Creamy Tomato Basil Soup

This Creamy Tomato Soup with Basil recipe is the perfect comfort food for the cold winter days. Its blend of juicy tomatoes, creamy heavy cream and fragrant basil will tantalize your taste buds and give you that cozy feeling of warmth and contentment.

Plus, it's quick to make and can even be made ahead of time for an easy meal in minutes! Enjoy this delicious soup with a side of crusty bread or a grilled cheese sandwich and some parmesan crisps for the ultimate winter meal.

Creamy, hot, and comforting tomato basil soup, made homestyle. Perfect with grilled cheese. Just in time for the cold weather.

Why make this soup

• This creamy tomato soup is so quick and easy to make and is way more delicious than any canned tomato soup. 
• It's perfect for quick dinners, or light lunches, or just when you need a little pick me up in the form of a hot bowl of yummy soup. 
• It features common pantry staples that you already have
• This is a super simple, belly warming soup with a rich flavor that can't be beat
• It's fairly healthy family favorite meal so it is an easy soup to enjoy without any guilt for that next chilly winter night.

Ingredients

Get all the info for all of these ingredients to make this easy tomato basil soup in the recipe card at the bottom of the post. 

• butter or olive oil
• shallot, minced
• garlic cloves, minced
• red bell pepper, minced
• canned tomato - you can use home-canned or store bought tomatoes
• chicken stock - be sure that you are using chicken stock, it's not the same as chicken broth
• salt and black pepper
• sugar- just enough to take away some of the acidity of the tomatoes 
• large fresh basil leaves chopped, plus more for garnish
• parmigiano-reggiano rind optional, for flavor- don't worry, you'll remove it from the soup when it is done
• heavy cream, optional but it really takes this soup up a notch

​How to Make Creamy Tomato Soup with Basil

1. Saute vegetables in olive oil or butter.
2. Add remaining ingredients, except for cream. Simmer on medium high heat until reduced by half.
3. Use an immersion blender to blend and puree the soup.
4. Using an immersion blender in medium stock pot, blend tomatoes until pureed. (You can also use a regular blender, and add them to the pot.)
5. Reduce heat to low, add cream.
6. Remove the Parmesan rind if you added one.
7. Salt and pepper to taste, serve with grilled cheese.

Storage

Once your soup has cooled down in the large pot, you can transfer it to an airtight container. Your soup should be refrigerated and will last 4-5 days. 

Can you freeze tomato basil soup? 

Yes, you can freeze tomato basil soup. It's best to freeze this creamy tomato basil soup recipe in a single-serving container or an airtight freezer bag. Make sure to leave enough space at the top of the container for the soup to expand.

The creamy texture will remain intact and you can store it in your freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to enjoy, just thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat on the stovetop or microwave before serving.

What kind of tomatoes should I use in tomato basil soup? 

For the best results, choose fresh vine-ripened tomatoes for your tomato basil soup. These tomatoes are sweet and juicy and will bring out the flavor of your soup. You can also use cherry or grape tomatoes, as they have a similar sweetness, but you may need to increase the quantity if using these varieties.

Canned diced tomatoes are also an option if you're in a pinch, but be careful not to over-salt your soup (canned tomatoes often contain added salt). 

Roma tomatoes are also a great choice for tomato basil soup. They also have a slightly acidic flavor which helps to balance out the sweetness of the basil.

Roma tomatoes can be difficult to find in season, so if you don't have access to fresh ones, you're better off using canned tomatoes.

​Really, any canned tomatoes will work when making this recipe. If you have a favorite or a preferred variety, make this soup with it so it will have the best flavor.

What else can I add to my soup? 

If you want to bulk out your soup a bit, try adding in some diced celery, carrots and onion. You can also add in other herbs and spices.

If you want to try some herbs and spices, try some oregano or Italian seasoning, some red pepper flakes for heat if you like it or just stick to some onion powder and garlic powder. 

How do you thicken tomato soup? 

When making your creamy soups, sometimes it's easy to get a little pour heavy and add in too much heavy cream or whatever you're using to make your creamy soup.

If you find that you made your soup a little too runny, I have a few options for you to try using just a few simple ingredients. 

One of the most popular methods to thicken tomato soup is to use a roux. A roux is a combination of equal parts of butter and flour that is cooked until it forms a paste.

You can then add this to your tomato soup and simmer for 10-20 minutes until it reaches your desired thickness. 

Alternatively, you can also blend some canned diced tomatoes with an immersion blender and add them back into the soup or you can add in some tomato paste. This will help thicken the soup as well as add texture. 

Finally, if you're looking for a vegan option, try adding in some cooked lentils or quinoa to help thicken the soup. All of these options should work perfectly and result in a delicious tomato soup!

Tips and Variations

• If you feel like the parmesan is a little too overwhelming, you can omit the rind or use less of it. I feel it does add a wonderful flavor and makes it the best tomato soup ever, but not everyone wants as much cheese as I do. 
• Feel free to add some cooked chicken, beef, or pork for extra protein in this homemade tomato soup recipe. 
• Like some heat? Try using fire roasted tomatoes instead of regular canned tomatoes for a smoky flavor. 
• Using an immersion blender is a super easy way to make some of my favorite soup recipes like this one. But if you don't have an immersion blender, you can use a high powered one or a food processor to help break down this easy tomato soup. You may need to work in batches depending on the size of your processor. But I recommend using an immersion blender if you can, it's truly a favorite thing of mine in the kitchen.

This is the best tomato basil soup recipe in my opinion, the perfect blend of flavors and I love how comforting it is. It doesn't take much time to make the best soup at all, making it the perfect dinner option for a busy weeknight. So grab your ingredients and enjoy your creamy tomato basil soup.

Want more soup?

Try these:

Potato Beer Cheese Soup

Cheesy Chicken and Corn Chowder

Creamy Chicken and Dumplings- ok, not a soup, but still creamy and warm and delicious. 

📖 Recipe