Chicken Gumbo Soup Substitutes: What Can Replace Chicken Gumbo Soup?

It is relatively hard to find a substitute for chicken gumbo soup.

However, we have gathered and listed out the best soup alternatives that can replace chicken gumbo in your next meal in case you cannot find a can of this product in your local grocery store.

Let’s check it out!

What is chicken gumbo soup?

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Chicken gumbo soup is a hearty, spicy dish that has been eaten in Louisiana for generations.

It is traditionally made with chicken stock, chicken chunks, tomatoes, bell pepper, onion, and celery, with spices and herbs to enhance the flavor.

Onions, celery, and bell peppers are known as the “holy trinity” that is native and widely used to add flavor to recipes in Louisiana Creole cooking.

It sometimes contains sausages or ham slices too.

The word “gumbo” originated from the West African word “gombo”, meaning “okra”, which was the main ingredient in the initial gumbo recipe.

Today, okra is used in powder form to thicken gumbo soup.

Chicken gumbo soup can be served with rice or bread for dipping, and either way will taste great.

It is quite easy to make chicken gumbo soup from scratch, but you can also find the canned version of chicken gumbo soup in most grocery stores or supermarkets.

Many people prefer store-bought chicken gumbo soup because it helps them save a lot of time spent in the kitchen.

However, canned chicken gumbo soup is often packed with a certain amount of preservatives and additives with high sodium content.

Therefore, you should limit your portion and frequency of eating canned chicken gumbo soup and try making the homemade version sometimes.

Can you substitute chicken gumbo soup in cooking recipes?

Yes, chicken gumbo soup can be substituted in cooking recipes.

However, it might be a trick to look for an alternative that works exactly the same way as chicken gumbo soup in terms of flavor and texture.

You might have to sacrifice the flavor of chicken with something else, but they all taste great so don’t worry.

What can you use to substitute for chicken gumbo soup?

Below are what you can use in place of chicken gumbo soup: 

1. Homemade chicken gumbo soup

Let’s make your own chicken gumbo soup.

Normally, if your local grocery store has sold out all the chicken gumbo soup they have, it’s time to think about making this dish at home.

Although it takes more time and effort, homemade chicken gumbo soup has a fresher taste and is healthier too.

You can buy any cut of chicken that is available in the local butcher or grocery store and some chicken bones to make stock.

Otherwise, buy canned chicken stock to be more convenient.

You will need other ingredients like onions, bell pepper, tomatoes, and celery that are all easy to buy.

Any thickener can work, but okra powder will result in the closest flavor to the classic chicken gumbo soup.

2. Beef soup

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Another substitute for chicken gumbo soup is beef soup.

The beef soup contains beef chunks that are stewed until tender in its stock.

Beef soup can be made at home, and to complete a flavorful homemade version, you will need other veggie ingredients like onions, potatoes, tomatoes, carrots, and beans per preference.

If you don’t have time or the mood to make beef soup at home, you can buy store-bought beef soup that is ready to be served right from the can.

3. Mushroom soup

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Are you a vegetarian?

Let’s try mushroom soup to replace chicken gumbo soup.

Mushroom soup is often made from vegetable stock with oyster mushrooms as a substitute for meat chunks.

The best thing about this dish is that mushrooms have a meaty texture, therefore, you can feel like you are eating some kind of meat soup with a special umami flavor.

To achieve a soupy consistency, you can use okra powder, almond flour, or all-purpose flour.

4. Potato soup

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You can also use potato soup in place of chicken gumbo soup in case you want to cut down the animal protein intake.

Potatoes have a starchy texture, so they are perfect for making soups or stews.

You can use meat stock or vegetable stock to cook potatoes depending on your diet’s expectations.

Carrots and celery also go perfectly with any recipe that calls for potatoes, so don’t forget to add them to your soup to make it more flavorful and colorful.

The bottom line

Gumbo is an iconic dish that many people find hard to look for a good substitute.

However, with our aforementioned replacements, you will never have to worry about running out of this product anymore.

These substitutes can be meat-based or plant-based, but they all have the desired texture and flavorful taste.

If you figure out other chicken gumbo substitutes that should be on this list, please let us know.