parsley, Maltodextrin, Spice, Natural Flavor, Dried Chives, Beta Carotene (color).
Contains egg, soy and wheat ingredients.
Nutrition Facts
- Calories: 60 per serving
- Total Fat: 0.5g (1% Daily Value)
- Saturated Fat: 0g (0% Daily Value)
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Cholesterol: 15mg (5% Daily Value)
- Sodium: 660mg (29% Daily Value)
- Total Carbohydrate: 9g (3% Daily Value)
- Dietary Fiber: 1g (4% Daily Value)
- Total Sugars: 1g
- Added Sugars: 0g (0% Daily Value)
- Protein: 5g
- Vitamin D: 0mcg (0% Daily Value)
- Calcium: 0mg (0% Daily Value)
- Iron: 0.4mg (2% Daily Value)
- Potassium: 270mg (6% Daily Value)
The Progresso Soup Diet: Is It Right for You?
The Progresso soup diet involves incorporating Progresso soups into your meal plan to potentially aid in weight loss or manage calorie intake. Given the variety of Progresso soups, it's possible to create a flexible diet plan.
Potential Benefits:
- Calorie Control: Many Progresso soups are relatively low in calories, especially the "Light" varieties. This can help create a calorie deficit, which is essential for weight loss.
- Convenience: Canned soups are incredibly convenient and require minimal preparation, making them a practical option for busy individuals.
- Variety: With a wide range of flavors, you can avoid monotony in your diet.
- Nutrient Intake: Soups can contribute to your daily intake of vegetables and some nutrients, depending on the ingredients.
Considerations:
- Sodium Content: Many canned soups are high in sodium, which can be a concern for individuals with high blood pressure or those watching their sodium intake. Opt for reduced-sodium varieties.
- Nutritional Completeness: Relying solely on soup may not provide all the necessary nutrients. It's important to supplement with other food sources to ensure a balanced diet.
- Ingredient Quality: While Progresso emphasizes quality ingredients, some soups may contain processed ingredients or additives. Reading the ingredient list is crucial.
- Sustainability: A diet consisting of only soup is not sustainable long term and may lead to nutritional deficiencies.
How to Incorporate Progresso Soups into a Diet:
- Meal Replacement: Use a serving of Progresso soup as a meal replacement for lunch or dinner to reduce calorie intake.
- Appetizer: Have a small bowl of soup as an appetizer before a meal to help you feel fuller and eat less during the main course.
- Balanced Meal: Pair a serving of soup with a side salad, whole-grain bread, or a lean protein source to create a more balanced and satisfying meal.