Campbell's Quietly Discontinued This Old-Fashioned Soup In 2025, But You Can Recreate It With Cheap Kitchen Staples

Few things in this world last forever, even those that hit the shelves already bearing the words "Old Fashioned" in their title. Campbell's stocks grocery stores with an impressive number of different soups — there are close to 70 condensed varieties alone — but even such a vast spread as that doesn't mean the company doesn't occasionally cut something from the lineup. Such was the case with Campbell's Old Fashioned Tomato Rice Soup, which quietly disappeared from shelves, leaving many fans of the product distraught.

Campbell's still produces six different condensed tomato soup varieties, but the tomato rice soup held a particular place in the hearts of some consumers. The soup may not have been as popular as other varieties, such as the brand's Spicy Tomato or Grilled Cheese and Tomato soups, but for the diehards, it was irreplaceable. Fortunately, though, the differences between this soup and Campbell's Condensed Tomato Soup are relatively minor.

To the credit of the Old Fashioned Tomato Rice Soup fans, the alterations needed to turn a can of condensed tomato soup into a copycat recipe are more significant than simply adding cooked rice to the bowl — though that is the first step. After that, the soup needs some diced tomatoes in tomato juice, which give it a more authentic tomato flavor, as well as a splash of cream for richness and a touch of cornstarch to make the soup thick and silky. Finding the exact quantities of each of these ingredients to make it taste just like the discontinued product may involve a bit of tinkering, but it is possible. And for those who are less dedicated to recreating the original, it also opens the door to creating something even better.

Those cans of Old Fashioned Tomato Rice Soup may have been good on their own, but they were also a jumping-off point for more exciting recipes. For starters, there are plenty of one-ingredient additions that boost the flavor of canned tomato soup, with options as simple as a bit of freshly ground black pepper or chopped fresh basil. Topping the soup with a few croutons or some grated cheese is always welcome as well, or it can be easily bulked up with leftover shredded chicken or ground beef.

As these accoutrements extend outward from the simple to the more creative, the range of available additions can become quite broad. Looking for inspiration, recipes like cabbage roll soup or stuffed pepper soup show just how versatile a base of tomato and rice can be. Each of these is a recipe deconstructing another dish, with a broad complement of ingredients transforming a familiar plate into a hearty bowl of soup. The meats, vegetables, spices, and toppings need not be copied exactly, serving instead simply to give a rough idea of what could work, as well as to set the culinary mind to creative wandering.

Campbell's may have removed its Old Fashioned Tomato Rice Soup from shelves without so much as a word to the fans, but those that miss it most are only a few ingredients away from having it back in their lives. And for those with a bit of culinary creativity, the change also creates an invitation to elevate that can of tomato soup into something delicious and altogether new.