Tomato Basil Soup is my favorite tomato soup, hands down! This soup is inspired by the Cafe Zupas tomato basil soup. It is so rich and creamy and just plain delicious. It is also the perfect soup to have with grilled cheese sandwiches. I may be weird, but I love dipping a grilled cheese sandwich in tomato soup. It is comfort food at its best! Make this tomato basil soup recipe with either fresh or canned tomatoes. It is the perfect soup for year round dinner. The flavors all blend together so smoothly and create the best creamy soup! Cook this soup either on the stove top or in the crockpot. Either way, it will be a family favorite!
Ingredients for Easy Tomato Basil Soup
Don’t let these ingredients overwhelm you; while there are several ingredients, they all blend perfectly together making a cozy, warming soup. Use fresh or canned tomatoes and add in all the delicious ingredients to make the perfect combination! Top with sour cream and garnish with green onions to make this a Zupas favorite!
Butter – Melting the butter in a large pot on the stovetop while sautéing the vegetables. This gives the veggies more flavor too! Vegetables – Onion, carrot, celery will be sautéed in the butter. You will want to chop up the vegetables evenly to help with the cooking process. Garlic – This will enhance the soup with flavor and aroma. Flour – The flour will make a roux to help thicken the soup. Chicken broth – If you are wanting a lighter broth or something vegetarian, you can use vegetable broth instead. Stewed tomatoes – If you have any garden tomatoes left, this is a great way to use them up. You can just substitute fresh diced tomatoes instead of the store-bought canned tomatoes. Pesto – You can make a homemade pesto or store bought works great! Oregano – This seasoning has a bit of sweetness and a hint of bitterness with a hint of pepper similar to thyme.Brown sugar – Add in a little sweetness to the soup! Heavy cream – Fill each bowl with an extra creamy texture with this heavy cream. Parmesan cheese – Freshly grated parmesan is a great garnish over top the creamy soup.
Tomato Basil Soup in the Crockpot
If you want to make this a slow cooker recipe, instead of simmering the soup the first time (before blending), throw it in a slow cooker on low for at least 4 hours. Though, the longer you let it simmer, the better it will be. Throw it back in after blending for another hour or so. You really can’t go wrong with this recipe!
Fresh or Canned Tomatoes
Fresh tomatoes are always a plus for this soup recipe! If you have any garden tomatoes left, this is a great way to use them. This soup is perfect year round. Once summer is over and it is easier to use canned tomatoes, this soup is just what you need!
Fresh tomatoes – You will want to stew the tomatoes first like in this canning tomato recipe. This recipe is better with garden or fresh tomatoes because it adds in more flavor! First, you will want to roast your tomatoes by placing them on a large baking sheet and bake in the oven. Once roasted, place in a large pot to cook at medium-high heat, then blend together to use in the soup. Canned tomatoes – Any can of roasted or stewed tomatoes works well. We love the San Marzano tomatoes. They have a lot of flavor.
Variations for the Best Tomato Basil Soup
Make this creamy tomato basil soup recipe just the way you like it! Even the soup base on its own is packed with flavor. And, with a few changes, this soup can be adapted into something lighter or even spicier, rather than thick and rich with added calories. Pick and choose what is best for you and your family!
Choose more seasonings create or add to the flavor combination. We love using fresh basil leaves, garlic powder, or onion powder to help add flavor, and they also blend well with this red tomato soup recipe. In place of butter, you can cook your vegetables in olive oil or canola oil. If you have an immersion blender, you can use that instead of a blender. For other flavors of broth, you can try beef, chicken, or vegetable.Although using milk, coconut milk, or almond milk will reduce the creamy texture, it will also keep this tomato basil soup on the healthier side. Add in a little heat with red pepper flakes, paprika, or chili powder. Then, get ready to enjoy a spicer flavor!
Read Next:Easy Lunch Ideas
Frequently Asked Questions
Storing Creamy Tomato Basil Soup
This creamy tomato soup is perfect to make ahead or even store leftovers. Simply place in an airtight container in the refrigerator for five days. Take your leftover soup and reheat it in the microwave or cook on medium-low heat until it is warmed through. Enjoy your tomato basil soup another day!
More Tasty Soup Recipes
Soup is a staple in the cold-weather months. Here are some more of our favorite soup recipes:
Crockpot Chicken and Rice Soup
Crockpot Split Pea Soup
Butternut Squash Soup
Crockpot Vegetable Beef Soup
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