Tomato soup substitute

Sauces, wine and pantry liquids · Checked against 3 sources · Updated November 4, 2026

Quick answer

For one 10¾ ounce can of condensed tomato soup, use 1 cup of tomato sauce and a quarter cup of water. Season to taste. It is thinner and plainer than canned soup, so season it. Stir in a pinch of sugar and a little milk or cream if you want a creamier result.

How much do you need?

10¾ oz can

Fractions work: 1 1/2, ¾, 0.5. The amounts below update as you type.

What to use

  1. Tomato sauce and water

    • Vegan
    • Dairy-free
    • Gluten-free
    • Nut-free
    • Egg-free
    • 1 cup 235 ml tomato sauce
    • ¼ cup 59 g water
    Best for
    Casseroles.
    What changes
    Plainer.

Diet labels describe the ingredients as normally made. Check packages for gluten and allergens. Some refined sugar is filtered with bone char, which matters if you eat vegan.

Which swap for which job

UsePickWhy
CasserolesSauce and waterStandard.

Questions

Is it the same as canned soup?

No. Add sugar, salt and a bit of butter.

Sources

Ratios come from these sources, in our words. Where they disagree, we say so or pick the amount that matches tested results. Ratios are a starting point. Taste and adjust.