When Hy-Vee had Campbell’s Chunky soups on sale for $1.25 a can, we thought we might try out a new variety. One of the newest is Campbell’s Chunky Beef and Dumplings with Hearty Vegetables. (As of now the can is even marked “NEW!”) As our daughter and I really like dumplings it seemed like a good choice.
Campbell’s Chunky Beef and Dumplings with Hearty Vegetables comes in a can with a red label, and the slogan “Soup That Eats Like A Meal”, which is typical of the “Chunky” line. The label waxes patriotic in telling us that this soup is “Cooked with care in the USA”. In the center of the label is an enticing picture of a bowl of this stew-like soup. On the left is what appears to be a beef roast, and on the right is an assortment of veggies: an onion, tomato, pod of peas, and carrots. Looks like there’s a lot of good stuff packed in to this soup. The printing echoes this idea in telling us that “Campbell’s Chunky Beef and Dumplings with Hearty Vegetables” is “made with lean meat” and has a “full serving of vegetables”.
I love the convenience of Campbell’s Chunky Beef and Dumplings with Hearty Vegetables. Just pour 2 cans in a pan and heat. It’s nice to feel that you can feed your family something healthy even when you don’t have a lot of time. But my family’s feelings about this particular soup were mixed. Personally, I really enjoyed this soup. The dumplings were tender and tasty (though nothing beats homemade). The meat was less processed tasting than some stews and had a nice bite to it. The veggies were well portioned and not too mushy. (There was celery in addition to the veggies pictured.) The broth was well seasoned, if a bit too thin.
My family was less enthralled. My husband though it was too “tomato-y”. My daughter had no specific complaints, but didn’t like it very much . They both thought it was only ok. They both like Campbell’s Beef Stew with Country Vegetables, which I personally don’t like as much as “Campbell’s Chunky Beef and Dumplings with Hearty Vegetables”, so I guess it’s just a matter of taste.
“Campbell’s Chunky Beef and Dumplings with Hearty Vegetables” delivers pretty well in the health department. A one cup serving has very little fat (only 3 percent) and a nice bit of protein (13 percent). It also provides 11 percent of your daily recommended value of potassium, 20 percent of your daily recommended value of vitamin A, 10 percent of your daily recommended value of vitamin C, 2 percent of your daily recommended value of calcium, 6 percent of your daily recommended value of iron, and 8 percent of your daily recommended value of dietary fiber. The sodium is high (33percent), so you may need to watch that if sodium is an issue. At just 130 calories, this is a fairly filling band nutritious meal.
While no one else in my house liked it as much as I did, no one went hungry either. And in a house with picky eaters, sometimes that’s the best I can expect! I personally enjoyed it, and highly recommend Campbell’s Chunky Beef and Dumplings with Hearty Vegetables as a good a soup to try.
