The BEST Tomato Soup Recipe (2024)

ByLaura Reigel

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Grilled cheese and tomato soup is a classic comfort food combo. A warm bowl of tomato soup and a crispy, melty grilled cheese always hits the spot.

The best part about this tomato soup is that it’s decadent enough to serve to guests but simple enough for a quick little lunch.

The BEST Tomato Soup Recipe (1)

Ingredients You’ll Need For Tomato Soup

The BEST Tomato Soup Recipe (2)
  • Canned tomatoes: I definitely recommend San Marzano tomatoes. You can also use fire roasted tomatoes or even ripe tomatoes.
  • Caramelized onions: It’s important to balance the sweetness and acidity of the soup just right. Caramelized onions will do this perfectly!
  • Chicken broth: Use a high quality bone broth for best flavor, or swap it out with veggie broth to make a vegan tomato soup.
  • Gluten-free flour: Flour thickens the soup and gives it the thick, dippable texture that we’re looking for.
  • Spices: I like to use celery salt, thyme, a little ground savory, and a healthy amount of freshly ground black pepper. Crushed red pepper is always delicious, too.

When it comes to canned tomatoes, San Marzano tomatoes are by far the best, not only for tomato soup but for pasta sauce of any kind. These Italian tomatoes are considered the cream of the crop of fresh tomatoes worldwide.

Make sure to buy certified D.O.P. (the Italian abbreviation for “Protected Destination of Origin”) tomatoes straight from San Marzano, Italy, for the best quality and flavor.

The BEST Tomato Soup Recipe (3)

Homemade Tomato Soup

  1. Caramelize the onions. Heat a drizzle of olive oil over medium heat in a Dutch oven or a large saucepan. Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are a translucent golden brown (about 15 minutes). These onions will puree and give the soup a yummy smoothness.
  2. Make a roux. Adding the flour to your caramelized onions and olive oil gives this soup the texture that it needs. The liquid from the tomatoes will work to thicken the sauce.
  3. Add the remaining ingredients. Add the tomatoes, chicken broth, and seasoning, and let everything simmer over medium low heat. Add salt and pepper to taste.
  4. Blend with an immersion blender. An immersion blender is the simplest and easiest way to blend the soup. You could also use a food mill or a high-speed blender to get a smooth consistency in the soup.
  5. Top it off! Finish off this soup with all the toppings your heart desires. Fresh basil or chives really kick it up a notch. Creme fraiche… cream… fresh ground pepper… mmmmm. Go ahead and use one more slice of that nice crusty bread for croutons, too!
The BEST Tomato Soup Recipe (4)

Ingredients for the BEST Grilled Cheese Sandwich

  • Butter. Unsalted butter.
  • Bread: I always go for sourdough! There’s nothing better than a scrumptious San Francisco sourdough bread, toasted with butter and cheese! Quality is key.
  • Cheese: Try a mix of sharp aged cheddar and gruyere for the most epic grilled cheese.

Making the Best Grilled Cheese

The key to making the perfect grilled cheese is to cook it low and slow!

  1. Melt the butter on your pan and cook until golden brown and melty.
  2. Then flip and repeat on the other side.
  3. Let the butter brown slowly so your cheese gets super melty.
The BEST Tomato Soup Recipe (5)

FAQs and helpful tips

Is tomato soup Keto?

Yes! This tomato soup is Keto-friendly. It’s also dairy-free and vegan, making it perfect for everyone!

How do you make tomato bisque?

A bisque is a delicious cream-based soup. If you can tolerate dairy, then consider adding heavy cream to your tomato soup to make it super creamy. Or, add a dollop of crème fraîche and a sprinkle of fresh chives or basil on top of your tomato soup.

Other comforting soup recipes to try

What to Serve With Tomato Soup

Of course, grilled cheese is a clear winner.

Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese

by: Laura Reigel

Grilled cheese and tomato soup is a classic comfort food combo. A warm bowl of tomato soup and a crispy, melty grilled cheese always hits the spot. The best part about this tomato soup is that it's decadent enough to serve to guests but simple enough for a quick little lunch.

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Servings 12

Calories 92 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

TOMATO SOUP

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil (affiliate link), extra virgin
  • 3 medium yellow onions, diced
  • ¼ cup flour, gluten-free is okay too
  • 3 28 oz cans diced tomatoes
  • 1 tsp celery salt
  • 1.5 tsp dried thyme
  • ½ tsp ground savory
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 2 tsp sea salt, or to taste

TOPPINGS (OPTIONAL)

  • crème fraîche
  • heavy cream

GRILLED CHEESE

  • 4 slices bread
  • 4 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1-2 slices cheddar cheese
  • 1-2 slices gruyere cheese

Instructions

TOMATO SOUP

  • Add the olive oil and diced onions to a large heavy-bottomed pot. I use a 4-quart Staub.

  • Cook over medium-high heat until the onions are golden brown.

  • Add the flour to the butter and onions. Heat until bubbly and thick.

  • Add the tomatoes, broth, and spices.

  • Bring the soup to a boil and then reduce heat.

  • Use an immersion blender and blend the soup until it is creamy.

GRILLED CHEESE

  • Add two tablespoons of butter to a skillet and allow it to melt on medium heat.

  • Add two slices of sourdough bread to the pan and then top them with sliced cheddar and gruyere cheeses.

  • NOTE: Make that the heat is not too hot. You want the bread to toast slowly in the butter so that the cheese has enough time to melt.

  • Top the stacks with the remaining two slices of sourdough bread.

  • Watch the sandwiches closely, browning the bread until the bottom slice is golden brown and crispy.

  • Add the additional two tablespoons of butter to the pan. Allow it to melt and then flip the sandwiches over.

  • Grill the second side until the bread is golden brown and toasty and the cheese is melty.

  • Remove the sandwiches and serve with the tomato soup.

Laura’s Tips + Notes

Nutrition info is for the soup recipe only

YOUR OWN NOTES

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Nutrition

Calories: 92kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 2gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 596mgFiber: 2gSugar: 9gCalcium: 44mgIron: 1mg

Keyword grilled cheese, soup, tomato

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The BEST Tomato Soup Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What can I add to tomato soup to make it better? ›

10 Simple Ingredients to Add to Tomato Soup
  1. 1) Fresh Rosemary. Kicking off the list is the simplest way to jazz up your tomato soup – fresh herbs. ...
  2. 2) Sauteed Onions. ...
  3. 3) Crispy Bacon. ...
  4. 4) Cream. ...
  5. 5) Chutney. ...
  6. 6) Melted Cheese. ...
  7. 7) Tinned Anchovies. ...
  8. 8) Toasted Pine Nuts.
Mar 21, 2022

What is the best tomato for soup? ›

What tomatoes are best for homemade tomato soup? I like to use plum or roma tomatoes for homemade tomato soup because they have the best flavor when roasted. I recommend using garden fresh or organic to keep the soup as flavorful as possible!

Are you supposed to put milk in tomato soup? ›

Heavy cream is the best way to get that classic creamy flavor we know and love. In its place I have tried, to no avail, every other dairy for creamy tomato soup: half-and-half works in a pinch, milk makes the soup too thin, and yogurt is too acidic.

Why do you add baking soda to homemade tomato soup? ›

A small pinch of baking soda will tame any unwanted acidity in the soup.

What makes tomato soup taste better? ›

Add garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper and let sit on medium-low heat for about 10 minutes. Pour into bowls and top with parmesan cheese and fresh basil.

How to make soup really flavorful? ›

How to Make Broth More Flavorful
  1. Add herbs and spices. Herbs and spices add aroma, flavor, and intensity to soup broth. ...
  2. Pack in umami flavor. "If your broth is lacking in savory richness, try adding roasted onion, tomato paste, mushrooms, seaweed, soy sauce, or miso. ...
  3. Let it evaporate and cook longer.
Jun 28, 2023

How do you doctor up tomato soup? ›

Add a can of diced tomatoes, a bit of cream, and torn fresh basil leaves. Swirl some red wine vinegar into the soup and serve with a stack of mozzarella and fresh basil leaves on a toasted baguette. Add a drizzle of pesto (homemade or store bought) and finish with toasted pine nuts and croutons.

Does tomato soup taste better with water or milk? ›

The standard direction for a can of condensed Tomato Soup is to put the condensed soup in a saucepan, fill the can with water, add the water to the pan, stir, and heat just to the point of simmer. BUT. It's MUCH better with Milk, which makes it a creamy tomato soup, a bit more like a tomato bisque.

What does sugar do in tomato soup? ›

A small amount of sugar can help round out the flavor, while too much can make it overly sweet and potentially ruin the dish. Adding sugar may also reduce the acidity in a soup, making it taste less acidic.

Should you remove tomato skins for soup? ›

The short answer is yes. The tough skin of the tomatoes can spoil the good feeling of the soup. However, because this tomato soup is blended at the end, you can skip peeling the tomatoes if you want to save time.

How to make tomato soup more tomatoey? ›

For the most intense tomato flavor, include a couple tablespoons of tomato paste. To get the most out of it, add it to the pan when aromatics like onion and garlic are softened, but before adding the tomatoes. Let the paste cook, stirring frequently, for a few minutes, or until it starts to darken in color.

Why does my tomato soup taste bland? ›

Always check seasonings and taste-test before serving. If the soup tastes bland at all, a bit more salt will do the trick, that doesn't just apply to this tomato soup recipe but just about anything you'll ever find yourself cooking.

Why does my homemade tomato soup taste bitter? ›

Leaf states that this can be due to burning the sauce in the pot or simply dealing with a batch of produce that are overly acidic or metallic from canning or cooking. This can also come from under-ripe or low-quality tomatoes, as well as stirring in a hefty amount of tomato paste, per Boss The Kitchen.

Why do you add lemon juice to tomatoes? ›

Citric acid, bottled lemon juice, or vinegar added in the correct amounts will ensure that whether tomatoes are boiling water bath canned or pressure canned, the C. botulinum spores will not germinate when a current recipe is used and the jars are processed properly.

How do you upgrade canned tomato soup? ›

Here are some ideas!
  1. Top the finished bowls off with a bit of fresh grated parmesan and fresh basil leaves.
  2. Add about ½ can of diced tomatoes for a chunkier soup.
  3. Try all half and half instead of half cream and half milk.
  4. Add a bit of crushed red pepper flakes for some kick.
Jan 27, 2023

What can I add to my soup to make it tastier? ›

Use fresh vegetables, high-quality meats or broth, and fresh herbs to add depth of flavor. Add acidity: A squeeze of lemon or lime juice, a dash of vinegar, or a splash of wine can brighten the flavors of a soup and make it taste more complex.

What enhances the flavor of tomatoes? ›

Seasoning Tomatoes With Cream of Tartar

Yes, there are other ways to make your tomatoes taste even better and increase the acidity. There is lemon, vinegar, or my personal favorite, balsamic. Just imagine a tomato bruschetta with a balsamic vinaigrette drizzled on top. Yummy!

How do you jazz up canned soup? ›

Depending on the soup's flavor profile, you could shake in some cumin or red pepper flakes. Go green: Add some spinach or chopped kale or pesto. Get zesty: A squirt of lemon juice or zest could brighten up an otherwise flat soup. Starchy things: Homemade croutons, crushed tortilla chips, or oyster crackers.

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