ClockPlayEmailInstagramLinkSMSTwitterYouTubeWhatsAppXSearchClockRight ArrowArrow DownCaret downCaret upCaret leftCaret rightHamburger MenuPop OutThumbs upThumbs up buySpeechAudio onReplayPlusMinusSad smiley faceNo resultsSwapMoreYour grocery bagSuccessShop Tasty MerchYour Cart (empty)Your CartFacebookPinterestEmailPrintSmsTwitterWhatsappCommentTips HighlightsRed XGreen Check
Skip to Content

I Tried 7 Brands Of Store-Bought Chicken Noodle Soup To Find The Best One, And I've Been Sleeping On The Winner For Years

One canned chicken soup clearly beat the rest.

Canned chicken soup is the pantry safety net that turns a long day around. When it’s good, the broth has real flavor, the chicken tastes like chicken, and the noodles and veggies still have some life to them. I grabbed seven classic chicken noodle soups and put them to a blind test to find the ones worth keeping on hand.

Woman smiling next to a stack of different chicken noodle soup cans and a jar of sauce on a kitchen counter
Sydney Martin

The Brands

Various brands of chicken noodle soup cans and a jar are displayed on a counter
Sydney Martin

Campbell’s Chunky Classic Chicken Noodle Soup

Sydney Martin

Price: $2.48 for 18.6 ounces

Pacific Foods Chicken Noodle Soup

Sydney Martin

Price: $3.37 for 16.1 ounces

365 by Whole Foods Market Organic Chicken Noodle Soup

Sydney Martin

Price: $4.19 for 18.6 ounces

Rao’s Homemade Slow Simmered Chicken Noodle Soup

Sydney Martin

Price: $4.29 for 16 ounces

Progresso Chicken & Homestyle Noodle Soup

Sydney Martin

Price: $2.38 for 18.5 ounces

Annie’s Organic Chicken Noodle Soup

Sydney Martin

Price: $3.99 for 14 ounces

Trader Joe’s Chicken Noodle Soup

Sydney Martin

Price: $2.99 for 19 ounces

The Test

I warmed each soup on the stove, then set out identical bowls. I wrote the brand on a Post-it and stuck it to the bottom of each bowl, mixed them all around, and assigned numbers to the tops so I couldn’t peek.

Four pots on a stovetop filled with noodle soup, containing visible vegetables. A can of peas is nearby
Sydney Martin

I took a lineup photo, grabbed a spoon, and tasted in order. I took a full bite, then observed the contents, including the vegetables, pieces of chicken, and the texture of the noodles, before tasting the broth on its own. Six brands came in tin cans; Rao’s was the only one in a glass jar.

Seven bowls of soup with various ingredients, each numbered 1 to 7 on sticky notes, arranged on a countertop
Sydney Martin

The Winners

Three bowls of soup with visible ingredients like noodles and vegetables, arranged on a white surface, showcasing different textures
Sydney Martin

Rao’s Homemade: Overall Winner

Bowl of chicken noodle soup with vegetables and a spoon on a table
Sydney Martin

This one reads closest to homemade. The broth has real body and fresh herb energy. The chicken is tender, and the noodles and veg hold up. It tastes like actual stock without having a tongue-coating "filmy" texture. It's a bit salty on the palate, but you could easily balance it with a side of crackers or a splash of water.

What I loved: Full, savory broth; tender chicken; hearty noodles and vegetables that aren't mush.

Small quibble: Pretty salty.

Rating: 9/10

Campbell’s Chunky: Strong Runner-Up

Bowl of chicken noodle soup with chunks of chicken, carrots, and noodles on a black spoon
Sydney Martin

Hearty, familiar, and genuinely satisfying with big pieces of chicken, sturdy vegetables, and noodles that stay closer to al dente. It lists more sodium than Rao’s, yet in a blind sip, it tasted less salty.

What I loved: Generous chicken, al dente noodles, comforting broth, and good texture.

Small quibble: The nutrition panel shows higher sodium even though the flavor reads less salty.

Rating: 8/10

Progresso: Distant Third

A bowl of noodle soup with carrots and a spoon on a countertop
Sydney Martin

Biggest chicken chunks of the day and a broth that’s noticeably thicker and more gelatinous. It’s satisfying in a “hearty bowl” way, but the flavor doesn’t reach the depth of the top two. Good if you want substance first, nuance second.

What I loved: Meaty bite, cozy, and a stick-to-your-ribs texture.

Small quibble: The thickness and flavor balance of the broth won’t be for everyone.

Rating: 5/10

If you want shelf-stable soup that passes for homemade, grab Rao’s. If you want a hearty, familiar bowl everyone recognizes, Campbell’s Chunky is it. Progresso lands a distant third for folks who like a thicker, meatier spoonful.

Five bowls of noodle soup with carrots on a counter, each labeled with numbered sticky notes for comparison
Sydney Martin

Have a sleeper chicken noodle I should put in round two? Tell me in the comments.

If you run your own taste test, tag me on Instagram @sydneyinsuburbia so I can see your winners.

Got a craving for a cozy bowl of chicken noodle soup? We've perfected the recipe at Tasty, so download the app to cook along with us in step-by-step mode — no subscription required.

Bowl of hearty chicken noodle soup with chunks of carrot, noodles, and herbs on top
Tasty / Via tasty.co

Trending Recipes

Trending Recipes

More Tasty Guides

More Tasty Guides

    See all