Tomato Basil Soup Recipe (+ Video) - Don't Waste the Crumbs (2024)

Easy, Healthy Tomato Basil Soup Recipe. So simple and so satisfying. Serve with homemade rosemary olive oil bread and freshly shaved Parmesan cheese to “dine out” at home.

I’ve mentioned before that my husband grew up as a picky eater. He’s changed greatly though since childhood and as time goes on, his parents recognize him less and less at the dinner table.

I wasn’t around for the days of surviving on macaroni and cheese and green beans ( by the way, here and here are my healthy homemade versions), so my perception is slightly different. Still, it doesn’t stop my jaw from dropping when he pulls a grilled cherry tomato off a skewer stick and eats it. Whole. Without flinching.

Or when he does the same thing to a portabella mushroom.

Or when he eats an entire bowl of cream of celery soup!

We’ve been eating soup once a week for roughly five months now and this man has gone from one extreme of not eating soup at all, to the opposite end by requesting tomato basil soup (with the primary ingredient being a formally despised fruit) nearly every week.

What is the difference between tomato soup and tomato bisque?

A friend convinced me to try tomato basil soup. She said that this tomato soup is based in chicken stock, vs. tomato bisque, which is traditionally sea food based. She was raving that every single member of her five-person household loves tomato basil soup. Her recipe sounded delicious, but I was skeptical that my tomato-hating husband would take one whiff and turn up his nose.

As it turns out, he did turn up his nose, but he also willingly took a bite… and then another, and then another. Halfway through his first bowl he raved at the soup too, claiming to prefer it even over his beloved hearty minestrone. I was doubtful, thinking he was just being kind.

And then he served himself a second bowl.

Tomato basil soup was a hands-down winner the first night, but it has quickly become a family favorite (as if seeing it regularly on our real food monthly meal plan wasn’t obvious enough!).

Homemade Tomato Basil Soup

Not only does the whole family love this soup, but it’s also amazing because:

• I always have the ingredients on hand!
• The base is homemade chicken stock, – FILLED with awesome minerals and nutrients.
• It’s ready in only 30 minutes and no one ever complains when I make it. Ever.
• Fresh off the stove, it’s a perfect winter soup. But when temperatures start to scorch, caramelize only the onions and garlic and let the blender take over from there (in a few batches, of course).

What are the ingredients in creamy tomato basil soup?

• butter
• onion
• garlic
• Cento Italian Tomatoes
• homemade chicken broth (or vegetable broth if you prefer)
• fresh basil (or dried basil if you don’t have fresh)
• half & half
• salt and pepper
• Parmesan cheese (optional)

Note: If you want to spice it up, garnish with red pepper flakes. Some people like to use heavy creams, but I prefer to use half & half, which makes a perfectly creamy tomato basil soup!

How do you make tomato basil soup from scratch?

1. In a large pot over medium heat, melt 3 Tbsp butter and add chopped onions; cook until translucent.
2. Add chopped garlic and cook, until aromatic.
3. Add 2 cans of tomatoes + 2 quarts stock and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer, cover and cook for 20 minutes.
4. Add basil, tearing the leaves and stems (if using) as you go. Puree with an immersion blender until smooth. Turn off the heat and add cream while stirring. Season with salt, pepper and Parmesan cheese to taste.

What type of tomatoes should I use for this tomato basil soup recipe?

Cento tomatoes (AKA roma tomatoes or plum tomatoes) are naturally sweet because of the soil in Italy. They’re absolutely divine! You can probably find them locally, but I’ve found them to be MUCH more affordable when purchased in bulk on Amazon. In fact, the prices equate to 50% off!

These are the same tomatoes we use to make our homemade pizza sauce and using these in marinara would be delicious too! If buying tomatoes isn’t in the budget, homegrown fresh tomatoes would likely be delicious too. Oftentimes, it’s not the ingredients that make dinner good, but the love that was used when preparing. 🙂

What do you serve with tomato basil soup?

Serve with freshly grated Parmesan (the real kind, not the Kraft kind), salt and pepper. Oh, and don’t forget the bread. You can place a few tablespoons of olive oil in a small dish on the side with some fresh cracked pepper and herbs, and dip the bread! Also why not make an amazing grilled cheese sandwich with it?

The Girl gets excited when she hears we’re having “tomato sauce soup” for dinner and loves to slather the top with shredded cheese (which melts and makes the soup extra creamy).

The Boy prefers his cheese sliced and on the side, but pepper and salt (both freshly ground) on top are a must. Mr. Crumbs likes to spoon it on thick slices of rosemary olive oil bread.

This meal is featured in myFREE Vegetarian Meal Plan!

More Easy Soup Recipes

• Homemade Cream of Chicken Soup
• Easy Minestrone Soup
• Garlic White Bean Soup with Kale
• Slow Cooker Mexican Potato Soup

Watch How to Make Tomato Basil Soup

Tomato Basil Soup

Print Recipe

★★★★★4.8 from 4 reviews

Easy, Healthy Tomato Basil Soup Recipe. So simple and so satisfying. Serve with homemade rosemary olive oil bread and freshly shaved Parmesan cheese to “dine out” at home.

• Author: Tiffany
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 10 cups 1x
• Category: Soup
• Method: Stove top
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale

• 3 Tbsp butter
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 6 garlic cloves, chopped
• 2 cans of Cento Italian Tomatoes (approx 70 ounces)**
• 2 quarts homemade chicken stock (or vegetable stock)
• 1/2 bunch fresh basil (approx 1 cup loosely packed leaves)
• 1/2 cup half & half
• salt and pepper to taste
• Parmesan cheese, to taste

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

1. In a large 5-6 quart capacity pot, melt 3 Tbsp butter over medium heat and add onions; cook until translucent, approximately 3-5 minutes.
2. Add 6 chopped garlic cloves and cook for 3-4 minutes, until aromatic.
3. Add 2 cans of tomatoes + 2 quarts homemade stock and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer, cover and cook for 20 minutes.
4. Add basil, tearing the leaves and stems (if using) as you go. Puree with an immersion blender until smooth. Turn off the heat and add cream while stirring. Serve with salt, pepper and Parmesan cheese to taste.

Keywords: Tomato Basil Soup

Do you like a hearty tomato basil soup?