Potato starch - or even instant potato flakes - are good for thickening soups/sauces, too.
Well Im not a very good cook therefore bad with spices - so anything that simplifies cooking to taste more homemade I’m up for.
I use frozen canned tomatoes in Cambells Vegtable beef Soup - just scrap off enough to give it that homemade taste - it works.
I always have instant potatoes on hand - so that also might work for thickening.