The best recipe for Vegan Mushroom Chowder – forget the canned stuff! This vegan mushroom soup is dairy-free thanks to cashew cream and so easy to make! 1 Pot Glutenfree, Nutfree option
Get ready for my new favorite soup recipe – creamy vegan mushroom chowder! It’s extremely quick and easy to put together and perfect for a simple weeknight dinner. All made in one pot! WIN!
You likely have most of the ingredients on hand right now, you’ll just need the veg – mushrooms, some potatoes, onion, garlic, celery – and some vegan pantry staples like broth, Worcestershire sauce, and cashews for making the cashew cream.
This soup recipe comes together in one pot. The hardest part is slicing the vegan mushrooms, and peeling the potatoes. Totally doable, right? I guess you can still cheat and pick up pre-sliced mushrooms for ease and convenience.
Serve with homemade flatbread or naan to soak up the juices and swipe up every last bit of mushroom goodness!
More vegan soup recipes:
- Green Chili Enchilada Soup
- Vegan Potato Soup
- Vegan Black Bean Soup (Instant Pot Recipe)
- Vegan Chickpea Rice Soup
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Mushroom Chowder
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon oil or vegan butter
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- ½ cup (80 g) chopped onion
- ½ cup (50.5 g) chopped celery
- 8 ounces (226.8 g) baby Bella mushrooms quartered
- 2 bay leaves
- ½ teaspoon thyme or 1 spring fresh thyme
- ¼ teaspoon ground sage
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon flour
- 3 cups (709.76 ml) broth or water
- ¼ - ½ teaspoon salt depending on the saltiness of your broth
- 1 ½ cups (255 g) cubed potatoes, small cubed
- 1 teaspoon vegan Worcestershire sauce
- ¾ cup (177.44 ml) cashew cream, ½ cup raw cashews blended with ¾ cup water or use any other thick non dairy cream or you can also use ⅓ cup vegan cream cheese
- green onion for garnish
Instructions
- Heat the oil or vegan butter over high-medium heat in a large sauce pan. Once hot, add the garlic, onion, and celery, and a good pinch of salt and cook until the onion is starting to turn golden. 6-9 mins
- Then add in the mushrooms and another good pinch of salt and cook until the mushrooms are starting to sear on some edges. 4-8 mins
- Then add in the bay leaves, thyme, sage, onion powder, black pepper, and the flour and mix in for a few seconds
- Then add in the broth. Add 1 cup broth and mix so the flour doesn’t get lumpy, then slowly add the rest. Add potatoes, vegan worcestershire sauce, and salt and mix in. Cook partially covered for 15 minutes or until the potatoes are cooked well.
- Mash some of the potatoes. Add in the cashew cream and bring to a good boil. Taste and adjust salt and flavor.
- If the chowder has thickened too much, add in more water or broth if needed and bring to a boil. Taste and adjust salt and flavor. Take off heat, remove the bay leaves and serve garnished with black pepper and green onions.
Video
Notes
- Soyfree: use coconut aminos instead of Worcestershire sauce
- To make this glutenfree: use 2 teaspoons cornstarch instead of flour. Use tamari instead of worchestershire sauce
- Nutfree: use blended firm or silken tofu. Blend ¾ cup tofu with a bit of water until creamy and add to the chowder instead of cashews l, or use ⅓ cup vegan cream cheese and add a bit more broth as needed.
- Storage : Store leftover soup in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, stored covered. Or freeze for upto 2 months .
- To make this more of vegan seafood clam chowder, add in a bit of old bay seasoning and some kelp seasoning to taste
Nutrition

Ingredients:
- garlic, sauteed with chopped onion and chopped celery form the base of this chowder
- baby Bella mushrooms quartered
- herbs: bay leaves, thyme, sage
- spices: onion powder and black pepper
- the chowder is thickened with flour
- the veggies and potatoes are cooked in broth – or use water for low sodium and add salt depending on your taste
- cubed potatoes- we mash some after cooking to thicken the soup and some we leave chunky
- Vegan Worcestershire sauce makes this soup super savory, use soy sauce or tamari or use coconut aminos for Soyfree
- no chowder without cream: here, we use vegan cashew cream here. See tips on how to make it yourself
Tips:
- for making the cashew cream at home blend ½ cup raw cashews with ¾ cup water or use any other thick non dairy cream or you can also use ⅓ cup vegan cream cheese
- add green onion or some chopped fresh parsley for garnish
- if you want, add a splash of white wine after sauteeing the mushrooms
- Soyfree: use coconut aminos instead of Worcestershire sauce
- glutenfree: use 2 teaspoons cornstarch instead of flour. Use tamari instead of worchestershire sauce
- Nutfree: use blended firm or silken tofu. Blend ¾ cup tofu with a bit of water until creamy and add to the chowder instead of cashews
How to make Vegan Mushroom Chowder
Heat the oil or vegan butter over high-medium heat in a large saucepan. Once hot, add the garlic, onion, and celery, and a good pinch of salt and cook until the onion is starting to turn golden.
Then add in the mushrooms and another good pinch of salt and cook until the mushrooms are starting to sear on some edges.
Then add in the bay leaves, thyme, sage, onion powder, black pepper, potatoes and the flour and mix in.
Then add in the broth. Add 1 cup broth and mix then slowly add the rest. Add vegan Worcestershire sauce, and salt and mix in.
Cook partially covered for 15 minutes or until the potatoes are cooked well.
Mash some of the potatoes. Add in the cashew cream and bring to a good boil. Taste and adjust salt and flavor.
If the chowder has thickened too much, add in some more water or broth if needed and bring to a boil. Taste and adjust salt and flavor. Take off heat, fish out the bay leaves and discard. Serve garnished with black pepper and green onions.
Storage
Refrigerator: Store leftover soup in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, stored covered.
Freezer: To freeze mushroom soup, let it cool completely. You can store the soup in serving size portions using freezer safe containers or baggies. It will last 2 – 3 months that way. Let thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.
To reheat leftover soup, warm it up on the stove over medium-low heat until warmed through. Or heat it in the microwave for a few minutes, stopping to stir every so often.
Debra
I made this mushroom chowder today for lunch, it’s got to be the best chowder I have ever eaten. The seasoning was just right. I didn’t season in oil, as I am oil free, but used some of the broth to sear my onion, celery, garlic and mushrooms. After they were a golden brown added them to the rest of the ingredients in my pot to cook until the potatoes were tender. Yummmm
Vegan Richa Support
Awesome! Thank you for taking the time to comment!
Jenna Wingate
This was a super delicious and quick dinner last night. I added some tvp for more protein and let the instant pot do the work while I handled some chores, but you really can’t ask for a heartier or more filling low-calorie meal. This one is definitely going on repeat!
Vegan Richa Support
So glad you liked it!
Flora
Just made this mushroom chowder. It is so good and flavourful. I will be making this on a regular basis.
Thanks again for a great recipe.
Vegan Richa Support
Yay! Glad it worked out.
Joan Gribskov
This is one of the best chowders I’ve ever had – hands down! The seasonings are spot on (as usual!). Even my non-vegan eaters love it and ask for more.
Vegan Richa Support
Thank you for taking the time to comment!
Tori
Love this! Used cornstarch because I didn’t have flour and used soy sauce because that’s what I had and served it in a bread bowl! Such a cozy meal for the weather change!
Vegan Richa Support
🙂
Elizabeth
This was incredible, even without Cashew and any other Cream. So simple too. I used a slow cooker. Thank you ; )
Vegan Richa Support
yay! thank you!
Jennifer
I hardly ever get to try out your mushroom dishes since I’m the only one in our household who likes them! However, my family went out for the evening and I took the opportunity to make this for myself and I’m so glad I tried it. Amazing flavor and so easy to make. At the end I scooped out some potatoes and liquid and blended it together before adding it back in (I like a pretty thick chowder). I also baked some homemade bread to go with it. It was the perfect solo dinner.
Vegan Richa Support
yay, thank you!
Naomi
I’ve made this twice now. The first time was good…the second time was really good!! I used a variety of wild mushrooms, and added in some corn and cauliflower this time, which added a nice flavour..
Vegan Richa Support
yay!
Debbie
It tasted amazing!! The seasonings & entire flavor of this chowder was perfect!!
Vegan Richa Support
thank you, debbie!
Laurie
Delicious! Used cashew cream (had to make my own but super easy). I think I’ll be making this often, its so much better than my usual mushroom soup recipe!
Vegan Richa Support
so happy you liked it!
Maria Varandas
Yes. O love this recipe. Thanks.
Vegan Richa Support
don’t forget to rate it! 🙂
Rebecca
Whoa this turned out good! Very hearty and flavorful. Will definitely be doubling up the recipe next time
Vegan Richa Support
yay!
Kelli Guider
This is a great recipe. Very tasty and satisfying!
Vegan Richa Support
Thrilled to hear you enjoy, Kelli!
Maria
Absolutely D-lish! Where’s the 10 star button? Easy, flavorful and quick to put together. My meat-eating grandsons are yumming it up! Great wintertime meal and will be making this again.
Vegan Richa Support
Thank you for the kind comment, Maria!
Lisa Neely
This chowder was easy to make and seriously delicious!! Definitely plan to make it again!!
Vegan Richa Support
Thank you for the kind comment. 🙂
Deb
Made this tonight. Delicious!!!
Vegan Richa Support
So glad you enjoy the recipe, Deb!
Dominique
Made this one last night – this was easy to make and soooo delicious. Like all of Richa‘s recipes, love it! 🥰
Vegan Richa Support
yay! thank you! don’t forget to rate!
Sharon
I served with garlic bread. My 1 year old could not get enough. Delicious!
Vegan Richa Support
Sounds yummy.
Jennie
Damn. Added a lil white wine, used leek greens for low fodmap, combo of crimini, portobello, shiitake, added some kale. Used mostly tofu, a small amount of cashews. It’s amazing.
Vegan Richa Support
foodmap, i’ll have to learn more about that. sounds tasty
Tama
This soup was delicious/ – I used a non stick pan so cooked the onions and garlic in a bit of water and some white wine. Very easy to prep- def a keeper!
Vegan Richa Support
sounds great
Melissa Lang
I’ve been craving this since I saw the recipe posted. I finally made it tonight and it did not disappoint! The seasonings were perfect, and the recipe was easy to follow. I will definitely made this again and have already recommended it to others!
Vegan Richa Support
thanks for the great review. happy you liked it
Davol
This soup is both delicious and elegant!
I added half the cashews, but puréed the potatoes at the end. It was so rich and creamy. Wow, superb Richa! As always, many thanks.
Vegan Richa Support
Awesome!
Anne
amazingly good!!
Vegan Richa Support
That’s great !! Thank you so much 😊
Lisa S
You are awesome!
Vegan Richa Support
wow! happy Monday