Ready in just an hour, this one pot Tomato Basil Soup is bursting with flavor! You can use either fresh or canned tomatoes to whip up this easy, family friendly meal. Serve it with fresh basil and a grilled cheese sandwich on the side for a classic, comforting meal!

If you love tomatoes, try our Easy Southern Tomato Pie,  Easy Tomato Basil Bruschetta, and our addictive Fried Green Tomatoes

Grilled cheese dipped into tomato soup


Tomato soup and grilled cheese. Is there anything more simple and comforting? Tomato soup takes me back to my childhood on a chilly fall or winter’s day. In a pinch, we would make some Campbell’s Tomato soup for lunch, with grilled cheese, of course!

But this homemade tomato basil soup recipe is SO much better than soup from a can. It uses wholesome ingredients that are good for you, and it’s a great way to sneak veggies (or technically fruit) into your kid’s diet.

Over head shot of 3 tomato soup bowls drizzled with cream, with fresh basil and grilled cheese

This Tomato Basil Soup, easy as it may seem, is full of rich flavor! It calls for tomatoes in 3 different forms – canned, fire-roasted, and tomato paste – as well as heavy cream, and parmesan. To cut through the richness I added a little balsamic vinegar, and also the fresh basil uplifts this soup, adding extra umami. 

Over head shot of tomato soup bowl drizzled with cream, garnished with fresh basil

One of my favorite things about this Tomato Soup recipe is that everything is made in one pot! The ingredients are added at different times to allow all of the natural flavors to hit their peak at the right time. Onions garlic and butter, then herbs and seasoning, followed by tomatoes and broth, finished off with the cream, parmesan, and fresh basil. 

One pot meals are essential during busy weeknights. The quicker we can get through the dishes, the quicker we can put our feet up at the end of the day!

side shot of 3 tomato soup bowls drizzled with cream, with fresh basil and grilled cheese
Grilled cheese dipped into tomato basil soup

Ingredient Notes

  • Olive oil & butter: These two ingredients are used to sauté the garlic and onion. Olive oil raises the smoking point of the butter so that it doesn’t burn in the dutch oven or pot.
  • Garlic & onion: No veggie soup is complete without these two ingredients! They add so much flavor and are essential in this tomato soup recipe.
  • Sugar: Just a little sugar enhances the natural sweetness of the tomatoes.
  • Herbs & seasoning: salt and black pepper for flavor, oregano adds extra herbiness, while red pepper flakes give this homemade tomato basil soup just a hint of heat. I also used both dried and fresh basil – tomato and basil are made for each other!
  • Tomatoes: 3 different kinds of tomato are used to really develop the tomato flavor. Tomato paste helps thicken the soup a bit and adds a rich tomato flavor, canned whole tomatoes create the bulk of the soup, and canned fire-roasted diced tomatoes add an extra layer of flavor and are one of my fire ingredients to keep on hand in the pantry (although regular diced tomatoes would work as well).
  • Chicken broth: Chicken broth helps to thin down the soup without taking away from the flavor.
  • Heavy cream: Makes this soup extra rich and creamy – nothing beats it!
  • Parmesan cheese: Just for a little tang to top it all off!
overhead shot of 3 tomato basil soup bowls drizzled with cream, beside fresh basil and grilled cheese

How to Make Tomato Basil Soup

  1. Heat & sauté. First, heat the oil and butter in a large dutch oven over medium-high heat until the butter is melted. Add the onion and saute for 5-6 minutes until softened. Add the garlic and saute another 30 seconds.
  2. Enhance the flavor. Secondly, add the sugar, salt, oregano, dried basil, pepper, red pepper flakes, tomato paste, and balsamic vinegar, if using.

3. Add the tomatoes and broth, boil and simmer. Add the whole tomatoes and diced tomatoes, with juices, along with the chicken broth. Bring the tomato soup to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for at least 15 minutes, although 30-45 minutes is preferable.

4. Remove from heat & blend. Remove from heat and transfer ½ of the tomato basil soup to a blender. Cover with a towel (not the lid, which will create too much pressure build-up from the heat of the soup) and blend until smooth. Repeat with the remaining soup. Or use an immersion blender, if you have one.

5. Add the finishing touches. Lastly, stir in the cream, basil, and parmesan. Serve with additional cream swirled over the top of the soup and extra sprinkles of chopped basil.

Grilled cheese dipped into rich tomato soup

Can I use fresh tomatoes?

Of course! If you have fresh tomatoes you would like to use for this healthy homemade tomato basil soup, I recommend roasting about 4-5 cups of them in the oven at 200ºF (93ºC) first for 25-30 minutes. Just drizzle them with the balsamic vinegar, a tablespoon of sugar, and salt first, then use in the soup in place of the canned tomatoes.

overhead shot of 3 tomato basil soup bowls drizzled with cream, garnished with fresh basil

How do I store this homemade Tomato Basil Soup?

This leftover tomato soup keeps well in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. When you’re ready to warm it back up, place it in a pot on the stove and reheat it until it’s piping hot. It’s a great recipe to meal prep for lunch!

overhead shot of 3 tomato basil soup bowls drizzled with cream, fresh basil to garnish

Can this tomato basil soup recipe be frozen for later?

Yes! Allow it to cool completely. Then when it’s ready, store in a freezer bag or an airtight container. When you’re ready to eat it, take it out of the freezer and allow it to thaw before reheating. 

one pot tomato soup

What else can I serve with this soup recipe?

I find that tomato basil soup goes well with bread, sandwiches, and salads. Here are a few of my favorites:

one pot homemade soup

More Soup Recipes

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Tomato Basil Soup

5 from 2 votes
Amy Nash
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Course Soup
Cuisine American
Servings 8 -10 servings
Ready in just an hour, this one pot Tomato Basil soup is bursting with flavor! You can use either fresh or canned tomatoes to whip up this easy, family friendly meal. Serve it with fresh basil and a grilled cheese sandwich on the side for a classic, comforting meal!

Ingredients
  

  • 1 1/2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 1/2 Tablespoons butter
  • 1 medium onion chopped
  • 3-4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 2 Tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar optional
  • 28 ounces whole tomatoes
  • 15 ounces fire-roasted diced tomatoes
  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream + additional for serving
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil + additional for serving
  • 1/2 cup grated parmesan

Instructions
 

  • Heat the oil and butter in a large dutch oven over medium-high heat until the butter is melted. Add the onion and saute for 5-6 minutes until softened. Add the garlic and saute another 30 seconds.
  • Add the sugar, salt, oregano, dried basil, pepper, red pepper flakes, tomato paste, and balsamic vinegar, if using.
  • Add the whole tomatoes and diced tomatoes, with juices, along with the chicken broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for at least 15 minutes, although 30-45 minutes is preferable.
  • Remove from heat and transfer ½ of the soup to a blender. Cover with a towel (not the lid, which will create too much pressure build-up from the heat of the soup) and blend until smooth. Repeat with the remaining soup. Or use an immersion blender, if you have one.
  • Stir in the cream, basil, and parmesan. Serve with additional cream swirled over the top of the soup and extra sprinkles of chopped basil.

Notes

If you have fresh tomatoes you would like to use, I recommend roasting about 4-5 cups of them in the oven at 200 degrees F first for 25-30 minutes. Just slice them in half and drizzle with the balsamic vinegar, 1 tablespoon of sugar, and 1 teaspoon of salt first, then use in the soup in place of the canned tomatoes.

Nutrition

Calories: 178kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 32mg | Sodium: 962mg | Potassium: 431mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 1544IU | Vitamin C: 25mg | Calcium: 129mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe? Show me on Instagram!Mention @HouseOfNashEats or tag #houseofnasheats!

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About the author

Hi, I'm Amy

I enjoy exploring the world through food, culture, and travel and sharing the adventure with mostly from-scratch, family friendly recipes that I think of as modern comfort cooking.

5 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

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Reader questions and reviews

  1. Voula says:

    This looks delicious! I grow basil nearly all year long! I can’t wait to try this soup!

  2. Kathi says:

    5 stars
    Can’t wait to make this soup. Thank you so much for adding using fresh tomatoes. I have no use for canned tomatoes because of all the preservatives that they have and some even have added MSG which can put me in the hospital. Thanks again.

    1. Amy says:

      Oh wow I am glad you found this recipe to enjoy! I am sorry MSG can cause problems for you!