Ditch the Campbell’s and skip Panera by making your very own homemade creamy tomato soup masterpiece.
Easy Creamy Tomato Soup
- Who needs the food processor if the blender can do all the work in one easy step?
- It’s packed full of flavor, economical, and takes just a few steps. This easy tomato soup recipe is perfect for beginner home cooks. Plus, it is so versatile.
- This is our vegetarian version, but a vegan version can easily be made using a dairy substitute for the half and half and extra virgin olive oil in place of butter. Or add a seafood stock with cream for a flavorful tomato bisque, served with crostini!
- Serve with a side salad and fresh bread for a cozy and comforting dish.
Ingredients and Variations
- Tomatoes: For ease, we use canned diced tomatoes, but this soup is also a great way to use up frozen or fresh organic tomatoes from the garden.
- Half And Half Cream: Makes this soup deliciously creamy, but for an even creamier rich soup, use full-fat cream.
- Seasonings: Worcestershire sauce, basil (of course), onion, and butter give our tomato soup its distinctively rich and savory flavor profile. It’s amazing with homemade bread or sourdough soda bread.
- Variations: Try adding other ingredients like cheese tortellini, pastina, and mini meatballs with a sprinkle of Parmesan. Some fresh spinach will give it a Florentine twist. A Tuscan tomato soup can be made with Parmesan cheese and toasted croutons made from French bread. Roasted or smoked tomatoes will give the soup a deep, savory flavor, and adding roasted red peppers to the mix will deepen the flavors even more.
How to Make Creamy Tomato Soup
Sauté onion in oil until softened, stir in the pepper. Proceed to one of the two following recipe variations:
- The Stove Top Version
- Bring tomatoes, sugar, and Worcestershire sauce to a boil. Stir in half and half until heated, add onions.
- Use an immersion blender to puree until the soup is smooth. If an immersion blender is not available, a countertop blender or bullet blender will work.
- Serve in bowls garnished with freshly torn basil and salt and pepper.
- The Vitamix Version
- Place the cooked onion mixture and the remaining ingredients into the Vitamix and blend according to recipe instructions at the bottom of this post. (We love our Vitamix, and it’s perfect to make and heat soups, and mix up your favorite smoothies too!)
- Pour in the half and half, replace lid, and continue blending.
- Pour into bowls and garnish with croutons, basil, and freshly ground black pepper, or as desired.
What to Serve with Creamy Tomato Basil Soup
- We love to serve creamy tomato soup with a red leaf salad, or creamy coleslaw. Or try it with tuna salad and some cornbread muffins to soak up the soup! Who doesn’t love tomato soup with grilled cheese?
- This Vitamix creamy tomato soup recipe perfectly blends fresh or canned tomatoes. This hearty and heartwarming soup satisfies even on the coldest of days. Try it with a loaf of crusty no-knead bread.
- Whether you make it in the Vitamix or on the stovetop, this easy creamy tomato basil soup is the one that everyone will ask for again and again. It can even be made in an Instant Pot or Crockpot.
Tips for Storing Soup
- Leftover creamy tomato soup can be kept in the refrigerator for about 4 days.
- Creamy tomato soup can be frozen once it’s chilled. Ladle it into zippered bags with the date written on the outside. Freeze them flat on a baking sheet in the freezer and then store them upright (like books) to save freezer space.
- Defrost overnight in the refrigerator and reheat on the stove or in the microwave. Refresh the flavors with some salt and pepper, extra basil, or Parmesan cheese.
More Comforting Soups to Try
Did you enjoy this Creamy Tomato Soup? Leave a comment and rating below.
Creamy Tomato Soup
This creamy tomato soup recipe is full of homemade flavor and easy to make with canned tomatoes and half-and-half cream.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons butter
- ¼ cup chopped onion
- 2 cans diced tomatoes
- 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 cups half and half cream
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper plus for more garnish
- fresh basil for garnish
Instructions
- Melt butter in medium saucepan until starts to brown. Add onion. Cook over medium heat until onion is softened, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in pepper.
Stovetop instructions:
- Add tomatoes, sugar, and Worcestershire and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer for 3 minutes. Add half and half cream and heat for 1 minute or until heated through.
- Using an immersion blender, puree until soup is smooth*.
- Pour into bowls for serving and garnish with freshly ground black pepper and fresh chopped basil if desired.
Vitamix instructions:
- Place cooked onion mixture, tomatoes, sugar, and Worcestershire into Vitamix and secure lid.
- Start Vitamix on lowest speed and slowly increase speed to the highest speed (10). Blend for 5 minutes and 45 seconds.
- Reduce speed to the lowest speed and remove lid plug. Add half and half (through lid plug opening) and replace lid plug. Slowly increase speed to the highest speed for 30 seconds.
- Pour into bowls for serving and garnish with freshly ground black pepper and fresh chopped basil if desired.
Notes
- Each can of diced tomatoes would be 14.5 ounces each
- *You can also use a blender to create a smooth consistency.
- Be careful with the hot mixture as it can be dangerous if the steam builds up.
- Refrigerate leftovers for up to 4 days, or freeze for up to 4 months.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 174 | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 38mg | Sodium: 288mg | Potassium: 384mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 564IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 133mg | Iron: 1mg
Nutrition information does not include optional ingredients or garnish and is an estimate. It may change based on actual ingredients and cooking methods used.
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So fresh tasting and easy to throw together! Thanks for sharing!
So happy to hear that you love the soup Misty! You’re very welcome!
Loved it!
Thank you Mel!
Really looking forward to trying more.
Enjoy the soup Michelle!
Great recipe.
Thank you Torrie!
Great recipe!
Great recipe!! The only thing is- DON T USE CLOVES. I have a feeling the author meant garlic cloves. I used cloves the first time I made it and it was good but that s all you could taste. And I even used less than recommended. Trust me cloves and tomato soup do not go well together. If you do decide to follow the recipe and add them tread lightly Otherwise it s great if you use GARLIC CLOVES.
Thank you Arpita! The recipe doesn’t call for garlic or cloves at all. But garlic would be great with it too!
This is the quickest most delicious tomato soup! It has quickly become a family favorite.
Thank you Ayla, so happy to hear that you love this soup so much!