Tomato Soup
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Nothing beats a bowl of homemade tomato soup on a chilly day! This easy recipe is a classic favorite that pairs perfectly with a grilled cheese sandwich.
This tomato soup is my go-to during the chilly fall and winter months when fresh tomatoes are out of season. It’s a simple recipe, using canned tomatoes and everyday pantry staples. The soup gets its creamy texture from blending the tomatoes themselves—no heavy cream required. A little chef’s trick I use is adding a bit of sugar. This might seem unconventional, but it perfectly balances the natural acidity of the tomatoes.
For serving, garnish the soup with croutons, fresh basil, and a sprinkle of freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano. The croutons add a delicious crunch, and you can easily make them while the soup simmers. If you’re in the mood for something heartier, pair it with stromboli or grilled cheese—or for a fun twist, try grilled cheese croutons!
If you love classic Italian soups, be sure to try my minestrone soup, packed with veggies, beans, and pasta in a rich tomato broth, or zuppa Toscana, a hearty favorite featuring Italian sausage and fresh veggies in a creamy broth.
“This was a great recipe…enough like the tomato soup of my childhood to be comforting, but MUCH better and fresher!”
What You’ll Need To Make Tomato Soup
- Olive Oil & Unsalted Butter: Used for sautéing onions; olive oil adds flavor while butter brings richness and adds body to the finished soup.
- Onions and Garlic: Form the flavor base of the soup.
- All-Purpose Flour: Thickens the soup and adds body.
- Chicken Broth: The liquid base of the soup along with the tomatoes. Adds a savory flavor. It’s fine to substitute vegetable broth if you prefer.
- Canned Whole Peeled Tomatoes: San Marzano canned tomatoes are preferred for their sweet, less acidic taste and meaty texture, but any good-quality canned tomatoes will work. While fresh tomatoes are an option, canned tomatoes aren’t just a backup plan—they’re a kitchen essential. Picked at peak ripeness and canned within hours, they deliver consistent flavor and quality, especially when fresh tomatoes aren’t at their best.
- Sugar: Added to balance the tomatoes’ acidity and enhance their natural sweetness.
- Dried Thyme: Provides an earthy flavor that complements the soup.
- Fresh Basil Leaves: Adds a fresh, aromatic touch and pop of color.
- Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements
Step-by-Step Instructions
In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil and 2 tablespoons of butter over medium-low heat. Once the butter melts, add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until they’re soft and translucent. Stir in the garlic and let it cook for a few more minutes, making sure it doesn’t burn.
Stir in the flour and keep cooking for another 1 to 2 minutes, stirring constantly. This helps get rid of the raw flour taste and smooths out any lumps.
Pour in the chicken broth, tomatoes, sugar, thyme, 1 teaspoon of salt, and ½ teaspoon of pepper. Give everything a good stir while bringing it to a simmer over medium-high heat, making sure the flour isn’t sticking to the bottom or sides of the pan. Once it’s bubbling, lower the heat, cover, and let it gently simmer for about 30 minutes.
Use a hand-held immersion blender to puree the soup until silky smooth. If you’re using a regular blender, let the soup cool slightly first, then blend in batches—just be sure to crack the lid or remove the center cap to let the steam escape. Taste and adjust the seasoning with more salt and pepper if needed.
Finally, stir in the remaining 3 tablespoons of butter. This step is the secret to giving the soup a extra richness, making it even more delicious.
Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with fresh basil, croutons, and a generous sprinkling of Parmesan cheese. The soup will keep nicely in the fridge for up to 4 days; it can also be frozen for for up to 3 months.
Video Tutorial
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Classic Tomato Soup
Warm up with the ultimate comfort: this easy homemade tomato soup recipe transforms simple ingredients into a nourishing bowl of goodness.
Ingredients
For the Soup
- 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
- 3 medium yellow onions, chopped (about 3½ cups)
- 3 large garlic cloves, minced
- ¼ cup all purpose flour
- 6 cups chicken broth
- 2 (28-ounce) cans whole peeled tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- Salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
For Serving (Optional)
- Fresh chopped basil
- Croutons
- Freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
Instructions
- In a large nonreactive pot (see note), heat the olive oil and 2 tablespoons of the butter over medium-low heat. When the butter is melted, add the onions and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until soft and translucent. Do not brown; reduce heat if necessary. Add the garlic and cook for a few minutes more, stirring to be sure garlic does not burn. Add the flour and continue cooking and stirring for 1 to 2 minutes more.
- Add the chicken broth, tomatoes, sugar, thyme, 1¼ teaspoons salt and ½ teaspoon pepper. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat while stirring to make sure that the flour is not sticking to the bottom or sides of the pan. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pan, and simmer for about 40 minutes.
- Using a hand-held immersion blender, purée the soup until very smooth. (Alternatively, let the soup cool slightly and purée in batches in a blender. Be sure to crack the lid or remove the center cap to allow steam to escape.) Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Stir in the remaining 3 tablespoons of butter. Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with fresh basil, croutons, and Parmigiano-Reggiano, if desired. (Nutritional information below does not include optional garnishes.)
- Note: A nonreactive pot is made of a material that will not negatively react with acids. Glass, stainless steel or enameled pots are all safe to use. Nonstick pots are also okay but be sure there are no scratches in the non-stick coating.
- Make-Ahead/Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The soup can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. It can also be frozen for up to 3 months. Defrost the soup in the refrigerator for 12 hours and then reheat it on the stovetop over medium heat until hot.
Pair with
Nutrition Information
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- Per serving (10 servings)
- Calories: 212
- Fat: 13 g
- Saturated fat: 5 g
- Carbohydrates: 19 g
- Sugar: 10 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Sodium: 682 mg
- Cholesterol: 20 mg
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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So good! I made a lot so I have to freeze some soup but it of course as always was perfect. I did not have to add any more for the seasoning.
I followed the recipe exactly as is, and the soup was amazing and perfect for a chilly day. I liked that it did not include cream. It was a lot of soup for just two, so I may half the recipe next time, but I did enjoy having the leftovers for lunch!
This soup is so good. Not hard to make, makes a big batch, easy to freeze for later meals.
Delicious!! Still so creamy without the heavy cream. Paired with your grilled cheese recipe, and both were an excellent combo.
Great tomato soup!! Easy to make. Followed it to a T. I am wondering if organic canned tomatoes make a difference with this recipe?
Glad you enjoyed it! I suspect the taste will remain the same with organic canned tomatoes.
So Delicious! Best Tomato soup ever!! I will never go back to canned soup after tasting this. I’ve even used to leftovers in chicken wet buritos, and stuffed peppers. Total Yum!!
Delicious and very fresh-tasting!
Great recipe, made it last night, added a bit of cream to thicken it a little, will make this again.
Looks delicious. Would it still work with vegetable stock?
Sure – enjoy!
My husband cannot eat onions. Most soup recipes call for lots of onion.
Can this be made without onion? Do you have other soup recipes that I can make without onions?
Hi Su, you can definitely make this without onion but because it contains so much onion, I’m concerned that it will be lacking flavor. Offhand, the one soup I can think of that doesn’t have onion is my avgolemono. Hope you enjoy if you make it!
DELICIOUS is all I have to say,
Thank you for spot on recipes,