Clever Toppings that Make Soup a Meal

On busy nights, the convenience of popping open a can of soup and calling it dinner can’t be denied. But even the heartiest bowl of soup can benefit from a topping or two, especially if they add texture, color or nutrition. Here are seven easy ideas for rounding out your next supper, with each topper taking 20 minutes or less to prep.

Start with: Progresso Light Zesty Santa Fe Style Chicken 

Top with: Crispy baked tortilla strips, of course! To make, toss thin strips of corn tortillas with 1 teaspoon olive oil, a spritz of fresh lime juice and a dash of salt, then bake until crisp on a rimmed baking sheet in a 350-degree oven (about 10 minutes).

Start with: Progresso Traditional Potato Broccoli & Cheese Chowder

Top with: Crunchy Green Giant Baked Veggie Puffs. Their light, crispy texture is the perfect foil to the chowder’s creaminess.

Start with: Progresso Classics 99% Fat Free Lentil

Top with: A handful of Gardetto’s provides just the right amount of savory crunch to this classic lentil soup.

Start with: Progresso Light Chicken Pot Pie Style

Top with: Playing off this soup’s pot-pie flavor, we served it with Pillsbury pie crust hearts on top. To make, using a heart-shaped cookie cutter, cut softened pie crust into heart shapes and bake per package directions.

Start with: Progresso High Fiber Creamy Tomato Basil

Top with: Tomato soup and grilled cheese is a classic combo, so we couldn’t think of a better way to finish off this fiber-rich bowl than with American Grilled Cheese Sandwich croutons.

Start with: Progresso Rich & Hearty New England Clam Chowder

Top with: To complement the stick-to-your ribs nature of this classic clam chowder, we whipped up a batch of Cheddar and Green Onion Biscuit Poppers, made in a jiff with Bisquick.

Start with: Progresso Rich & Hearty Steak Burger and Country Vegetables 

Top with: Pillsbury Grands! Homestyle Buttermilk Biscuits, cut with a cookie-cutter and baked until golden, add a home-y touch to this steak- and veggie-studded soup.