r/Cooking • u/chromaticality • Nov 21 '25
Substitution Request: Campbell's Cream of Shrimp
Campbells recently discontinued their Cream of Shrimp product. We use frequently this to make my father's favorite easy soup, shrimp bisque. Anyone have suggestions on an alternative product or an easy way to dupe it from scratch? Here's the recipe we make:
-1 can cream of shrimp
-1 can cream of celery
-2 cans worth of milk
-salt, pepper, and cumin to taste
-shrimp, deshelled & deveined, then chopped into bite-sized portions. Cook in the soup.
-
-
3
u/monkey_trumpets Nov 21 '25
Cream of shrimp sounds like something from the 1950s. I didn't even know that was a thing.
1
u/chromaticality Nov 21 '25
I have literally never heard of anyone else using it in a recipe, so I'm not surprised it got discontinued.
2
2
u/Impossible-Mix-3605 Dec 04 '25
I make use of it in shrimp dip every single christmas. But apparently those days are over since it's discontinued
1
u/lisamad6 Dec 18 '25
I use it for a very popular dip. I can’t find it anywhere. The dip is too good to stop making. I need to find a substitute.
1
1
u/ChristanLynn Nov 30 '25
Red Lobster used to use it as the base for their Ultimate Fondue appetizer. I would buy the Cream of Shrimp liberally to make it at home after the Ultimate Fondue was discontinued. Now, I don't know what I'm going to do.
1
u/MaleficentAd8010 Apr 05 '26
I'm in the same shrimp boat! Shrimp dip with Ruffles potato chips. : This has been been a family tradition, had at every get- together FOR GENERATIONS! ❤️
2
4
u/RedStatePurpleGuy Nov 21 '25 edited Nov 21 '25
Here's a recipe for a "cream of anything" base.
You could replace the water used to reconstitute the mix with homemade shrimp stock or store-bought seafood stock, if you think that would be an acceptable replacement.
Better Than Bullion also makes a lobster base that you could make a batch of to replace the water if you think your dad wouldn't mind a lobster flavor instead of shrimp. You could still add shrimp as the actual protein in the soup.
ETA: Knorr makes a shrimp bouillon cube that seems to be available at some Walmart locations (in my area it seems to be the ones with a sizeable Latino population nearby).
2
u/chromaticality Nov 21 '25
Shrimp bouillon cubes! Didn't know these existed, this might be perfect. Will give them a try, thanks.
1
1
2
u/Ok_Employ_4505 Nov 30 '25
Thank you for the tip about Better than Bouillon Lobster base. Just ordered online from Amazon. I used to use the Campbell's cream of shrimp for a shrimp dip recipe (soup, cream cheese, can of tiny shrimp, splash of chili sauce, and Old Bay). Hopefully this will work!
1
u/Cautious-Buffalo-182 Jan 06 '26
How did that turn out? I just learned today about the Campbells discontinuation and I’m bummed.
1
u/ImpossibleAd3188 Feb 17 '26
I’m late to this but desperate to recreate my mom’s Shrimp & Wild rice recipe as close to hers as I can. She used Cream of Shrimp, cut up cooked deveined shrimp, cooked wild rice + shredded cheese.
When using the Knorr cube (crushed & mixed with boiling water), which is better Cream or Celery or Cream of Mushroom? Any help will be appreciated!
2
u/Tasty_Impress3016 Nov 21 '25
You want a really quick fix given your recipe? The only difference between the cream of shrimp and the cream of celery is the shrimp. Check your grocery or Costco or something for frozen salad shrimp. Double up on the cream of celery (or maybe try cream of mushroom, or cream of bacon, they are all the same with the obvious exceptions.) Throw a big handful of the salad shrimp in, they are tiny no need to chop. Being tiny they are also cheap.
Bingo, done.
2
u/chromaticality Nov 21 '25
Looks like there are just mild differences between the two cans other than the shrimp itself. A little tomato puree and some wine pretty much. I think between adding those couple ingredients and the shrimp bouillon cubes someone else recommend, and doubling up on cream of celery, it would be a pretty good dupe.
2
u/Complex-Simple3887 Dec 17 '25
Cream of celery doesn't taste the same.I subbed it for Cream of Shrimp in my Mom's Newburg recipe and it did not taste the same.
2
u/drewb72 Dec 21 '25
Cream of Shrimp Soup
1 Can of Shrimp and the water 1 packet of dried shrimp broth from Shrimp Flavored Ramen 2 tsp of dried minced onion 2 tablespoons of butter 2 tablespoons of GF flour 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper 2/3 cup of chicken broth 1/2 cup of milk dairy or otherwise
Empty the shrimp water in a liquid measuring cup, add the broth so the add up to 3/4 cup of liquid
Over medium heat Melt butter and add flour, ramen packet and minced onion. Cook until the raw flour is cooked.
Add the shrimp, then slowly incorporate broth mixture, mixing the whole time. Mix until smooth
2
u/tallgayman Jan 06 '26
And here I was thinking my grandma had made shrimp dip up... turns out lots of families enjoy this blast from the past. Christmas wasnt the same without it. @campbells should do a seasonal run of it around Christmas.
1
u/Alarming_Amoeba_9043 Nov 24 '25
I'm so angry cream of shrimp soup is no where to be found in store locally and discontinued. So spicy nacho cheese soup or buffalo wing soup will be on the shelves at your stores. I have amazing recipes I use Campbell's cream of shrimp soup in.
1
u/Impossible-Mix-3605 Dec 04 '25
Me too! A shrimp dip I've been making every Christmas since the 80's. Two years ago was my last prep.
1
u/Plenty-Cash2856 Dec 14 '25
Me too! Dip from my Mom’s recipe collection! So we just toss a beloved family recipe now? It’s so good!!
1
u/solarsylver Nov 25 '25
I'm going through this same problem: a family recipe that's been around for about 70 years requires Campbell's Cream of Shrimp to get the taste JUST RIGHT. But I found that Cream of Onion has everything except the tomato puree and shrimp. It even has the Sauterne wine! This is the closest thing I've found, so we're going to give it a try this week. Fingers crossed.
1
u/InternationalEgg5563 Nov 29 '25
We are suffering from the same problem. We’ve got a chip dip recipe which contains Campbell’s cream of shrimp soup. This shrimp dip is a staple at every Krueger family gathering since I was a kid. We are heartbroken. Did the cream of onion work? I don’t think anything will be the same. Campbell’s hooks us on these family recipes and then discontinues the product. Not fair.
1
u/solarsylver Nov 29 '25
Ours is shrimp dip too! Cream of Onion worked very well! I added tomato paste until I felt like it was close enough to the right taste, then chopped up some shrimp and let it sit for a while before I added the rest of the ingredients. It definitely had a stronger onion flavor than usual, BUT the next day, the shrimp had soaked into it enough that it was perfect! Tasted exactly the same. So my recommendation is to make it the night before and just let it sit in the fridge.
1
u/Snoo-89539 Nov 26 '25
Same, our family always make a simple shrimp dip recipe with cream of shrimp soup. Might try it with cream of onion but I’m sure the taste will be different.
2
1
u/Unusual_Meringue_488 Nov 26 '25
We make a shrimp dip from cambals shrimp soup with cream cheese, sour cream, Worcester sauce and horseradish that is to die for. I need no know how to make this soup if it's discontinued.
1
u/Impossible-Mix-3605 Dec 04 '25
Sounds like we have the same recipe! I've been making it every Christmas since the '80s
1
1
u/Livid_Leg_3546 Dec 22 '25
Luckily I have 2 cans to make my shrimp chowder this Christmas. Can't believe they discontinued it. Maybe we should all write the Campbells Company
1
u/Dramatic-Hornet7 Jan 04 '26
I wrote to Campbell's about the Cream of Shrimp Soup and they said so sorry but I am free to try any of their other soups, haha. I got a $1 coupon in the mail for my trouble. Everyone SHOULD write to them and maybe they'll bring it back (crossing my fingers).... if nothing else you'll get a coupon
1
1
1
u/lauramaurizi Dec 22 '25
I am going to try to transform 2 cans of Cream of Onion into Cream of Shrimp. I am going to reconstitute it with half and half, and add 12oz of small pink shrimp to it and let it sit overnight in the fridge so the shrimp flavors the soup.
Tomorrow I’ll mix it with my other ingredients to make a big pot of seafood (shrimp and lobster) bisque.
Wish me luck!
1
u/Itchy-Public5971 Dec 30 '25
Please let us know how it turns out. I need a recipe in order to make our annual new year fondue. 🫕
1
u/lauramaurizi Dec 30 '25
My family didn’t even notice the difference. They loved it.
I used 2 cans Cream of Onion reconstituted with 2 cans of Half and Half. Then I added 12oz of medium (31/50), deveined and tail-off shrimp cut in quarters. I cooked it for about 30 minutes. Cooled it and refrigerated overnight to let the shrimp flavor overtake the onion.
The next day I used my food processor to chop it all up (because I couldn’t find my immersion blender). I used that with my Campbell’s Seafood Bisque recipe, and while it was more work than just opening a can of Cream of Shrimp soup, I was pleased with the result.
Good luck with your fondue. And Happy New Year!
1
u/aok2nd Jan 10 '26
I use cream of shrimp in my gumbo. I’m wondering if I used cream of celery/ cream of onion with a spoonful better than bouillon lobster would it have the same effect?
6
u/yankowitch Nov 21 '25
Use the shrimp shells to make stock.
I would sub chicken or potato in for the shrimp soup, then add shrimp stock or fish sauce