'The Best By Far': Why This Canned Chicken Soup Is Reviewed So Highly

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Canned soup can be a real gamble, with consumers occasionally having to add flavor to lackluster soup with unexpected ingredients. Chicken soup, in particular, can be hit-or-miss, as we discovered when we ranked store-bought chicken noodle soups from worst to best. At the former end of the spectrum, there were some real duds: soups with gristly "chicken," limp noodles, and broth that might as well be dishwater. Shining like a beacon of tummy-warming goodness at the head of the pack, however, was Progresso Rich & Hearty Chicken and Homestyle Noodle Soup, which wins raves for chunky bites of meat and veg, rich savory flavor, and a salt content not nearly as daunting as that of some competitors.

Highest on the list of what to know before buying canned soup is the fact that not all varieties are made equal. One thing that jumps out when looking at the label of Progresso's noodle soup is the fact that the first five ingredients are exactly what you would expect to see in Grandma's stockpot: chicken broth, white meat chicken, carrots, egg noodles, and celery. What you won't see are artificial flavors or coloring from artificial sources. If you are looking for soup that eats like the homemade kind without all the tedium of slicing, dicing, and simmering, this may well be the closest canned analogue. At least, that's what the reviews say ... and there are plenty of glowing ones for this soup in the blue can!

Across the web, retailers that sell Progresso are rife with favorable reviews on the chicken noodle soup. On Kroger's website, a review titled "Delicious like homemade soup!" goes on to rave, "Very good soup!! Tastes like homemade! We've tried other brands and they aren't near as good!" Meanwhile, at Target, where dozens of reviews praise the Progresso soup as just the thing for an upset stomach or picky eaters, one review captured the spirit of the sentiments: "This soup is the best by far. Real chicken, the broth is good, big chunks of veggies. Can't go wrong with this brand." Thousands of reviews over at Walmart seemed to agree entirely. "I can't say enough about this soup!" read one representative review. "The taste is wonderful, seasoned perfectly, the pasta and [veggies] are so tasty! [...] You get a lot of chicken in this too! I'm very pleased. Great buy, you can't go wrong with this!"

What we've learned is that the contents of Progresso's soup, which is long on real ingredients served generously, tend to delight buyers. There are a ton of choices when it comes to chicken soups on grocery store shelves, but the defining characteristic that makes folks appreciate a canned soup is a homemade essence. Given the fact that all the grocers mentioned sell this soup for under $3 a can, it's also a good deal, which makes reports of its deliciousness all the more impressive.